First credit card? Popular cashback and rewards cards for beginners in 2026

Almost all credit cards would allow you to buy any merchandise you want on credit with a 45-day interest-free credit period.

However, it would be better if the credit card that you use also provides extra cashback and reward points. For beginners, there are some credit cards that offer cashback and rewards.

Credit cards for beginners

I. SBI Cashback Credit Card: This card by SBI gives 5% cashback on online spends without any merchant restriction and 1% cashback on offline spends.

The card cashback will be auto-credited to the SBI Card account within two working days of the next statement generation.

There is a reversal of the renewal fee on annual spends of ₹2 lakh.

II. Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card: There is no joining fee and a lower forex mark-up at 1.99% on international spends. There is 1% unlimited reward points on spending outside Amazon.

III. Axis Bank ACE Credit Card: There is a 5% cashback on utility bill payments (electricity, internet, gas, and more). You can enjoy 4 complimentary lounge visits per calendar year at select domestic airports with an ACE credit card. There is 1% fuel surcharge waiver on fuel purchases at all fuel stations across the country.

IV. HSBC Live+ Credit Card: It has a joining fee of ₹999. You are entitled to 10% cashback on dining/ grocery/ food delivery and 1.5% unlimited cashback at other retailers. Additionally, there is 1.5% unlimited cashback on movies and shows at home or at the cinema.

V. HDFC Bank Swiggy Credit Card: This card offers 10% cashback on spends across the Swiggy app and 5% cashback on select online spends. The card also offers a free Swiggy One membership on activation. The card also allows cardholders to convert large transactions into smartEMI after purchase.

(This is an indicative list)

Disclaimer: MintMoney has a tie-up with fintechs for providing credit, you will need to share your information if you apply. These tie-ups do not influence our editorial content. This article only intends to educate and spread awareness about credit needs like loans, credit cards and credit score. MintMoney does not promote or encourage taking credit as it comes with a set of risks such as high interest rates, hidden charges, etc. We advise investors to discuss with certified experts before taking any credit