Uncover hidden 18% GST fees, spend caps, lounge conditions and broker charges before you apply. 26 cards and 6 brokers, scored the Credwiser way.
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Capped 10% instant discount vs uncapped cashback — the right card depends on your basket size. Check caps and minimum order value before you pay.
2026-10-06 • Read article →GuidesOur scoring looks past headline offers to the MITC: 18% GST on fees, spend caps, lounge conditions and forex markup.
2026-10-05 • Read article →UPI debits funds directly from your bank savings account in real time with zero interest buffer. Credit cards provide an interest-free credit line of 45–50 days, fraud chargeback protection, and reward yields between 1.5% and 33.3%. Use credit cards for online shopping, travel, appliances, and bill payments to maximize cashback and warranty protection. Use UPI for small street vendor micro-transactions or peer-to-peer transfers where merchant credit cards are not accepted.
NPCI enables RuPay credit cards to be linked to Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm to scan QR codes. For consumers, there are zero additional charges. For merchants, RBI mandates zero Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on transactions up to ₹2,000. For transactions exceeding ₹2,000 at large commercial merchants, the merchant absorbs standard interchange fees. Cardholders enjoy up to 50 days of interest-free credit while earning reward points (e.g. 1.5% NeuCoins on Tata Neu Infinity).
Indian banks updated lounge access terms to curb overcrowding. Cards like ICICI Sapphiro, ICICI Rubyx, HDFC Regalia Gold, and Airtel Axis now require a minimum retail spend of ₹10,000 to ₹50,000 in the preceding calendar quarter to unlock complimentary domestic lounge passes. Super-premium metal cards (HDFC Infinia, ICICI Emeralde Private Metal, Axis Olympus) remain exempt and offer unconditional, spend-free visits with Priority Pass guest access.
Statement cashback cards (like SBI Cashback at 5% or Amazon Pay ICICI at 5%) credit pure rupee value directly against your billing statement, completely eliminating expiration dates and redemption fees. Reward points cards (like HDFC Infinia or Axis Atlas) can yield significantly higher value (8% to 33.3%) when transferred 1:1 or 1:2 to airline frequent flyer miles (KrisFlyer, Avios) or luxury hotel programs (Accor ALL, Marriott Bonvoy), but carry devaluation and expiration risks.