Updated September 29, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards vs Petal
IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards
Petal
Higher score in this comparison
Where IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards and Petal differ
| Compare | IDFC FIRST Bank Credit CardsReviewVisitVisit | PetalReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹0 | $0 |
| APR | 8.5%Lower | 28.24% to 33.24% |
| Rewards rate | 1% online up to INR 10,000 per statement cycle, 2% on incremental online spends above INR 10,000, 1% on UPI via the IDFC FIRST Bank app, 1% in-store, 0.5% on select categories, plus 1% bonus on hotel and flight bookings in the app; total capped at INR 500 per statement cycle | 1% - 10% cash back at select national merchants, personalised offers |
| Perks | Personal accident cover of INR 200,000, Lost card liability cover of INR 25,000, UPI enabled RuPay credit card auto linked to the IDFC FIRST Bank app, No income proof or credit history required, Fixed deposit keeps earning interest while funding the card, Zero forex markup on international spends, Cash withdrawal interest free for up to 45 days at a nominal fee of INR 199 plus GST | No foreign transaction fees, Cash back at select national merchants, Leap program path to a credit line increase, In app credit score tracking, Card freeze and fraud detection, Reports to the major credit bureaus, Contactless payment and mobile wallet support |
| Cashback rate | 0.5% to 2% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Currency conversion fee (0%), Rewards type (Cashback), Credit needed (Poor), Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- Petal scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 8.8.
- APR is lower at IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards: 8.5% vs 28.24% to 33.24%.
- Perks: only IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards offers Personal accident cover of INR 200,000, Lost card liability cover of INR 25,000, UPI enabled RuPay credit card auto linked to the IDFC FIRST Bank app.
- Perks: only Petal offers No foreign transaction fees, Cash back at select national merchants, Leap program path to a credit line increase.
- Support channels: only Petal offers Email.
- Features: only IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards offers Rewards, Secured.
- Features: only Petal offers Travel.
Our verdict on each
IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards
IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards suit adults with poor credit who want a cashback card they can use abroad without extra cost. The annual fee is INR 0 and the currency conversion fee is 0%, so most spending stays fee free.
Petal
Petal is a US credit card for people with poor credit who want no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee, and the trade-off is interest at 28.24% to 33.24%. Support runs on email, phone and help centre, and the card runs on visa abroad.
Score breakdown
| Area | IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards | Petal |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.5HigherAnnual fee of INR 0, APR of 8.5% and currency conversion fee of 0% keep the running costs low. | 9.4Annual fee of $0, monthly fee of $0 and currency conversion fee of 0% on the travel card. |
| Offer | 8.9 | 9.2Higher |
| Trust | 8.1 | Not confirmed |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards | Petal |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Not confirmed | NMLS (NMLS Consumer Access) 2295169 |
Additional countries for IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards: 1. Additional countries for Petal: 1.
If neither fits
Nexo has apr at from 1.9%, against 8.5% for IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards and 28.24% to 33.24% for Petal.
Nexo reviewHow they place
| Ranking | IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards | Petal |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 32 of 1020 | 102 of 1020 |
| Bad credit and credit builder cards | 3 of 23 | 5 of 23 |
| Cashback cards | 11 of 203 | 32 of 203 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards | Petal |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Features | Rewards, Secured | Travel |
| Legal entity | IDFC FIRST Bank Ltd | Tilt Card, Inc. |
| Headquarters | India | United States |
| Founded | 2018 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards | Petal | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 8.5%lowest quarter | 28.24% to 33.24%highest quarter | 19.39% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%below the median | 0%below the median | 1% |
| Cashback rate | 0.5% to 2%above the median | Not confirmed | 1.5 |
Median across 312 listed cards.
Pros and cons
IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards
Pros
- Annual fee of INR 0 makes it a no annual fee card, matching no annual fee.
- Currency conversion fee of 0% means international spends carry no extra markup, ahead of the site median of 1%.
- APR of 8.5% sits well under the credit card median of 20.85%.
Cons
- Cashback is capped each statement cycle, so heavy spenders earn less than the headline rate.
- The deposit backing the card keeps earning interest, but the money stays tied up while it funds the limit.
- Support runs on phone and help centre only, so there is no chat or email route listed.
Petal
Pros
- Annual fee of $0 and monthly fee of $0 on the travel card
- Currency conversion fee of 0%, ranked 1 of 259 brands
- Cash back of 1% to 1.5% at select national merchants
Cons
- Interest runs at 28.24% to 33.24%, above the 20.45% typical for travel cards
- A credit card, so a balance left unpaid accrues interest at 28.24% to 33.24%
- Cash back is personalised, so the rate earned at each merchant varies
Who each suits
IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards
Who it suits
- Adults in India with poor credit who need a card without income proof or a credit history.
- Anyone who spends online, on UPI through the app and abroad and wants cashback on it.
- People with a RuPay credit card they want auto linked to the bank app.
Who should look elsewhere
- Frequent cash withdrawers, because cash advances come with a fee and a short interest free window.
- Chasers of points or miles, since the rewards are plain cashback.
- Shoppers who want lounge access or travel insurance benefits in a single fee free card.
Petal
Who it suits
- People with poor credit who are starting to build a credit history
- US customers who travel and pay in foreign currency
- Cardholders who want cash back at select national merchants
Who should look elsewhere
- People who want a debit card for everyday spending from a balance
- Anyone who needs low interest, since the rate is 28.24% to 33.24%
- Wise, Bitpanda and Starling Personal Account Debit Card suit readers who want a debit card rather than credit
Current offers
IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards
Current offer
Bonus
Cashback on 1st transaction with the Hello Cashback Credit Card: INR 250
Applies to the first transaction on the Hello Cashback Credit Card; up to 1% cashback on UPI spends
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Petal
Current offer
Bonus
Cash back at select national merchants: 1% - 10% cash back
Personalized offers that vary through the year; must meet the individual offer terms; in the past six months Petal members received at least one cash back offer from an advertised merchant; on Petal 2 card page, alongside 1% - 1.5% cash back on everyday purchases.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards | Petal |
|---|---|---|
| India | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards
Does this credit card charge an annual fee?+
No. The annual fee is INR 0 and the card is listed as a no annual fee model, so holding it costs nothing across a year. Many cards in the lists are not so lucky, with an annual fee median of €0 and a top quartile of €4.89. A small cashback rate of 0.5% to 2% is the main reward on offer.
What interest rate will I pay if I carry a balance?+
The APR is 8.5%, which is below the credit card median of 20.85% and the site median of 20.97%. It is a low rate for a card aimed at people with poor credit, but it is not a balance free card, so carrying money month to month still costs you. Paying in full avoids the interest entirely.
Petal
Does Petal charge an annual fee?+
No. The annual fee is $0 and the monthly fee on the travel card is $0. Petal is listed as a no annual fee card. There is no charge for holding the card, so the only real cost to watch is interest on a balance.
What interest does Petal charge?+
The rate is 28.24% to 33.24%, which sits above the 20.97% site median and the 24.74% median for no foreign fee cards. Since it is a credit card, a balance left unpaid will cost money, so clear it in full each month.
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IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards
Petal