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Axis Bank Freecharge Plus 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.

Axis Bank Freecharge Plus Credit Card versus HDFC Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card compared
FeatureAxis Bank Freecharge Plus Credit CardAxis Bank Freecharge Plus Credit CardAxis Bank5 recent changes →
HDFC Bank UPI RuPay Credit CardHDFC Bank UPI RuPay Credit CardHDFC Bank5 recent changes →
Rewards by spend
Rewards1% on most spends; 5% only at partner merchants0.25% base, up to 0.75% on groceries
UPI payments (scan and pay)Earns nothing0.25%
Online shopping1%0.25%
Dining and food delivery1%0.25%
Groceries1%0.75%
Travel: flights, hotels, trains1%; 2% only at Taxis, bus lines, suburban transport and car rental0.25%
FuelsameEarns nothingEarns nothing
Bills and recharges1%; 5% only at Freecharge app, recharges and bill payments0.5%
RentsameEarns nothingEarns nothing
Insurance premiumssameEarns nothingEarns nothing
School and college feessameEarns nothingEarns nothing
Wallet top-upssameEarns nothingEarns nothing
Taxes and government paymentssameEarns nothingEarns nothing
Spend abroad or in a foreign currency1%0.25%
Everything else1%0.25%
Card identity
Card typeUtility billsGrocery
NetworkVisaRuPay
Card tiersameEntryEntry
Fees
Joining fee₹350 + GST₹99 + GST
Annual fee₹350 + GST₹99 + GST
Fee waived at₹50,000₹25,000
Eligibility
Min age-21 years
Max age-60 years
Employment typeBOTH-
Rewards
Reward typeCashbackReward points
Point value₹1₹0
Fuel surcharge
Fuel surcharge waiverNoYes
Forex and international
Forex markupsame3.5%3.5%
UPI rewards
Works on UPINoYes
Interest and charges
Interest rate (monthly)same3.75%3.75%
Interest rate (annual)same45%45%
Page content
Documents neededPAN card Aadhaar / valid address proof Income proof, salary slips (salaried) or ITR (self-employed)-
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Worth in Rupees at ₹20,000 a Month

Axis Bank Freecharge Plus Credit Card
Rewards a year
₹2,400
Fee a year
₹0
You keep
₹2,400
HDFC Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card
Rewards a year
₹912
Fee a year
₹0
You keep
₹912

At this spend, Axis Bank Freecharge Plus 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

Axis Bank Freecharge Plus Credit Card
  • Utility bills only at Freecharge app, recharges and bill payments: 5% back
  • Travel only at Taxis, bus lines, suburban transport and car rental: 2% back
  • Spending ₹4,167 or more a month: the ₹413 fee is waived
HDFC Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card
  • Heavy UPI users
  • First-time credit card users
  • People who want the lowest possible fee

Watch-Outs

Axis Bank Freecharge Plus Credit Card
  • Skip it if you spend less than ₹4,167 a month (₹50,000 a year, rent and wallet loads not counted): the ₹413 fee is then charged
  • Skip it if most of your spending is fuel, rent, insurance or education: 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 Freecharge app, recharges and bill payments: the 5% rate applies only there, everything else earns 1%
HDFC Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card
  • Returns of 0.75% or less
  • Monthly caps on CashPoints
  • No lounge or travel benefits

Card data sourced via CardAdvisor.in (Axis Bank Freecharge Plus 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 Freecharge Plus Credit Card or HDFC Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card?

HDFC Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card. HDFC Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card: ₹99; Axis Bank Freecharge Plus Credit Card: ₹350. Check whether a spend-based waiver applies before you decide.

Which is better for spending abroad?

Axis Bank Freecharge Plus Credit Card has the lowest forex markup. Axis Bank Freecharge Plus 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 Freecharge Plus 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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