Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards vs Nexo
IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards
Nexo
Higher score in this comparison
Where IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards and Nexo differ
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹0 | €0 |
| APR | 8.5% | from 1.9%Lower |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%Lower | 0.2% to 2.5% |
| 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 | Up to 2% crypto cashback in NEXO Tokens, or 0.5% in BTC at Platinum tier, on purchases in Credit Mode |
| 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 | Free ATM withdrawals up to EUR 2,000 / GBP 1,800 per month at Platinum tier, then 2% fee (min EUR/GBP 1.99), Apple Pay and Google Pay supported, Interest earned on unspent funds (Nexo Loyalty Program, up to 13% per year), Accepted at over 100 million merchants globally, Virtual card activated instantly with 50 USD balance; free shipping for physical card above 5,000 USD balance at Gold tier or higher, No monthly, annual or inactivity card fees |
| Credit needed | Poor | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Rewards type (Cashback), Cashback rate (0.5% to 2%), Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- Nexo scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.8.
- Nexo is available in 35 more countries.
- APR is lower at Nexo: from 1.9% vs 8.5%.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards: 0% vs 0.2% to 2.5%.
- 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 Nexo offers Free ATM withdrawals up to EUR 2,000 / GBP 1,800 per month at Platinum tier, then 2% fee (min EUR/GBP 1.99), Apple Pay and Google Pay supported, Interest earned on unspent funds (Nexo Loyalty Program, up to 13% per year).
- Support channels: only IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards offers Phone.
- Support channels: only Nexo offers Chat, Email.
- Features: only IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards offers Rewards, Secured.
- Features: only Nexo offers Multi currency, Crypto, Virtual card.
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.
Nexo
Nexo suits people who hold crypto and want a card that costs nothing to keep and pays cashback in tokens. The monthly fee is €0, the cashback is paid in crypto rather than cash, and the conversion fee of 0.2% to 2.5% is the trade-off to weigh.
Score breakdown
| Area | IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards | Nexo |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.5HigherAnnual fee of INR 0, APR of 8.5% and currency conversion fee of 0% keep the running costs low. | 9.2Free monthly and annual fees sit against a currency conversion fee of 0.2% to 2.5%, so spending abroad costs more. |
| Offer | 8.9 | 9.3Higher |
| Trust | 8.1 | 8.4Higher |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards | Nexo |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 32 of 1020 | 10 of 1020 |
| Cashback cards | 11 of 203 | 2 of 203 |
Rewards on 1,000 a month
IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards
60 to 240
0.5% to 2% of 12,000
Nexo
60 to 240
0.5% to 2% of 12,000
Both come to the same total.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Spending 1,000 abroad
IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards
0
0% of 1,000
Nexo
2 to 25
0.2% to 2.5% of 1,000
IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards comes out 2 lower in this example.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards | Nexo |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Not confirmed | |
| Australia | Not confirmed | AUSTRAC (Australia) DCE100843695-001 |
| Hong Kong | Not confirmed | Companies Registry (Hong Kong) TC007556 |
| Poland | Not confirmed | Ministry of Finance (Poland) RDWW-533 |
| Seychelles | Not confirmed | |
| United States | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards: 1. Additional countries for Nexo: 36.
Every fact side by side
| Fact | IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards | Nexo |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Features | Rewards, Secured | Multi currency, Crypto, Virtual card, Custodial, Travel |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Legal entity | IDFC FIRST Bank Ltd | DiPocket UAB |
| Headquarters | India | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2018 | 2018 |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Chat, Email, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards | Nexo | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 8.5%lowest quarter | from 1.9%lowest quarter | 19.39% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%below the median | 0.2% to 2.5%below the median | 1% |
| Cashback rate | 0.5% to 2%above the median | 0.5% to 2%above the median | 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.
Nexo
Pros
- Free to keep: the monthly fee is €0 and the annual fee is €0.
- Cashback of 0.5% to 2% paid in NEXO Tokens, or in BTC at the Platinum tier.
- Free ATM withdrawals of €200 to €2,000 each month at the Platinum tier.
Cons
- Currency conversion costs 0.2% to 2.5%, above the site median of 1%.
- Support runs on chat, email and help centre only, with no phone line.
- Custody sits with the provider: the account is custodial, not self-custody.
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.
Nexo
Who it suits
- Crypto holders who want everyday spending to pay part of the cost back in tokens.
- Business users, the audience Nexo lists, who pay across several of the 100 supported currencies.
- Travellers who keep their cash withdrawals inside €200 to €2,000 each month.
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise, for anyone who wants a multi-currency account without crypto cashback or interest on unspent funds.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, for a secured credit card rather than a crypto-linked card, at a monthly fee of $0.
- Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card), for building credit on a secured card, at a monthly fee of $0.
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
Country by country
| Country | IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards | Nexo |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | No | Yes |
| Australia | No | Yes |
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| Bulgaria | No | Yes |
| Croatia | No | Yes |
| Cyprus | No | Yes |
| Czechia | No | Yes |
8 of 37 countries where either is available.
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.
Nexo
What does it cost to keep the Nexo card?+
The monthly fee is €0 and the annual fee is €0, and Nexo states there are no monthly, annual or inactivity card fees. The account is aimed at business users, so holding the card adds no fixed running cost to a budget.
What is the currency conversion fee?+
Conversion costs 0.2% to 2.5%, which sits above the site median of 1%. Spending in a currency other than your balance currency is the main cost to plan for, and free ATM withdrawals only run to €200 to €2,000 a month at the Platinum tier.
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