HDFC Bank
HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card
Data last verified: 16 October 2026
- Joining fee₹500 + GST
- Annual fee₹500 + GST
- Reward rate0.08% on most spends; 0.75% only at partner merchants
Takes you straight to the application. We earn a commission if you are approved, and you pay nothing extra.
- Joining fee₹500 + GST
- Annual fee₹500 + GST
- Fee waiverOn ₹50,000 spend a year
- Forex markup3.5%
- Interest (APR)3.75% a month, 45% a year
Freedom earns 10X CashPoints at BigBasket, Swiggy, BookMyShow, OYO and Uber, and 1 CashPoint per Rs 150 elsewhere. You get 500 bonus CashPoints once the joining fee is paid. It is UPI enabled.
The fee is ₹500 a year, waived at ₹50,000 of annual spend, a little over Rs 4,000 a month. Most people who use it regularly will not pay it after the first year.
It suits first-time card users with a modest income who want a low-cost first card. The catch is the real return. A CashPoint is worth about 15 paise, so even the 10X merchants give roughly 0.75%, and other spends give about 0.08%. Treat it as a starter card, not a rewards card.
Best for: First-time credit card users, People building a credit history, Low to moderate earners.
01HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card Rewards and Benefits
02HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card Annual Fee and Charges
- Joining fee
- ₹500 + GST
- Annual fee
- ₹500 + GST
- Spend-based waiver
- Annual fee waived on ₹50,000 spend in a year (rent and wallet loads not counted)
- Rewards redemption fee
- Nil
- Forex markup
- 3.5%
- Interest rate
- 3.75% a month (45% a year)
- Fuel surcharge waiver
- Yes
- Card replacement
- Not published
03What It's Worth, in Rupees
If you spend ₹20,000 a month on this card:
- ₹20,000 on everything else, earning 0.08%₹16
- Back each month, ₹192 a year₹16
- Annual fee with 18% GST (waived at this spend)₹0
- In your pocket each year₹192
Worked out from this card's reward rates, caps and fee in our data; a rate limited to named merchants is not counted here. Your own spending will differ: see what this card is worth at your spend.
Good for
- Online shopping only at BigBasket, BookMyShow, OYO, Swiggy, Uber: 0.75% back, up to ₹375 a month
- Spending ₹4,167 or more a month: the ₹590 fee is waived
Skip it if…
- you spend less than ₹4,167 a month (₹50,000 a year, rent and wallet loads not counted): the ₹590 fee is then charged
- you pay mostly by UPI: a Visa or Mastercard card cannot pay by UPI
- you spend a lot on fuel, rent, insurance or education: the card's terms do not state a rate there, so we count nothing
- you rarely spend on BigBasket, BookMyShow, OYO, Swiggy, Uber: the 0.75% rate applies only there, everything else earns 0.08%
- you often pay in foreign currency: 3.5% is added to every foreign spend
- you sometimes pay only the minimum due: interest of 3.75% a month (45% a year) outweighs any reward
04Product Details
- Joining and annual fee: ₹500
- Fee waived on ₹50,000 spend in a year
- 10X CashPoints at BigBasket, Swiggy, BookMyShow, OYO and Uber
- 1 CashPoint per ₹150 on other spends
- 500 bonus CashPoints on paying the joining fee
- UPI enabled
05Pros and Cons
Pros
- Low income requirement
- Easy fee waiver at ₹50,000
- Bonus points on popular apps
- UPI enabled
Cons
- CashPoints are worth only about 15 paise each
- About 0.08% back on regular spends
- Accelerated points capped monthly
- No lounge access
06How HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card earns Rewards
0.08% on most spends; 0.75% only at partner merchants.
| Spend category | Rate | Monthly cap | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPI payments (scan and pay) | Earns nothing | - | a Visa or Mastercard card cannot pay by UPI |
| Online shopping | 0.08% | No cap | Anywhere else in the category |
| Online shopping, only at listed merchants | 0.75% | ₹375 | Only at: BigBasket, BookMyShow, OYO, Swiggy, UberTerms: 10X CashPoints (10 per ₹200, ~0.75%) on five brands, capped 2,500 CashPoints a month |
| Dining and food delivery | 0.08% | No cap | The card's normal rate |
| Groceries | 0.08% | No cap | The card's normal rate |
| Travel: flights, hotels, trains | 0.08% | No cap | The card's normal rate |
| Fuel | Not stated | - | the card's exclusions are not published, and many cards pay nothing here |
| Bills and recharges | 0.08% | ₹300 | All merchants in the categoryTerms: Utility bills earn the base 1 CashPoint per ₹200, capped 2,000 CashPoints a calendar month since 1 September 2024 (MCC 4900). Telecom and cable carry their own separate 2,000-point monthly cap. |
| Rent | Not stated | - | the card's exclusions are not published, and many cards pay nothing here |
| Insurance premiums | Not stated | - | the card's exclusions are not published, and many cards pay nothing here |
| School and college fees | Not stated | - | the card's exclusions are not published, and many cards pay nothing here |
| Wallet top-ups | Not stated | - | the card's exclusions are not published, and many cards pay nothing here |
| Taxes and government payments | Not stated | - | the card's terms state no rate here; many cards pay nothing on these |
| Spend abroad or in a foreign currency | 0.08% | No cap | The card's normal rate |
| Everything else | 0.08% | No cap | The card's normal rate |
Terms on the base rate. 1 CashPoint per ₹200 (~0.075%) on all other spends, 1 CashPoint ≈ ₹0.15
Point value. 1 point is worth about ₹0.15 at the bank's stated value.
07HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card Travel Benefits
Spending abroad carries a 3.5% forex markup; rewards on it: 0.08% back (the normal rate). See what it costs on your trip
Also on the card. fuel surcharge waiver.
- Fuel surcharge waiver: 1% fuel surcharge waiver at all fuel stations (₹400 to ₹5,000 per txn), capped ₹250/statement cycle
08HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card Eligibility and Documents
- Age
- 21 to 60 years
- Minimum monthly income
- ₹12,000
09Recent Changes
What HDFC Bank changed on this card recently. The facts on this page already reflect them.
| Date | Change | Before | Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 May 2026 | Reduced: Base earn rate cut ~25% (per ₹150 → per ₹200)Source: HDFC Bank | 1 CashPoint per ₹150 | 1 CashPoint per ₹200 |
| 15 May 2026 | Reduced: Dynamic currency conversion markup raised to 1.75%Source: HDFC Bank | 1% markup | 1.75% markup |
| 1 Jul 2025 | Reduced: 1% fee added on rent, wallet loads and online gamingSource: HDFC Bank | No category surcharge on rent, wallet loads or gaming | 1% on rent (cap ₹4,999 per transaction); 1% on wallet loads and on online skill-based gaming above ₹10,000 a calendar month (cap ₹4,999 a month) |
| 1 Jul 2025 | Reduced: 1% fee on utilities above Rs 50,000 and on third-party education paymentsSource: HDFC Bank | No surcharge on utility or education payments | 1% on utility spends above ₹50,000 a calendar month (cap ₹4,999 a month); 1% on education paid through third-party apps |
| 1 Jul 2025 | Reduced: Insurance reward points capped, online gaming stops earningSource: HDFC Bank | Insurance uncapped on most cards; online skill-based gaming earned points | Insurance capped at 2,000 reward points a month (5,000 on Diners Black, 10,000 on Infinia); online skill-based gaming earns nothing |
See this card's change history → · All card changes in May 2026 →
10Cards Similar to HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card
HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card is a shopping card. The two below are the closest on SkyloFin; open any of them, or put them side by side.
| Feature | HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card |  HSBC Live Plus Credit Card |  SBI Cashback Credit Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joining fee | ₹500 + GST | ₹999 + GST | ₹999 + GST |
| Annual fee | ₹500 + GST | ₹999 + GST | ₹999 + GST |
| Rewards | 0.08% on most spends; 0.75% only at partner merchants | 1.5% base, up to 10% on dining | 1% base, up to 5% on online shopping |
| Domestic lounge | Not included | 2 visits a year | Not included |
| Forex markup | 3.5% | 1.99% | 3.5% |
| Type | Shopping | Dining | Shopping |
11Explore More
Card facts last verified 16 October 2026.
Card data sourced via CardAdvisor.in, India Credit Card Facts, CC BY 4.0, adapted by SkyloFin.
Never Miss Your HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card Bill
The SkyloFin app reads your bank's bill SMS, reminds you before the due date and marks the bill paid when you pay. Free on Android, and your data stays on your phone.
Common Questions
Is the ₹500 fee waived?
Yes, once you spend ₹50,000 in a year. Below that the fee is charged.
What is a CashPoint worth?
About 15 paise, so the 10X merchants return roughly 0.75%.
Who can apply?
Applicants aged 21 to 60 with a monthly income of about ₹12,000.
What is the joining fee for the HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card?
The joining fee is ₹500 + GST. Check the bank's page before you apply, because fees change and promotional waivers come and go.
What is the annual fee for the HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card?
The annual fee is ₹500 + GST.
Does applying through SkyloFin cost more?
No. You pay the same fees you would pay applying directly with HDFC Bank. We earn a commission from the bank when someone applies through our link, and that is how the site is funded.
SkyloFin is not a bank and does not approve applications. Fees, rewards and eligibility rules are set by the provider and can change without notice. Always read the terms on the provider's site before you apply.
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