Axis Bank Airtel vs HDFC Bank UPI RuPay 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: 1 October 2026.
| Feature |  Axis Bank Airtel Credit CardAxis Bank5 recent changes → |  HDFC Bank UPI RuPay Credit CardHDFC Bank5 recent changes → | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rewards by spend | |||
| Rewards | 1% on most spends; 25% only at partner merchants | 0.25% base, up to 0.75% on groceries | |
| UPI payments (scan and pay) | Earns nothing | 0.25% | |
| Online shopping | 1% | 0.25% | |
| Dining and food delivery | 1%; 10% only at Zomato, District Movies | 0.25% | |
| Groceries | 1%; 10% only at Blinkit | 0.75% | |
| Travel: flights, hotels, trains | 1% | 0.25% | |
| Fuelsame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Bills and recharges | 1%; 25% only at Airtel Thanks app | 0.5% | |
| Rentsame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Insurance premiumssame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| School and college feessame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Wallet top-upssame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Taxes and government paymentssame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Spend abroad or in a foreign currency | 1% | 0.25% | |
| Everything else | 1% | 0.25% | |
| Card identity | |||
| Card type | Utility bills | Grocery | |
| Network | Visa | RuPay | |
| Card tier | Mid | Entry | |
| Fees | |||
| Joining fee | ₹500 + GST | ₹99 + GST | |
| Annual fee | ₹500 + GST | ₹99 + GST | |
| Fee waived at | ₹2,00,000 | ₹25,000 | |
| Eligibility | |||
| Min age | 18 years | 21 years | |
| Max age | 70 years | 60 years | |
| Employment type | BOTH | - | |
| Rewards | |||
| Reward type | Cashback | Reward points | |
| Point value | ₹1 | ₹0 | |
| Fuel surcharge | |||
| Fuel surcharge waiversame | Yes | Yes | |
| Fuel waiver cap | ₹500 | - | |
| Lounge access | |||
| Domestic lounge visits | 4 | - | |
| Forex and international | |||
| Forex markupsame | 3.5% | 3.5% | |
| UPI rewards | |||
| Works on UPI | No | Yes | |
| Interest and charges | |||
| Interest rate (monthly)same | 3.75% | 3.75% | |
| Interest rate (annual)same | 45% | 45% | |
| 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
- ₹2,400
- Fee a year
- ₹0
- You keep
- ₹2,400
- Rewards a year
- ₹912
- Fee a year
- ₹0
- You keep
- ₹912
At this spend, Axis Bank Airtel Credit Card comes out ₹1,488 a year ahead of HDFC Bank UPI RuPay 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
- Airtel mobile, broadband and DTH users
- Households paying many utility bills
- First-time card users
- UPI payment users
- Heavy UPI users
- First-time credit card users
- People who want the lowest possible fee
Watch-Outs
- Partner cashback has monthly caps
- Best value only for Airtel users
- 3.5% forex markup
- Lounge visits are spend-linked
- Returns of 0.75% or less
- Monthly caps on CashPoints
- No lounge or travel benefits
Card data sourced via CardAdvisor.in (Axis Bank Airtel Credit Card, HDFC Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card), India Credit Card Facts, CC BY 4.0, adapted by SkyloFin.
Questions People Ask
Which has the lower annual fee, Axis Bank Airtel Credit Card or HDFC Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card?
HDFC Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card. HDFC Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card: ₹99; Axis Bank Airtel Credit Card: ₹500. Check whether a spend-based waiver applies before you decide.
Which is better for spending abroad?
Axis Bank Airtel Credit Card has the lowest forex markup. Axis Bank Airtel Credit Card: 3.5%; HDFC Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card: 3.5%. 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 Airtel Credit Card 1%, HDFC Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card 0.25%. Bonus categories, rates limited to named merchants and monthly caps change the picture, so compare the rewards by spend too.
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 ₹5,000 a Year in India (2026)Credit cards with an annual fee of ₹5,000 or less (before GST) in 2026, ranked by the reward rate each bank states, with fee waivers.Read the guide →
- 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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