1.5% · Up to 5% on Google Pay
Strong dataAxis Bank ACE vs HDFC Bank UPI RuPay Credit Cards – Fees, Lounge, Forex
Side-by-side comparison of the Axis Bank ACE and the HDFC Bank UPI RuPay. Verify fees, lounge access, forex markup, and base rewards before you apply.
The short answer
VerdictHead-to-head
Three core metrics- Annual fee UPI RuPay saves ₹400/yrACE ₹499 Waivable at ₹2,00,000 spendUPI RuPay ₹99 Waivable at ₹25,000 spend
- Forex markup ACE 3.5%UPI RuPay 3.5%
- Domestic lounge ACE: +4 lounge visits/yrACE 4/year Conditional · Domestic: 4/year · requires ₹50,000 spend in the previous 3 calendar monthsUPI RuPay No complimentary lounge access
Reward earning explained
Per card1% · Up to 3% on Dining Grocery Supermarket
Strong dataPick based on what matters
4 dimensionsStart with the constraint you care about most: annual fee (Axis Bank ACE: ₹499 vs HDFC Bank UPI RuPay: ₹99), forex markup (3.5% vs 3.5%), or lounge access (4/year vs No complimentary lounge access).
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Forex markup Tie Both cards are similar for forex
Forex markup is 3.5%.
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Lounge access Axis Bank ACE wins Axis Bank ACE is better for lounge access
Axis Bank ACE is stronger here. Domestic lounge access is 4 per year.
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Rewards Axis Bank ACE wins Axis Bank ACE is better for rewards
Axis Bank ACE is stronger here. Axis Bank ACE conservative base value ~1.5% vs HDFC Bank UPI RuPay's ~1%.
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upi HDFC Bank UPI RuPay wins HDFC Bank UPI RuPay is better for UPI usage
HDFC Bank UPI RuPay is stronger here. Supports UPI via RuPay network.
All fields
Example usage at this monthly spend
At ₹50k/month spend:
- ACE: ~₹750/month at base rate
- UPI RuPay: ~₹500/month at base rate
Illustrative only, using current base rates before caps.
| Field | ACE Axis Bank | UPI RuPay HDFC Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge Access | ||
| Domestic lounge visits spend-gated on some cards — see caveats 4/year vs No complimentary lounge access | 4/year | No complimentary lounge access |
| International lounge visits Only available for ACE | No international lounge access | Not specified |
| Forex / International Use | ||
| Forex markup | 3.5% | 3.5% |
| Fees | ||
| Recurring annual fee ₹499 vs ₹99 | ₹499 | ₹99 |
| Annual-fee waiver ₹2,00,000 vs ₹25,000 | ₹2,00,000 | ₹25,000 |
| Monthly interest rate | 3.75% / month | 3.75% / month |
| Late-payment charge Only available for UPI RuPay | Not specified | ₹100–₹1,300 depending on outstanding balance |
| Fuel benefit 1% surcharge waiver · ₹400–₹4,000 transactions · ₹500/month waiver cap vs No surcharge waiver | 1% surcharge waiver · ₹400–₹4,000 transactions · ₹500/month waiver cap | No surcharge waiver |
| Rewards | ||
| Base cashback 1.5% vs 1% | 1.5% | 1% |
| Earn ceiling ₹500 per statement cycle — shared across Google Pay (domestic), Ola (domestic), Swiggy (domestic) & Zomato (domestic) vs 500 CashPoints per month | ₹500 per statement cycle — shared across Google Pay (domestic), Ola (domestic), Swiggy (domestic) & Zomato (domestic) | 500 CashPoints per month |
| Point value (headline channel) Issuer headline redemption rate — see each card page for the full channel grid. Only available for ACE | ₹1 | Not specified |
| Point validity Only available for UPI RuPay | Not specified | 2 years |
Notes
- Axis Bank ACE Credit Card: Condition: ₹50,000 spend in the previous 3 calendar months
- Card benefits change frequently. Always verify current terms on the issuer's official website or app before applying.
Axis Bank ACE
Verify with issuer , opens external siteHDFC Bank UPI RuPay
Verify with issuer , opens external site