Category
International
Anything you pay for in a foreign currency. We rank these after taking off the forex markup, because what you keep is the reward minus that fee.
No card in your wallet earns rewards on international yet.
When you add a card that does, it will rank here automatically.
Best in market
Zero-forex cards are now common, but banks spent 2025-26 stripping rewards from international spends. So rank by NET return after markup + GST. · Top-tier picks from the whole Indian market, researched 7 Aug 2026.
Standard Chartered Ultimate
3.3% rewards − 2.36% forex (2% markup + GST). The quiet forex king of 2026
₹5,000 + GST, no assured waiver
An unusually low 2% markup paired with ~3.3% rewards on international spends gives the highest net return of any openly available card. Better than every zero-forex card, because those now earn little or nothing abroad.
The redemption catalogue is thin, so redeem points promptly. Fuel earns nothing and utilities and insurance are capped. Premium income eligibility applies. Verify the 2% markup on your variant before travel.
IDFC FIRST Bank FIRST Mayura
0% forex markup + 5X points on international spends, plus 4 intl + 4 domestic lounge visits/quarter
₹5,999 + GST
The strongest true zero-forex card that still earns abroad, at 5X on international spend. The best all-round card to actually carry overseas.
Rewards are capped at the credit limit and the movie benefit is spend-gated. Points expire. The fee only justifies itself with regular international travel.
IDFC FIRST Bank FIRST WOW
0% forex markup, ~0.5% rewards, lifetime free. A guaranteed small positive net at zero cost
Lifetime free (FD-backed, min ₹20,000 deposit)
You already own the best free option: zero markup at Visa rates plus 4X points that. Unlike Scapia and RBL World Safari. Still accrue on international spends.
Credit limit equals your FD. No lounge access. Always pay in local currency to dodge DCC charges. Zero-forex doesn't cover DCC.
Your wallet · International
What this category is actually worth
The same checks as the wallet page, narrowed to all 0 cards that earn on international. Set a monthly figure for it in to put rupees on these.
Earnings here
What each card would return on international at your spend. raw rates, before caps.
Every card in your wallet is excluded from international. See the reasons in the table above.
Milestone progress
Milestones on these cards, against your total spend routed to one card.
None of the cards that earn here has a milestone.
Fee check: does each card pay for itself?
Value is still counted across your whole wallet, not just this category. a card earns its fee wherever it wins. Waivers are not assumed.
| Card | Fee | Value/yr | Verdict |
|---|
Where the market beats your wallet
Your best card against the top pick in Best in market, just above. The numbers only, since the pick itself is already on this page.
No market pick with a comparable rate for this category yet.