In today's financial landscape, finding a credit card that offers substantial benefits without an annual and renewal fee can be a game-changer. Free credit cards provide a range of rewards, from cashback and reward points to exclusive discounts and airport lounge access. In 2024, several credit cards stand out for their exceptional offers and perks without membership or renewal fees. Whether you're a frequent shopper, a traveller, or someone who enjoys dining out, a free credit card caters to your needs.

Here, we explore the top 6 free credit cards for 2024, highlighting their features, benefits, and eligibility requirements to help you make an informed choice.

1. HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card

HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card offers several offers for their free credit card, including an attractive welcome offer that makes it feel strong to have a free credit card with no membership or annual fee.

Welcome offer:

Amazon eGift voucher worth INR 250 when you apply online and complete video self-verification.

Amazon  vouchers worth INR 500 when you spend at least INR 5,000 within the first 30 days of having the card

Benefits:

• You can earn Reward points on credit card usage as follows:
• 2 Reward Points for every INR 150 spent
• And once you cross INR 4 Lakhs spending, you earn 5 Reward Points for every INR 150 spent with a maximum cap of 15,000. 
• You can convert your points to air miles with Club Vistara, Air India’s Flying Return, Etihad Airways, British Airways and Singapore Airways (2 Reward Points = 1 Air mile)
• Annual Savings of up to INR 3000 on fuel surcharge waiver

Eligibility 

• Be aged between 18 to 65 years old
• Have a minimum income of INR 400,000 per year for salaried individuals
• Be an Indian resident
• Reside in Chennai, Gurgaon, Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), Pune, Noida, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kochi, Coimbatore, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad or Kolkata

2. ICICI Amazon Pay Credit Card

ICICI-Amazon Credit Card is one of the most popular free cards we own. It was my first-ever credit card. Coupled with my Amazon Prime account, the card and account became a beneficial duo. 

Benefits

• You are eligible for no-cost EMI for 3-6 months
• Attractive Cashback offers:
• 5% cash back for Amazon Prime users
• 3% cashback for non-Amazon Prime users
• 2% cashback on using this card on Amazon Pay at Amazon Pay merchant partners
• 1% cashback for other payments
• Reward earnings can be used over the Amazon website and with merchant partners with no expiry.
• 1% fuel charge waiver

Charges and other details:

• Overdue Credit and cash advance interest 3.5-3.8% per month
• No add-on card is available for the ICICI-Amazon Pay Credit Card.
• The previously mentioned rewards are excluded for gold, EMI purchases and fuel purchases

3. Federal Bank Celesta

Federal Bank Celesta offers one of the most attractive benefits and features of a free credit card. With benefits from cashback to airport lounge access, this card seems underrated. 

Benefits:

• Reward points for Federal Bank Celesta cards are as follows:
• 3X rewards on Travel and International category spending
• 2X rewards on Dining category spending
• 1X rewards for remaining category spending
• Buy One, Get One on INOX movie tickets monthly
• Complimentary Lounge Access at Airports:
• 2 times a year at International Airports
• 4 times per quarter at domestic Airports
• Reduced mark-up fee of 2% on foreign transactions.
• Various other benefits and offers on various travel categories, food and dining and many other applications.
• Up to 48 days of Interest-free period.

Charges and other details

• Interest on revolving credit is as follows:
• 0.69%-3.49% per month, depending on the Average Monthly balance in the operative Federal Bank account.
• 3.49% per month for customers without an operative account in the Federal Bank
• Up to 4 add-on cards are available at a charge of INR100 per card

Eligibility

• Minimum 21 years old
• Good credit history
• Indian residents and Non-Resident Indians can apply

Besides the Federal Bank Celesta, other variants of Federal Bank credit cards, such as Signet and Imperio, have similar features and offers. They also do not have joining or renewal fees.

4. AU LIT Credit card

AU LIT Credit card is a unique card that allows you to choose the features according to your lifestyle and switch features ON and OFF as you want. You can also select your card pricing.

Benefits

• Reward Points for the AU LIT credit card are as follows, with a maximum cap of 25,000 points:
• 10X or 5X Reward Points on all online, POS and contactless domestic and international retail transactions.
• 1 Reward Point on every INR 100 spent on utilities and insurance transactions.
• You can choose between:
• additional 5% (maximum of INR 500)
• 2% cashback (maximum of INR 1000) 

over 90 days on retail spending

• Additional 5% cash back for groceries, apparel expenses, and Reward Points. Cashback is capped at INR 1,000 in 30 day period.
• Up to 4 Airport Lounge Access per 90 days
• 3-month membership in Zee5, Amazon Prime, and Cult pass Live.
• 1% fuel surcharge waiver on all transactions between INR 400 and 5,000.

Eligibility:

• Applicant must be between the ages of 21 and 60 years
• Add on cardholder must be over the age of 18 years
• Minimum Credit score of 700
• Minimum Monthly income of INR 25,000
• Indian resident

Approval of the credit card is at the discretion of the bank.

Click here to apply for an AU Bank LIT Credit Card today.

5. IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card

IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card is designed to cater to the millennial lifestyle through attractive reward points, discounts and offers.

Welcome offer:

A voucher worth INR 500 on spending a minimum of INR 5,000 within 30 days of card generation.

5% cashback, capped at INR 1,000 on the first EMI done within 30 days of getting the card.

Benefits

• The reward point of the IDFC FIRST millennia Credit Card is as follows:
• 10X Reward Points for incremental monthly spending exceeding INR 20,000 and on your birthday, making your birthday more special!
• 3X Reward points on online and offline purchases up to INR 20,000.
• 1X Reward Points on Insurance payments and Utility bills.

1 Reward Point is provided per INR 150 spent, and 1 Reward Point = INR 0.25

• 25% discount on movie tickets on the Paytm app monthly.
• 4 complimentary Railway Lounge access in a quarter
• Up to 20% discount at various restaurants
• Up to 15% discount at Health and Wellness outlets
• Fuel surcharge waiver of 1% capped at INR 200 per month
• Personal Accident Cover of INR 2 Lakhs!

Charges and other details

• Interest rate (APR) from 0.75% to 3.65% per month.
• There are no additional charges for add-on cards.

Eligibility

• Minimum monthly income of INR 25,000
• Minimum Credit Score of 750

Apply for the IDFC FIRST Milleannia Credit Card today!!

6. IndusInd Bank Platinum RuPay Credit Card

IndusInd Bank Platinum RuPay Credit Card is a UPI-enabled credit card with fantastic offers.

Benefits:

• Reward Points for the IndusInd Bank Platinum RuPay Credit Card are as follows:
• 2 Reward Points on every UPI transaction of INR 100.
• 1 Reward Point for non-UPI transactions of INR 100.
• INR 0.70 for every INR 100 spent on UPI and non-UPI transactions on selected merchants
• Reward Points can be redeemed as
• Air miles on InterMiles and Vistara.
• cash credit at INR 0.35 per point.
• Various rewards in the Indusmoment website
• Payments up to 25% of the bill amount.
• 1% fuel surcharge waiver on all petrol pumps in India.
• UPI-enabled credit card

Charges and other details

The interest rate is set at 3.83% per month.

Which card provides Airport Lounge Access?

Numerous credit cards provide lounge access. But most of them are premium cards that must be renewed yearly for a fee. Of the free credit cards you can choose from below for free complimentary airport lounge access:

Federal Bank Celesta Credit Card

Federal Bank Imperio Credit Card

Federal Bank Signet Credit Card

AU LIT Credit Card.

Federal Bank Celesta Credit card is the best option for complimentary lounge access if you are a frequent flyer. This card provides you with 2 International Lounge access in a year and 4 domestic Airport Lounge access per quarter.

Choosing the right free credit card can significantly enhance your financial management by providing valuable rewards and benefits without the burden of annual fees. The HSBC Visa Platinum, ICICI Amazon Pay, Federal Bank Celesta, AU LIT, and IDFC FIRST Millennia credit cards offer unique advantages tailored to lifestyles and spending habits. By leveraging these benefits, you can maximise your savings and enjoy perks like cashback, reward points, and complimentary lounge access. As you evaluate your options, consider your spending patterns and personal preferences to select the free credit card that best aligns with your financial goals in 2024. Enjoy these incredible benefits today and make the most of your everyday expenditures.

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Author- Abhishek Sonawane

Abhishek Sonawane, an MBA graduate from the prestigious Indian Institute of Mana