Best credit cards for students in India
The best first credit card for students should be lifetime free, easy to get without income proof, and help you build a CIBIL score safely. We focused on cards available against an FD or with minimal eligibility requirements, ranked on real cashback returns for a typical student monthly spend of ₹8,000.
Last updated: · Based on current card termsThe Kiwi RuPay card is the best lifetime-free card for people who primarily pay via UPI QR codes at offline stores. The 1.5% cashback on every scan-and-pay is the highest among free UPI credit cards, and direct bank credit makes redemption effortless.
The Paytm AU Credit Card is a lifetime-free card that pays 1% on most spends and up to 2% on small Paytm UPI payments, as long as you take your points as Paytm Gold at ₹1 each. Its family lounge access is unusual for a free card, but it only unlocks when you book round-trip flights through Paytm. It suits people who already pay and book through Paytm; others will find a flat 1% card simpler.
The Slice UPI credit card is a lifetime-free first card that realistically pays 1% back on everyday card and UPI spends. The advertised 3% needs ₹5 lakh of unredeemed monies and a ₹5 lakh savings balance, so treat it as a 1% card. Its standout is zero forex markup, unusual for a free card, though international spends earn no cashback.
| # | Card | A year | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | LIC Axis Bank Signature LIC policyholders wanting rewards on LIC premium payments with lounge access at zero annual fee | ₹960 | Free |
| 5 | IDFC FIRST Quantum+ First credit card for anyone with no credit history who wants a lifetime-free, FD-backed card with a flat 1% cashback and a very small deposit | ₹900 | Free |
| 6 | Axis SUPERMONEY RuPay UPI users who pay shops by scanning QR codes in the super.money app and want a lifetime-free RuPay credit card, as long as they also spend enough elsewhere to unlock the 3% rate | ₹840 | Free |
| 7 | HDFC Business Platinum Small business owners and self-employed wanting a lifetime free business credit card from HDFC | ₹797 | Free |
| 8 | IDFC FIRST Millennia Lifetime free card with a higher rate on dining and travel | ₹540 | Free |
| 9 | IDFC FIRST Wealth Lifetime free card with zero forex and lounge access | ₹540 | Free |
| 10 | IDFC FIRST Select Lifetime free card with dining, travel rewards and low forex markup | ₹540 | Free |
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Enter your exact monthly spend and we'll calculate your real annual faayda
We calculated the net annual benefit for every card in our database using verified reward rates on a typical student spend profile, then ranked by net benefit after subtracting the annual fee. Cards with waivable fees were evaluated at zero cost if the spend threshold is realistic.
What to look for in a student credit card
Beyond the headline reward rate, check whether the card has a monthly cap on cashback, whether the reward is actual cashback or redeemable points, and whether the annual fee is waivable at your spend level.
Should you get more than one card?
Many smart spenders hold 2 cards: one optimised for their top category and one flat-rate card for everything else. Use our personalised tool to find the best combination for your full spend profile.