Best Lifetime Free Credit Cards in India

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Electronic payments are rising in India, and with that, people are transitioning to the cashless system. Because of the new regulations and convenience, credit cards are prevalent. They come with a lot of charges, which can be a burden for a lot of users. However, some of the banks and institutions issue some of the best lifetime free credit cards as well. These cards usually come with no joining fees and no annual fees, or annual fees with comfortable waivers.

So we decided to put together a list of the best lifetime free credit cards in India 2021. This will help you finalise your pick for the best lifetime free credit card in India with no annual fees.

List of 8 Best Lifetime Free Credit Cards For 2022

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1. HDFC Millennia

Points to Consider
  1. HDFC Millennia is the best lifetime free credit card (till offer period lasts) from HDFC if you are looking to get into the HDFC ecosystem of rewarding cards.
  2. This card comes with loads of benefits you should not miss.
  3. You get cashback on categories like wallet reloads and offline spends
Joining fees:0
Annual fees: 0
Interest rate: 3.6% per month (43.2% per annum)
pros
  • Eight free domestic airport lounge visits in a year.
  • You get 1,000 cash points as a welcome benefit.
  • 5% cashback on Flipkart and Amazon.
  • You will get a voucher worth Rs. 1000 on spending Rs 1 Lakh in a calendar quarter in the first year.
Cons
  • The cash points you collect are only valid for one year from the date of accumulation.
  • HDFC Millennia doesn’t offer any cashback on fuel transactions.

Why We Picked This Card?

The Millennia is a great entry into the ecosystem of HDFC Bank’s super rewarding credit cards. Currently being lifetime free, it makes sense to go for it.

2. Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card

Points to Consider
  1. One of the most sought-after credit cards in the Indian market.
  2. It offers 5% cashback on all online purchases done on Amazon.in (Prime users).
  3. Has a low income requirement, no fees, and a superb reward mechanism as per its category
Joining fees:0
Annual fees: 0
Interest rate: 3.5% to 3.8% per month (42% to 45.6% per annum)
pros
  • You will earn 5% cashback on every purchase (Amazon Prime members).
  • It is the best lifetime free credit card from ICICI with no annual fees.
  • You will earn 3% cashback on every Amazon purchase even if you are not an Amazon Prime member.
  • Earn 2% cashback on the payments you make at over 100 partner merchants of Amazon Pay.
Cons
  • You should be an Amazon Prime member to enjoy the full benefits.
  • No complimentary airport lounge access

Why We Picked This Card?

The Amazon Pay ICICI offers you the highest cashback on Amazon.in and partner websites. If you are a frequent online shopper, this card is a no-brainer. The Axis Flipkart is a good alternative too, albeit with fees. The Axis credit card offers 5% back on Flipkart purchases.

3. ICICI Platinum Credit Card

Points to Consider
  1. ICICI Platinum credit card is the best lifetime free credit card issued against a fixed deposit.
  2. With an ICICI Platinum credit card, you earn PAYBACK points on every eligible transaction.
Joining fees:0
Annual fees: 0
Interest rate: 2.49% per month (29.88% per annum)
pros
  • You will earn 1 PAYBACK point per Rs. 100 spent on utilities and insurance categories.
  • 2 PAYBACK points are earned per Rs. 100 spent for every retail purchase except fuel.
  • You will earn movies and travel vouchers, lifestyle products, and other merchandise against your payback points.
  • This is a lifetime free credit card without any joining and annual fees.
Cons
  • You won’t get any lounge access and flight benefits.
  • PAYBACK points cannot be converted into cash.

Why We Picked This Card?

If you are facing issues with your credit score, the ICICI Platinum can help you build your score. Just get it against a fixed deposit and take care of regular repayments. It is also the best credit card for fuel rewards, in this category.

4. Kotak 811 Credit Card

Points to Consider
  1. Kotak Mahindra has brought you the Kotak 811 #dreamdifferent credit card, which comes with ZERO joining and annual fees.
  2. A fixed deposit account of minimum Rs 10,000 is mandatory to get this card. Apart from that, approval is usually a breeze.
  3. It is a truly digital credit card, with no branch visit or required
Joining fees:0
Annual fees: 0
Interest rate: 3.5% per month (42% per annum)
pros
  • You will earn 2 reward points against every Rs.100 spent online.
  • One reward points against every Rs. 100 on other expenses.
  • You will get 500 reward points on activation — if you spend Rs. 5000 in the first 45 days of issuance.
  • You will get a 1% fuel surcharge waiver across all petrol pumps for transactions between Rs. 500 and Rs. 3000.
Cons
  • No standout benefits or rewards on offer

Why We Picked This Card?

If you are all about the digital-exclusive banking experience, this credit card is the one for you. More of an experience than the benefits, really.

5. HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card

Points to Consider
  1. This card is one of the best lifetime free credit cards for dining, fuel, and shopping expenses
  2. Multiple milestone benefits with an option to earn 15,000 points in a billing year
  3. Air miles conversion with InterMiles, British Airways, and Singapore Airlines is available
Joining fees:0
Annual fees: 0
Interest rate: 3.3% per month
pros
  • Amazon voucher worth Rs. 250 on spending Rs. 500 or more within 30 days of the card activation.
  • You will earn 2 reward points on every Rs.150 spent.
  • You will get a 10% discount on TataCLIQ with HSBC cards on apparel, electronics, and other categories.
  • Get a fuel surcharge waiver for transactions between Rs 400 and Rs 4,000.
Cons
  • It’s not really a rewarding credit card; your spends need to be substantially higher to get a decent return.

Why We Picked This Card?

This lifestyle credit card is great for regular rewards across categories. Earn extra rewards on credit cards with this list.

6. IDFC First Bank Wealth Credit Card

Points to Consider
  1. IDFC First wealth credit card is the only super premium card in India with lifetime free benefits
  2. Offers card-specific benefits apart from VISA Infinite rewards
  3. A superb interest rate on offer (as low as 0.75% per month for certain users)
Joining fees:0
Annual fees: 0
Interest rate: 0.75-3% per month
pros
  • Unlimited reward points that never expire.
  • You will get 10x reward points on incremental spending of more than Rs.20,000 per month.
  • You can use reward points to pay for online or in-store purchases instantly.
  • There are no fees for redeeming reward points.
  • You get access to international and domestic airport lounges and spas.
  • Interest-free cash withdrawal anywhere in the world.
Cons
  • You won’t get any reward points on insurance and EMI.
  • Although it’s a super premium card, the benefits are not really on par

Why We Picked This Card?

Probably the best credit card that is lifetime free. Also gives you an unbeatable interest rate in case you fail to make repayments.

7. HDFC Bank Moneyback Credit Card

Points to Consider
  1. HDFC Moneyback credit card is one of India’s most beginner-friendly credit cards, and offers lucrative cashback on every transaction.
  2. MoneyBack card provides decent rewards across all categories, including utility bill payments, shopping, and fuel.
  3. Offers 4 reward points on every Rs 100 spent on online spends and 2 reward points on offline spends, excluding some.
Joining fees:0
Annual fees: 0
Interest rate: 3.6% per month (43.2% per annum)
pros
  • You will earn 2 reward points on every Rs. 150 spent.
  • If you are a frequent online shopper, you will earn 4 points on every Rs. 150 spent online.
  • You will get a 1% fuel surcharge waiver at all fuel stations PAN India on minimum transactions of Rs. 400.
  • If you lose your credit card, you will have ZERO liability on any fraudulent transaction made using your card. That’s a huge relief.
Cons
  • You don’t get any access to lounge benefits.
  • If your quarterly expenditure is less than 50k, then the rate of rewards will be low.

Why We Picked This Card?

The MoneyBack, like the Millennia, is a great entry into the HDFC Bank group of rewarding cards. Get it if you want better rewards in the long term.

8. HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card

Points to Consider
  1. A lifetime free credit card that has a relatively low entry barrier and helps you build credit faster.
  2. Get gift voucher worth ₹1000 on annual spends of ₹90,000 and higher
  3. 10X reward points on PayZapp & SmartBuy spends
Joining fees:0
Annual fees: 0
Interest rate: 3.6% per month (43.2% per annum)
pros
  • HDFC Bank Freedom credit card is a great credit card for beginners.
  • You can claim a fuel surcharge waiver of up to Rs. 250 as per the statement cycle.
  • ZERO liability on a lost card if reported immediately.
  • You will earn 1 reward point on every spend of Rs. 150 and above. You can convert them to cash quickly.
Cons
  • No complimentary airport lounge access

Why We Picked This Card?

HDFC Bank is currently offering lifetime free benefits for most of its entry-level cards. Grab the opportunity while you can.

Compare Best Lifetime Free Credit Cards

Credit Cards Joining Fees Interest rates (per month)
HDFC Bank Millennia03.6%
Amazon Pay ICICI03.5-3.8%
ICICI Bank Platinum02.49%
Kotak 81103.5%
HSBC Visa Platinum03.3%
IDFC First Bank Wealth00.75-3%
HDFC Bank MoneyBack03.6%
HDFC Bank Freedom03.6%

What to look for in a good lifetime free credit card?

1. Terms and conditions

When a bank offers you a free credit card, that too for life, you should look out for the terms and conditions. Make sure there are no hidden charges, no missing benefits, or high interest rates, which might just end up spoiling your experience.

2. Interest rates

As mentioned, interest rates are a big factor while getting a new credit card. While you should avoid as much as possible any outstanding dues, getting a card with 3% or lower finance charges is always a good idea.

3. Benefits/ Rewards

This holds true for any credit card out there. Almost all of them have certain rewards or cashback on specific or general categories. Make sure you get the one that suits your spending pattern to get the highest value out of it.

4. Comparable perks

While a lifetime credit card is always great to have, always compare it with those cards in its segment. If they have substantially better benefits but with manageable annual fees, it might be a good decision to go for that one if you plan to spend well.

Conclusion

You must familiarise yourself with each of the above lifetime free credit cards because they are suited for different needs. These are some of the best in the list of student credit cards as well. So take your time, and there is no need to rush upon anything. If you think you want to know about any specific one, you can talk to the customer support team of the particular bank to get to know the precise details before applying. Good luck. You can also compare credit cards in detail.

FAQs

Which banks provide lifetime free credit cards?

A lot of the top banks like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and IDFC First Bank provide users with great lifetime free credit cards including the Amazon Pay ICICI, IDFC First Wealth, and HDFC Bank Millennia.

Is a lifetime free credit card really free?

Yes, in terms of joining and annual fees, a lifetime free credit card is free of cost. However, you need to pay cash advance charges, cash withdrawal charges, card replacement fees, and other charges wherever applicable.

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 like any other credit card, except that it incurs no joining or annual fees. You need to pay your monthly bills in time to avoid interest, late fees, or any other similar charges.

How can I find lifetime free credit cards?

You can read our blog to find the best lifetime credit cards. Alternatively, you can contact your bank and request for lifetime free credit cards.