Which credit card should I use?
Pick what you are spending on and how much. This ranks all 59 issuer-verified Indian credit cards by what they genuinely return after monthly caps, excluded categories and surcharges — not by their advertised rate. Free, no signup, nothing leaves your browser.
HSBC Live+ returns about ₹1,000/month (₹12,000/year) on ₹10,000 of this spend, after its caps, exclusions and surcharges.
| Card | Per month | Per year | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSBC Live+ | ₹1,000 | ₹12,000 | ₹999 |
| Bank of Baroda (BOBCARD) Eterna | ₹375 | ₹4,500 | ₹2,499 |
| Standard Chartered Ultimate | ₹333 | ₹3,996 | ₹5,000 |
| BPCL SBI Card OCTANE | ₹250 | ₹3,000 | ₹1,499 |
| SBI Card ELITE | ₹250 | ₹3,000 | ₹4,999 |
| IRCTC SBI Card Premier | ₹240 | ₹2,880 | ₹1,499 |
| Federal Bank Scapia | ₹200 | ₹2,400 | ₹0 |
| Axis Bank IndiGo | ₹200 | ₹2,400 | ₹799 |
| AU Small Finance Bank Zenith+ | ₹200 | ₹2,400 | ₹4,999 |
| Axis Bank IndiGo Premium | ₹200 | ₹2,400 | ₹5,000 |
| Axis Bank ACE | ₹150 | ₹1,800 | ₹499 |
| IDFC FIRST Bank FIRST Select | ₹125 | ₹1,500 | ₹0 |
Reward currency is valued conservatively, not at the issuer's best-case redemption. Annual fees are shown but not subtracted from the monthly figure. Catalogue release 2026-08-01; confirm final terms with the issuer.
Frequently asked questions
Which credit card should I use for this purchase?
Pick the spending category and enter your monthly amount. The calculator applies each card's published earn rate, then its monthly cap, exclusions and any surcharge, and ranks by what actually lands in your pocket. Select the cards you already hold to see whether switching this spend is worth anything.
Is this calculator free, and does it need my details?
It is free and runs entirely in your browser. It asks for no login, no income, no card number and no credit-bureau check, and nothing you enter is sent to a server.
Why does it show a lower number than the card's advertised rate?
Because advertised rates ignore monthly caps, excluded categories and surcharges. A 5% rate capped at ₹500 a month is 5% only up to ₹10,000 of spend, and less on every rupee after that. Reward points are also valued at a conservative redemption rate rather than the issuer's best-case example.
Does the ranking account for the annual fee?
The monthly figure is reward return only, with the annual fee shown alongside it. Subtract the fee plus GST from the annual total unless your total spend clears the waiver threshold.