Best RuPay Credit Cards in India (2026): UPI-Linked Cards Compared

A RuPay credit card works like any other credit card — issued by a bank, usable at POS terminals and online — but it runs on the RuPay network built by NPCI instead of Visa or Mastercard. Its standout feature is UPI integration: link a RuPay card to any UPI app and you can earn rewards even on QR-code payments, a benefit unavailable on other networks. Reward rates vary by card — some are built specifically for UPI spends with accelerated rates, while others offer only base rewards.

What Are the Different Types of RuPay Credit Cards?

• RuPay Classic — Entry-level, basic rewards/cashback, fuel surcharge waiver
• RuPay Platinum — Mid-tier, higher limits and better reward rates on shopping/dining/travel
• RuPay Select — Premium, concierge services, lounge access, higher reward rates
• RuPay EKAA — Super-premium, golf privileges, emergency cash assistance, exclusive travel perks

What Do the Top RuPay Credit Cards Offer?

Here's a closer look at what each card gives you:

1. HDFC Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card

Best suited for: Everyday UPI spends

• Up to 3% CashPoints on card spends, including UPI transactions
  
• Joining fee: Rs.99 + applicable charges

2. Tata Neu Infinity HDFC Bank Credit Card

Best suited for: Tata ecosystem shopping (Big Basket, Croma, Air India)

• 5% back as NeuCoins on Tata Neu and partner Tata Brand Spends (non-EMI spends)
• Up to two complimentary domestic lounge vouchers in a calendar quarter (on Rs.50,000 or above spends in a calendar quarter) and four international complimentary lounge access per calendar year.
  
• NeuCoins accelerated on Tata brand purchases

3. SBI Simply CLICK RuPay Credit Card

Best suited for: Online shoppers

• 0X Reward Points on online spends
• Sign-on welcome offers
• Joining fee – Rs.499

4. SBI IRCTC RuPay Credit Card

Best suited for: Frequent train travellers

• 350 bonus reward points on activation
• 4 free railway lounge visits/year

• Up to 10 Reward Points per Rs.100 spent on IRCTC tickets 

• 1% Transaction charge waiver on IRCTC train ticket bookings 

5. Axis Bank Indian Oil RuPay Credit Card

Best suited for: High fuel spenders

• Fuel surcharge waiver
• Reward points on fuel purchases at Indian Oil outlets
• Additional benefits on routine/commute spends

6. HSBC Rupay Platinum Credit Card

• 10 complimentary airport lounge visits per year (2 domestic airport lounge access per quarter and 2 international airport lounge access per year) 

• 10% cashback on grocery, food delivery, and dining spends 

• Card can be used internationally in 160 countries through the JCB network

7. IDFC FIRST Power+ Credit Card

Best suited for: Utility bills & fuel

• Up to 6.5% value-back on fuel spends
• 3X Rewards on UPI and other retail transactions 
• 5% savings as Rewards on Grocery and Utility expenses
  

8. IndusInd Bank Platinum RuPay Credit Card

Best suited for: Lifestyle & dining

• 2 Reward Points on Rs.100 spent on UPI payments
• 1% waiver on fuel surcharge at any fuel pump across India
• Travel insurance coverage worth Rs.2.25 lakh which includes lost baggage coverage up to Rs.1 lakh, passport loss cover up to Rs.50,000, and delayed baggage/lost ticket/missed connection up to Rs.25,000 each.

9. YES Bank Kiwi RuPay Credit Card

Best suited for: Digital-first UPI users

• Cashback on UPI transactions
• Seamless mobile app integration
• A good entry point if you're a first-time credit user

10. Kotak UPI RuPay Credit Card

Best suited for: Lifetime free UPI-linked card

• UPI-linked credit card benefits
• Rs.0 joining and annual fee

Which RuPay Credit Cards Are Lifetime Free?

What Are the Best Co-Branded RuPay Credit Cards?

What Are the Features and Benefits of RuPay Credit Cards?

• Rewards & cashback — earn across shopping, dining, fuel, and travel; cashback usually credits to your statement balance, while points redeem via the issuer's catalogue
• UPI integration — the single biggest differentiator: pay via PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, or BHIM and still earn rewards
• Credit building — responsible use (on-time payments, low utilization) builds your credit history like any other card
• Secure transactions — EMV chip plus NPCI-backed real-time fraud monitoring
• Wide issuer network — offered by SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Axis, Kotak, and more, with extensive branch, ATM, and merchant coverage

• Complimentary insurance cover — many RuPay credit cards, particularly on the Platinum and Select tiers, include personal accidental death and permanent total disability insurance cover as a network-level benefit 

• Airport lounge access — RuPay's Platinum, Select, and EKAA tiers typically extend complimentary domestic and international airport lounge access as part of the network's benefit tiering

How Do You Link a RuPay Credit Card to UPI?

1. Open a UPI app (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, BHIM)
2. Go to “Add Credit Card”
3. Select your card issuer
4. Enter your card details and verify with OTP
5. Set a UPI PIN for credit card transactions
6. Use the card for UPI payments at supported merchants

Where Are RuPay Credit Cards Accepted?

Domestic RuPay cards work at all RuPay-enabled POS terminals, e-commerce sites, and ATMs across India. International RuPay variants also work at ICS Partner acceptance points abroad — ATMs, retail stores, and e-commerce platforms — though acceptance is narrower than Visa or Mastercard.

How Does RuPay Compare to Visa and Mastercard?

Who Is Eligible for a RuPay Credit Card?

• You must be an Indian resident
• You'll need to meet the minimum age and income specified by the issuer (this varies by card)
• You'll need a satisfactory credit history/CIBIL score as required by the issuer

Note: Eligibility criteria depend on the bank issuing the credit card.

What Should You Check Before Choosing a RuPay Credit Card?

• Reward structure fit — match the card's bonus categories to your actual spend pattern (fuel, travel, shopping, UPI)
• Annual/joining fee — many good RuPay cards are lifetime free, so compare the fee against the benefit before choosing a paid variant
  
• UPI-specific reward rate — not all RuPay cards accelerate UPI rewards; some only offer the base rate

Summary

RuPay credit cards are India's own UPI-linked credit cards, built by NPCI to reward you for everyday spending on shopping, fuel, travel, and UPI payments alike. With fees and UPI-specific rates that vary widely by card and issuer, the right choice comes down to matching a RuPay credit card's benefits to how you actually spend. Compare the cards above by fee and key benefit, then apply for the RuPay credit card that fits your spending pattern best.

Credit cards make payments easy for all expenses online and offline while offering various benefits

Find a Card >>