Getting your first rewards credit card can feel confusing: reward points, miles, annual fees, lounge access and dozens of ways to redeem.
The good news? You don’t need to be a points expert to start earning useful rewards. The best first card is one that fits your regular spending and gives you benefits you’ll actually use. Here are three cards worth exploring as you start out.
At a glance
| Card | Annual fee | Earn rate | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Regalia Gold | ₹2,500 + GST, waived on ₹4 lakh spend | 5 Reward Points per ₹200 | Everyday spending with travel perks |
| Amex Platinum Travel | ₹5,000 + GST | 1 Membership Rewards point per ₹50 | People who naturally spend ₹4–7 lakh a year |
| SBI Card Miles Elite | ₹4,999 + GST, waived on ₹15 lakh spend | 6 Travel Credits per ₹200 on travel, 2 on other spends | Travel-heavy spenders |
1. HDFC Bank Regalia Gold
Regalia Gold is a lifestyle and travel card for people who want rewards on everyday purchases alongside travel benefits.
- Earn: 5 Reward Points for every ₹200 spent on eligible purchases, with accelerated rewards on selected SmartBuy bookings.
- Milestones: a ₹5,000 flight voucher when you spend ₹7.5 lakh in a year, plus a ₹1,500 voucher (Myntra, Nykaa, Reliance Digital or Marriott) for each quarter you spend ₹1.5 lakh.
- Lounges: 3 domestic lounge visits in the next quarter after you spend ₹60,000 in a quarter, and up to 6 international visits a year through Priority Pass.
- Redeem: points for flights, hotels, vouchers and more. Flights and hotels on SmartBuy are capped at 50,000 points a month and 70% of the booking value.
It may suit someone who spends across shopping, dining and travel and wants to learn how redemptions work without starting on a premium, invitation-only card.
2. American Express Platinum Travel
The Platinum Travel card is built around annual spending milestones.
- Earn: 1 Membership Rewards point for every ₹50 spent, excluding fuel, insurance, utilities, cash and EMI conversions.
- Welcome gift: 10,000 points when you spend ₹15,000 in the first 90 days and pay the first-year fee.
- Milestones: 10,000 bonus points at ₹4 lakh of spending in a card year, and a ₹20,000 Taj Experiences gift card at ₹7 lakh.
- Lounges: since 1 October 2026, 2 complimentary domestic visits a quarter once you meet the previous quarter’s spend: ₹70,000 for October–December 2026, then ₹1 lakh a quarter from January 2027.
- Redeem: points through Amex’s Platinum Travel Collection, vouchers, and airline and hotel transfer partners.
It works best for people who reach the milestones with spending they already do. Our card data currently marks this card as paused by the issuer, so check it’s open to new applications before you apply.
3. SBI Card Miles Elite
Miles Elite earns Travel Credits that you convert into travel redemptions.
- Earn: 6 Travel Credits per ₹200 on travel spending and 2 per ₹200 on everything else that qualifies.
- Welcome: 5,000 Travel Credits when you spend ₹1 lakh in the first 60 days.
- Milestone: 20,000 bonus Travel Credits on ₹12 lakh of annual spending.
- Redeem: convert Travel Credits into air miles, hotel points, travel bookings or catalogue products.
- Lounges: 8 domestic and 6 international (Priority Pass) visits a year, at most 2 of each per quarter.
It may appeal to people who want a travel-focused rewards structure and are comfortable comparing redemption options.
How to choose your first rewards card
Before applying, ask yourself:
- Where do I spend most? Shopping, dining, groceries, flights or hotels?
- Can I use the benefits? A travel card may not be worth it if you rarely travel.
- Can I reach the milestones naturally? Don’t spend extra just to unlock rewards.
- What is the annual fee? Compare it with the benefits you realistically expect to use.
- How can I redeem the points? Check redemption values, transfer partners, fees and restrictions.
Our card recommendation tool ranks cards against your own monthly spending, so you can see which one actually earns you the most.
START WITH YOUR SPENDING, NOT THE HYPE
A good rewards card fits the life you already have. Choose one that rewards your normal spending, understand its conditions, and pay your bill in full every month.
Card terms change often. Check the issuer’s current fees and benefits before you apply.
Editorial content for general information only. Card features, fees, offers and partner rules change often. Always verify current terms, eligibility and conditions with the issuer before acting.
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