Question 1

Which is the best credit card in India for cashback in 2026?

Accepted Answer

The Axis Bank ACE Credit Card offers 5% cashback on bill payments via Google Pay, 4% on food delivery apps like Swiggy and Zomato, and 2% on all other spends — making it one of the highest cashback rates with an annual fee of just ₹499 (waived on ₹2L spend). The SBI Cashback Card offers 5% on all online spends without any merchant restriction.

Question 2

What is a lifetime free credit card?

Accepted Answer

A lifetime free credit card has zero joining fee and zero annual fee — you never pay any fee as long as you hold the card. Examples include the Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card, IDFC FIRST Millennia, IDFC FIRST Wealth, Kotak 811 DreamDifferent, and Axis Bank Neo. These cards are ideal for first-time cardholders or those who want to avoid annual fee commitments.

Question 3

Which credit card is best for travel in India?

Accepted Answer

For travel, the HDFC Diners Club Black Metal Edition offers unlimited lounge access and 1 reward point = 1 air mile. The Axis Magnus provides 12 EDGE miles per ₹200 on travel and unlimited domestic lounge access. For zero annual fee travel, IDFC FIRST Wealth gives unlimited domestic lounges and 4 international visits at no annual fee.

Question 4

What is the difference between joining fee and annual fee?

Accepted Answer

Joining fee is a one-time charge paid when you get the card. Annual fee (also called renewal fee) is charged every year. Many cards offer fee waivers if you spend a certain amount annually. For example, the HDFC Regalia Gold waives its ₹2,500 annual fee if you spend ₹4 lakh in the year.

Question 5

What is the forex markup fee on credit cards?

Accepted Answer

Forex markup (also called foreign transaction fee) is charged when you use your credit card outside India or on international websites. It typically ranges from 1.5% to 3.5% of the transaction amount. Cards like IDFC FIRST Wealth and Tata Neu Infinity HDFC charge 0% forex markup, making them ideal for international travel and online shopping on global websites.

Question 6

How many credit cards should I have?

Accepted Answer

2-3 credit cards is the optimal number for most people — one primary card for maximum rewards on your top spend category, one for specific benefits like lounge access or travel, and optionally one lifetime-free card as backup. Having too many cards makes tracking difficult and can tempt overspending. Each new card application also temporarily dips your CIBIL score.

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