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Best Credit Card for Low or Bad CIBIL Score in India (2026)

Quick answer:

IDBI Imperium Platinum Credit Card gives you up to 0.5% back on credit cards for low CIBIL score (below 650) — the highest of any card we track. Scapia Federal Credit Card is the best free alternative.

Updated April 2026·10 cards compared·No affiliate commissions

Key insight

A score below 650 limits options but doesn't eliminate them. Secured cards (backed by FD) are available regardless of score. Use them for 6-12 months to rebuild, then apply for regular cards.

Top 10 Cards for Low or Bad CIBIL Score

1

IDBI Imperium Platinum Credit Card

IDBI

Up to 0.5% — directly optimised for secured card

Reward rateUp to 0.5%
Annual fee₹499
Score5.9/10
Co-branded / Direct
2

Scapia Federal Credit Card

Federal Bank

Up to 10% on beginner

Reward rateUp to 10%
Annual feeFREE
Score8.7/10
3

HDFC Swiggy Credit Card

HDFC

Up to 10% on beginner (best on swiggy)

Reward rateUp to 10%
Annual fee₹500
Score8.7/10
4

American Express SmartEarn Credit Card

American Express

Up to 10% on beginner

Reward rateUp to 10%
Annual fee₹495
Score7.9/10
5

IndusInd Tiger Credit Card

IndusInd

Up to 7.2% on beginner

Reward rateUp to 7.2%
Annual feeFREE
Score8.7/10
6

HDFC Millennia

HDFC

Up to 5% on beginner

Reward rateUp to 5%
Annual fee₹1,000
Score8.7/10
7

Axis Flipkart Credit Card

Axis

Up to 5% on beginner (best on flipkart)

Reward rateUp to 5%
Annual fee₹500
Score8.3/10
8

Axis ACE Credit Card

Axis

Up to 5% on beginner

Reward rateUp to 5%
Annual fee₹499
Score8.1/10
9

ICICI Amazon Pay Credit Card

ICICI

Up to 5% on beginner (best on amazon)

Reward rateUp to 5%
Annual feeFREE
Score7.9/10
10

HDFC Easy EMI Credit Card

HDFC

Up to 5% on beginners

Reward rateUp to 5%
Annual fee₹500
Score7.7/10

How We Ranked These

We ranked all 239 credit cards in our database against Low or Bad CIBIL Score using three tiers of relevance:

  1. Direct match — cards specifically designed for or partnered with Low or Bad CIBIL Score (co-branded cards, direct accelerated rewards)
  2. Category match — cards that earn accelerated rewards on the spending category that Low or Bad CIBIL Score falls under
  3. Broad match — cards that earn elevated rewards on related or overlapping categories

Within each tier, cards are sorted by effective reward rate (highest first), then by CardTrail Score as a tiebreaker. Every number on this page comes from our database — nothing is fabricated.

The Math: How Much Can You Actually Earn?

Monthly spendIDBI Imperium Platinum…Scapia Federal Credit …HDFC Swiggy Credit Card
₹5.0K/mo₹300/yr₹6.0K/yr₹6.0K/yr
₹15.0K/mo₹900/yr₹18.0K/yr₹18.0K/yr
₹30.0K/mo₹1.8K/yr₹36.0K/yr₹36.0K/yr

Assumes consistent monthly spending at the card's maximum reward rate for the matching category. Actual returns may vary based on reward caps, tier structures, and point redemption value.

Common Pitfalls to Watch For

!

Every rejected application further damages your CIBIL score — apply strategically, not broadly

!

Secured cards require a Fixed Deposit (₹15K-₹5L) as collateral — your credit limit is usually 75-90% of FD

!

Rebuilding credit takes 6-12 months of consistent on-time payments — there's no shortcut

Free vs Paid: Is the Annual Fee Worth It?

Best Free Card

Scapia Federal Credit Card

Federal Bank · ₹0 annual fee

Up to 10% on credit cards for low CIBIL score (below 650)

Score: 8.7/10

Best Overall

IDBI Imperium Platinum Credit Card

IDBI · ₹499 annual fee

Up to 0.5% on credit cards for low CIBIL score (below 650)

Score: 5.9/10

Cards to Avoid for Low or Bad CIBIL Score

These are popular, well-rated cards that earn only their base reward rate on credit cards for low CIBIL score (below 650). If you carry one of these, use a different card for Low or Bad CIBIL Score purchases.

IDFC FIRST Diamond Reserve Credit Card

IDFC FIRST · Score: 9/10 — but only 0.5% on credit cards for low CIBIL score (below 650)

American Express Platinum Charge Card

American Express · Score: 8.7/10 — but only 1.25% on credit cards for low CIBIL score (below 650)

IDFC FIRST Wealth Credit Card

IDFC FIRST · Score: 8.7/10 — but only 0.75% on credit cards for low CIBIL score (below 650)

Axis Magnus

Axis · Score: 8.6/10 — but only 1.2% on credit cards for low CIBIL score (below 650)

PhonePe HDFC Bank Ultimo Credit Card

HDFC · Score: 8.6/10 — but only 1% on credit cards for low CIBIL score (below 650)

These are great cards for other spending categories — just not for credit cards for low CIBIL score (below 650). Use the top-ranked card above instead.

Related: Best Cards for Similar Spending

Best for Your First Credit Card Best for Secured Credit Card (FD-backed)

Frequently Asked Questions

Which credit card gives the highest cashback on Low or Bad CIBIL Score?
IDBI Imperium Platinum Credit Card from IDBI gives up to 0.5% back on credit cards for low CIBIL score (below 650). It has a CardTrail Score of 5.9/10 with an annual fee of ₹499.
Is there a no-annual-fee credit card good for Low or Bad CIBIL Score?
Yes — Scapia Federal Credit Card is a free card (₹0 annual fee) that earns up to 10% on credit cards for low CIBIL score (below 650). CardTrail Score: 8.7/10.
How do credit card rewards work on Low or Bad CIBIL Score?
Credit cards earn rewards based on the Merchant Category Code (MCC) of the transaction. Low or Bad CIBIL Score transactions are assigned an MCC by the payment network, and cards with accelerated rewards on that MCC earn higher cashback or points.
Which popular credit cards should I avoid using for Low or Bad CIBIL Score?
Cards like IDFC FIRST Diamond Reserve Credit Card, American Express Platinum Charge Card, IDFC FIRST Wealth Credit Card have high overall scores but earn only their base rate (0.5% or less) on credit cards for low CIBIL score (below 650). Use a category-matched card instead.

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