10 Best Credit Cards For Reward Points In India 2022

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Everyone likes freebies and rewards. You can earn rewards on your monthly expenses by paying with a credit card, obviously when you apply for a credit card online. Using your credit card for daily expenses can help you earn credit card reward points, without making any extra effort or going out of your way to make unnecessary expenses. These reward points can be encashed for merchandise or can even help you pay your credit card bill.

Selecting a credit card just because it offers n-number of rewards isn’t a fruitful decision though. Every card offers a distinct category of rewards and you need to select the same based on your preferences. This is why we have created a list of the best credit cards for reward points in India.

List of 10 Best Credit Cards for Reward Points For 2022

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1. ICICI Rubyx Credit Card

Points to Consider
  1. ICICI Rubyx allows its users to earn upto six PAYBACK points for every Rs 100 spent on several categories.
  2. PAYBACK points which can further be redeemed for gift vouchers, products, or cash.
  3. Welcome vouchers worth Rs 5,000 on paying joining fees.
Joining fees:Rs 3,000 + GST
Annual fees: Rs 2,000 + GST (waived off on spends of over Rs 2 lakhs in a year)
Interest rate: 3.4% per month (40.8% per annum)
pros
  • 2 complimentary rounds of Golf per month at leading golf courses in India.
  • 2X rewards on domestic spends and upto 4X rewards on all international spending.
  • 1% fuel surcharge waiver across fuel stations in India.
  • Complimentary access to select domestic airport lounges (on spending min. Of Rs 5,000 per month) and Railway lounges.
Cons
  • No complimentary international airport lounge access

Why We Picked This Card?

One of the best credit cards from ICICI Bank, this premium card gets you good rewards plus access to luxury experiences like golf.

2. RBL Platinum Maxima Credit Card

Points to Consider
  1. RBL Platinum Maxima credit card comes with an amazing reward system.
  2. It offers accelerated rewards across categories like dining, entertainment, and utility.
  3. Customers also get milestone-based rewards on crossing the threshold limit.
Joining fees:Rs 2,000
Annual fees: Rs 2,000
Interest rate: 3.99% per month (47.88% per annum)
pros
  • 5X rewards earned on dining, utility bill payments and international spending.
  • Milestone-based rewards such as 10,000 reward points for spending more than Rs. 2.5 Lakh in a year.
  • 10,000 additional points on the spending of Rs 4.5 Lakh and above.
  • Welcome rewards worth 8,000 reward points.
  • All in all, more than 63,000 reward points can be earned yearly, if used optimally.
Cons
  • No premium features like complimentary golf rounds.
  • Domestic airport lounge access capped at 2 per quarter.

Why We Picked This Card?

One of RBL Bank’s best cards out there, the Platinum Maxima is great if you spend a lot. You can garner lot of points with milestone rewards

3. Axis Select Credit Card

Points to Consider
  1. This extra rewarding card from Axis Bank has a mix of premium as well as reward-oriented customers.
  2. You get Club Marriott membership and year-round discounts on BigBasket and Swiggy.
Joining fees:Rs 3,000
Annual fees: Rs 3,000
Interest rate: 3.6% per month (52.86% per annum)
pros
  • Welcome benefits and vouchers worth Rs 2000
  • 5000 Axis Edge points are earned on activation
  • Air accident insurance worth Rs 2.5 Crores
  • Upto 20% off on BigBasket and 40% off on Swiggy
  • Complimentary Membership of Priority Pass program worth USD 99
  • Three rounds of Golf per calendar year
Cons
  • Steep interest rates
  • Joining/renewal fee waiver is only for Axis Burgundy account holders.

Why We Picked This Card?

The Axis Select is a good way to earn superb rewards while getting a premium experience.

4. HDFC Infinia Credit Card

Points to Consider
  1. A super-premium and rewarding credit card that caters to all aspects of a power-packed lifestyle.
  2. Best-in-class reward system; points can be exchanged into vouchers of Tanishq and Apple of equivalent value.
  3. Apart from this 1 reward point is also equivalent to Rs 1 when converted into Smartbuy travel vouchers.
Joining fees:Rs 12,500 + GST
Annual fees: Rs 12,500 + GST (waived off on spends of over Rs 10 lakhs)
Interest rate: 1.99% per month (23.88% per annum)
pros
  • Complimentary Club Marriott membership and access to select ITC hotels for dining.
  • Unlimited domestic and international airport lounge access at 1000+ partners across the globe.
  • Comes with Accidental Air Insurance worth 3 Crores
  • 10X reward points earned on travel and shopping via Smartbuy
Cons
  • Based on HDFC Bank’s terms and conditions, this card is solely invite-only. No eligibility criteria is publicly mentioned.

Why We Picked This Card?

Possibly the most rewarding credit card in the super premium segment, Infinia is the one to get maximum rewards on travel.

5. Citibank Rewards Credit Card

Points to Consider
  1. The perfect credit card for the shopper in you.
  2. Citibank Rewards credit card offers amazing instant discounts and rewards on various categories like shopping, entertainment, dining, and grocery.
  3. If used optimally, customers can save more than Rs 4,800 in terms of cashback and rewards.
Joining fees:0
Annual fees: Rs 1,000 (waived off on spends of over Rs 30,000 in a year)
Interest rate: 3.5% per month (42% per annum)
pros
  • Welcome rewards offered worth Rs 2,500
  • Zero joining fees, easy annual fee waiver
  • Accelerated rewards on departmental and apparel stores
  • 300 bonus reward points on spends of over Rs 30,000 in a calendar month
  • Earned reward points never expire
Cons
  • Limited service network of the bank as branches are majorly present in metropolitan cities.

Why We Picked This Card?

The Citi Rewards is a solid entry into Citibank’s superior customer service and luxury access.

6. SBI Elite Credit Card

Points to Consider
  1. A cashback and rewards-centric credit card that offers rewards in all categories: dining, entertainment, shopping, travel, and lifestyle.
  2. The rewards rate is as high as 2.5% on various transactions.
  3. Pampers the user with welcome gift vouchers from brands like Yatra, Hush Puppies, Pantaloons, Aditya Birla Fashion, and Shoppers Stop.
Joining fees:Rs 4,999
Annual fees: Rs 4,999
Interest rate: 3.5% per month (42% per annum)
pros
  • Complimentary Club Vistara and Priority Pass membership.
  • Offers milestone-based rewards like 10000 points for spending Rs 3 lakhs in a year, 15000 for spending Rs 5 lakhs, and so on
  • 2 Complimentary International and Domestic Airport lounge access
  • Lowest currency markup fee of 1.99% for international currency
Cons
  • No standout benefits as part of the super premium category of cards.

Why We Picked This Card?

SBI Card, with the Elite, shows that the state-run card issuer can offer a premium credit card competing with the best ones out there.

7. Standard Chartered Platinum Rewards

Points to Consider
  1. Standard Chartered Platinum rewards credit card is the only card in this category with no upper limit on earned rewards.
  2. Users can earn unlimited rewards in the categories of fuel, dining, and entertainment.
Joining fees:Rs 250
Annual fees: Rs 250
Interest rate: 3.75% per month (45% per annum)
pros
  • 5X rewards on fuel and dining categories
  • Earned rewards can be used to claim merchandise or settle outstanding dues
  • High rewards on select categories
Cons
  • Low rewards on categories other than fuel, dining, and entertainment.

Why We Picked This Card?

Standard Chartered scores big with this credit card that offers you brilliant reward points on fuel spends. Check out our list of best fuel credit cards for more on this.

8. SBI SimplySAVE Card

Points to Consider
  1. SimplySAVE is an all-rounder credit card that offers accelerated rewards on most categories like Dining, Movies, Departmental Stores, and Grocery.
  2. It is made for rewards on your offline spends, a category usually not highly regarded among credit card purchases.
Joining fees:Rs 499
Annual fees: Rs 499 (waived off on spends of over Rs 1 lakh in a year)
Interest rate: 3.5% per month (42% per annum)
pros
  • 1% fuel surcharge waiver across all fuel stations in India
  • 10X reward points on Dining, Movies, Departmental Stores, and Grocery Spends
  • On all other categories, users earn 1 Reward point per Rs 100 spent
  • Affordable joining and annual fees
Cons
  • No complimentary Domestic Airport or Railway lounge access

Why We Picked This Card?

If offline spends are on your mind, the SimplySAVE should be in your wallet.

9. SBI IRCTC Rupay Card

Points to Consider
  1. SBI IRCTC is an internationally accepted credit card based on the Rupay platform.
  2. It offers amazing rewards to customers frequently traveling via train in India.
  3. This best credit card offers amazing rewards to customers frequently traveling via train in India.
  4. Additionally, it gives you decent rewards on all spends except fuel transactions.
Joining fees:Rs 500 + GST
Annual fees: Rs 300 + GST
Interest rate: 3.5% per month (42% per annum)
pros
  • 10% rewards on train bookings on IRCTC website and app
  • One reward point for every Rs 125 spent elsewhere
  • 4 Complimentary Railway Lounge access in a year
  • 1% fuel surcharge waiver
Cons
  • No reward points on fuel spends

Why We Picked This Card?

Great card to get if you have a lot of train bookings in a year. The railway lounge access helps a lot too.

10. YES Prosperity Rewards Plus Card

Points to Consider
  1. This YES Bank credit card with reward points has loads of features for customers spending on shopping and travel.
  2. Offers features like conversion of reward points into Club Vistara points.
  3. The reward rate and redemption rate are decent against the annual fees.
Joining fees:Rs 399
Annual fees: Rs 399 (waived off on spends of over Rs 50,000 in a year)
Interest rate: 3.5% per month (42% per annum)
pros
  • Earn 4 Reward points on every ₹200 spent on select categories
  • Reward points never expire
  • Accelerated rewards points by using YES CART
  • Fuel Surcharge waiver can be availed on all fuel stations in India
Cons
  • Complimentary airport lounge access is not offered

Why We Picked This Card?

Affordable credit card for the kind of rewards it offers. But make sure you buy using the bank’s portal.

Compare Best Credit Cards for Reward Points

Credit Cards Joining Fees Maximum Rewards on
ICICI Bank Rubyx Rs 3,000 PAYBACK partner brands
RBL Platinum Maxima Rs 2,000 Dining, entertainment, utility bills
Axis Select Rs 3,000 Retail shopping
Citi Rewards Rs 12,500 Departmental stores, apparel
SBI Elite Rs 4,999 Dining, departmental stores, grocery
Standard Chartered Platinum Rewards Rs 250 Fine dining, fuel
SBI SimplySAVE Rs 499 Offline spends
SBI IRCTC Rupay Rs 500 IRCTC bookings
YES Prosperity Rewards Plus Rs 399 YES CART transactions

What to look for in a good credit card for reward points?

1.Spending categories

Before you pick your next rewards credit card, you need to know which categories you spend the most money on - dining, grocery, travel, or anything else. The above table can help you match the category of your choice to the credit card that offers the best rewards on it.

2.Reward rates

Now that you have finalised cards based on your general spending categories, you need to know what you get in return. Ensure that the points or cashback the credit card offes is the highest in the category so you can get the best bang for your buck whenever you spend offline or online.

3.Reward redemption

Apart from reward rates, reward redemption is also an important factor to consider. You should know how many points convert to how many rupees for statement credit, gift vouchers, or any other mode of redemption. Choose the one that is suitable and offers a decent redemption rate. Anything below Rs 0.2 per point is low while anything around Re 1 per point is brilliant.

4.Fees and charges

Obviously, choose a card with nil or low annual fees. Or, atleast go for one where you are confident of going above the threshold required for annual fee waiver. This ensures you get a higher value back. You could also check out our list of best free lifetime credit cards.

Conclusion

Rewards and cashback, when looked upon in the larger scheme of things, can help you save and earn thousands of rupees in a year. Additionally, paying using a credit card offers you complimentary insurance. The best credit cards for reward points come with a long list of benefits, however it is equally important to look after other aspects like joining/renewal fees and, most importantly, the terms and conditions. Research well before you apply.