Since the last decade, the Indian credit card landscape has continued to evolve. Eventually, Premium Credit cards in India emerged in the Indian market. Not only do they offer financial flexibility, but also confer diverse options to the consumers. Such as impressive rewards, tailored benefits, lounge access, and the list goes on!
Hundreds of Premium Credit cards are available in the market which leads to an obvious question- Which one is the best? Which premium credit card is highly suitable for you? To answer this question, we will explore the 12 most Premium Credit Cards in India.
Our comprehensive reviews will provide insights into each card’s features, eligibility criteria, fees, and the perks they bring. This will empower you to make an informed choice that aligns with your financial goals and lifestyle.
Keep reading!
(A) What are Premium Credit Cards?
Before landing on the list, let’s briefly explain the definition and general features of Premium Credit Cards in India.
Premium credit cards are a type of credit card that offer exclusive benefits, rewards, and privileges to cardholders. Doesn’t the credit card provide the same things? Yeah, but not with too many benefits.
Premium credit cards are typically designed for individuals with high income or good credit scores. They come with the following perks-
- Higher credit limits
- Enhanced reward programs
- Luxury travel benefits
- Concierge services
- Access to airport lounges
- Complimentary insurance coverage
They are known for providing extensive benefits and privileges in categories such as travel, dining, shopping, entertainment, and more.
(B) Premium Credit Cards vs Ordinary Credit Cards
Well, you must be wondering how premium credit cards in India differ from ordinary credit cards. Go through the following table and you will find out!
| Differentiating Criteria | Premium Credit Cards | Ordinary Credit Cards |
| Annual Fees | Higher, often substantial | Lower or no annual fees |
| Rewards and Perks | Enhanced rewards, luxury perks | Basic rewards, fewer perks |
| Travel Benefits | Extensive travel benefits (lounge access, travel insurance) | Limited or no travel benefits |
| Concierge Services | 24/7 concierge assistance | No concierge services |
| Exclusive Access | Exclusive events, luxury experiences | No exclusive access |
| Credit Limits | Higher Credit Limits | Standard Credit Limits |
| Customer Service | Exclusive | Standard |
| Luxury Brand Partnerships | Yes | No |
| Elite Status | Possible elite status in loyalty programs | No elite status benefits |
| Additional Protections | Extended warranties, purchase protection | Limited or no additional protections |
(C) 12 Most Premium Credit Cards in India
When it comes to premium credit cards in India, there are several options available to you. Out of them, some of the most premium credit cards in India are described in the following table. We have ranked them based on the reviews given by customers/cardholders.
| Premium Credit Cards | Joining Fee (Excluding Taxes) | Reward Points | Welcome Benefits |
| HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card | Rs.10,000 | 5 Reward Points earned for spending Rs.150 on retail | Numerous Memberships |
| Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card | Rs.10,000 | EDGE Reward Points based on type of spending | Domestic Flight ticket or Tata CLiQ voucher |
| Ultimate Credit Card | Rs.5,000 | 5 Reward Points earned for spending Rs.150 on retail | – |
| HDFC Infinia Credit Card | Rs.12,500 | 5 Reward Points earned for spending Rs.150 on retail | Club Marriott Membership |
| Axis Reserve Credit Card | Rs.50,000 | Airport drops & pickups (4 times), Domestic lounge access (unlimited), Rewards on International spends | – |
| IndusInd Bank Legend Credit Card | Nil | Rewards Program, Priority Pass membership | – |
| SBI Aurum Credit Card | Rs.9,999 | International lounge access (worldwide), Domestic lounge access (4 per quarter), Domestic airport spa access (1 per quarter) | Worth Rs. 10,000 via 40,000 reward points |
| SBI Elite Credit Card | Rs.4,000 | Reward Points based on the type of spending | E-gift vouchers |
| Standard Chartered Priority Visa Infinite Credit Card | Nil | 5X Rewards on International Spends, Complementary domestic airport lounge access (4) | – |
| IDFC First Bank Wealth | Nil (Lifetime Free) | Upto 2.5%, Complimentary airport spa, and railway lounge access | – |
| HDFC Bank Regalia Gold | Rs.2500 | 1.3% to 13.3%, Complimentary International Airport Lounge Access | – |
| Tata New Infinity HDFC Bank Credit Card | Rs.1499 | 1.5% to 6%, Rs.3 Lakhs spend in a membership year | Tata Neu app deals, Complimentary Airport Lounge Access. |
(D) Eligibility Criteria for owning Premium Credit Cards in India
As you have seen in the above table, premium credit cards in India offer reward points and numerous alluring lifestyle benefits. If you spend over Rs.4-6 Lakhs annually, then these cards are perfect for you! However, you need to cover the following eligibility criteria for owning premium credit cards in India-
- Income over Rs.6 lakhs per annum.
- Higher joining fees and conditional spending lack waiver criteria.
- Spending over Rs.4 lakhs per annum.
- Documented proof of regular income.
One of the key criteria is having a high income. The minimum income required to qualify for a premium credit card varies depending on the issuer and the specific card. Different banks have different minimum income requirements set as eligibility criteria. Typically, the minimum income threshold ranges from around INR 6 lakh per annum.
Additionally, you will need to provide proof of your regular income to the bank. Overall, meeting the minimum and consistent income requirement is one of the essential criteria. That’s how you can own a premium credit card in India.
(E) Criteria For Selecting Top Premium Credit Cards in India
As you have read in the above sections, we have listed the premium credit cards in India based on the customer’s reviews. The users considered the following factors-
(E.1) Simplicity in Usage
The ease of use in terms of payments, cashback, or reward points plays a crucial role in winning the trust of consumers.
(E.2) Additional Features
If a person is paying extra for premium credit cards in India. Then it is natural for him/her to expect greater exclusive features as compared to regular credit cards. That’s why the premium credit cards that offer welcome benefits, discounts, lounge benefits, etc. win the race.
(E.3) Cost of the Card
However, everybody knows that premium credit cards in India will have higher joining fees. But still, it should not exceed a threshold amount. The cost of the card already goes high with the annual fee, add-on charges, hidden charges, and rebates.
(E.4) Acceptance
This is the most anticipated feature that every card holder of premium credit cards in India seeks. The cards must be accepted universally, in any country.
Note: When it comes to international travel, the customers land in confusion on whether to use a forex card or credit card. Well, to solve this issue, we have covered a detailed informational article on “Forex Card vs Credit Card Benefits: Which One is Better?” Go through it and your confusion will go away!
(F) List of Premium Credit Cards in India
(F.1) HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card
Look into the details of it in the following table-
| Features | Details |
| Complimentary Memberships | Annually for Forbes, Club Marriott, MMT Black, Times Prime, Amazon Prime, and Swiggy One membership These are available for three months every year. Automatically provided after realizing the annual membership fee from the second year onwards. |
| Compulsory Spending | INR 1.5 lakh within 90 days of the card’s activation in the first year. |
| Reward Points | 5X reward points on spending Rs.150. Up to 10X reward points on any purchase from SmartBuy. |
| Dining | 2X reward points on weekend dining |
| Golf | Six golf games across the world per quarter. |
| Travel Discounts | Discounts on flight and hotel booking via SmartBuy. |
| Wellness | Wellness benefits include discounts in spas, gymnasiums, salons, and wellness retreats. |
| Interest-Free Period | 50 days |
| Lounge Access | Unlimited lounge access in India and internationally for both primary and secondary cardholders. |
| Insurance Coverage | Air accident insurance cover of Rs.2 crore Emergency overseas hospitalization of Rs.50 lakh. Travel insurance cover of Rs.55,000 Credit liability cover of up to Rs.9 lakh |
| Pros | Reward points on all types of payments. |
| Cons | Dineout Passport membership was discontinued this year. |
(F.2) Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card
The exclusive features of Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card are described in the following table-
| Features | Details |
| Annual Benefit Choice | Subscribers can choose between one complimentary domestic flight ticket and a Tata CLiQ voucher of INR 10,000 as an annual benefit. |
| Lounge Access | Unlimited domestic and international airport lounge visits. |
| Cash Withdrawal | No cash withdrawal fee |
| Fuel Surcharge Waiver | 1% fuel surcharge waiver for transactions between INR 400 to INR 4,000. |
| EDGE Rewards Points | 25,000 EDGE reward points worth INR 5,000 on monthly spends of INR 1 lakh. 5X EDGE reward on travel spends via TRAVEL EDGE. 12 EDGE reward points for every INR 200 spent. 2X EDGE reward points on purchases at MakeMyTrip, Yatra, Goibibo, and more. |
| Concierge Services | Services of a dedicated concierge are available on the phone. |
| Hotel Discounts | A flat 15% off and a complimentary room upgrade at all Oberoi properties in India. |
| Movie Discounts | Buy one movie or non-movie ticket and get up to INR 500 off on the second. |
| Dining Discounts | Up to 20% discount at over 4,000 restaurants across India. |
| Insurance and Healthcare | Air accident cover, purchase protection, lost card liability programs, and more. Expert medical opinion from a panel of world-class specialists available for users. Healthcare packages from SRL Diagnostics, Dr.Lal PathLab, and Metropolis. |
| Pros | Unlimited Golf GamesUnlimited domestic and international airport lounge visits. |
| Cons | Redemption of EDGE reward points can be challenging. |
Note: Do you know various changes occurred in Axis bank credit cards? We have thoroughly covered these changes in “What Changed For Axis Bank Credit Cards? Uncovering The Details.” You can check it out for more details.
(F.3) Ultimate Credit Card
This card is perfect for you if you are a frequent air traveler. Standard Chartered’s Ultimate Credit Card offers 5% cashback on duty-free shops and has insurance covers too. Here, you get rewards for all kinds of transactions. The value of 1 reward point is Rs.1.00.
Let’s look into the features of Ultimate Credit card in detail-
| Features | Details |
| Joining Fee Reward Points | 6,000 reward points worth INR 6,000. |
| Reward Points for Transactions | Earn 5 reward points for every INR 150 spent on any transaction. |
| Conversion of Reward Points | 1 reward point equals INR 1 |
| Airport Lounge Access (Monthly Spend Requirement) | Spend INR 20,000 in the previous month for one free airport lounge access (once a month). |
| Complimentary Golf Course Access | Enjoy complimentary access to golf courses. |
| Air Accident Insurance Cover | Coverage of $200,000 in case of air accidents. |
| Emergency Overseas Hospitalization Coverage | Coverage of $25,000 |
| General Offers (Available for all Standard Chartered Cards) | Up to 25% discount on EasyMyTrip bookings. 5% discount on e-vouchers. Discounts on other electrical appliances, etc. |
| Pros | Get 5% cashback on duty-free shop purchases |
| Cons | Airport lounge visits are subject to conditions |
(F.4) HDFC Infinia Credit Card
Here, you will get cashback on all retail spending. Such as insurance, utilities, education, and rentals. Also, you will get different kinds of insurance coverage. Do you know what the best part of HDFC Infinia Credit Card is? It’s golf games! Look at the following table to find more details-
| Features | Description |
| Initial Reward Points | 12,500 reward points on card activation |
| Club Marriott Membership | Complimentary 1-year membership offering up to 20% discounts on dining and stay across Asia-Pacific. |
| Annual Reward Points | 12,500 reward points annually upon realization of the previous year’s annual fee. |
| Fee Redemption | INR 10 lakh spending offers fee redemption, but forfeits 12,500 reward points. |
| Retail Spend Rewards | 5 reward points on every INR 150 spent, including insurance, utilities, education, and rent. |
| Travel and Shopping Rewards | 10 times reward points on travel and shopping spends through SmartBuy. |
| Golf Benefits | Unlimited complimentary golf coaching and games at select courses in India and worldwide. |
| Customer Support | 24/7 phone support available for customer queries |
| Fuel Surcharge Waiver | 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions over INR 400 and INR 100,000 at all fuel stations in India. |
| Airport Lounge Access | Unlimited access to domestic and select international airport lounges using Priority Pass for primary and add-on cardholders. |
| ITC Hotel Benefits | Complimentary nights and weekend buffet at participating ITC hotels. |
| Insurance Coverage | Accidental air death cover of INR 3 crore. Emergency overseas hospitalization of INR 50 lakh. |
| Pros | Unlimited golf coaching and games. Unlimited airport lounge access. Flexible reward points value |
| Cons | The value of reward points varies with usage |
(F.5) Axis Reserve Credit Card
This is one of the most desired premium credit cards in India. With a joining fee of Rs.50,000, you will get different sorts of luxurious perks.
| Features | Details |
| Chauffeured Airport Service | 4 chauffeured luxury airport drops and pickups per year |
| Lounge Access | Unlimited domestic lounge access Unlimited international lounge access with priority pass membership. |
| Dining Benefits | Club Marriott Asia Pacific Membership: 20% off on food and beverages. 20% off at participating Marriott hotels in India and Asia Pacific (on weekend rates). 15% savings at Postcard hotels. |
| Golf Privileges | 50 golf rounds annually at India’s top golf courses. |
| Entertainment Perks | BookMyShow offers: Buy 1, Get 1 ticket. Buy 1 ticket and get up to Rs.500 off on the second ticket (maximum 5 times per month). For 1 non-movie ticket get up to Rs.1,000 discount on the second ticket (maximum 5 times per month). Up to 25% savings with EazyDiner Prime Membership at premium restaurants. |
| Reward Points | 15 edge reward points for every Rs. 200 spent. Twice the rewards on international expenses. |
| Foreign Currency Fees | Low foreign currency mark-up fee of 1.5%. |
| Cash Withdrawal Charges | Nil |
| Fuel Surcharge Waiver | 1% fuel surcharge waiver on fuel transactions ranging between Rs.400 to Rs.4,000. |
(F.6) Induslnd Bank Legend Credit Card
By now you must have understood the target audience of the premium credit cards in India. Those are none other than the high-income group of India. But the Induslnd Bank Legend Credit card is a bit different. It targets rich travel enthusiasts who are looking to earn reward points. Here you get benefits across various categories. Such as travel, shopping, dining, entertainment, and more.
Look at the following table for more details-
| Features | Description |
| Reward Structure | 1 reward point for every Rs.100 spent on weekdays. 2 reward points for every Rs.100 spent on weekends. |
| Lounge Access | 1 complimentary visit at participating international lounges within India & and abroad per quarter. 2 complimentary domestic lounge visits per quarter. Complimentary Priority Pass Membership for primary and add-on cardholders, granting access to 700+ lounges globally. |
| Golf Benefits | Complimentary golf games and individual golf lessons every month |
| Travel Plus Program | Available at an annual fee of Rs.5,000 with the international lounge visit fee waiver of $27 for up to 8 visits in a year. |
| Entertainment benefits | Buy one get one movie ticket free on BookMyShow bookings (up to 3 free tickets in a month, maximum discount of Rs.200 on each ticket). |
(F.7) SBI Aurum Credit Card
This is one of the famous premium credit cards in India. After all, it belongs to SBI, the most trusted bank in our country. Although, you may need to pay a high annual fee for this, but is exclusive benefits are truly mind-blowing. Let’s look at them in the following table-
| Features | Description |
| Milestone Benefits | Rs.1,500 Tata Cliq voucher on spending Rs.1 lakh monthly. Rs.5,000 LUXE voucher on spending Rs.5 lakh annually. Rs.10,000 Taj vouchers on spending Rs. 10 lakh annually. |
| Reward Points | Earn 4 reward points for every Rs.100 spent. |
| Redemption Options | Redeem reward points for flight tickets, e-gift vouchers, and hotel bookings. |
| Entertainment Perks | Enjoy free movie tickets worth Rs.1,000 every month (up to two tickets in a single transaction) |
| Lounge Access | Access to 4 domestic lounge visits per quarter. Unlimited international lounge access for the primary cardholder and 4 visits for accompanying guests. |
| Airport Spa Access | 1 domestic airport spa access per quarter |
| Foreign Currency Fees | Low foreign currency markup fee of 1.99% |
| Flight Cancellation Benefits | Coverage of Rs. 3,500 per ticket for refundable tickets Coverage of Rs. 3,000 per ticket for non-refundable tickets |
(F.8) SBI Elite Credit Card
Do you know that the SBI Elite Credit Card has three variants? Yes! This is the result of SBI’s collaboration with three different entities- VISA, Mastercard, and American Express. It comes with different types of insurance covers and facilities for travelers. Let’s look into them-
| Features/Service | Details |
| E-gift voucher | Worth INR 5,000 from brands like Bata/Hush Puppies, Pantaloons, Aditya Birla Fashion, Shoppers Stop, and Yatra.com. |
| Reward Points | 5X points for dining, departmental stores, and grocery.2 points per INR 100 on all other spends. No points on fuel |
| Fuel Surcharge | 1% surcharge on fuel (government service tax applies up to INR 250). |
| Club Vistara Membership | Complimentary Silver membership for primary cardholders. One upgrade voucher Earn nine Club Vistara points for every INR 100 spent on Vistara flights |
| Bonus Reward Points | 10,000 points for spending between INR 3 lakh and 4 lakh in a year. 15,000 points for spending between INR 5 lakh and 8 lakh in a year. |
| Annual Fee Waiver | No annual fee for spending INR 10 lakh. |
| Priority Pass Lounges | International lounges (4 times a year, 2 visits per quarter). Domestic lounges in India (8 times a year, 2 visits per quarter). |
| Trident Privilege Red Tier Membership | Available for SBI Elite credit card users. 1,000 welcome points on registration. 1,500 bonus points on the first stay and INR 1,000 hotel credit on an extended night stay. |
| International Transactions | Earn 2 points per INR 100 spent on international transactions. |
| Assistance Services | Flower delivery, gift delivery, online doctor consultation, and more. |
| Fraud Protection | INR 1 lakh cover for fraudulent purchases (48 hours before reporting to 7 days after reporting). |
| Air Accident Liability Cover | INR 1 crore cover for the primary account holder. |
| Mastercard Privileges (Specific to Mastercard Variant) | Complimentary golf lessons, green fee access, golf game discounts, and hotel discounts. |
| VISA Privileges (Specific to VISA Variant) | Discounts on Hertz and Avis car rentals, and benefits at luxury hotels worldwide. |
| American Express Privileges (Specific to Amex Variant) | Dining discounts and complimentary Tablet Plus membership for VIP privileges at hotels. |
| Pros | Easy-to-use reward points |
| Cons | Cap on airport lounge visits |
(F.9) Standard Chartered Priority Visa Infinite Credit Card
As the name suggests, its target audience belongs to the banking sector. You can call them banking clients. Go through the table given below to understand the key features of Standard Chartered Priority Vista Infinite Credit Card-
| Features | Details |
| Key Benefits | Exclusive lifestyle benefits through ‘The Good Life Programme’ |
| Reward Structure | 5X reward points for every Rs.100 spent overseas. 5X reward points for every Rs.100 spent on retail fashion. 2X reward points on other expenses. |
| Lounge Access | 4 domestic lounge access visits at selected airports every quarter. Priority Pass Membership for access to 1,000 airport lounges worldwide at nominal charges. |
| Insurance Coverage | Overseas air accident insurance cover of Rs.1.2 crore. Medical insurance worth USD 25,000. |
| Additional Information | Super-premium credit card with competitive reward rates. |
(F.10) IDFC First Bank Wealth Credit Card
It is one of the most modern premium credit cards in India. Even though it has lower rewards as compared to others. But guess what? You don’t need to pay any annual fees. Yes! You will directly get 2.5% rewards and valuable benefits.
| Features | Description |
| LTF (Lifetime Free) | No joining fee No annual fee |
| Rewards | Earn rewards upto 2.5% |
| Rewards Redemption | Redeem rewards for Statement Credit. |
| Complimentary Benefits | Enjoy complimentary railway lounge access. Receive roadside assistance. Redeem for Gift Vouchers Access to airport spa facilities. |
| Lounge Access | Provides domestic and international airport lounge access. |
(F.11) HDFC Bank Regalia Gold
The bank HDFC recently launched the Regalia Gold premium credit card. It is an upgrade over Regalia/Diners Club Privilege with enhanced milestone benefits.
| Features | Description |
| Recommended Use | Ideal to acquire if offered Lifetime Free (LTF) for potential future upgrades to HDFC’s super-premium credit card. |
| Joining Fee & Annual Fee | Lifetime Free (LTF) with specific spending conditions orAnnual Fee of Rs.2500 + GST. |
| Rewards | Reward rates vary from 1.3% to 13.3%. |
| Best Redemption Options | Smartbuy Flights/Hotels.Airmiles transfer. |
| Annual Fee Waiver | Annual fee waived upon spending Rs.3 Lakhs for paid cards (not applicable for LTF). |
| Notable Features | Attractive milestone benefits. Complimentary International Airport Lounge Access. |
(F.12) Tata Neu Infinity HDFC Bank Credit Card
It is an underrated credit card especially known for UPI functionality and more. Its Rupay variant is popular as a good UPI card with additional benefits.
| Features | Description |
| Earning Potential | Earn up to 10% of NeuCoins and more through promotional offers on the Tata Neu app. |
| Joining/Annual Fee | Joining Fee: Rs.1499 + GST Annual Fee: Lifetime Free (LTF) |
| Rewards | Rewards range from 1.5% to 6%. |
| Redemption Options | Redeem rewards as NeuCoins for Tata Neu app partners. |
| Annual Fee Waiver | Achieve a waiver by spending Rs.3 Lakhs in a membership year. |
| Notable Features | Access to exclusive Tata Neu app deals. Complimentary Airport Lounge Access |
Note: Do you know Tata Neu is a super-app? You will get almost everything in this app. For more information, visit the article “All you need to know about Tata Neu.”
(G) Conclusion of Top Premium Credit Cards in India
As we stepped into the second decade of the 21st century, we got a variety of premium credit cards in India. They offer a variety of high-end options, each tailored for those who want the best in financial perks. These cards come from established banks and newer players, promising unique privileges, rewards, and impressive travel benefits.
Among the top choices are cards like HDFC Diners Club Black, American Express Platinum Card, and SBI Elite, offering great value. Picking the right premium credit card isn’t just about money. It’s about opening doors to luxury and special experiences in the year ahead.
We hope that this article is going to be helpful for you to select the best one among the premium credit cards in India!
