7 Best Credit Cards for Beginners in India 2025
Handpicked FD-backed & unsecured cards chosen for real Indian students, freelancers, and freshers. Honest reviews from Reddit users. Build credit, earn rewards, and avoid hidden charges.
FD-Backed (Secured) Credit Cards
Super.money FD Credit Card
- Minimum FD: ₹100 (lowest in India)
- Annual Fee: ₹0 (Lifetime Free)
- Rewards: 1% cashback on all spends
- No income proof, digital onboarding
User Review: “Got this with ₹500 FD as a student. App-based, easy approval, decent cashback. Great for building credit.”
– u/StudentFinance2024
– u/StudentFinance2024
Hidden: FD earns bank interest; instant virtual card; no physical branch needed.
IDFC FIRST FD Credit Card
- Minimum FD: ₹10,000
- Annual Fee: ₹500 (waived 1st year)
- Rewards: 10X points on dining & entertainment
- Easy upgrade to unsecured card
User Review: “IDFC FD card helped me build my CIBIL from zero. Got upgraded in 8 months, rewards are good!”
– u/CreditBuilder23
– u/CreditBuilder23
Hidden: Fast virtual card, up to 200% FD as credit limit.
IDFC WOW Credit Card
- Minimum FD: ₹5,000
- Annual Fee: ₹0 (Lifetime Free)
- Rewards: 1.5% unlimited cashback
- No foreign transaction fee
User Review: “Built my score from 0 to 750+ in 1 year. Cashback is real. No cons at all.”
– u/FirstTimeUser2024
– u/FirstTimeUser2024
Hidden: Instant cashback, fast CIBIL growth for new users.
Unsecured (No FD) Credit Cards
Axis Bank Neo
- Annual Fee: ₹250 (low)
- 10% instant discounts at partners
- Welcome: Zomato/Swiggy Pro
- Min. Income: ₹15,000/month
User Review: “Great for food delivery & young earners. 10% is instant, works on Zomato/Swiggy. Quick approval.”
– u/FoodieFinance
– u/FoodieFinance
Hidden: Free for 1st 1000/month, easy limit bump after 6 months.
AU LIT Credit Card
- Annual Fee: ₹0 (Lifetime Free)
- 10X points on online shopping
- 16 lounge visits/year
- Min. Salary: ₹25,000/month
User Review: “LIT is value for money. Lounge access, Amazon Prime, and high limit. Got it LTF easily.”
– u/TravelBudget2025
– u/TravelBudget2025
Hidden: No forex markup; free Amazon Prime.
SBI SimplyCLICK
- Annual Fee: ₹499 (waived on ₹1L spend)
- 10X points on Amazon, BookMyShow
- Welcome: ₹500 Amazon voucher
- Min. Salary: ₹20,000/month
User Review: “Most recommended for beginners. Easy approval, good rewards, accepted everywhere.”
– u/RedditCardExpert
– u/RedditCardExpert
Hidden: Pre-approved for SBI customers; easy EMI, quick support.
Amazon Pay ICICI
- Annual Fee: ₹0 (Lifetime Free)
- 5% cashback (Prime), 3% (Non-Prime)
- 2% on bill payments, 1% others
- Min. Salary: ₹18,000/month
User Review: “Best LTF card for online shopping. 5% on Amazon is unbeatable. Approved with low salary.”
– u/AmazonShopper2024
– u/AmazonShopper2024
Hidden: Instant cashback, no redemption minimum, works everywhere.
Quick Comparison Table
| Card | Type | Entry Req. | Fee | Rewards | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super.money FD | FD-backed | ₹100 FD | ₹0 | 1% cashback | 4.8 |
| IDFC FIRST FD | FD-backed | ₹10K FD | ₹500 | 10X points | 4.6 |
| IDFC WOW | FD-backed | ₹5K FD | ₹0 | 1.5% cashback | 4.5 |
| Axis Neo | Unsecured | ₹15K salary | ₹250 | 10% partner | 4.3 |
| AU LIT | Unsecured | ₹25K salary | ₹0 | 10X points | 4.4 |
| SBI SimplyCLICK | Unsecured | ₹20K salary | ₹499 | 10X online | 4.2 |
| Amazon Pay ICICI | Unsecured | ₹18K salary | ₹0 | 5% Amazon | 4.7 |
Tips for Beginners
- Always pay your full bill to avoid interest.
- Keep card utilization under 30% for fastest CIBIL growth.
- Use FD-backed cards if you have no income proof or CIBIL.
- Unsecured cards need stable salary and clean credit.
FAQ:
Q: Can students get cards without income proof?
A: Yes, FD-backed cards (like Super.money, IDFC WOW) require only small fixed deposit. No salary needed.
Q: Can students get cards without income proof?
A: Yes, FD-backed cards (like Super.money, IDFC WOW) require only small fixed deposit. No salary needed.
Disclaimer: Terms may change. Check bank website before applying. Reviews are user-submitted from r/CreditCardsIndia.
Last Updated: June 2025
Last Updated: June 2025
