Kotak vs IDFC FIRST Credit Cards: A Fee Ladder Against a Lifetime-Free Lineup

IDFC FIRST sells several cards at ₹0 a year with a 0% forex markup, including a Visa Infinite with an income bar of ₹3 lakh a month. Kotak builds its range as a ladder of fees, from a ₹499 League Platinum up to a ₹12,500 White Reserve. The two approaches pull in different directions, and the comparison is lopsided in IDFC's favour on cost.

The free-for-life tier

The IDFC FIRST Select is free, pays 4% on dining and travel, gives a domestic lounge visit each quarter and has zero forex. The Millennia and Classic are also free, and the Wealth is free with an income bar of ₹3 lakh a month and one domestic and one international lounge visit a quarter. International spends on the Select and Classic stop earning reward points from 26 October 2026, which matters only if you travel for the points.

Kotak's nearest free option is the UPI RuPay card, a virtual-only product with rewards on UPI payments. Its other cards start at ₹499 (League Platinum, waived at ₹50,000 of spend) and ₹500 (the 811). IDFC leads clearly on free cards.

Everyday cashback

Kotak's Cashback+ is ₹750, waived at ₹2 lakh, with 5% on groceries capped at ₹750 a month, 3% on fuel and 0.5% on everything else. The League Platinum has 2.5% on online shopping and a lower income bar of ₹41,700. IDFC's Hello Cashback is ₹1,000, FD-backed, with 5% on online shopping and 6% on travel, and its Classic gives 3% on dining and 2% online.

For a household cashback card Kotak's Cashback+ is the stronger offline option. For online and dining, IDFC's free cards need no fee. Even.

Premium travel

Kotak's White is ₹3,000 with eight domestic and four international Priority Pass visits a year and a ₹5 lakh waiver, but a monthly income bar of ₹2,08,333. The Air+ is ₹3,000 for Air Miles on Kotak Unbox bookings and 4 domestic and 2 international visits, with a 2% forex markup. The Zen Signature has two domestic visits a quarter and three international a year.

IDFC's Mayura is ₹5,999 with up to 16 domestic and 16 international visits, 0% forex and the same ₹2,08,333 income bar. The Ashva is ₹2,999 with four domestic and two international visits a quarter, also zero forex. The Diamond Reserve is ₹3,000 and rewards in-app bookings.

At the same fee, Ashva gives more lounge visits and no forex cost. Kotak's White keeps the Priority Pass inclusion. IDFC leads on travel value.

The flagship tier

Kotak's White Reserve is ₹12,500, waived at ₹10 lakh, with unlimited domestic and international lounge access and a 2% forex markup. The Solitaire is invite-only for private banking clients with zero forex. IDFC's public range tops out at Mayura. Its Gaj and Private are invite-only.

If you want unlimited lounge access without a banking relationship, only Kotak has it. That is Kotak's strongest argument.

Fuel and airline co-brands

Kotak's IndianOil card is a ₹449 RuPay with 4% fuel cashback. IDFC's Power+ is a ₹499 RuPay with up to 6.5% at HPCL pumps, and its HPCL Power is ₹199. On airlines, Kotak has IndiGo and IndiGo Premium cards, and IDFC has an IndiGo Mastercard at ₹4,999. Pick by your fuel brand and airline.

Who should choose what

Choose IDFC for a free card that does not charge on foreign spends, or for mid-priced lounge access. Choose Kotak if you want unlimited lounge access through White Reserve, or a grocery-heavy cashback card. Existing customers of either bank may find the application smoother, though that depends on the bank's own underwriting.

Related reading

Read the Kotak credit cards guide and the IDFC FIRST Bank credit cards guide. For another IDFC matchup, see Federal Bank vs IDFC FIRST credit cards.