People opt for credit cards for their several advantages. One can use credit card to pay rent, travel, shopping, etc. If you want to avail maximum benefits from a credit card with minimum charges, choose lifetime free credit cards. These are ideal, especially for first-time credit card users or young individuals who have just started their careers.
See also: 5 best credit cards with no joining fee
What is a lifetime free credit card?
A lifetime free credit card refers to a credit card that does not levy any annual or joining fee. However, there may be some charges for services, such as a hard copy of the bill. Such credit cards may offer only basic benefits and typically low reward rates. Certain lifetime free credit cards waive off the annual membership on a certain amount of annual spending.
Lifetime free credit card from top banks in India
| Credit card | Features | Best for |
| Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card | 5% cashback on Amazon for Prime users | Shopping and cashback |
| Bank of Baroda Prime Credit Card | Issued against FD of Rs 15,000 or more; convert transactions over Rs 2,500 into EMIs | Online shopping and reward points |
| Axis Bank Insta Easy Credit Card | Issued against FD of Rs 20,000 | Fuel, reward points |
| HSBC Visa Platinum Card | Amazon and Swiggy vouchers, airport lounge access and cashback under the initial offer | Shopping, reward points |
| IDFC First Select Credit Card | 10X reward points on incremental spends above Rs. 25,000 every month | Reward points and travel |
| Dhanlaxmi Bank Platinum Credit Card | 5% cashback on departmental store and supermarket bills | Shopping and cashback |
| IDFC First Millennia Credit Card | 6X reward points available on online spending up to Rs. 20,000 every month | Reward points and travel |
Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card
Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card is beneficial for those interested in shopping from Amazon. One can avail of its flagship paid subscription programme, Amazon Prime, to get the highest cashback credited to the Amazon Pay Balance for future purchases.
Features:
- A surcharge waiver of 1% on fuel purchases
- Earn unlimited reward points
- 15% discount on dining bills at partner restaurants
- 1% cashback across all spends
- 2% Cashback on 100+ Amazon Pay partner merchants
- 3% cashback for non-prime members on Amazon spends
- No upper or lower limit or expiry date on Amazon Pay balance
Who can avail?
- This facility is available as an invite-only credit card. You can visit the Amazon website to apply.
- One must be a member of Amazon Prime to get the full discount.
Bank of Baroda Prime Credit Card
The Prime Credit Card is offered to Bank of Baroda customers against a fixed deposit of Rs 15,000 or above. There is no joining or annual fee.
Features:
- Redeem rewards against cash credit
- Convert transactions above Rs 2,500 into EMIs
- Fuel surcharge waiver applicable up to Rs 250 every month
Who can avail?
- The lifetime credit card by Bank of Baroda is ideal for those looking for cashback on daily spending.
Axis Bank Insta Easy Credit Card
The Insta Easy Credit Card offered by Axis Bank can be availed against a fixed deposit of Rs 20,000. This makes you eligible to receive six reward points per Rs 200 spent domestically.
Features:
- Low-interest rate and no annual fee
- Credit limit of up to 80% of the principal value of the fixed deposit
- No additional charges on purchases for up to 50 days
- 100% cash withdrawals of the credit limit from day one
- Global emergency assistance (emergency replacement of card and cash advances)
- Platinum chip for secure transactions
- Convert purchases of over Rs 2,500 to EMIs.
Who can avail?
The Axis Bank Insta Easy Credit Card is suitable for first-time credit card users.
HSBC Visa Platinum Card
HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card comes with several shopping and travel benefits and does not require an annual fee. One can avail of cashback and movie vouchers on attaining the fixed spending milestone. Moreover, one can avail of higher reward earnings after reaching the Rs 4 lakh mark.
Features:
- Amazon Vouchers of Rs 500 and Swiggy Vouchers of Rs 250under an introductory offer
- Three airport lounge access at domestic and international lounges or three Air Dine vouchers as a welcome benefit
- 10% cashback up to Rs 2,000 on a minimum of five eligible transactions amounting to Rs 10,000 or above within 90 days of card activation
- 5 X rewards on all purchases after annual total spending of Rs 4 lakh
- Buy one, get one free with BookMyShow for tickets booked on Saturday
Who can avail?
HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card is suited for first-time card users. It is an entry-level credit card with no annual fee.
IDFC First Select Credit Card
IDFC First Bank offers First Select Credit Card, a premium credit card with no annual or joining fee. It comes with the features of a luxury credit card with multiple offers. The credit card functions on an incremental spend reward points model.
Features:
- 10 X reward points on incremental purchases above Rs 25,000 per billing cycle
- 6 X reward points on all online purchases up to Rs 25,000 per month
- 3 X on all offline purchases up to Rs 25,000 per month
- Railway lounge and domestic airport lounge visits (four per quarter)
- Fuel surcharge waiver
- Gift vouchers of Rs 500 on spends worth Rs 15,000 within 90 days of card activation
- 5% cashback on the first EMI transaction within 90 days of card activation
- Buy one, get one free offer on movie ticket booking, up to Rs 250 per ticket through the Paytm mobile app. This is applicable twice a month.
- Minimum foreign exchange mark-up fee of 1.99%
Who can avail?
- This credit card is ideal for people who do not have huge expenses on credit cards and prefer rewards instead of cashback.
Dhanlaxmi Bank Platinum Credit Card
The Platinum Credit Card offered by Dhanlaxmi Bank is an ideal option for those looking for a lifetime free credit card offering cashback benefits.
Features:
- Offers air accident insurance, credit shield cover and purchase protection cover
- 5% cashback on supermarket and departmental store purchases
- Platinum privileges across various categories
- Global assistance during emergencies
Who can avail?
- It is a suitable choice for beginners.
- It is ideal for those shopping in supermarkets and department
IDFC First Millennia Credit Card
IDFC Bank offers First Millennia Credit Card that allows cashback on shopping and interest-free credit for 48 days in India and internationally. The reward points get accumulated. One can redeem them when required. A convenience fee of Rs 99 and GST will be applicable on redemption of reward points.
Features:
- 3 X rewards on offline spending up to Rs 20,000/month
- 6 X rewards on online spending up to Rs 20,000/month
- 10 X rewards across all categories on spends reaching Rs 20,000
- Rs 500 welcome benefit on spends worth Rs 50,000 within 90 days of card activation
- 5% cashback on the transaction value of EMI created within 90 days, up to Rs 1,000
- 25% discount on movie tickets booked via the Paytm mobile app, up to Rs 100
Who can avail?
- It is suitable for those who frequently shop online and are looking for zero annual fee credit cards with a good rewards rate.
- This credit card functions on an incremental model. The more one spends, the more one earns.
FAQs
Who should apply for a lifetime credit card?
If a customer has a good credit score, the bank may offer you a lifetime free credit card, which comes with no joining or annual fee. Lifetime-free credit cards are suitable for first-time credit card users.
What are the benefits of lifetime credit cards?
Lifetime credit cards do not come with annual fees and allow cardholders to maintain their credit score. They offer continued rewards and cashback offers.
Can you use a lifetime credit card to withdraw money from an ATM?
You can use a lifetime credit card to withdraw money from ATMs in India.
Are there any hidden charges applicable for lifetime credit cards?
There are no hidden charges for using a lifetime free credit card. The customers pay only what they spend.
Can you use a lifetime free credit card overseas?
One can use a lifetime credit card overseas. However, the charges applicable would differ as per your bank policy. It is important to check the applicable charges when using the card overseas.
How to apply for a lifetime free credit card online?
Ensure your eligibility for the lifetime credit card. You can visit the respective bank website for information and apply for no-annual-fee credit cards online. You will be required to provide relevant documents, including identity proof, residential proof and income proof.
| Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at jhumur.ghosh1@housing.com |
Â
