Credit card EMI vs personal loan — which is cheaper?

I closed my HDFC card last year. The process took exactly 7 days. They sent a confirmation email and a closure letter by speed post. Tip: pay off the full outstanding and request closure only AFTER the payment reflects. Calling repeatedly with a zero balance is the fastest path.

I had the same dilemma. The way I decided was: list down my top 3 monthly spend categories, calculate the rewards on each card, and pick whichever gives the highest cashback on MY pattern. Generic 'best card' lists are useless for personal decisions.

Yes the rewards sound amazing in marketing, but the redemption catalogue is full of products at inflated MRP. The statement credit redemption is almost always the best value. Skip the merchandise, skip the flight bookings, take the cash.

Two cards from the same bank usually share credit limit, not stack it. So if bank gives you ₹2 lakh total, splitting between two cards doesn't increase your available credit. That's a common misconception people carry when applying for their second card.

On credit limit increase: most banks auto-review every 6 months. If you use 30-70% of the limit and pay in full, you'll get an automatic increase. Don't call and ask for it explicitly — banks take it as a sign of credit hunger and sometimes lower the limit instead.

Short answer: no, EMI on credit card is not cheaper than a personal loan for large amounts (>₹50,000). The processing fee (~₹199-₹599) plus the interest (~14-16% reducing) usually adds up to slightly more than a personal loan rate of 11-13%. But for small-ticket EMI (₹10-20K), it is fine.