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Compare credit cards from Visa, Mastercard, and RuPay to help you decide which card network and its features matches your spending habits, travel needs, and reward preferences.
Credit cards have changed the way Indians handle payments, offering convenience, rewards, and safety. Choosing the right network—RuPay credit card, Visa credit card, or Mastercard credit card—can affect your spending, rewards, and international acceptance. This article helps you compare these networks for Indian users, so you can make an informed choice based on your lifestyle and needs.
The RuPay credit card is India’s homegrown payment network, designed to make domestic transactions quick, secure, and affordable. It is widely accepted in India and offers seamless UPI integration, making it ideal for local payments and digital transactions.
The Visa credit card and Mastercard credit card are international networks accepted in over 200 countries. They offer global usability, premium rewards, and advanced security features. These cards suit users who travel abroad or shop on international platforms.
The standard deduction was first introduced in Budget 2018 as a replacement for two specific allowances — transport allowance and medical reimbursement. Initially, the standard deduction was set at ₹40,000, and all salaried employees could claim this sum as a deduction from their total income.
Thereafter, in the Interim Budget 2019, the amount of standard deduction was increased to ₹50,000. In the 2020 budget, the Indian government introduced a new tax regime under which the standard deduction was initially not allowed.
However, in a welcome move, the Indian government recently announced in the 2023 budget the standard deduction of ₹50,000. These new rates would be applicable to taxpayers choosing the new tax regime as well.
When comparing these three networks, it is important to look at welcome benefits, annual charges, eligibility, and key offers. Each network partners with banks to provide unique card options.
Parameter |
RuPay Credit Card |
Visa Credit Card |
Mastercard Credit Card |
|---|---|---|---|
Welcome Benefits |
May include reward points, discounts on select spends, and first-year fee waivers |
May offer cashback, bonus points, or exclusive partner discounts |
Might provide joining bonuses, travel vouchers, or shopping offers |
Annual Charges |
Often lower or zero for entry-level cards; some premium cards have charges |
Varies by card; can be nil (Amazon Pay ICICI) to ₹4,999 (SBI ELITE) |
Ranges from zero to ₹3,000+ for premium cards |
Eligibility |
Indian residents, NRIs; age 18-70; income as per bank policy |
Indian citizens, salaried/self-employed; age 18+; income as per card |
Indian citizens, salaried/self-employed; age 18+; income as per card |
Key Offers |
UPI payments, domestic lounge access, exclusive Indian merchant deals |
Global acceptance, travel deals, insurance, concierge |
International usage, travel and lifestyle perks, mobile insurance |
Examples |
ICICI Coral RuPay, Axis Bank NEO RuPay |
HDFC Moneyback, Amazon Pay ICICI, Axis Flipkart |
Airtel Axis Bank Mastercard, SBI Mastercard SELECT |
Banks may update benefits and eligibility, so always check the official website before applying.
Credit card rewards can make everyday spending more rewarding. The earning potential varies by network and card type. Here’s a breakdown across popular categories:
A RuPay credit card may offer reward points on every purchase, especially when used with UPI for online or offline shopping. For example, ICICI Bank RuPay Credit Cards allow you to earn points on groceries, e-commerce, and utility payments. Visa credit card options like the Axis Flipkart Credit Card offer cashback on e-commerce sites. Mastercard credit card holders might get bonus points at select online retailers.
Many RuPay credit cards provide discounts at partner restaurants and reward points for dining expenses. Visa and Mastercard both offer dining privileges, such as ‘Visa Dining Offers’ or Mastercard’s ‘Priceless Cities’ experiences, which might include discounts or complimentary dishes at select outlets.
Premium RuPay credit cards like ICICI Coral offer complimentary railway or airport lounge access within India. Visa credit card and Mastercard credit card variants may provide international lounge access, travel insurance, and flight booking discounts. For instance, the SBI ELITE Visa card offers free lounge visits and travel deals, while Mastercard SELECT cards come with trip planning and insurance.
Example: A frequent online shopper using the Amazon Pay ICICI Visa Credit Card can earn cashback on Amazon spends, while a domestic traveller may benefit more from a RuPay credit card with UPI integration and railway lounge access.
Disclaimer: The benefits of the respective credit cards mentioned above are added with reference to the information available at the time of writing. For the latest updates, please visit the official website.
Credit card fees and charges can impact your overall benefits. Here’s a comparison of popular cards:
Card Name |
Joining/Annual Fees |
Waiver Criteria |
Other Charges |
|---|---|---|---|
₹500/₹500 |
Spend ₹1.5 Lakhs/year |
Finance charges, late fee |
|
Axis Bank NEO RuPay Credit Card |
Nil (1st year)/₹250 |
Spend ₹25,000/year |
Cash advance, GST |
Amazon Pay ICICI Visa Credit Card |
Nil (lifetime-free) |
NA |
Foreign markup, late fee |
HDFC Moneyback+ Visa Credit Card |
₹500/₹500 |
Spend ₹50,000/year |
Reward redemption fee |
Airtel Axis Bank Mastercard Credit Card |
₹500/₹500 |
Spend ₹2 Lakhs/year |
EMI charges, late fee |
SBI ELITE Visa Credit Card |
₹4,999/₹4,999 |
Spend ₹10 Lakhs/year |
High annual fee, foreign markup |
Banks may waive annual fees if you meet the spend criteria. Always check for hidden charges like cash withdrawal fees, foreign currency markup, and late payment penalties on the official card website.
Disclaimer: The benefits of the respective credit cards mentioned above are added with reference to the information available at the time of writing. For the latest updates, please visit the official website.
Acceptance and payment flexibility are crucial for Indian users.
A RuPay credit card is accepted at almost all Indian ATMs, POS, and e-commerce sites. It is ideal for domestic transactions and offers seamless UPI integration, letting you pay at UPI-enabled merchants using your credit card.
Visa credit cards and Mastercard credit cards are accepted worldwide, making them suitable for international travellers and online shoppers. Both networks support contactless payments, global ATMs, and advanced security features like tokenisation and zero liability policies.
Example: If you travel abroad or shop on international websites, a Visa credit card or Mastercard credit card might be more useful. For local shopping, UPI payments, and Indian rewards, a RuPay credit card offers unmatched flexibility.
Many credit cards provide travel and lifestyle perks.
RuPay credit card options like ICICI Coral offer complimentary access to railway lounges and select airport lounges in India, along with UPI-linked travel payments.
Visa credit card variants such as HDFC Regalia Gold or SBI ELITE provide free international airport lounge visits, travel insurance, and concierge services.
Mastercard credit card holders may enjoy global lounge access, travel discounts, mobile insurance, and trip planning services.
Example: A frequent flyer may benefit from the SBI ELITE Visa card for international lounge access, while a domestic traveller might prefer the ICICI Coral RuPay credit card for railway and airport lounge perks.
Disclaimer: The benefits of the respective credit cards mentioned above are added with reference to the information available at the time of writing. For the latest updates, please visit the official website.
Choosing the right card depends on your lifestyle and spending habits.
Online Shopper: If you shop mainly on Indian e-commerce sites and want to use UPI, a RuPay credit card with UPI integration and rewards on online spends is ideal.
Frequent Flyer: A Visa credit card or Mastercard credit card with international lounge access, travel insurance, and global acceptance might suit you better for travelling abroad.
Budget-Conscious User: Entry-level RuPay credit cards usually have lower or zero annual fees and offer rewards on daily spends.
Dining & Lifestyle Enthusiast: Both Visa and Mastercard credit card networks partner with restaurants and lifestyle brands for discounts and special offers, making them good for those who dine out or enjoy experiences.
Choosing between a RuPay credit card, a Visa credit card, and a Mastercard credit card depends on your needs. If you want domestic rewards and UPI payments, RuPay might suit you. For international use and premium perks, Visa or Mastercard could be better. Always check the latest offers and eligibility on the bank’s website before applying.
To check your salary slips online, you can visit your organisation’s salary slip portal and log in with your credentials. Once logged in, you can view and download the salary slips from the side menu or dashboard.
You need salary slips as proof of income for various banking and non-banking processes. This includes getting a new credit card, opening a bank account, request for a loan, filing taxes, resolving payment discrepancies, switching jobs, etc.
The payslip is a documented breakup of the money paid to you and deducted from you by your employer. It is an important document which is directly related to your annual cost to the company (CTC).
It also serves as a means to document all employment-related financial information consolidated in one place.
Usually, the HR team ensures that each employee receives their e-payslip via email at a stipulated time each month. However, it is also possible to download your online salary slips by logging into the digital salary slip portal.
For this, you need to log into the online payslip portal, find the ‘Employee Pay Details’ or ‘Salary Slip’ option and click on it. You can then select the month and/or the financial year for which you wish to download the payslip. After that, opt to download the file in Excel or PDF format.
The employee payslip comes in handy in a variety of ways. Its professional uses include salary negotiations in new jobs, salary market correction in existing jobs, optimising your earnings, tax savings, etc.
In financial applications, you can use payslips to apply to get financial products like personal loans, home loans, credit cards, opening a savings/current account, etc.
Ideally, storing and saving employee payslips for the last 3 months is a good practice. This can come in handy in several instances, and having them available offline helps in quick reference. In case you have changed jobs and require your salary slips from your previous company, the procedure is simple.
You must send an official request to the HR team or the department looking after ex-employee welfare. By explaining the requirement and the duration for which salary slips are required, they will process the request and email them to you.
An employee salary slip contains details of all the salary components including deductions. Some of these components are fully taxable, partially taxable, or fully exempt. By getting to know taxable components, you can estimate your total taxable income and then plan your investments to maximise your tax savings.
Yes, banks require salary slips to evaluate your repayment capacity through your monthly income. So, you need to submit a copy of your original salary slip as part of your application process.
Both the terms payslip and salary slips are the same and are used interchangeably. There is absolutely no difference between them.
Yes, handwritten salary slips are legal as long as they carry the company’s name, logo, address, and the signature of an authorised signatory. You can also submit handwritten salary slips as proof of your income to banks and other organisations.
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Posted on 16 May
Roshani Ballal
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