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Lifetime Free Credit Cards (No Annual Fee) in India - 2026

Lifetime free credit cards charge zero joining and annual fees permanently, with no spend threshold needed to keep the waiver. They suit first-time users, students, and anyone who wants rewards and credit history without a recurring cost. This guide compares India's best lifetime free credit cards by rewards, travel, and dining benefits, and what to check before applying.

Updated On - 23 Sep 2026

What Is the Best Lifetime Free Credit Cards in India?

Here's how the top lifetime free cards compare on rewards and benefits:

Credit Card	Best For	Key Benefit
Federal Bank Scapia Credit Card	Travel bookings	Zero forex markup on all international transactions, unlimited domestic lounge access
IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card	High spenders, rewards	10X reward points on dining, travel and international spends, and on your birthday
Axis Bank Neo Credit Card	Online shopping/dining	Flat discounts on Zomato, Myntra, BookMyShow
Ixigo AU Credit Card	Travel bookings via Ixigo	Zero forex markup + lounge access
Fibe Axis Bank Credit Card	Food delivery & entertainment	3% cashback on entertainment/food delivery
HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card	Entry-level rewards	Up to 6X reward points on hotels, flights and car rentals via Travel with Points
Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card	Online/Amazon shopping	5% cashback on Amazon for Prime members
EazyDiner IndusInd Platinum Card	Dining	Complimentary EazyDiner Prime membership
BOBCARD Eterna	Travel & dining	Unlimited domestic lounge access

What Do the Top Lifetime Free Credit Cards Offer?

Here's a closer look at what each card gives you:

1. Federal Bank Scapia Credit Card

Best suited for: Travel bookings via the Scapia app

10% Scapia Coins on every eligible Visa spend
5% Scapia Coins on eligible RuPay/UPI spends of Rs.500 or more
Zero forex markup fee
Unlimited domestic lounge access on Rs.20,000+ spend in the preceding month (same threshold for Visa and RuPay)

Instant redemption on flights, hotels and buses via the Scapia app, where 5 Scapia Coins equal Rs.1

Set transaction limits and manage card permissions directly from the Scapia app

Fully digital onboarding — instant virtual card activation, with the physical card delivered in 2–5 days

2. IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card

Best suited for: Reward points across all spend categories

10X reward points on dining, travel and international spends, and on your birthday; 3X reward points on other eligible spends

Zero forex markup on all spends

Complimentary railway lounge access

20% bonus reward points on hotel bookings and 10% on flight bookings via the FIRST Rewards Gallery in the mobile app

3. Axis Bank Neo Credit Card

Best suited for: Online shopping, dining, movies

BookMyShow benefit worth up to Rs.100 a month, as shown in the card's value chart

10% off on Blinkit (up to Rs.250, minimum spend Rs.750, once a month)

Flat 7% off (up to Rs.2,000) on flights and flat 18% off (up to Rs.4,000) on hotels booked via Cleartrip

100% cashback up to Rs.300 on your first utility bill payment via Paytm, within 30 days of card issuance

4. Ixigo AU Credit Card

Best suited for: Travel bookings via Ixigo

Zero forex markup fee
1 complimentary international + 8 domestic lounge visits/year

10% off (capped) on flights, hotels and buses booked via ixigo, plus payment gateway charge waivers on train bookings

1% fuel surcharge waiver (up to Rs.250) on fuel transactions between Rs.400 and Rs.5,000

Convert transactions above Rs.2,000 into EMIs of your chosen tenure

Tap for contactless, PIN-less payments up to Rs.5,000

5. Fibe Axis Bank Credit Card

Best suited for: Food delivery & entertainment cashback

3% cashback on entertainment, food delivery, local commute

1% fuel surcharge waiver on fuel spends between Rs.400 and Rs.5,000

Link the card to UPI for seamless UPI payments

“Wednesday Delight” — exclusive offers every Wednesday

6. HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card

Best suited for: Entry-level, high annual spenders

2 reward points per Rs.150 spent
Up to 6X reward points on hotels, flights and car rentals booked via Travel with Points in the HSBC India Mobile Banking app

Rs.250 Amazon eGift Card on applying online and completing Video KYC verification

Complimentary 12-month Times Prime subscription (Spotify Premium, Uber One, Discovery+ and more)

Air miles conversion with Air India, Etihad Airways, British Airways and Singapore Airlines

Rs.250 cashback on contactless fuel purchases when you spend Rs.10,000 per quarter, plus a monthly fuel surcharge waiver of up to Rs.250

7. Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card

Best suited for: Amazon and online shopping

5% cashback on Amazon for Prime members; 3% for non-Prime
1% cashback on all other spends

Lower forex mark-up of 1.99% on international spends

Unlimited reward points with no earning cap

Redeem reward points directly as Amazon Pay balance across 100+ partner merchants

8. EazyDiner IndusInd Bank Platinum Credit Card

Best suited for: Frequent diners

Complimentary 3-month EazyDiner Prime membership (worth Rs.1,095)
500 bonus points as a welcome benefit
Up to 50% off dining bills via EazyDiner

EazyDiner Prime membership renews for another 3 months every time you spend Rs.30,000 within 90 days

1% fuel surcharge waiver across all fuel stations in India

Contactless tap-and-pay for fast, secure purchases

9. BOBCARD Eterna

Best suited for: Travel, dining, all-round rewards

Annual fee: Rs.0 in the first year; Rs.2,499 from the second year onwards, waived only if you spend Rs.2,50,000 or more in the preceding card-anniversary year (effective 1 September 2026) — this card is no longer fully lifetime-free
15 reward points (5X) per Rs.100 spent on travel, dining and international transactions
12-month FITPASS Pro membership (worth Rs.48,000) on spending Rs.10,000 within 30 days of card issuance

Milestone bonus of 10,000 reward points on spending Rs.50,000 within the first 60 days of card issuance

Redeem reward points for cashback at 1 point = Rs.0.25

Up to 3 lifetime-free add-on cards for family members (spouse, parents, siblings, or children above 18)

How Do Lifetime Free Cards Compare to Regular Credit Cards?

Feature	Lifetime Free Cards	Regular Cards
Joining Fee	Rs.0	Rs.500 – Rs.50,000+
Annual Fee	Rs.0 permanently	Rs.500 – Rs.50,000+
Fee Waiver Condition	None required	Often tied to annual spend
Typical Target User	First-time users, students, everyday spenders	High spenders seeking premium travel/lifestyle perks

Why Should You Choose a Lifetime Free Credit Card?

No joining or annual fee — zero recurring cost
Credit building — helps you build credit responsibly over time, useful before you apply for a premium card
Relaxed eligibility — most lifetime free cards are entry-level and easier to qualify for
Rewards/cashback — despite being free, most still offer cashback or reward points on your everyday spends

Who Is Eligible for a Lifetime Free Credit Card, and What Documents Do You Need?

Before you apply, check that you meet these basic conditions:

Minimum age: 18 years
Employment: Salaried or self-employed
Residence: Indian resident or NRI (varies by issuer)
Credit score: As per the issuer's policy (some offer secured LTF cards against an FD if you have no credit history)

Once you're eligible, keep these documents handy:

Category	Accepted Documents
Identity Proof	PAN Card, Aadhaar, Passport, Driving License, Voter ID
Address Proof	Aadhaar, Passport, Driving License, Utility Bill (last 3 months), Bank Statement
Income Proof	Latest 1–2 salary slips, Form-16, last 3 months' bank statement

Looking for lifetime free credit cards? Apply here!

Many issuers, including HSBC and IDFC FIRST Bank, offer instant approval through Video KYC (VKYC) verification, so you can complete the lifetime free credit card application without visiting a branch

What Should You Check Before Choosing a Lifetime Free Credit Card?

Other charges beyond the annual fee — late payment fee, cash advance fee, forex markup (check this specifically if you travel often)
Reward structure fit — match the card's bonus categories (travel, dining, shopping) to your actual spending pattern
Credit limit — this varies significantly between issuers, so confirm it meets your needs
Interest rates — LTF cards can carry rates like premium cards, so check before you revolve a balance
Forex markup also varies by card: Federal Bank Scapia and Ixigo AU Credit Card charge zero forex markup, while Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card charges 1.99% and BOBCARD Eterna charges 2% on international spends — worth checking if you travel abroad

How Can You Maximise the Benefits of a Lifetime Free Card?

Use bonus categories deliberately — for example, use a dining-focused LTF card only for restaurant spends to hit accelerated cashback rates
Combine 2–3 complementary cards — one for online shopping, one for fuel, one for general spends
Track milestone offers — many cards give vouchers or bonus points at spend thresholds (such as Rs.5,000 in 30 days)
Route recurring bills through the card — utilities, insurance, and subscriptions earn rewards on money you'd spend anyway

Summary

Lifetime free credit cards remain the simplest way to build a credit history or earn everyday rewards in India without paying a joining or annual fee. Compare cards such as Federal Bank Scapia, IDFC FIRST Millennia, and Amazon Pay ICICI by their reward categories, lounge access, and eligibility rather than by fee alone, since almost all are permanently fee-free. Always check each issuer's current terms before applying, since reward structures, offers, and even fee-free status can change over time.

Credit cards make payments easy for all expenses online and offline while offering various benefits

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FAQs on Lifetime Free Credit Cards in India

1.What is a lifetime free credit card?

A lifetime free credit card is a credit card that never charges a joining or annual fee, for as long as you hold it. You may still pay other charges, such as a late payment fee or a cash advance fee, depending on how you use the card. These lifetime free credit cards are a popular starting point for building credit in India.

2.Are lifetime free credit cards in India completely free to use?

No lifetime free credit card is entirely free of charges — the "free" refers only to the joining and annual fee, not to every cost of using the card. You can still incur charges for late payments, EMI conversions, or cash advances depending on how you use it. Reading the fee schedule before applying helps you avoid these costs.

3.Do lifetime free credit cards offer rewards and cashback?

Yes, most lifetime free credit cards offer rewards or cashback on everyday categories such as groceries, dining, and travel, even though they charge no annual fee. These reward rates are usually lower and more capped than on premium credit cards, but they still add value on regular spending. Compare the reward categories above to find the lifetime free credit card that fits your spending pattern.

4.Who should apply for a lifetime free credit card?

A lifetime free credit card suits first-time credit card users, students, and anyone with low to moderate monthly spending who wants to avoid a recurring fee. It also works well as a secondary card alongside a premium credit card for long-term, low-cost use. Eligibility is generally easier to meet than for premium cards.

5.How do lifetime free credit cards help build a credit score?

Using a lifetime free credit card responsibly — spending within your limit and paying the bill on time every month — helps build a healthy credit score over time. Because there's no annual fee to worry about, it's a low-risk way to establish a credit history in India. A strong track record on a lifetime free credit card can also improve your eligibility for a premium card later.

6.Do lifetime free credit cards ever have hidden costs?

A lifetime free credit card has no joining or annual fee, but some benefits are tied to conditions such as a promotional offer or a minimum spend requirement. It's worth checking the terms and conditions of each lifetime free credit card before applying, since eligibility for specific perks can vary. This ensures you know exactly what the card includes before you sign up.

7.Are the rewards on lifetime free credit cards limited compared to premium cards?

Yes, lifetime free credit cards generally offer lower reward rates and capped benefits compared to premium credit cards that charge an annual fee. They focus on basic, everyday benefits rather than high-end travel or lifestyle perks. This trade-off is what allows the issuer to waive the annual fee permanently.

8.Can I upgrade my lifetime free credit card to a premium one later?

Yes, most banks allow you to upgrade a lifetime free credit card to a premium card once they've assessed your usage, income, and credit score. This gives you access to richer rewards and features as your spending and eligibility grow. Check with your issuer on the specific upgrade path for your card.

9.What other features come with a lifetime free credit card?

Beyond zero joining and annual fees, most lifetime free credit cards also offer features like EMI conversion on purchases, contactless payments, and partner offers. These features make a lifetime free credit card convenient for everyday spending, not just an entry-level option. Check the specific card's feature list, since these vary by issuer.

10.Are lifetime free credit cards worth having despite fewer benefits?

Yes, a lifetime free credit card is worth having if you want a low-cost card for everyday purchases, since it never charges you a joining or annual fee. You may not get the extensive perks of a premium card, but it still adds value through basic rewards and credit-building over time. For many first-time users in India, this makes it a sensible starting card.

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Lifetime Free Credit Cards (No Annual Fee) in India - 2026

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