Top Banks’ Credit Cards with Affordable Annual Fees

Low annual fee credit cards, often serving as entry-level options, offer diverse benefits across various spending categories. While not reaching the premium card level, these cards provide good value for beginners seeking rewards without the burden of high annual fees, according to Rohit Chhibbar, Head of Credit Cards Business at Paisabazaar.

Chhibbar emphasizes that consumers should not solely focus on the annual fee when choosing a card. Instead, they should align their selection with benefits tailored to their spending patterns, ensuring maximum value from the card.

List of Low Annual Fee Credit Cards from Top Banks:

1. Axis Bank:
   • Axis Bank ACE Credit Card
     • Annual Fee: Rs. 499
     • Key Benefits:
       • 5% cashback on utility bills, DTH, and mobile recharges via Google Pay
       • 4% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato, and Ola spends
       • Unlimited 2% cashback on other spends (except fuel)
       • 4 complimentary visits to select domestic airport lounges per year
       • Up to 20% off on dining at partner restaurants
       • Annual fee waived on spending Rs. 2 lakh or above in a year
       • 1% fuel surcharge waiver, up to Rs. 500 per month, on fuel spends between Rs. 400 and Rs. 4,000.
   • Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card
     • Annual Fee: Rs. 500
     • Key Benefits:
       • Rs. 500 Flipkart voucher and 50% off, up to Rs. 100, on 1st Swiggy order as a welcome benefit
       • Unlimited 5% cashback on Flipkart spends
       • Unlimited 4% cashback on preferred merchants
       • Unlimited 1.5% cashback on other eligible spends
       • 4 complimentary visits to select domestic airport lounges per year
       • 15% off, up to Rs. 500, on dining via EazyDiner
       • Annual fee waived on spending above Rs. 3.5 lakh in the previous year
       • 1% fuel surcharge waiver, up to Rs. 400 per month, on fuel spends of Rs. 400 to Rs. 4,000.
2. HDFC Bank:
   • Swiggy HDFC Bank Credit Card
     • Annual Fee: Rs. 500
     • Key Benefits:
       • 3 months Swiggy One membership worth Rs. 1,199 on card activation
       • 10% cashback, up to Rs. 1,500 per month, on Swiggy, Instamart, Genie & Dineout
       • 5% cashback, up to Rs. 1,500 per month, on online spends
       • 1% cashback, up to Rs. 500 per month, on other spends
       • Redeem earned cashback as Swiggy Money with a 1-year validity
       • Annual fee waived on spending Rs. 2 lakh or more in a year
3. Standard Chartered India:
   • Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card
     • Annual Fee: Rs. 350
     • Key Benefits:
       • Discounts on domestic and international hotel bookings via EaseMyTrip
       • Discounts on EaseMyTrip domestic and international flight bookings
       • Rs. 125 off on bus ticket booking of Rs. 500 or more via EaseMyTrip
       • Reward points on hotel and airline spends
       • Complimentary domestic and international airport lounge visits
       • Annual fee waived on spending Rs. 50,000 or more annually.
4. IDFC FIRST Bank:
   • IDFC FIRST Power+ Credit Card
     • Annual Fee: Rs. 499
     • Key Benefits:
       • Cashback on 1st HPCL spend, EMI conversion, and Swiggy order
       • Discounts on ZoomCar rentals and Eco Rent A Car & Europcar
       • Reward points on HPCL fuel & LPG, grocery, utilities, and IDFC FIRST FASTag spends
       • Happy Coins as Payback Rewards on HP Pay app
       • Complimentary domestic airport lounge access
       • Discounts on movie tickets
       • Annual fee waived on annual spends of Rs. 1.5 lakh.
5. American Express:
   • American Express SmartEarn™ Credit Card
     • Annual Fee: Rs. 495
     • Key Benefits:
       • Cashback on spending within 90 days of card membership
       • Membership Rewards® Points on Zomato, Flipkart, Myntra, and more
       • Vouchers on reaching annual spends milestones
       • Annual fee waived on spending Rs. 40,000 and above in the previous card membership year
       • 0% convenience fee on fuel transactions of less than Rs. 5,000 at HPCL petrol pumps.
6. SBI Card:
   • Yatra SBI Credit Card
     • Annual Fee: Rs. 499
     • Key Benefits:
       • Yatra.com vouchers on the 1st year annual fee payment
       • Reward points on grocery, dining, movies, and entertainment spends
       • Discounts on domestic and international flight and hotel bookings at Yatra
       • Annual fee waived on annual spends of Rs. 1 lakh or more
       • Fuel surcharge waiver on fuel spends of Rs. 500 to Rs. 3,000.

These low annual fee credit cards cater to various preferences and spending patterns, providing cardholders with a range of benefits and rewards.