Top 15 cards for 2026

[drsel]

Top 15 cards for 2026
HSBC Premier for 18/36% Accor points (5x--max 120k/mth, 11x--max 54.6k/mth
HSBC Travel One for 16/24% Accor points.
ICICI Emerald Private for 18/36% on iShop (5x--max 120k/mth, 11x--max 54.6k/mth)
HDFC Infinia for 16.65/33.30% on Smartbuy (4x-- max 112.5k/mth / 9x--max 49.95k/mth)
Axis Magnus Burgundy for 24% Accor points on Traveledge, upto 14% Accor points over 1.5 lacs/mth
Axis Airtel for 25% on Airtel, 10% on utilities, Jio, Idea, Swiggy, Zomato
HDFC Biz Black for 16.5% on taxes (50k--56.25k pm), Smartbuy 3x, 5x, 10x (over 50k)
Axis Atlas for 10+1.33% Accor points for online/offline direct hotels & direct flights; 4+1.33% Accor points for other online/offline.
HSBC Live+ for 10% on dining, groceries, food delivery (max.1000 on 10k/mth)
AU Lit with activation for 8.97% on groceries or 9.36% on apparel, on 10k spend per month
Axis Olympus for 8% Accor points on foreign spends (less 2.124% forex markup)
SBI cashback for 5% on online (max. 5k on 1 lac)
Jupiter Edge Plus for 10% cashback on Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra (max.500 on 5k x 3 apps, max. 1500 on 15k/mth)
Yes Kiwi for 5% (1.5 L pa), 4% (1 L pa), 3% (50k pa), 2% (<50k pa) on UPI scan QR code
Amex Platinum travel 6% on 4 lacs for MCC exclusions (categories excluded by the above cards)

Note-- I have not put any specific price/value for Accor points, it is up to you to decide the value

 

[Exewhyzee]

@2025 khatam toh hone dete.

 

[cardio_guycardio_guy is verified member.]

Good compilation. 👍

 

[magnusfan]

I would put SBI Air India signature on the list with about 10% AI points

 

[drsel]

I would put SBI Air India signature on the list with about 10% AI points

Air India points have only 65 p value

 

[vchouksey80]

Good one brother 👍

 

[2025]

Top 15 cards for 2026
HSBC Premier for 18/36% Accor points (5x--max 120k/mth, 11x--max 54.6k/mth
HSBC Travel One for 16/24% Accor points.
ICICI Emerald Private for 18/36% on iShop (5x--max 120k/mth, 11x--max 54.6k/mth)
HDFC Infinia for 16.65/33.30% on Smartbuy (4x-- max 112.5k/mth / 9x--max 49.95k/mth)
Axis Magnus Burgundy for 24% Accor points on Traveledge, upto 14% Accor points over 1.5 lacs/mth
Axis Airtel for 25% on Airtel, 10% on utilities, Jio, Idea, Swiggy, Zomato
HDFC Biz Black for 16.5% on taxes (50k--56.25k pm), Smartbuy 3x, 5x, 10x (over 50k)
Axis Atlas for 10+1.33% Accor points for online/offline direct hotels & direct flights; 4+1.33% Accor points for other online/offline.
HSBC Live+ for 10% on dining, groceries, food delivery (max.1000 on 10k/mth)
AU Lit with activation for 8.97% on groceries or 9.36% on apparel, on 10k spend per month
Axis Olympus for 8% Accor points (less 2.124% forex markup) on foreign spends
SBI cashback for 5% on online (max. 5k on 1 lac)
Jupiter Edge Plus for 10% cashback on Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra (max.500 on 5k x 3 apps, max. 1500 on 15k/mth)
Yes Kiwi for 5% (1.5 L pa), 4% (1 L pa), 3% (50k pa), 2% (<50k pa) on UPI scan QR code
Amex Platinum travel 6% on 4 lacs for MCC exclusions (categories excluded by the above cards)

Note-- I have not put any specific price/value for Accor points, it is up to you to decide the value

Seems like you updated your previous list with two(?) new entry: Kiwi and Jupiter. Wondering why you kept Phonepe Sbi out of it.

 

[magnusfan]

Air India points have only 65 p value

I would rather put it at 0.75 but anyways, it’s rewards at 6.5% to 7.5% in anycase!

By the way, let me know if anyone is selling AI points at 0.65 🙂

 

[Kabir_1112]

It's almost the end of the year.
Good compilation of the cards selected @drsel
Hoping something positive out of the next year as the end of 2025 seems dark with many devaluation happening.

 

[drsel]

It's almost the end of the year.
Good compilation of the cards selected @drsel
Hoping something positive out of the next year as the end of 2025 seems dark with many devaluation happening.

De valuations are an ongoing process for almost all the cards every year, it doesn't change

 

[drsel]

Seems like you updated your previous list with two(?) new entry: Kiwi and Jupiter. Wondering why you kept Phonepe Sbi out of it.

I added HSBC Premier, HSBC Travel One and Jupiter Edge to the 2025 list

 

[jhanishdev]

Axis Airtel utilities Cashback is more like 5% after considering charges. Still, a great card.

 

[RAMESH BABU N]

What about Kotak CashBack-PLUS ?

No fuel card ?

 

[cardio_guycardio_guy is verified member.]

Top cards for 2026 (for me):

1. Axis Atlas
2. Amex Platinum Travel
3. HDFC Marriott Bonvoy
4. HDFC Regalia Gold
5. HDFC Swiggy
6. HDFC Tata Neu Infinity

Not used cards:

1. ICICI Amazon Pay
2. ICICI Sapphiro
3. Indusind Tiger
4. Federal Celesta
5. IDFC First Wealth

Plan to apply cards:

1. HDFC Phonepe Ultimo
2. BOB Eterna
3. HSBC Travel One

 

[HumorSimpson]

Plan to apply cards:

1. HDFC Phonepe Ultimo
2. BOB Eterna
3. HSBC Travel One

Bob eterna? What is the usp?

 

[cardio_guycardio_guy is verified member.]

Bob eterna? What is the usp?

Nothing. just for collection.

(I am still thinking whether to take it or not. Still have time till Dec 31.
Other options from BOB are cashback and scapia. If BOB has one card policy, then all those who got Eterna won't be able to get any other card).

 

[Kabir_1112]

Could be a good card and a short term safe bet for jcb rupay tie up.

Bob eterna? What is the usp?

 

[Desu Sarath]

Top 15 cards for 2026
HSBC Premier for 18/36% Accor points (5x--max 120k/mth, 11x--max 54.6k/mth
HSBC Travel One for 16/24% Accor points.
ICICI Emerald Private for 18/36% on iShop (5x--max 120k/mth, 11x--max 54.6k/mth)
HDFC Infinia for 16.65/33.30% on Smartbuy (4x-- max 112.5k/mth / 9x--max 49.95k/mth)
Axis Magnus Burgundy for 24% Accor points on Traveledge, upto 14% Accor points over 1.5 lacs/mth
Axis Airtel for 25% on Airtel, 10% on utilities, Jio, Idea, Swiggy, Zomato
HDFC Biz Black for 16.5% on taxes (50k--56.25k pm), Smartbuy 3x, 5x, 10x (over 50k)
Axis Atlas for 10+1.33% Accor points for online/offline direct hotels & direct flights; 4+1.33% Accor points for other online/offline.
HSBC Live+ for 10% on dining, groceries, food delivery (max.1000 on 10k/mth)
AU Lit with activation for 8.97% on groceries or 9.36% on apparel, on 10k spend per month
Axis Olympus for 8% Accor points on foreign spends (less 2.124% forex markup)
SBI cashback for 5% on online (max. 5k on 1 lac)
Jupiter Edge Plus for 10% cashback on Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra (max.500 on 5k x 3 apps, max. 1500 on 15k/mth)
Yes Kiwi for 5% (1.5 L pa), 4% (1 L pa), 3% (50k pa), 2% (<50k pa) on UPI scan QR code
Amex Platinum travel 6% on 4 lacs for MCC exclusions (categories excluded by the above cards)

Note-- I have not put any specific price/value for Accor points, it is up to you to decide the value

so many accor 😎

 

[sunit123]

Top cards for 2026 (for me):

1. Axis Atlas
2. Amex Platinum Travel
3. HDFC Marriott Bonvoy
4. HDFC Regalia Gold
5. HDFC Swiggy
6. HDFC Tata Neu Infinity

Not used cards:

1. ICICI Amazon Pay
2. ICICI Sapphiro
3. Indusind Tiger
4. Federal Celesta
5. IDFC First Wealth

Plan to apply cards:

1. HDFC Phonepe Ultimo
2. BOB Eterna
3. HSBC Travel One

Any suggestion on best LTF cards

 

[RAMESH BABU N]

FORGET about the 2025 list or 2026 list.

FOCUS on only those cards which meet your spend-requirements.

REMEMBER even the so-called BEST cards are useless cards in the hands of mis-fit users.

ALSO remember that some paid cards give more benefits/rewards than free cards.

AND, holding on to unwanted, less-use or rarely used cards would affect your credit scores. So, have only a handful of cards to COVER all your needs - not more or not status-symbol cards.