Best premium credit cards in India
Premium credit cards (₹500–₹3,000 annual fee) hit the sweet spot: lounge access, strong reward rates and lifestyle benefits without the ₹5,000+ price tag. We compared all-round cards on a typical ₹27,000/month mixed spend including travel, dining, shopping and groceries.
Last updated: August 2026 · Based on current card termsThe BOBCARD Eterna is one of the most underrated credit cards in India. The 3.75% on online spends, dining and travel matches or beats cards from bigger banks at twice the fee. Unlimited lounge for add-on cardholders and 2% forex at a waivable ₹2,499 fee make it exceptional value, especially when available Lifetime Free.
The YES SELECT (formerly YES Prosperity Edge) is a strong mid-tier rewards card for online-heavy spenders. The 3% on all online spends with no platform restrictions is genuinely flexible, and the Priority Pass lounge membership adds travel value. The ₹0.25 redemption rate dilutes the headline rate but real returns remain competitive.
The YES FIRST Preferred is a strong all-round lifestyle card at ₹1,499. The combination of domestic + international lounge access, golf, movie discounts and broad rewards makes it versatile. Welcome and renewal RP offset most of the fee. The 3.5% forex is a disappointment given the international lounge positioning.
| # | Card | A year | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | BOBCARD Premier Entry-level travel and dining card with lounge access at minimal annual fee | ₹3,140 | ₹1,000 |
| 5 | HDFC Regalia Gold All-round premium card with travel perks and lifestyle rewards | ₹2,765 | ₹2,500 |
| 6 | RBL Platinum Maxima Plus Lifestyle spenders wanting dining, grocery and entertainment rewards with lounge access | ₹2,600 | ₹2,500 |
| 7 | YES RESERV Online-heavy spenders wanting premium travel perks and low forex at a mid-range fee | ₹2,181 | ₹2,499 |
| 8 | Axis Rewards Fashion and lifestyle shoppers wanting accelerated rewards with lounge access at a low waivable fee | ₹2,149 | ₹1,000 |
| 9 | Axis Select Higher spenders (₹6L+ income) who will spend ₹3L+ a year, want international lounge access through Priority Pass with 12 visits, and want a 2% earn rate on everyday retail spends | ₹1,800 | ₹3,000 |
| 10 | Kotak Mahindra Mojo Platinum Online-first shoppers and OTT subscribers wanting rewards on digital and everyday spends | ₹1,344 | ₹1,000 |
Get your personalised recommendation
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 premium 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 premium 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.