Best first credit cards for beginners in 2026

No credit history? Start with a card that is easy to get and free to keep. FD-backed cards approve against your own deposit, and UPI RuPay cards build history from everyday payments.

โœ“ Every apply link checked by handโœ“ Rankings never use commissionโœ“ No calls, no spam โ€” we never ask for your numberโœ“ Links last verified 5 Oct 2026How we pick โ†’
  1. 1

    Indian Overseas Bank

    IOB Zet FD Credit Card

    Lifetime free
    • Zero Joining, Annual Or Renewal Fee For Life
    • FD-Backed Card That Lets Your Deposit Earn Up To 7% Interest While Building Your Credit Score
    • 2% Cashback On UPI Transactions, No Income Proof Required
  2. 2

    IDFC First Bank

    IDFC First Quantum Plus Credit Card

    Lifetime free
    • Lifetime Free Card, Secured Against A Fixed Deposit Of โ‚น10,000+
    • 2% Cashback On Online Spends Above โ‚น10,000 In A Statement Cycle
    • Linked FD Keeps Earning Up To 6.5% Interest While You Build Credit
  3. 5

    IDFC First Bank

    IndiGo IDFC FIRST 6E Dual Credit Card

    • Up To 22 IndiGo BluChips Per IndiGo Flight Booking, 3 Per โ‚น100 Elsewhere
    • Comes As Two Cards (Mastercard + RuPay) On One Shared Credit Limit
    • Milestone BluChips At โ‚น2L / โ‚น5L / โ‚น8L / โ‚น10L / โ‚น12L Yearly Spend
    • โ‚น4,999 Fee โ€” Nil If You Hold A โ‚น1 Lakh Fixed Deposit With The Bank
  4. 8

    Kiwi

    Kiwi Credit Card

    Lifetime free
    • Lifetime Free โ€” No Joining Or Annual Fee
    • RuPay Card You Link To Any UPI App And Pay By QR On Credit
    • Rewards On Every UPI Transaction Via The Kiwi App
    • Issued With Axis Bank / Yes Bank, Managed Fully In-App

Before you apply โœ…

  • Pay the full bill every month: that is what builds your CIBIL score.
  • Keep usage under about 30% of your limit.
  • Apply for one card at a time โ€” each application is a hard enquiry.

Questions

Can I get a credit card without a salary slip?

Yes. FD-backed cards are issued against a fixed deposit, so income proof is usually not needed.

How long does it take to build a credit score?

A score usually appears after about six months of card use; on-time full payments are what improve it.

More best-for lists

Ranked by how well each card's stated benefits match this need โ€” never by commission. How we pick cards. Some links are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Fees and benefits are set by the bank and can change.