Lifetime free (LTF) cards charge no joining or annual fee, ever. That makes them ideal as a first card, a backup card, or a way to build your credit history without paying for it.
How we rank: estimated yearly value for a "balanced spender" spending ₹33,000 a month, after reward caps, annual fee (with GST) and forex costs. Rank cards with your own spends →
| Fee waiver | Lounge | Best for | Compare | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scapia Federal Bank Federal Bank · Visa |
Free | – | Up to 4% | 0% | Domestic lounge access with ₹20,000 monthly spend | International travellers who want zero forex markup | |
Amazon Pay ICICI Bank ICICI Bank · Visa |
Free | – | Up to 5% | 1.99% | None | Amazon Prime members who want a no-fee card | |
IDFC FIRST Wealth IDFC FIRST Bank · Visa |
Free | – | Up to 0.38% | 0% | Domestic and international lounge access with ₹20,000 monthly spend | High spenders who want premium perks without a fee | |
IDFC FIRST Millennia IDFC FIRST Bank · Visa |
Free | – | Up to 0.38% | 0% | Railway lounge access | Young professionals who want a no-fee card with zero forex markup |
Yes, there is no joining or annual fee. You still pay interest if you carry a balance, and fees for late payments, cash withdrawals and foreign-currency transactions.
Amazon Pay ICICI is best for Amazon shoppers, and Scapia Federal Bank or IDFC FIRST cards for international travel thanks to zero forex markup.