Different Types of Credit Cards in India: A Complete Guide

Credit cards make your life easier by allowing you to purchase goods and services and pay the money at the end of the month. Credit cards have a set limit based on your eligibility criteria and, ideally, you should spend only 30% of that amount. 

Suggested Reading: Top 10 best credit cards in India

You can either pay the full amount or a minimum due amount each month. Please note that if you pay just the minimum amount, you incur an interest on the remaining due amount.

Types of Credit Cards in India: Choose the Best One for Your Needs

Various banks and credit card issuers offer different types of cards. So, there is something for everyone based on their spending habits and lifestyle. Here we will explore the different types of credit cards so you can choose one that suits your needs.

Fuel Credit Cards

Fuel credit cards offer rewards and benefits when used to purchase fuel. As the price of fuel increases, if you own a vehicle, having a fuel credit card can be beneficial. Such cards offer cashback and waive fuel surcharges. 

Some banks also provide accelerated reward points on fuel purchases made at specific petrol pumps across India. The accumulated reward points can be redeemed for a predetermined amount of refueling. 

The following are some of the most popular fuel credit cards in India currently:

• ICICI HPCL Coral Credit Card

• IDFC First HPCL Power Credit Card

• Indian Oil Kotak Credit Card

• BPCL SBI Credit Card

• Indian Oil Axis Bank Credit Card

Contactless Credit Cards 

Contactless credit cards feature a proprietary payment technology that enables cardholders to make payments by simply tapping their cards at POS terminals. Customers do not need to enter a PIN number to make purchases using contactless transactions, which are extremely secure. 

The following are some of the most popular contactless credit cards in India:

• SBI Signature Contactless Credit Card 

• HDFC Regalia Credit Card

• Kotak Royale Signature Credit Card

• IndusInd Bank Signature Legend Credit Card

Women's Credit Cards

Some banks have introduced credit cards specifically designed for women to ensure higher benefits. These credit cards are primarily concerned with shopping rewards and cashback offers. 

Aside from that, cardholders can receive bonus reward points, a waiver of fuel surcharges, insurance, and other benefits. They can also earn reward points when they use their credit cards to make purchases. However, there aren't many credit cards for women that provide excellent travel benefits. 

The following are some of the most popular credit cards for women in 2025:

• Premium Women's Credit Card from HDFC Bank Solitaire 

• Kotak Mahindra Bank Silk Inspire Credit Card

• Citibank Rewards Credit Card

• HDFC Solitaire Credit Card

• SBI Simply CLICK Credit Card

Student Credit Cards

These credit cards are catered to students and are considered starter credit cards. Student credit cards encourage students to develop healthy financial habits and start building credit scores as early as possible.

They generally have lower limits, the application process is simple, and the eligibility criteria are easy to meet. Some of the popular student credit card options in 2025 are:

• MNSSBY Bihar Student Credit Card

• ICICI Bank Student Forex Prepaid Card

• West Bengal Student Credit Card

• SBI Student Plus Advantage Credit Card

• HDFC Bank ISIC Student ForexPlus Chip Card

Travel Credit Cards

Travel credit cards are popular due to the numerous travel-related benefits they provide. These cards provide travel benefits not only in India but also abroad. Most banks have partnered with airlines or travel agencies to offer travel credit cards. Customers who use this card to make travel purchases can earn air miles. 

These cards provide air miles, free access to airport lounges, hotel and vacation packages, golf packages, dining packages, travel insurance, and other benefits. Hotel and airline credit cards are two other types of popular travel credit cards.

Popular travel credit cards in India in 2025 include:

• Axis Bank Horizon Credit Card

• HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card

• IndusInd Bank Avios Visa Infinite Credit Card

• Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card

• Yatra SBI Credit Card

Cash Back Credit Cards 

These credit cards offer 5-20% cashback on certain transactions. Transactions depend on your card and may be bill payments, movie ticket purchases, retail purchases, dining bills, grocery purchases, etc. 

Some popular cashback credit cards in January 2025 are:

• Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card

• SimplyClick Advantage SBI Card

• ICICI Bank Platinum Credit Card

• YES Bank Paisabazaar PaisaSave Credit Card

• Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card

Co-Branded Credit Cards

Banks offer co-branded credit cards in collaboration with a retail brand, travel aggregator, or any other financial institution. Co-branded credit cards include benefits such as rebates, discounts, and offers from a specific retail partner brand, depending on the tie-up. 

Despite the fact that these credit cards include features from two major companies, there are no restrictions on their use. Some popular co-branded credit cards of 2025 are mentioned here:

• Air India SBI Platinum Card

• SBI Yatra Credit Card

• IRCTC SBI Platinum Credit Card

• RBL Bank BankBazaar SaveMax Credit Card

• TAJ Premium Credit Card from Bank of India 

Rewards Credit Cards 

Reward credit cards are well-known for providing multiple rewards with each card transaction. Cardholders can earn rewards points on all of their card transactions, including retail, online, and so on. In addition, they can earn reward points as a welcome gift, birthday gift, renewal bonus, and so on. 

These reward points can be redeemed for products/services listed in the rewards catalog, such as cashback deals, air miles, travel deals, etc. Popular rewards credit cards of January 2025 include:

• Citibank Rewards Credit Card

• Standard Chartered Rewards Credit Card

• Yes Bank Finbooster Credit Card

• AU Zenith Credit Card

• RBL Bank Savemax Credit Card

Corporate/Business Credit Cards

Business credit cards are for businesses, corporations, and other institutions so that employers can provide credit cards to their employees. These cards can choose to have their company name embossed on these cards.

Employees cannot use these cards for personal transactions, and they are only valid during their employment with the company. Benefits include hotel and travel discounts, business savings plans, add-on cards, insurance, etc.

Popular business/corporate credit cards include:

• HDFC Business MoneyBack Credit Card

• Axis Bank My Business Credit Card

• Citibank Corporate Credit Card

• Kotak Corporate Gold Credit Card

• YES FIRST Corporate Credit Card

Lifestyle Credit Cards 

These are designed with the cardholder’s lifestyle in mind and include dining, wellness, shopping, and entertainment benefits. These cards typically include first-year annual fee waivers, cashback on tickets, insurance discounts, and other perks. 

Popular lifestyle credit cards in January 2025 in India are:

• SBI Elite Credit Card

• HDFC Solitaire Credit Card

• ICICI Bank Coral Credit Card

• Kotak Bank PVR Platinum Credit Card

• Axis Bank Privilege Credit Card

Secured Credit Cards

These credit cards are given against a fixed deposit and are a good option for people with low or no credit history. Banks or credit card issuers offer credit cards with 75-80% of your fixed deposit amount.

Some of the top secured credit card options are:

• SBI Card Unnati

• IDFC FIRST WOW! Credit Card

• Step UP Credit Card

• Axis Insta Easy Credit Card

• Bank of Baroda Prime Credit Card

0% APR or Balance Transfer Credit Cards

APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate and these credit cards offer zero interest on purchases, balance transfers, or both. This is, however, applicable only for a limited period of time, mostly for 12 to 21 months.

After the introductory period is over, you will have to pay the regular APR as per the card issuer’s rules. Some of the top credit cards in this category are as follows: 

• SBI Credit Cards

• HDFC Credit Cards

• RBL Bank Credit Cards

• Standard Chartered Bank Credit Cards

• Kotak Mahindra Bank Credit Cards

Credit cards are one of the most popular and versatile forms of credit available today. Not only are they easy to use, but these small plastic cards also come with many benefits and rewards. Based on your lifestyle and needs, you can choose from the credit cards offered by various banks and issuers. 

Other noteworthy types of credit cards are store credit cards which can be used in the same family or chain of stores. Banks also offer gold, silver, and platinum credit cards, which are premium cards for higher fees and more benefits.

While using credit cards has many benefits, make sure that you pay your bills on time so you don’t accumulate debt.