Best Beginner Credit Cards in India for 2026

If you're new to credit cards and want good value at a low cost, entry-level credit cards are a great choice. These cards are ideal for beginners starting their careers who want to build a credit score while enjoying basic rewards and offers. Most of these cards require a minimum monthly income of ₹25,000 to ₹30,000. Here’s a list of the best beginner credit cards in India with useful benefits for first-time users.

Google Pay Flex Axis Bank Credit Card

Joining Fee Joining Fee
₹0 + GST
Annual Fee Annual Fee
₹0 + GST
Rewards Type Rewards Type
Reward Points
card category Best For
Reward | Entry-Level

Reward Key Benefits

  • Key Benefits

  • Earn up to 8X rewards on your monthly spends
  • Redeem rewards easily on UPI payments via Google Pay (1 star = Rs. 1)

  • Earn 2X, 4X, and up to 8X stars based on your monthly spending, helping you maximize rewards
  • Redeem stars on UPI payments via Google Pay at a value of 1 star = Rs. 1
  • Get welcome benefits including 2 stars per Rs. 500 in the first month, a Rs. 250 gift card, and 250 bonus stars
  • Enjoy flexible repayment options with the choice to pay the full bill or convert it into EMIs
  • Get up to 15% discount on dining (up to Rs. 500 per month) via EazyDiner
  • Convert transactions of Rs. 2,500 or more into easy EMIs
Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card

Joining Fee Joining Fee
₹350 + GST
Annual Fee Annual Fee
₹350 + GST
Rewards Type Rewards Type
Reward Points
card category Best For
Travel | Entry-Level

Reward Key Benefits

  • Get 20% discount on domestic and international hotel bookings at EaseMyTrip
  • Get 10% discount on domestic and international flight bookings at EaseMyTrip
  • Earn 10 reward points for every Rs. 100 spent at standalone airline or hotel websites, mobile apps, or outlets (excluding travel aggregators)

  • Co-branded travel credit card with EaseMyTrip offering instant discounts on bookings
  • 20% off on domestic hotels (up to Rs. 5,000) and 10% off on domestic flights (up to Rs. 1,000) per transaction
  • 20% off on international hotels (up to Rs. 10,000) and 10% off on international flights (up to Rs. 5,000) per transaction
  • Rs. 125 off on bus tickets (minimum ticket value Rs. 500)
  • Earn 10 reward points per Rs. 100 on airline/hotel spends and 2 reward points per Rs. 100 on other spends including EaseMyTrip bookings
  • 2 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year

Best Entry-Level Credit Cards in India for 2026

Here is list of top Entry-Level credit cards along with detailed benefits and fees & charges.

1. Google Pay Flex Axis Bank Credit Card

Google Pay Flex Axis Bank Credit Card

Joining Fee: Rs. 0 + GST

Annual Fee: Rs. 0 + GST

Key Features and Benefits:

  • Key Benefits

  • Earn up to 8X rewards on your monthly spends
  • Redeem rewards easily on UPI payments via Google Pay (1 star = Rs. 1)
  • No joining or annual fees, making it a lifetime free credit card
  • Welcome benefits worth Rs. 500 including gift card and bonus stars
  • Flexible payment option to pay full bill or convert into EMIs
  • Extra rewards on higher monthly spends up to Rs. 30,000
  • Save up to Rs. 6,000 per year on dining via EazyDiner

2. Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card

Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card

Joining Fee: Rs. 350 + GST

Annual Fee: Rs. 350 + GST

Key Features and Benefits:

  • Get 20% discount on domestic and international hotel bookings at EaseMyTrip
  • Get 10% discount on domestic and international flight bookings at EaseMyTrip
  • Earn 10 reward points for every Rs. 100 spent at standalone airline or hotel websites, mobile apps, or outlets (excluding travel aggregators)
  • Earn 2 reward points for every Rs. 100 spent on other categories
  • Enjoy 2 complimentary international lounge visits per year

Explore Other Entry-Level Credit Cards

Cashback SBI Credit Card

Cashback SBI Credit Card

Joining Fee: ₹999
💵 Cashback 🔰 Entry-Level 🛍 Online Shopping 
  • Get 5% cashback on all online spends
  • Earn 1% cashback on all offline transactions
PVR INOX Kotak Credit Card

PVR INOX Kotak Credit Card

Joining Fee: ₹0
🎥 Entertainment 🔰 Entry-Level 
  • No joining fee for the first year
  • Get 1 free PVR INOX movie ticket worth ₹300 on every ₹10,000 monthly spend
Axis Bank ACE Credit Card

Axis Bank ACE Credit Card

Joining Fee: ₹499
🔰 Entry-Level 🛍 Online Shopping 
  • Earn 1.5% cashback on all regular spends
  • Get 5% cashback on utility bill payments via Google Pay
SBI SimplyClick Credit Card

SBI SimplyClick Credit Card

Joining Fee: ₹499
🏆 Reward 🔰 Entry-Level 🛍 Online Shopping 
  • Best entry-level credit card with a ₹499 joining fee
  • Earn 5X reward points on all online shopping
Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card

Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card

Joining Fee: ₹500
💵 Cashback 🔰 Entry-Level 🛍 Online Shopping 
  • Get 5% cashback on Flipkart and Cleartrip spends
  • Enjoy 4% cashback on preferred partners like Swiggy, PVR, Uber, and Cult.fit
HDFC MoneyBack+ Credit Card

HDFC MoneyBack+ Credit Card

Joining Fee: ₹500
🏆 Reward 🔰 Entry-Level 🛍 Online Shopping 
  • Earn 10X CashPoints on Flipkart, Amazon, Swiggy, Reliance Smart, and BigBasket
  • Get 500 CashPoints as a welcome benefit and on fee payment
Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card

Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card

Joining Fee: ₹500
🍽 Dining 💵 Cashback 🔰 Entry-Level 
  • Get 10% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato and BigBasket (up to ₹500/month)
  • Enjoy up to 15% off on dining via EazyDiner
Indian Oil Axis Bank Credit Card

Indian Oil Axis Bank Credit Card

Joining Fee: ₹500
⛽ Fuel 🔰 Entry-Level 
  • Get welcome benefit as EDGE reward points equal to your first fuel spend (up to ₹250) within 30 days
  • Earn 4% value-back as 20 EDGE reward points per ₹100 on fuel spends at IndianOil outlets
Tata Neu Plus HDFC Credit Card

Tata Neu Plus HDFC Credit Card

Joining Fee: ₹0
🛒 Shopping 🔰 Entry-Level 
  • Get 499 NeuCoins as welcome bonus on first transaction within 30 days
  • Earn 2% back as NeuCoins on spends across Tata Neu and partner Tata brands
SBI Unnati Credit Card

SBI Unnati Credit Card

Joining Fee: ₹0
🏆 Reward 🔰 Entry-Level ∞ Lifetime free 
  • No joining or annual fee for the first 4 years
  • Best entry-level credit card with no joining fee