AU Zenith vs Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card Compared
Which credit card suits you? Side by side on the numbers that decide it. A blank means the provider has not published that figure, not that it is zero. Data last verified: 11 October 2026.
| Feature |  AU Zenith Credit CardAU Small Finance Bank7 recent changes → |  Axis Bank Reserve Credit CardAxis Bank5 recent changes → | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rewards by spend | |||
| Rewards | 0.75% base, up to 1.25% on dining | 3% base, up to 6% on foreign spends | |
| UPI payments (scan and pay)same | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Online shopping | 0.75% | 3% | |
| Dining and food delivery | 1.25% | 3% | |
| Groceries | 1.25% | 3% | |
| Travel: flights, hotels, trains | 0.75% | 3% | |
| Fuelsame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Bills and recharges | 0.25% | Earns nothing | |
| Rent | Earns nothing | 3% | |
| Insurance premiums | 0.25% | Earns nothing | |
| School and college fees | Earns nothing | 3% | |
| Wallet top-ups | 0.75% | Earns nothing | |
| Taxes and government paymentssame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Spend abroad or in a foreign currency | 1.25% | 6% | |
| Everything else | 0.75% | 3% | |
| Card identity | |||
| Card type | Dining | International | |
| Network | Visa | Mastercard | |
| Card tier | Premium | Super premium | |
| Fees | |||
| Joining fee | ₹7,999 + GST | ₹50,000 + GST | |
| Annual fee | ₹7,999 + GST | ₹50,000 + GST | |
| Fee waived at | ₹5,00,000 | ₹35,00,000 | |
| Eligibility | |||
| Min age | 21 years | - | |
| Max age | 65 years | - | |
| Employment type | BOTH | - | |
| Rewards | |||
| Reward typesame | Reward points | Reward points | |
| Point valuesame | ₹0 | ₹0 | |
| Fuel surcharge | |||
| Fuel surcharge waiversame | Yes | Yes | |
| Fuel waiver cap | ₹100 | - | |
| Lounge access | |||
| Domestic lounge visits | 8 | - | |
| Domestic lounge unlimited | No | Yes | |
| International lounge visits | 8 | - | |
| International lounge unlimited | No | Yes | |
| Guest lounge visits | - | 12 | |
| Railway lounge visits | 8 | - | |
| Lounge programmesame | PRIORITY_PASS | PRIORITY_PASS | |
| Priority Passsame | Yes | Yes | |
| Lounge condition | Spend Rs 50,000 in the previous quarter for domestic lounge access | Unlimited domestic and international airport lounge access for primary and add-on cardholders, plus 12 complimentary guest visits a year. From 28 Aug 2026 Priority Pass no longer opens Indian domestic lounges, show the card and boarding pass | |
| Forex and international | |||
| Forex markup | 3.49% | 1.5% | |
| Interest and charges | |||
| Interest rate (monthly) | 3.75% | 3% | |
| Interest rate (annual) | 45% | 36% | |
| Page content | |||
| Documents needed | PAN card Aadhaar / valid address proof Latest 3 months bank statement Income proof, salary slips (salaried) or ITR (self-employed) Recent passport-size photograph | - | |
| Apply | Apply Now | Apply Now | |
Worth in Rupees at ₹20,000 a Month
- Rewards a year
- ₹2,112
- Fee a year
- - ₹9,439
- You keep
- - ₹7,327
- Rewards a year
- ₹9,000
- Fee a year
- - ₹59,000
- You keep
- - ₹48,584
At this spend, AU Zenith Credit Card comes out ₹41,257 a year ahead of Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card. Worked out from each card's published reward rate, caps and fee, on ₹20,000 a month. Your own spend changes the answer: try the rewards calculator.
Best For
- High spenders who can reach Rs 5 lakh a year
- Occasional international travellers
- People who want concierge service
- Foreign spends: 6% back
- Spending ₹2,91,667 or more a month: the ₹59,000 fee is waived
- Frequent flyers: unlimited airport lounge visits
- Spending abroad: 1.5% markup, most cards add 3.5%
Watch-Outs
- Reward rates were cut in January 2026
- No points on rent, fuel, education, government, EMI or BBPS bills
- Domestic lounges need Rs 50,000 spend in the previous quarter
- ₹7,999 fee is steep if you miss the waiver
- Skip it if you spend less than ₹2,91,667 a month (₹35,00,000 a year, rent and wallet loads not counted): the ₹59,000 fee is then charged
- Skip it if most of your spending is fuel, utility bills, insurance or wallet top-ups: those earn nothing on this card
- Skip it if you pay mostly by UPI: a Visa or Mastercard card cannot pay by UPI
- Skip it if you rarely spend on foreign spends: the 6% rate applies only there, everything else earns 3%
Card data sourced via CardAdvisor.in (AU Zenith Credit Card, Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card), India Credit Card Facts, CC BY 4.0, adapted by SkyloFin.
Questions People Ask
Which has the lower annual fee, AU Zenith Credit Card or Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card?
AU Zenith Credit Card. AU Zenith Credit Card: ₹7,999; Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card: ₹50,000. Check whether a spend-based waiver applies before you decide.
Which is better for spending abroad?
Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card has the lowest forex markup. Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card: 1.5%; AU Zenith Credit Card: 3.49%. The markup is charged on every foreign-currency transaction, before GST.
Which earns more on everyday spending?
On spends outside any bonus category: Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card 3%, AU Zenith Credit Card 0.75%. Bonus categories, rates limited to named merchants and monthly caps change the picture, so compare the rewards by spend too.
Which gives airport lounge access?
AU Zenith Credit Card: 8 domestic lounge visits a year; Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card: unlimited domestic lounge visits. Some cards need a minimum spend in the quarter before a visit counts, so check the lounge terms.
Can I hold more than one of these cards?
Usually yes, if each bank approves you. Many people keep one card for everyday spending and another for a specific use such as travel. Each application is a separate credit check.
Work Out the Numbers
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Guides in Plain Words
Short reads that explain how it works before you decide.
- GuidesBest Credit Cards Under ₹1,000 a Year in India (2026)Credit cards with an annual fee of ₹1,000 or less (before GST) in 2026, ranked by the reward rate each bank states, with fee waivers.Read the guide →
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