VVyaya
Curated Picks|Updated October 2026

Best Credit Cards for First-Time Users (October 2026)

If this is your first credit card, focus on simplicity. Choose a card with no annual fee, straightforward rewards, and no complex redemption hoops.

Quick answer

Our top pick for credit cards for first-time users is the Scapia Federal Credit Card from Federal (no annual fee). Best lifetime-free option: Standard Chartered Priority Visa Infinite (SC). Ranked from 156 Indian credit cards Vyaya tracks, with fees and earn rates re-verified against issuer terms (October 2026).

How to Choose

  • Start with a lifetime free or FD-backed card
  • Choose simple cashback over complex point systems
  • Verify the card reports to CIBIL to build your credit score
  • Avoid cards with high annual fees that you cannot justify in year one

Top 15 Cards for Credit Cards for First-Time Users

#1

Scapia Federal Credit Card

4.5

Federal · No annual fee · 5% rewards

#2

Standard Chartered Priority Visa Infinite

4.5

SC · No annual fee · 2% rewards

#3

Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card

5

ICICI · No annual fee · 1% rewards

#4

IDBI Eclat

4

IDBI · No annual fee · 1% rewards

#5

IDBI LIC CSL Eclat Select

4

IDBI · No annual fee · 1% rewards

#6

IndusInd Pinnacle

4.5

IndusInd · No annual fee · 0.75% rewards

#7

IDBI Royale Signature

IDBI · No annual fee · 0.75% rewards

#8

ICICI MakeMyTrip Signature

4.5

ICICI · No annual fee · 0.62% rewards

#9

Axis Insta Easy

Axis · No annual fee · 0.6% rewards

#10

AU ixigo

5

AU · No annual fee · 0.5% rewards

#11

AU NoMo

4.5

AU · No annual fee · 0.5% rewards

#12

IndusInd Legend

4.5

IndusInd · No annual fee · 0.5% rewards

#13

Federal MagniFi Fi

4

Federal · No annual fee · 0.5% rewards

#14

IDFC First Classic

4

IDFC First · No annual fee · 0.5% rewards

#15

IndusInd Nexxt

4

IndusInd · No annual fee · 0.5% rewards

Frequently Asked Questions

What credit score do I need for my first credit card?
Many first-time cards accept applicants with no credit history. FD-backed cards are available to anyone with a fixed deposit. A CIBIL score of 700+ helps for unsecured cards.
Should I get a secured or unsecured card first?
If you have no credit history, a secured (FD-backed) card is the easiest path. After 6-12 months of on-time payments, you can upgrade to an unsecured card.

Related Guides

Best Credit Cards for StudentsBest Cards for Low to Moderate IncomeBest No Annual Fee Credit CardsBest Cards for Salaried ProfessionalsBest No Annual Fee CardsBest Rewards CardsBrowse All Credit CardsCredit Card Guides