Which IDFC FIRST credit card is best? We score 11 cards on fees, rewards, income bars and forex, with picks for beginners, families, flyers and retirees.
Quick Verdict
The best IDFC FIRST credit card depends on your income and where you spend, not on the fee. For most people,FIRST Select(lifetime free, ₹12 lakh income) orFIRST Millennia(lifetime free, ₹3 lakh income) is the right pick, andFIRST WOW!orFIRST Hellois the answer if you have no income proof or no credit history.
We read IDFC FIRST's product pages and terms for this guide, and the best IDFC FIRST credit card changes with the buyer: the ₹12,500 + GST Gaj makes sense only if you can spend ₹10 lakh a year, while the same bank's lifetime-free cards give you most of the rewards with none of that pressure. As of November 2026, here is the short version.
If you are... | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
A first-time user with no income proof | FIRST WOW! or FIRST Hello (FD-backed) | Approval is built on a fixed deposit, not salary |
A beginner with ₹3 lakh income | FIRST Classic or FIRST Millennia | Lifetime free, 10X on dining and travel, zero forex |
A family or professional at ₹12 lakh+ | FIRST Select | Lifetime free with lounge access and 10X above ₹20,000 a cycle |
A frequent flyer who books through the IDFC FIRST app | Mayura, Gaj, Diamond Reserve or Ashva | Hotel and flight bonus points, with fees from ₹2,999 + GST |
Benchmarksutra Score: Select82/100 — A Tier· Gaj82/100 — A Tier· Mayura81/100 — A Tier· Wealth80/100 — A Tier. All 11 cards are scored below. We have researched these cards from official pages; we have not tested them hands-on.
Which IDFC FIRST Credit Card Is Best for Each Buyer?
IDFC FIRST lists around 30 cards on its credit card page, including business, corporate and insurance co-brands. This guide covers the 11 personal cards most readers ask about. To weigh any card against another, see ourguide to comparing credit cards.
Freshers and beginners: no CIBIL history, no income proof
IDFC FIRST has two fixed-deposit-backed options.FIRST WOW!is lifetime free, takes an FD of ₹20,000 or more, and needs no income proof or credit history; age 18 to 80 is allowed.FIRST Hello Cashbacktakes an FD from ₹10,000 and pays 3% on the first ₹10,000 of monthly online spend and 5% above that, capped at ₹1,000 online and ₹1,500 in total per cycle. It is not lifetime free: ₹1,000 + GST from year two, reversed at ₹2 lakh annual spend.
If you have a salary of ₹3 lakh a year,FIRST Classicis the lifetime-free entry card.
Middle-aged families: groceries, dining, travel on one card
Our pick isFIRST MillenniaorFIRST Select. Both are lifetime free. Since 18 June 2026 the 10X rate on Millennia and Classic applies from the first rupee on dining, travel and international spends, and 3X applies to most other spends. At ₹0.25 per point, 10X is about 1.25%, not 10%. Read ourFIRST Millennia reviewfor the full breakdown.
Travellers and frequent flyers
The metal cards pay the most, but only through the IDFC FIRST app.Mayura(₹5,999 + GST) pays 50 points per ₹150 on hotels and 30 on flights booked through the app, and travel redemption is worth ₹0.50 a point.Gajpays 5 points per ₹150 on domestic spends and values app travel at ₹1 a point, but the fee is ₹12,500 + GST (waived at ₹10 lakh a year).Diamond Reserve(₹3,000 + GST, waived at ₹6 lakh) has zero forex, but no points on international spends.Ashva(₹2,999 + GST) charges 1% forex and lists no lounge.
Professionals: doctors, CAs, lawyers
If your annual income clears ₹12 lakh,Selectgives lifetime-free 4 airport and 16 railway lounge visits a year, provided you spend ₹20,000 in the previous month. At ₹36 lakh,Wealthadds a wider lounge set with global lounges, but forex is 1.5% + GST, not zero. Read ourFIRST Select reviewfor details.
Senior citizens and retirees
Pension income is hard to show for some seniors. The FD-backed WOW! and Hello cards let a retiree use a deposit instead. Both allow ages up to 80 per the bank's pages. The FD stays locked as security while the card is open. Also see our guide onthe FD-backed WOW! card.
IDFC FIRST Credit Card Comparison: Fees, Rewards and Eligibility
Card | Fee (+ GST) | Headline reward | Income or eligibility | Forex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
FIRST WOW! | Lifetime free | 4 points per ₹200 (about 0.5%) | FD ₹20,000+, age 18-80 | Zero |
FIRST Hello | ₹1,000 from year 2 | 3% / 5% online, capped | FD ₹10,000+ | Not stated |
FIRST Classic | Lifetime free | 10X on dining, travel, intl | ₹3 lakh a year | Zero |
FIRST Millennia | Lifetime free | 10X on dining, travel, intl; 3X others | ₹3 lakh a year | Zero |
FIRST Select | Lifetime free | 3X to ₹20,000, 10X above | ₹12 lakh a year | 1.99% |
FIRST Wealth | Lifetime free | 3X to ₹20,000, 10X above | ₹36 lakh a year | 1.5% |
FIRST SWYP | ₹499 | Monthly milestones, up to 1.67% | Check bank's checker | Not stated |
Ashva | ₹2,999 | 5X, 10X above ₹20,000 | Not stated | 1% |
Diamond Reserve | ₹3,000 | 3X, 10X above ₹20,000 | Not stated | Zero |
Mayura | ₹5,999 | 5 points per ₹150 | Not stated | Zero |
Gaj | ₹12,500 | 5 points per ₹150 | Not stated | Zero |
For the maths behind a paid card, use ourannual fee breakeven calculator, and for what your points are really worth, use thereward value calculator.
The Catches Across the IDFC FIRST Range
Redemption fee:₹99 + GST on every reward redemption on cards such as Select, Wealth, Millennia and Classic. Redeem rarely and in bulk.
Point value:regular redemption is ₹0.25 a point. Only app-based travel bookings pay more (₹0.40 to ₹1 depending on the card).
Validity:points earned from the July 2026 cycle on Wealth and Millennia are valid for 24 months.
Reward cap:rewards are earned only up to the assigned credit limit each cycle.
Zero earn:fuel, EMI and cash withdrawals earn nothing, and utilities and insurance earn only 1X.
Lounge activation:most lounge benefits need ₹20,000 spent in the previous month.
IDFC FIRST Credit Cards Benchmarksutra Scores
These scores use our fixed 100-point framework. Seehow we rate Indian credit cardsfor the method.
Card | Score | Tier | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
FIRST Select | 82/100 | A Tier | Lifetime-free lifestyle at ₹12 lakh+ |
Gaj | 82/100 | A Tier | ₹10 lakh+ annual spenders |
Mayura | 81/100 | A Tier | Zero-forex travel via the app |
FIRST Wealth | 80/100 | A Tier | High earners wanting lounges |
Ashva | 79/100 | B Tier | App travel bookings, mid fee |
Diamond Reserve | 78/100 | B Tier | Zero forex with a ₹6 lakh waiver |
FIRST Millennia | 77/100 | B Tier | Beginners and everyday spend |
FIRST Classic | 77/100 | B Tier | Entry-level dining and travel |
FIRST Hello | 76/100 | B Tier | FD-backed online cashback |
FIRST WOW! | 73/100 | B Tier | No income proof or credit history |
FIRST SWYP | 72/100 | B Tier | EMI-first spenders |
Checklist Before You Apply
Check your annual income against the card's bar: ₹3 lakh, ₹12 lakh or ₹36 lakh.
Decide whether you will book travel through the IDFC FIRST app; the best rates need it.
Estimate monthly spend: ₹20,000 unlocks lounges and the 10X milestone on several cards.
Check the current MITC and schedule of charges for forex, redemption fee and point validity.
If you have no income proof, price the FD you would lock and for how long.
Read the product page for the card's latest terms before applying.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Reading 10X as 10% cashback. At ₹0.25 a point it is about 1.25%.
Paying ₹12,500 + GST for Gaj without a realistic ₹10 lakh spend plan.
Forgetting the ₹99 + GST fee on small redemptions.
Assuming zero forex everywhere: Select charges 1.99%, Wealth 1.5% + GST and Ashva 1%.
Missing the minimum due on Hello, which can forfeit the cashback.
Related on benchmarksutra
Credit cards in India: every benchmarksutra guide in one place
IDFC First Ashva Review: Why 5% Travel Rewards Costs You More
IDFC FIRST Diamond Reserve Review: Is India’s Newest Metal Card Actually Worth It?
IDFC FIRST Wealth Credit Card Review 2026: Lifetime-Free Premium Card With Low Forex
IDFC FIRST Devaluation 2026: What’s Changing for Wealth, Select, & Millennia?
FAQs
Which IDFC FIRST Bank credit card is best for me?
Pick by income and spend: Select or Millennia for most salaried buyers, WOW! or Hello if you have no income proof, and a metal card only for heavy travel spend. The scores above rank all 11.
Is there an IDFC FIRST credit card with no annual fee?
Yes. Classic, Millennia, Select, Wealth and WOW! are lifetime free. A UPI-linked card variant can carry ₹199 + GST from year two.
Which IDFC FIRST card has zero forex markup?
Millennia, Classic, WOW!, Mayura, Gaj and Diamond Reserve list zero forex. Select charges 1.99%, Wealth 1.5% + GST, and Ashva 1%.
Can I get an IDFC FIRST card with no credit history?
Yes, through the FD-backed WOW! (FD of ₹20,000 or more) and Hello (FD of ₹10,000 or more), which ask for no income proof or credit score per the bank's pages.
What is a reward point worth on IDFC FIRST cards?
Usually ₹0.25 a point. App travel bookings are worth ₹0.40 on Ashva, ₹0.50 on Mayura and ₹1 on Gaj. Each redemption costs ₹99 + GST on several cards.
Do IDFC FIRST points expire?
On Wealth and Millennia, points earned from the July 2026 cycle are valid for 24 months. Check the card's current terms for others.
Can retirees get an IDFC FIRST credit card?
FD-backed WOW! and Hello allow ages 18 to 80 per the bank's pages, so a retiree can use a deposit instead of income proof.
Official Sources and Editorial Note
This article is written from official sources and does not rely on third-party wording. Terms are as of November 2026 and can change; check the bank's current terms before applying.
