A credit card is a useful financial tool that can help you purchase products and services while allowing you to pay for them later. The best part of owning a credit card is that you don’t have to pay any additional fees or charges as long as you make your bill payments in full within the due date.
However, with so many types of credit cards available from various banking institutions, it can get tough to pick the one that’s right for you. This is especially true if you’re looking for the best credit cards for beginners.
Thankfully, there’s a whole list of some of the top credit cards for beginners that you can consider applying for. These cards have several exclusive benefits that are tailored towards making the experience of owning credit cards as smooth and hassle-free as possible. Such entry-level cards typically tend to have low minimum income requirements, nominal joining and annual fees, and exciting reward programs.
It is important that you select a card that matches your requirements. A careful selection can help you maximise the benefits offered by the credit card. For instance, if you’re a frequent traveller, getting a travel credit card would be appropriate. On the other hand, if you’re interested in getting a cashback on your transactions, you can consider getting a cashback credit card. That said, here are a few of the top credit cards for beginners that you can apply for.
Designed for online shoppers, the SBI SimplyCLICK credit card is an entry-level shopping credit card that offers exciting benefits. You can get the card for a low annual fee of just ₹499 plus GST. Check out the list of features and benefits of this particular credit card.
₹500 worth Amazon Gift Card on payment of the annual fee for the first time
10 reward points for every ₹100 spent online at exclusive partner stores
5 reward points for every ₹100 spent online
Annual fee reversal on spending ₹1,00,000 in a year
₹2,000 worth e-voucher on spending ₹1,00,000 in a year
If you wish to save while you spend, the HDFC MoneyBack credit card is one of the best credit cards for beginners that you can consider. Available for a nominal annual fee of just ₹500 plus GST, this card from HDFC Bank provides a cashback on almost all spends. Let’s take a look at some of its benefits.
Welcome benefit of 500 Cash Points on payment of the annual fee
4 reward points for every ₹150 spent online
2 reward points for every ₹150 spent on the card except on certain specified transactions
₹500 worth e-voucher on spending ₹50,000 every quarter (subject to a maximum of ₹2,000 in a year)
Up to 20% discount on restaurant bills if payment is made via the Swiggy app
If you like shopping on Amazon, then you should consider applying for the Amazon Pay ICICI Bank credit card. The card is free for life and offers plenty of unique and highly rewarding benefits. Here’s a quick look at a few of them.
5% cashback on Amazon orders for Prime members
Welcome rewards worth ₹2,000 including a flat ₹200 cashback on the first shopping order or bill payment on Amazon
10% to 50% cashback (subject to a maximum limit) on a wide range of utility bill payments
No-cost EMI on select Amazon orders above ₹3,000
Designed for individuals who prefer shopping on Flipkart and its allied e-commerce websites, the Flipkart Axis Bank credit card provides unlimited cashback on select transactions. You can get this card for a nominal annual fee of just ₹500 plus GST. Here’s a quick look at some of the rewards that you get to enjoy with this credit card.
Welcome benefits worth ₹1,100 on payment of joining fees
5% cashback on Flipkart and Myntra non-EMI orders
4% cashback on orders placed on Cleartrip, cult.fit, PVR, Swiggy, Tata Play, and Uber
4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits in a year
Up to 20% off on dining bills at partner restaurants
Thanks to its highly rewarding benefits, the YES Prosperity Rewards Plus credit card is one of the top credit cards for beginners. For a very nominal annual fee of just ₹399 plus GST, you get the below-mentioned list of benefits.
₹1,500 worth Amazon gift voucher on spending ₹1,500 within the first 30 days of card ownership
8 reward points for every ₹200 spent on travel and dining transactions
4 reward points for every ₹200 spent on all other categories of transactions
First-year annual fee reversal on spending ₹5,000 within the first 30 days of card ownership
Low foreign exchange markup fee of just 2.75% of the transaction value
In addition to the top credit cards for beginners mentioned above, there are a few others that you can consider opting for if your monthly income is above ₹25,000. Here’s an overview of what these cards are.
Credit Card |
Type of Card |
Annual Fee |
RBL Bank World Safari Credit Card |
Travel |
₹3,000 plus GST |
Standard Chartered Super Value Titanium Credit Card |
Fuel |
₹750 plus GST |
CASHBACK SBI Card |
Cashback |
₹999 plus GST |
Cashback |
₹499 plus GST |
Various credit cards are launched by different banks that are designed especially for beginners. Some of the top credit cards for beginners include HDFC Bank MoneyBack Credit Card, YES Prosperity Rewards Plus credit card, American Express Membership Reward Credit Card, Standard Chartered Super Value Titanium Credit Card, HSBC Visa Platinum Card, and the HDFC Regalia Credit Card
Yes, you can get a credit card even if you are a beginner without any credit score. Although, in such a scenario, you should have a good income and other positive factors that would showcase your good creditworthiness. Secured credit cards, add-on credit cards, credit cards against savings accounts, and prepaid cards are some of the different types of credit cards that you can get even without a credit score.
Credit cards with zero annual fees are among the easiest to get. These cards usually have very relaxed eligibility criteria, making them suitable for beginners and first-time card owners. The Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card is one of the easiest cards that you can get right now. Also, if you have a fixed deposit, you may consider getting a secured credit card against it. The eligibility criteria for such cards tend to be even more relaxed.
Yes. You can leverage your first salary to get yourself one of the top credit cards for beginners. However, before you proceed to apply for one, make sure that you satisfy the minimum monthly income requirement for the credit card. This will ensure that you don’t get rejected.