Best Credit Cards for Beginners

A certain sense of maturity comes with owning a credit card, a feeling of finally stepping into adulthood. Now, when you are finally adulting, you just might want to enjoy the perks of best credit cards for beginners without paying a hefty fee or having a high credit score. If yes, then you might be interested in entry-level or beginner credit cards. 

These are the starter credit cards that are specially designed for beginners who are new to the world of credit and want to build a good credit history while also getting some benefits. Good credit cards for beginners have a low-income requirement and a reasonable fee, and they offer features such as rewards, cashback, lounge access, exclusive discounts and more. In this article, we will help you find the best credit cards for beginners that suit your needs and preferences.

List of Best Credit Cards for Beginners

1. SBI SimplyCLICK Credit Card

Along with giving rewards for online purchases, the card also offers other features, such as fuel surcharge waiver, e-vouchers, milestone benefits and more. With affordable annual fees and easy eligibility, it stands out as one of the best credit cards for beginners and a great starter credit card for individuals who want to build a credit history while enjoying real savings on their everyday purchases.

Features

Welcome Bonus	An Amazon gift voucher worth ₹500 upon joining. The gift voucher is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.
Fuel Surcharge Waiver	1% fuel surcharge waiver for each transaction between ₹500 and ₹3,000 (max benefit of ₹100 per month).
Reward Benefits	1 reward point for every ₹100 spent on offline purchases. 10X reward points on online purchases at partner merchants (BookMyShow, Apollo 24x7, etc.).  5X reward points on other online purchases.
Milestone Benefits	E-vouchers worth ₹2,000 from ClearTrip/Yatra on achieving annual spends of ₹1 lakh with the card. Another e-voucher worth ₹2,000 from ClearTrip/Yatra on achieving annual spends of ₹2 lakh with the card. If the cardholder spent at least ₹1 lakh in the previous year, the renewal membership cost is waived off.

Fees and Charges

Joining Fees	₹499
Annual Fees	₹499
Annual Percentage Rate	45.00%
Foreign Transaction Fees	3.50%

Eligibility

Applicants' age should be between 18 and 65 years, and their monthly income should be at least ₹20,000.

To know more details about the benefits, rewards, and charges of the SBI SimplyCLICK Credit Card, read here.

2. Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card

If you are looking for a beginner credit card that offers unlimited cashback on your online and offline purchases, the Flipkart Axis Bank credit card might be the right choice. 

This co-branded card from Axis Bank and Flipkart gives you 5% cashback on Flipkart and Myntra, 4% cashback on preferred partners such as Uber, Swiggy, PVR, and Cult.fit, and 1% cashback on all other categories. With this starter credit card, you can enjoy the benefits of online shopping and lifestyle transactions without worrying about the limit or expiry of your cashback.
Features

Welcome Bonus	Flipkart vouchers worth ₹500. 50% discount on Swiggy (maximum discount capped at ₹100).
Travel Benefits	4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per year on spending ₹50,000 in the previous 3 months.
Fuel Surcharge Waiver	1% fuel surcharge waiver for each transaction at all fuel stations in India between ₹400 and ₹4,000 (max benefit of ₹400 per month).
Shopping Benefits	5% cashback on Flipkart and Cleartrip spends 4% cashback on Swiggy, Cult.fit, PVR, and Uber. 1% cash back on all other eligible categories
Dining Benefits	15% discount at partner restaurants across India with EasyDiner under the 'Dining Delights' program by Axis Bank.

Fees and Charges

Joining Fees	₹500
Annual Fees	₹500
Annual Percentage Rate	55.55%
Foreign Transaction Fees	3.50%

Eligibility

Applicants' age should be at least 18 years, and their monthly income should be between ₹15,000- ₹30,000.

To explore complete cashback offers, annual fees, and eligibility for the Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card, click here.

3. Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card

The Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card is a co-branded, lifetime-free card offered by ICICI Bank in collaboration with Amazon Pay and Visa.

The beginner credit card is cost-free for life and provides payback for both online and offline transactions, especially for purchases on Amazon. The payback comes in the form of Amazon Pay Gift Cards that may be redeemed for money from your Amazon Pay balance. It is primarily meant to reward loyal Amazon customers with prizes, upto 5x reward points, a 1-month free EazyDiner membership, a fuel surcharge waiver, and other benefits.

Features

Cashback Benefit	For Amazon Prime members, there is a 5% cashback in the form of an Amazon Pay balance on any purchase made from Amazon’s website. For non-prime members, there is 3% cashback in the form of Amazon Pay Balance.
Reward Benefits	At the end of the payment cycle, earned reward points are deposited into the Amazon Pay balance, where 1 reward point equals ₹1.
Dining Benefits	Discount on dining bills at 8,000+ top restaurants across 92+ cities, participating in ICICI Bank’s Culinary Treats programme.

Fees and Charges

Joining Fees	Free
Annual Fees	Free
Annual Percentage Rate	45.00%
Foreign Transaction Fees	3.50%

Eligibility

Applicants' age should be at least 21 years, and their monthly income should be at least ₹20,000.

To get full information on rewards, Amazon Pay benefits, and features of the Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card, read here.

4. Axis Bank Neo Credit Card

Axis Bank Neo Credit Card is a beginner credit card that can be a perfect fit for shopping lovers. This is a good starter credit card which offers multiple discounts, cashback, and reward points for shopping. With benefits such as 40% off on Zomato orders, 10% off on Blinkit, and 5% cashback on utility bill payments via Paytm, it's designed to maximise your savings on routine spends.

This starter credit card comes with a nominal joining fee of ₹250 and stands out as one of the best credit cards for beginners.

Welcome Bonus	100% cashback up to ₹300 on the first utility bill payment within 30 days of card activation.
Dining Benefits	Upto 15% off (upto ₹500 & min order value of ₹2,500) on dining at partner restaurants. 40% off on Zomato food delivery (max discount ₹120 per order on min order value of ₹200).
Entertainment Benefits	10% off on every movie ticket purchase from BookMyShow (max monthly cashback ₹100).
Zero Liability Protection	If the card is lost or any fraudulent transactions are reported within the stipulated period of time, you receive a zero liability protection cover.
Other Benefits	5% cashback on mobile recharges, broadband, and DTH recharges made through Paytm (max discount ₹150 per month with a min transaction value of ₹299) 10% off on Blinkit (upto ₹250 on min spends of ₹750) ₹150 off on Myntra on a minimum purchase value of ₹999.

Fees and Charges

Joining Fees	₹250
Annual Fees	₹250
Annual Percentage Rate	55.55%
Foreign Transaction Fees	3.50%

Eligibility

Applicant's age should be between 18 and 70 years, and they should have a stable income.

To know more about shopping discounts, cashback offers, and charges of Axis Bank Neo Credit Card, click here.

5. Standard Chartered Super Value Titanium Credit Card

A reward-driven credit card, the Standard Chartered Super Value Titanium Credit Card gives rewards on purchases of petrol, necessities, and other items. This top starter credit card is best for those who want to save money on their everyday expenses like fuel, utility bills, phone bills, etc, as it offers a generous 5% cashback on these categories. Beyond these cashback benefits, this beginner credit card rewards you with 1 reward point for every ₹150 spent on other categories, allowing you to accumulate points that can be redeemed for various offers and discounts.

Along with these advantages, it also provides EMI advantages with support for replacement cards in an emergency.

Features

Travel Benefits	20% off on Uber rides up to ₹600 per month.
Fuel Cashback	5% cashback on fuel spends at all fuel stations, up to ₹200 per month (max cashback of ₹100 per transaction, and applicable on transactions up to ₹2,000).
Cashback Benefits	5% cashback on paying utility and telephone bills, with min transaction amount of ₹750 (max cashback ₹100 per transaction).  The max monthly cashback for utility payments is ₹100, while it’s ₹200 for telephone bill payments.
Reward Benefits	One reward point for every ₹150 you spend on other purchases using your credit card.

Fees and Charges

Joining Fees	₹750
Annual Fees	₹750
Annual Percentage Rate	45.00%
Foreign Transaction Fees	3.50%

Eligibility

Applicant's age should be between 21 and 65 years, and their monthly income should be at least ₹55,000.

Check full details of the Standard Chartered Super Value Titanium Credit Card here.

6. IndusInd Tiger Credit Card

If you’re thinking of starting your credit card journey, then the IndusInd Bank Tiger card can be a great starter credit card option for you. This co-branded beginner credit card, which is a partnership between IndusInd Bank and Tiger Fintech (a Bajaj Capital group company), comes with no joining fee at all for a lifetime. Apart from getting 6 accelerated reward points for spending every ₹100, you can also get domestic and international airport lounge access, a complimentary movie ticket offer on BookMyShow, etc.

This is one of the best credit cards for beginners, especially for those who regularly spend money on food, groceries, and other daily expenses without wanting to pay an annual fee for the card. 

Features

Reward Benefits	Up to 6 reward points for every ₹100 you spend, depending on your annual spending (no capping to earn and redeem points).
Fuel Surcharge Waiver	1% surcharge waiver on fuel spends at all fuel stations in India (applicable on transactions between ₹400 and ₹4,000).
Travel Benefits	2 complimentary domestic lounge visits per quarter and 2 international lounge visits per year.
Entertainment Benefits	One complimentary movie ticket up to ₹500 every 6 months on BookMyShow.

Fees and Charges

Joining Fees	₹0
Annual Fees	₹0
Annual Percentage Rate	42%
Foreign Transaction Fees	1.50%

Eligibility

• Residency: The applicant must be a resident of India.
• Age: The applicant must be above the age of 18 years.
• Credit Score: A decent or good credit score is typically required. A score of 700 or above is often considered good.
• Income: The applicant should have a stable source of monthly income. While a specific minimum income for this particular card isn't consistently mentioned across sources, the general minimum income for IndusInd Bank credit cards can be around ₹20,000 per month. However, this can vary.

7. Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card

If you’re a loyal Airtel user, then this top starter credit card is just the perfect one for you. You can get up to 25% cashback on what you’re already doing—paying bills and recharging. Plus, if you enjoy ordering food online, then with this great starter credit card, you can get significant cashback on popular food delivery platforms. Other benefits, such as airport lounge access and fuel surcharge waiver, will also enhance your spending experience with this starter credit card.

This is one of the best starter credit cards for an Airtel user who regularly pays bills through the Airtel Thanks app, frequently orders food or groceries online, and is looking to save substantially on everyday expenses.

Features

Welcome Bonus	Amazon e-voucher worth ₹500.
Cashback Benefits	25% cashback on Airtel mobile, broadband, wifi, and DTH bill payments via Airtel Thanks app. 10% cashback on utility payments via Airtel Thanks app 10% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato, & BigBasket 1% cashback on all other spends
Lounge Benefits	4 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year.
Fuel Surcharge Waiver	1% fuel surcharge waiver at all fuel stations in India for transactions between ₹400 and ₹4000 (max benefit of ₹500 per month).
Dining Benefits	Up to 15% off at partner restaurants via EazyDiner.

Fees and Charges

Joining Fees	₹500
Annual Fees	₹500
Annual Percentage Rate	55.55%
Foreign Transaction Fees	3.50%

Eligibility

Applicants' age should be between 18 and 70 years, and their monthly income should be at least ₹25,000.

Check full details of the Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card, including cashback and features, here.

Tips for First-Time Credit Card Users

So, you’ve picked your first beginner credit card, great. And now you’re wondering, “What’s next? Then, to answer that question, here are some easy tips for you to make sure your credit journey starts off on the right note:

• Always pay your bill in full: Never use your credit card like a free money tool. Whatever you spend with your beginner credit card will come back to you with a bill to pay. And if you just pay the minimum amount due, then remember that it’s a trap. So, spend only what you can comfortably pay back at the end of the month (billing statement).
• Set bill payment reminders: It’s understandable that life gets busy, and because of that, due dates may get easy to forget. But make sure to set a reminder or use auto-pay so your credit score stays happy and healthy.
• Keep your credit utilisation low: Using up all your beginner credit card limit can hurt your credit score badly. So, here’s the thumb rule: Try to keep usage below 30% of your credit card’s limit. It shows lenders that you’re responsible and thus helps boost your credit score.
• Don’t go for too many cards: We get it that offers can be really tempting. But don’t apply for 4-5 cards at once. Too many applications can actually hurt your credit score. Start slow, build a good credit history, and then level up with more top starter credit cards over time.
• Track your expenses regularly: Your credit card statement is your spending mirror. Review it monthly to check where your money is going (and to catch any suspicious activity if there is any). Use your bank’s app or any budget tracker to keep an eye on your expenses.
• Understand rewards (and use them appropriately): Your beginner credit card probably comes with cashback, discounts, or reward points. Make sure you know what you’re getting for which kind of category expenses, and use them smartly. And don’t let your rewards expire just because you forgot they existed.
• Avoid cash withdrawals (at all costs): Your beginner credit card can let you withdraw cash from an ATM, but it comes with high interest charges from day one, i.e. no interest-free period. Avoid it unless it’s a real emergency. 
• Build your credit score slowly: Good spending habits over time, with on-time payments, will lead you to reach a high credit score. And a good score means better cards, loans, and even discounts in the future.

Starting with a best starter credit card is a big step in your financial journey. Use it wisely, and it can help you build your credit score, earn rewards, and manage expenses better.

But why is it important to understand your beginner credit card limit? Because going too close to your credit limit can affect your credit score. Yup, even if you pay your bills fully on time. 

Here's the golden rule: Try to use less than 30% of your starter credit card limit. For example, if your credit limit is ₹20,000, then aim to spend no more than ₹6,000 a month. This shows banks that you’re responsible (and trust us, they love seeing that). 

You may now be wondering whether it is possible or not to increase your credit limit. Well, it’s possible, but not right away. Once you build a good repayment track record, banks may:

• Auto-increase your limit, or
• Let you request a higher limit after a few months

But remember, a higher limit doesn’t mean you have to spend more. It just gives you more breathing room and can help improve your credit score when used smartly.

Understanding Beginner Credit Card Limit

Now, let’s talk about something that probably sounds fancy but is actually pretty simple and serious at the same time, to keep in mind—your beginner credit card limit.

In easy terms, your starter credit card limit is the maximum amount your bank allows you to spend using your credit card. It usually depends on a few things:

• Your income
• Your credit history (if you have one)
• The type of card you’re applying for

If you’re new to credit cards, banks usually start you off with a lower limit, just enough to help you get used to using it wisely. 

Conclusion

These were some of the best credit cards for beginners that you can consider if you want to take a step towards your credit card journey. Find your perfect beginner credit card fit according to your needs and aspirations, be it a travel-focused credit card, a shopping-focused credit card, or anything else; you can always find your ideal match from the cards mentioned above. 

And, if you want to make the task of choosing the recommended credit cards for beginners easier and quicker, visit Finology Select now. There, you can compare various credit card issuers and the various cards issued by them, and we've covered almost 90+ card options on almost all factors available. So, what are you waiting for? Compare and choose the card that suits you today!