Best Credit Cards Under ₹1,000 Annual Fee in India
A small annual fee is easy to justify when the recurring rewards clear it. This shortlist covers cards with a low recorded fee and a spend-based waiver where one exists.
Cards below are ordered by recurring annual fee, then forex markup and product name—not by affiliate payout. “Best” means a relevant evidence-led shortlist; your personal winner requires wallet-level comparison.
Short answer
14 issuer-verified low annual fee cards are recorded by CardMasters as of 2026-08-01. Ordered by lowest recurring annual fee, the current shortlist starts with American Express SmartEarn, Axis Bank ACE, Paytm SBI Card. There is no single best card: the right one depends on your spending pattern, existing wallet, realistic redemption value and issuer approval fit.
Source: CardMasters issuer-evidence catalogue, release 2026-08-01. Confirm final terms with the issuer.
What to check before applying
- Add GST to the published fee before comparing it with your expected rewards.
- Check whether the waiver spend threshold is realistic for you.
- Confirm the reward cap, which often limits value long before the fee matters.
American Express SmartEarn
₹495 + GST
1 Membership Rewards point per ₹50 on eligible spend
3.5%
Amex
Best suited to: first amex, online shopping, low fee. Recorded exclusions: fuel, insurance, utilities, cash advance.
Review rewards, caps, fees and issuer evidence →Axis Bank ACE
₹499
1.5% in Cashback
3.5%
Visa
Best suited to: bills utilities, cashback, flat rate. Recorded exclusions: fuel, rent, wallet load, emi, utility, telecom, education, government.
Review rewards, caps, fees and issuer evidence →Paytm SBI Card
₹499 + GST
1 Reward Point per ₹100 on eligible spends, including UPI; minimum eligible transaction ₹100
3.5%
Visa
Best suited to: paytm ecosystem, cashback, first card. Recorded exclusions: fuel, wallet load, balance transfer, cash advance, easy money, encash, dial a draft, atm withdrawal.
Review rewards, caps, fees and issuer evidence →PhonePe HDFC Bank Uno
₹499 + GST
Rewards apply only to issuer-listed PhonePe categories, select online brands and QR Scan & Pay transactions
3.5%
RuPay
Best suited to: phonepe ecosystem, first card, upi credit. Recorded exclusions: fuel, rent, wallet load, emi, gift card, cash advance, credit card bill payment, fees.
Review rewards, caps, fees and issuer evidence →SimplyCLICK SBI Card
₹499 + GST
1 Reward Point per ₹100 on eligible spends
3.5%
Visa, Mastercard, RuPay
Best suited to: online shopping, first card, low fee. Recorded exclusions: fuel, rent, wallet load, government, digital gaming, cash advance.
Review rewards, caps, fees and issuer evidence →Airtel Axis Bank
₹500 + GST
1% cashback on eligible other spends
3.5%
Visa
Best suited to: bills utilities, airtel users, cashback. Recorded exclusions: cash advance, financial institution, fuel, rent, wallet load, emi, fees, jewellery.
Review rewards, caps, fees and issuer evidence →ICICI Bank Coral
₹500 + GST
2 ICICI Bank Reward Points per ₹100 on eligible retail spend
3.5%
Visa, Mastercard, RuPay
Best suited to: first card, movies, lifetime free. Recorded exclusions: fuel, rent, wallet load, cash advance, fees.
Review rewards, caps, fees and issuer evidence →Flipkart Axis Bank
₹500 + GST
1% cashback on other eligible spends
3.5%
Visa, RuPay
Best suited to: flipkart, myntra, cashback, online shopping. Recorded exclusions: fuel, rent, wallet load, gift card, emi, insurance, utility, telecom.
Review rewards, caps, fees and issuer evidence →HDFC Bank Freedom
₹500 + GST
1 CashPoint per ₹200 on eligible spends
3.5%
Visa, RuPay
Best suited to: credit builder, first card, low spender. Recorded exclusions: fuel, rent, wallet load, emi, govt, cash advance.
Review rewards, caps, fees and issuer evidence →ICICI Bank HPCL Super Saver
₹500 + GST
2 ICICI Bank Reward Points per ₹100 on eligible retail spends
3.5%
Visa
Best suited to: fuel, bills utilities, commuter. Recorded exclusions: emi, cash advance, fees.
Review rewards, caps, fees and issuer evidence →IRCTC HDFC Bank
₹500 + GST
1 Reward Point per ₹100 on eligible retail spend; value requires IRCTC train-ticket redemption
3.5%
RuPay
Best suited to: train travel, budget traveler. Recorded exclusions: fuel, rent, wallet load, gift card, prepaid card, voucher, cash advance, outstanding balance.
Review rewards, caps, fees and issuer evidence →HDFC Bank MoneyBack+
₹500 + GST
2 CashPoints per ₹200 on eligible spends
3.5%
Visa, RuPay
Best suited to: first card, online shopping, low spender. Recorded exclusions: fuel, rent, wallet load, emi, govt, cash advance.
Review rewards, caps, fees and issuer evidence →Paytm HDFC Bank Credit Card
₹500 + GST
1% CashPoints on eligible retail spend, capped at ₹1,000/month
3.5%
Visa
Best suited to: paytm ecosystem, bills utilities, first card. Recorded exclusions: fuel, rent, wallet load, emi, government, education, gaming.
Review rewards, caps, fees and issuer evidence →Samsung Axis Bank Signature
₹500 + GST
5 EDGE Reward Points per ₹100 on eligible domestic and international spend
3.5%
Visa Signature
Best suited to: samsung buyers, electronics, cashback. Recorded exclusions: fuel, rent, wallet load, insurance, government, utility, school, jewellery.
Review rewards, caps, fees and issuer evidence →Frequently asked questions
Which is the best low annual fee card in India?
There is no universal winner. Across 14 issuer-verified options, American Express SmartEarn carries the lowest recurring annual fee (₹495), but the right card depends on your spending, cards already owned, realistic redemption value, exclusions and issuer approval fit. CardMasters presents a current evidence-led shortlist instead of one paid winner.
How many low annual fee cards does CardMasters track?
This shortlist shows 14 cards, each with a dated issuer-source check. The full CardMasters directory covers 73 active Indian credit cards.
Does affiliate commission affect this shortlist?
No. Affiliate payout is not used to select, order or value cards. A card can appear without a monetized application link, and every tracked campaign is disclosed separately.
How current is the card information?
Every card on this page has a dated issuer-source record. This catalogue release was published 2026-08-01, but credit-card terms can change after publication, so confirm final terms with the issuer.
What should I check before applying for a low annual fee card?
Add GST to the published fee before comparing it with your expected rewards. Approval, credit limit and final pricing remain at the issuer's sole discretion.