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
IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards vs Petal: the differences
| 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 Secured.
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 suits US adults with poor credit who want a rewards credit card, charging an annual fee of $0 and a currency conversion fee of 0%. It carries an APR of 28.24% to 33.24%, so it suits people who clear balances each month and want spending to build a credit record.
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. | 9.1Annual fee $0, monthly fee $0 and currency conversion fee 0%, against an APR of 28.24% to 33.24%. |
| Offer | 8.9 | 9.5Higher |
| Trust | 8.1 | Not confirmed |
Pick IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards if, pick Petal if
Pick IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards if cost and apr matter most.
Pick Petal if offer matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards | Petal |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 32 of 1020 | 107 of 1020 |
| Bad credit and credit builder cards | 3 of 23 | 6 of 23 |
| Cashback cards | 11 of 203 | 35 of 203 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards | Petal |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards: 1. Additional countries for Petal: 1.
Every fact side by side
| Fact | IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards | Petal |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Features | Rewards, SecuredCovers more | Rewards |
| 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 |
Debit cards
| Fact | IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards | Petal |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Cashback rate | Not confirmed | 1% to 1.5% |
| Card network | Not confirmed | Visa |
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
- No annual fee at $0 and no monthly fee at $0, first on annual fee among 301 brands compared
- A currency conversion fee of 0%, ranked first among 181 brands compared
- Cash back of 1% to 1.5% at select national merchants, a rewards type of cashback that suits building credit
Cons
- An APR of 28.24% to 33.24% sits above the site median of 20.97% and above 34.9% in the bad credit ranking
- The card is a credit card, not a debit card, so the cash back and the poor credit focus leave everyday banking to a separate account
- Cash back sits at select national merchants, with personalised offers setting the rate rather than a flat 1% to 1.5% on all spending
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
- Adults with poor credit who want a card that reports to the major credit bureaus while rewarding spending
- People who travel often and want a card with a 0% currency conversion fee
- Anyone avoiding an annual fee, since $0 is the same as the site median of €0 but ranks first among 301 brands
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who plans to carry a balance, since Varo Believe Secured Credit Card charges 0% on its card
- Readers who need a debit card for daily spending, where Starling Personal Account Debit Card at £0 a year fits the job
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 | 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
What does Petal cost to hold?+
The annual fee is $0 and the monthly fee is $0, so holding the card costs nothing on either charge. That puts Petal first on annual fee among 301 brands compared. The credit side is what costs, with an APR of 28.24% to 33.24% if you carry a balance.
How much does spending abroad cost on Petal?+
The currency conversion fee is 0%, so purchases abroad are not charged an extra conversion cost. Petal ranks first on that measure among 181 brands compared. The site median conversion fee is 1%, so the gap to many rivals is clear.
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IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards
Petal