Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team

IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards vs Nexo

IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards scores 8.8 and Nexo 8.9 out of 10. Compare their differences and shared features below.
IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards

IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards

8.8/10
Nexo

Nexo

Higher score in this comparison

8.9/10

Where IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards and Nexo differ

IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards vs Nexo
CompareIDFC FIRST Bank Credit CardsIDFC FIRST Bank Credit CardsReviewVisitVisitNexoNexoReviewVisitVisit
Annual fee₹0€0
APR8.5%from 1.9%Lower
Currency conversion fee0%Lower0.2% to 2.5%
Rewards rate1% 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 cycleUp to 2% crypto cashback in NEXO Tokens, or 0.5% in BTC at Platinum tier, on purchases in Credit Mode
PerksPersonal 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 GSTFree 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 neededPoorNot 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.

Read the full IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards review

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.

Read the full Nexo review

Score breakdown

IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards vs Nexo
AreaIDFC FIRST Bank Credit CardsNexo
Cost9.5HigherAnnual 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.
Offer8.99.3Higher
Trust8.18.4Higher

Positions in our rankings

IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards vs Nexo
RankingIDFC FIRST Bank Credit CardsNexo
Credit cards32 of 102010 of 1020
Cashback cards11 of 2032 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

IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards vs Nexo
CountryIDFC FIRST Bank Credit CardsNexo
ArgentinaNot confirmed
AustraliaNot confirmed
AUSTRAC (Australia) DCE100843695-001
Hong KongNot confirmed
PolandNot confirmed
SeychellesNot confirmed
United StatesNot confirmed

Additional countries for IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards: 1. Additional countries for Nexo: 36.

Every fact side by side

IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards vs Nexo
FactIDFC FIRST Bank Credit CardsNexo
Pricing modelNo annual feeNo annual fee
FeaturesRewards, SecuredMulti currency, Crypto, Virtual card, Custodial, Travel
AudienceNot confirmedBusiness
Legal entityIDFC FIRST Bank LtdDiPocket UAB
HeadquartersIndiaNot confirmed
Founded20182018
Support channelsPhone, Help centreChat, Email, Help centre

Where each stands against the rest

IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards vs Nexo
FactIDFC FIRST Bank Credit CardsNexoMedian
APR8.5%lowest quarterfrom 1.9%lowest quarter19.39%
Currency conversion fee0%below the median0.2% to 2.5%below the median1%
Cashback rate0.5% to 2%above the median0.5% to 2%above the median1.5

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

IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards vs Nexo
CountryIDFC FIRST Bank Credit CardsNexo
ArgentinaNoYes
AustraliaNoYes
AustriaNoYes
BelgiumNoYes
BulgariaNoYes
CroatiaNoYes
CyprusNoYes
CzechiaNoYes

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.

IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards

Nexo