The CardBuzz blog
Card-by-card write-ups from our team, features, fees, lounge access and who each card actually suits. For the numbers after every cap and exclusion, head to the card pages.
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How-To GuidesThe fee verdict: how much should you pay for a card
After nine articles on every fee, waiver, markup and hike in the Indian credit card market, here's the bottom line: a number. How much should you actually pay for a credit card in 2026? The honest answer depends on your
News & DevaluationsThe 2026 fee hikes: which cards got pricier
2026 has been a year of the quiet squeeze: issuers didn't raise many headline annual fees, but they raised waiver thresholds, tightened late-payment slabs, hiked currency-conversion markups and trimmed the benefits that
Buying GuidesLifetime-free cards: the 15 best in October 2026
Lifetime-free (LTF) cards charge no joining fee and no annual fee for as long as you hold them — no spend thresholds, no waiver anxiety. The LTF market in 2026 is genuinely strong: several free cards now match paid cards
ComparisonsFees vs rewards: the break-even math for every card tier
Every paid credit card is a bet: you pay a fixed fee upfront and try to earn it back in rewards. Most people lose the bet because they never do the math. This article shows you the break-even formula and runs it for each
How-To GuidesGetting your annual fee waived: scripts that work in 2026
Banks would rather keep a spending customer than lose one over a fee. That gives you leverage — if you use it the right way, at the right time, with the right words. Here's a practical playbook for getting annual fees wa
Credit HealthLate payment fees and penalties: the true cost in 2026
Missing a credit card due date is the most expensive small mistake in personal finance. The late fee is only the first of four costs — and the other three are bigger. Here is what actually happens when you pay late, with
How-To GuidesForex markup fees: the 3.5% you didn't know you were paying
Buy a $100 item on a standard Indian credit card and you will pay more than $100's worth of rupees. The difference is the foreign currency markup — and for many cardholders, it is the largest fee they pay all year withou
How-To GuidesHidden credit card charges: the 12 to watch for in 2026
Nobody reads the fee schedule. That's exactly why these charges work so well. Here are twelve charges that surprise Indian cardholders — what each one is, what it costs, and how to dodge it. Every figure below is traceab
How-To GuidesAnnual fees: when to pay, when to negotiate, when to walk away
The annual fee is the first price a card asks you to pay — before you've earned a single reward. It ranges from ₹0 on lifetime-free cards to ₹66,000 on the Amex Platinum. This guide gives you a decision framework: pay it
How-To GuidesEvery credit card fee explained: the complete 2026 guide
A credit card can be a free, reward-earning tool — or one of the most expensive ways to borrow money in India. The difference almost always comes down to fees. This guide walks through every major fee an Indian credit ca
GuidesAmerican Express Smartearn Credit Card vs Indianoil HDFC Bank Credit Card: Which Credit Card Wins in 2026?
American Express Smartearn Credit Card against Indianoil HDFC Bank Credit Card: fees, reward rates, lounge access and which one suits which spender. Update
GuidesMakemytrip ICICI Bank Signature Credit Card vs SBI Simplyclick Credit Card: Which Credit Card Wins in 2026?
Makemytrip ICICI Bank Signature Credit Card against SBI Simplyclick Credit Card: fees, reward rates, lounge access and which one suits which spender. Updat