While many luxury credit cards come with an annual fee, there is a wide range of cards that provide a vast array of benefits without charging any fee.
If you're are a sensible spender and would like to have a credit card with basic yet comprehensive benefits, you can opt for a No annual fee credit card. It will cut down your annual card maintenance cards while providing regular benefits of a credit card.
Listed below are the best credit cards without annual fee offered by top banks in India.
Top 12 No Annual Fee Credit Cards in India 2022
| FinBooster: YES BANK - BankBazaar Co-branded Credit Card |
NIL |
Tracking credit score, building credit report & rewards |
| RBL Bank BankBazaar SaveMax Credit Card |
NIL |
Credit Advisory Report, reward points |
| HSBC Visa Platinum Card |
NIL |
Dining, shopping, fuel |
| IndusInd Bank Platinum Card |
NIL |
Travel, golf, entertainment, fuel |
| SBI Card Unnati |
NIL (For 1st four years) |
Basic |
| YES Prosperity Edge |
NIL (Limited-time offer) |
Online and international spending |
| Axis Insta Easy Credit Card |
NIL |
Basic. Card issued against fixed deposit |
| Kotak Fortune Gold Credit Card |
NIL |
High cash limit, fuel, movie tickets |
| YES Prosperity Reward Plus Card |
NIL |
Online shopping, international usage |
| Axis Insta Easy Credit Card |
NIL |
Shopping, dining |
| YES First Preferred |
NIL |
Travel, entertainment, shopping, dining |
| Axis MY Zone Easy Credit Card |
NIL |
Travel, entertainment, dining, and rewards |
| YES Premia Credit Card |
NIL |
Travel, entertainment, shopping, dining |
| IDFC First Select Credit Card |
NIL |
Online shopping and credit card offers |
| Bank of Baroda Prime Credit Card |
NIL |
Cash back on daily spending |
| RBL Insignia Preferred Banking World Credit Card |
NIL |
Rewards on shopping and dining |
No Annual Fee Credit Cards - Features and Benefits
FinBooster: YES BANK - BankBazaar Co-branded Credit Card
Key Highlights: The FinBooster: YES Bank - BankBazaar Co-branded Credit Card helps you to build a high credit score and good credit behaviour. You get regular credit fitness reports and these give you insights into your financial health.
Joining Fee: NIL
Renewal Fee: NIL
Features and benefits:
- With the FinBooster: YES Bank - BankBazaar Co-branded Credit Card, you get monthly credit fitness reports with a real-time dashboard to track your credit score. This access will be granted once you complete your first transaction with the FinBooster: YES Bank - BankBazaar Co-branded Credit Card.
- You have access to insights that will help you in improving your credit score.
- There is no cap on reward points and the points never expire.
- Accidental death insurance cover up to Rs.2.5 lakh
Rewards redemption options:
- You get 5x reward points on online dining spends.
- Earn 3x reward points on online grocery and online apparel spends.
- You get 2 reward points for every Rs.200 swiped for other retail spends, except for fuel expenses.
- The reward points that you earn can be shared with friends and family.
- The reward points that you convert into cash will be directly credited to your savings account.
Suitable for: Those who want to build a high credit score and get access to the Credit Fitness Tracker
RBL Bank BankBazaar SaveMax Credit Card
The RBL Bank BankBazaar SaveMax Credit Card is a lifetime free credit card that offers a wide range of attractive rewards and cashbacks. The card also comes with a free monthly credit advisory on BankBazaar which will help you track your spending and monitor your credit score. The credit card also comes with balance transfer, EMI conversion, and pre-approved loan facility.
Joining Fee: NIL
Renewal Fee: NIL
Features & Benefits
- Convert all spending over Rs.2,500 into easy EMIs.
- Xpress Cash facility for instant funds into your account.
- 10% cashback (up to Rs.100 every month on each merchant) on BookMyShow and Zomato transactions.
- Up to 100% discounts using EMI Infinity Pass on the Split n Pay Fee.
- Manage your credit card, pay utility bills, get merchant offers and instant loans through the RBL Bank MyCard App.
- Contactless payments in a fast and secure manner of up to Rs.5,000 in retail outlets.
Rewards redemption options:
- Earn 5x reward points on grocery spends (maximum 1000 reward points per month)
- Earn 5x reward points on fuel spends (maximum 1000 reward points per month).
- Earn 1 reward point for every Rs.100 spent on other categories.
HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card
Key Highlights: The HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card offers benefits across various lifestyle categories such as dining, shopping, etc.
Joining Fee: NIL
Renewal Fee: NIL
Introductory offers:
- Get Amazon voucher worth Rs.5000
- Get up to 3 complimentary airport lounge access both at domestic as well as international airport
- Avail 50% discount (up to Rs.100) on first transaction at Google Pay
- Get 10% cashback up to Rs.2,000 on conducting 5 transactions worth Rs.10,000 within the first 60 days of card issuance.
Features and benefits:
- Earn 2 reward points for every Rs.150 spent on the card.
- 5X reward points after exceeding the spend limit of Rs.4 lakh to maximum Rs.10 lakh in a year.
- Fuel surcharge waived off (up to Rs.250 p.m.) for transactions between Rs.400 and Rs.4000.
- Movie ticket voucher worth Rs.500 on monthly spends of over Rs.50,000.
- Upto 15% off on dining bills at more than 1,000restaurants in major cities.
Rewards redemption options: Reward points can be redeemed for a wide range of products listed in the rewards catalog.
Suitable for: People who use their credit card for regular spends including dining, shopping, and all other daily expenses.
Eligibility to apply for the HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card
| Age |
18 to 65 years |
| Employment status |
Salaried |
| Annual salary |
Rs.4 lakh |
| Current city of residence |
Bangalore, Chennai, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Mumbai, Noida, or Pune. |
IndusInd Bank Platinum Card
Key Highlights: IndusInd Bank Platinum Card provides benefits across various categories including travel, lifestyle, entertainment, etc. Pay the joining fee and enjoy the benefits offered by the card lifetime for free.
Joining Fee: NIL(Only when you applied through BankBazaar.com). For others, it is Rs.3,000.
Renewal Fee: NIL
Joining Bonus: Gift voucher from global brands including EazyDiner, MakeMyTrip, Vouchagram, ALDO, Urban Ladder, Jet Airways, Satya Paul and several others.
Features and benefits:
- Complimentary golf lessons from qualified instructors at select golf clubs in India.
- Travel benefits include pre-trip assistance, exclusive booking, hotel reservation, and other concierge services.
- Complimentary priority pass membership that provides access to more than 700 airport lounges across the globe.
- Getaninsurance cover against unauthorized transactions and counterfeit frauds.
- Auto Assist that provides round the clock assistance for all roadside assistance.
- Enjoy 1% fuel surcharge waiver at all petrol pumps across the country.
Rewards redemption options: Redeem reward points for hotel stay vouchers, cash credit, air miles, and products fromIndus Moments.
Suitable for: Individuals looking for the premium lifestyle privileges in a single card with less maintenance.
SBI Card Unnati
Key Highlights: Issued against a fixed deposit amount of minimum Rs.25,000, the SBI Card Unnati is much suitable for people without a credit history.
Joining fee: NIL
Renewal fee: NIL. For first four years
Features and benefits:
- 1 reward point for every Rs.100 spent
- Spend Rs.50,000 per year and get a cashback of Rs.500
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver valid for transactions between Rs.500 and Rs.3,000
Rewards redemption option: Redeem reward points against a wide variety of gifts from the rewards catalog.
Suitable for: First time credit card applicants without a credit history.
YES Prosperity Edge Credit Card
Key Highlights: Apply for YES Bank credit card now and enjoy the benefits offered by the card free for lifetime.
The YES Prosperity Edge credit card provides accelerated rewards on online and international transactions along with other travel and entertainment benefits.
Joining Fee: Rs.1,199.
Renewal Fee: Rs.1,199.
Joining Bonus: Earn 1,500 reward points as a welcome gift on spending Rs.7,500 within the first 30 days of the card issuance.
Features and benefits:
- Up to 6 reward points on every Rs.100 spent on birthday, online, and international purchases.
- 12 complimentary golf lessons per year at select golf courses in India
- Free membership to airport priority pass program and 2 free lounge visits per quarter to domestic airports.
- Insurance coverage up to Rs.65 lakh for primary cardholder.
- Discounted interest rate and preferential foreign currency mark-up fee.
Rewards redemption options: Redeem reward points to book flights, hotels, and movie tickets (1 RP = Rs.0.25), for JPMiles (4RP = 1 JPMile) or for exclusive products from rewards catalog.
Suitable for: Individuals who shop online, especially on international websites or locations. Travel, golf, and other benefits come as complimentary.
Eligibility to apply for the YES Prosperity Edge Credit Card
| Age |
21 to 60 years |
| Employment status |
Salaried or Self Employed |
| Income (salaried) |
Rs.60,000 per month |
| Income (self-employed) |
Minimum income tax return of Rs.7.20 lakh |
Axis Insta Easy Credit Card
Key Highlights: Issued against a fixed deposit amount of minimum Rs.20,000 and maximum Rs.25 lakh, the Axis Insta Easy Credit Card is much suitable for people without a credit history.
Joining Fee: NIL
Renewal Fee: NIL
Features and benefits:
- Set flexible credit limits - up to 80% of the fixed deposit
- 100% of the credit limit allowed for cash withdrawal.
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
- 15% off on dining bills at select restaurants.
Rewards redemption options: Redeem reward points for more than 500 products listed in the rewards catalog.
Suitable for: First time credit card applicants without a credit history.
Eligibility :
- Minimum fixed deposit at any Axis Bank branch
- Minimum FD amount of Rs.20,000 and maximum of Rs.25 lakh.
- Age should be above 18 years.
Kotak Fortune Gold Credit Card
Key Highlights: Exclusively offered for businessmen, the Kotak Fortune Gold Credit Card offers basic credit card benefits on fuel, ticket booking, etc.
Joining Fee: NIL
Renewal Fee: NIL
Features and benefits:
- Spend Rs. 1, 50,000 in a year and get 4 free PVR tickets OR Cash back of Rs. 750
- Higher cash limit of up to 50% of the credit limit
- 1% fuel surcharge and 1.8% railway ticket booking surcharge will be waived.
- A credit shield cover worth Rs.50,000 for lost credit card.
Suitable for: People looking for a basic credit card.
Eligibility to apply for the Kotak Fortune Gold Card
| Age |
21 to 65 years |
| Employment status |
Self Employed |
| Income |
Minimum income Rs.3 lakh |
YES Prosperity Reward Plus Card
Key Highlights: Earn while you spend through the accelerated rewards offered by the YES Prosperity Reward Plus Card. Online and international spends would be given special benefit.
Joining Fee: Rs.499.
Renewal Fee: Rs.499.
Joining Bonus: Earn 20,000 reward points as a welcome gift on spending Rs.7.5 lakh within one year of the card issuance.
Features and benefits:
- Accelerated rewards point will continue to be offered on select transactions on YESCART
- 8 Reward Points for every INR 200 on all categories other than ‘Select categories’
- 4 Reward Point for every INR 200 on Select categories
- 5X Reward Points on first 3 transactions of the biller registered on YES PayNow
- Insurance coverage in case of accidental death of primary cardholder.
- Discounted interest rate and preferential foreign currency mark-up fee.
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver valid at all petrol stations across India.
Rewards redemption options: Redeem reward points for JPMiles (4RP = 1 JPMile) or exclusive products from rewards catalogue.
Suitable for: Individuals who shop online, especially on international websites or locations.
Eligibility to apply for the YES Prosperity Reward Plus Credit Card
| Age |
21 to 60 years |
| Employment status |
Salaried or Self Employed |
| Income (salaried) |
Rs.25,000 per month |
| Income (self-employed) |
Minimum income tax return of Rs.5 lakh |
| Others |
This card is also available against a fixed deposit with YES Bank |
Axis Insta Easy Credit Card
Key Highlights: The credit card gives you a good credit limit and also offers fuel surcharge waiver.
Joining Fee: NIL
Renewal Fee: NIL
Features and benefits:
- Withdraw up to 100% of your credit limit
- Get a credit limit up to 80% of your fixed deposit
- Get 1% fuel surcharge waiver.
- Get 15% discount on dining.
- The card comes with a platinum chip.
- For transactions over Rs.2,500, you can convert them into EMIs.
YES First Preferred Credit Card
Key Highlights: Travel, entertainment, insurance cover, shopping, dining - The card saves money on all these category spends. Apply now for YES First Preferred Credit Card and enjoy the benefits free from life time.
Joining Fee: NIL (Limited-time offer)
Renewal Fee: NIL (Limited-time offer)
Joining Bonus: Get 10,000 reward points on your first transaction within the first 90 days of card issuance.
Features and benefits:
- Complimentary Priority Pass Membership with 4 free airport lounge visits per year.
- Spend-based rewards of up to 20,000 reward points.
- One free golf lesson per month at select Indian golf courses.
- 25% off on movie ticket booking on BookMyShow.
- Life insurance cover worth Rs.1 Crore for primary cardholder.
- 24X7 concierge services that provide assistance for car rental booking, hotel reservations, restaurant referrals, gift delivery, etc.
Rewards redemption options: Reward points can be redeemed against flight, hotel, and movie ticket bookings (1 RP = Rs.0.25) or JPMiles (8RP = 1 InterMiles) or an exclusive list of products.
Suitable for: Individuals looking for the best of lifestyle privileges on their credit cards.
Eligibility to apply for the YES First Preferred Credit Card
| Age |
21 to 60 years |
| Employment status |
Salaried or Self Employed |
| Income (salaried) |
Rs.2 lakh per month |
| Income (self-employed) |
Minimum income tax return of Rs.24 lakh |
| Others |
Fixed deposit of at least Rs.3 lakh with YES Bank |
Axis MY Zone Easy Credit Card
Key Highlights: With zero annual fee, the Axis MY Zone Easy Credit Card provides benefits across various categories including travel, entertainment, dining, and rewards.
Joining Fee: NIL
Renewal Fee: NIL
Features and benefits:
- Buy one get one free movie tickets
- Avail 100% discount on second movie ticket at Paytm movies booked using My Zone credit card
- Get SonyLiv premium subscription on your first swipe within 30 days of card issuance
- Avail 40% off on food ordered via Swiggy
Rewards redemption options: Redeem reward points for more than 500 products listed in the rewards catalogue.
Suitable for: Weekend freaks who spend on dining and movies frequently.
YES Premia Credit Card
Key Highlights: Travel, entertainment, insurance cover, shopping, dining - The card saves money on all these categories spending. Apply now for YES Premia Credit Card and enjoy the benefits free for life time.
Joining Fee: NIL (Limited time offer)
Renewal Fee: NIL (Limited time offer)
Features and benefits:
- Reward points that never expire.
- Complimentary access to airport lounges through the Complimentary Priority Pass Membership.
- Low interest rate and attractive foreign currency markup fee.
- Insurance coverage of Rs.2.5 lakh in case of accidental death.
- 1 complimentary golf lesson per month at selected golf courses in India
- Avail waiver of 4 Green Fee at select golf courses in India
- 1% Fuel surcharge waiverg at fuel stations across India for transaction between INR 400 to INR 5,000
Rewards redemption options: Reward points can be redeemed against flight, hotel, and movie ticket bookings (1 RP = Rs.0.25) or JPMiles (8RP = 1 InterMiles) or an exclusive list of products.
Suitable for: Exclusively offered for YES Premia Banking customers.
Eligibility to apply for the YES Premia Credit Card
| Age |
21 to 60 years |
| Employment status |
Salaried or Self Employed |
| Income (salaried) |
Rs.1.20 lakh per month |
| Income (self-employed) |
Minimum income tax return of Rs.14.4 lakh and above |
IDFC First Select Credit Card
Key Highlights: The IDFC First Select Credit Card high reward with zero annual fee.
Joining Fee: NIL
Renewal Fee: NIL
Features and benefits:
- On purchases exceeding Rs.20,000 per billing cycle, get 10x reward points
- 10x reward points on birthday spends
- On online purchases, get 6x reward points
- On offline purchases, get 3x reward points
- Get gift voucher worth Rs.500 on spending Rs.15,000 in first 90 days
- Get up to 4 per quarter domestic airport lounge access
- Get up to 4 per quarter railway lounge access
- Low foreign exchange mark-up fee of 1.99%
Suitable for: Frequent shoppers and travellers.
Bank of Baroda Prime Credit Card
Key Highlights: This Bank of Baroda Prime Credit Card is best suited for people who are looking for cashback on daily spending.
Joining Fee: NIL
Renewal Fee: NIL
Features and benefits:
- This card is issued against fixed deposit of Rs.15,000 or more
- Allows you to redeem rewards against cash credit
- Allows you to convert transactions above Rs.2,500 into easy EMIs
- Fuel surcharge waived up to Rs.250 every month
Suitable for: People looking for returns in terms of cashback.
RBL Insignia Preferred Banking World Credit Card
Key Highlights: This RBL Insignia Preferred Banking World Credit Card is best suited for people looking for benefits while shopping, dining and entertainment.
Joining Fee: NIL
Renewal Fee: NIL
Features and benefits:
- 10x reward points on international spends and 5x reward points on domestic spends
- Get access to more than 1,000 international airport lounges with priority pass membership
- Avail discount of Rs.500 on BookMyShow every month
- Discounts on dining at selected partner restaurants
- Complimentary golf rounds with 50% discounted green fee access
Suitable for: Shopping, dining, entertainment and golf experiences.
How To Apply for a No Annual Fee Credit Cards Online?
To apply for no annual fee credit cards online, you can visit the respective bank website or you can apply through BankBazaar, which is an authorised partner of top banks in India.
Steps to apply through BankBazaar website
- Visit www.bankbazaar.com/credit-card.html and select the card that you want.
- Click the 'Eligibility' button to check your eligibility for the card
- If you are eligible, you will find an option to Apply, click on the same, enter the required details and submit
- You would be asked to upload the required documents.
- Once they are uploaded, click 'Submit'.
On successfully submitting the application and the necessary documents, you would receive an 'Application ID'. Use this ID to track your application status by clicking' Track Application '.
FAQs on Lifetime Free Credit Cards
-
Are there any other hidden charges if I use a Lifetime Free credit card?
No, there are no hidden charges if you use a lifetime free credit card. The bank is very clear about the charges associated with the card. You pay only what you spend.
-
What will happen if I use a lifetime free credit card and do not clear the bill on time?
A lifetime free credit card works just like any other credit card. If you do not pay your bill on time, then the bank will charge you a late fee. If you still do not pay the credit card bill on time, then the bank deactivates your card due to which your credit score suffers.
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Which credit card by YES Bank does not have any joining or annual fee?
The FinBooster: YES BANK - BankBazaar Co-branded Credit Card does not have any joining or annual fee.
-
How can I find lifetime free credit cards?
You can do basic google search to find lifetime free credit cards offered by banks in India. You can also get in touch with the bank with whom you hold a bank account and enquire about lifetime free credit cards. If you have a good relationship with your bank, they will most probably offer you a lifetime free credit card.
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Can I use a lifetime free credit card overseas?
Yes, you may use your credit card overseas, but the charges will differ from bank to bank. Hence, do check with the lender regarding the charges applicable if you use your card abroad.
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Can I use my lifetime credit card to withdraw money from ATMs in India?
Yes, you can use your lifetime credit card to withdraw money from ATMs in India.
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What is the joining benefit I get with the YES Prosperity Reward Plus Card?
You get 1,250 reward points as a welcome gift on spending Rs.5,000 within the first 30 days of the card being issued.
-
Should I have a minimum salary to apply for the HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card?
Yes, your minimum annual salary should be Rs.4 lakh.
-
Do I get free golf lessons with the IndusInd Bank Platinum Card?
Yes, you get complimentary golf lessons from qualified instructors at select golf clubs in India.
-
Is there a credit card that will give me a free Credit Advisory Report?
Yes, the RBL Bank BankBazaar SaveMax Credit Card offers a free Credit Advisory Report every month.
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