The Airtel Axis Credit Card is designed for those who spend regularly on Airtel services, utility bills, and everyday essentials like groceries or food delivery. It offers high cashback rates, up to 25% on Airtel bill payments and 10% on select categories.
On the other hand, the Swiggy HDFC Credit Card is perfect for frequent foodies and online shoppers. It gives 10% cashback on Swiggy orders, Instamart, Dineout, and Genie, along with 5% on other online spends, helping you save more on digital purchases.
If you’re deciding between the Airtel Axis Credit Card and the Swiggy HDFC Credit Card. In that case, the choice largely comes down to your spending habits, whether you spend more on telecom/utility bills or on food delivery and online shopping.
Annual Fee and Welcome Benefits
Both Airtel Axis and Swiggy HDFC Credit Cards come with the same annual fee, but their welcome offers cater to different spending habits. Here’s how they compare.
| Particulars | Airtel Axis | Swiggy HDFC |
| Annual Fee | ₹500 + GST | ₹500 + GST |
| Joining Benefits | Amazon Voucher Worth ₹500 | Free 3-Month Swiggy One Membership |
| Spend-Based Annual Fee Waiver | Waived on Spends of ₹2 Lakh | Waived on Spends of ₹2 Lakh |
Earning and Redeeming Cashback
While both cards reward you for spending, the cashback rates and redemption methods differ. Let’s look at how much you can earn and how you get it back.
| Particulars | Airtel Axis | Swiggy HDFC |
| Earning Cashback | Ranging from 1% to 25% Across Various Platforms | Varies from 1% to 10% Across Various Platforms |
| Redeeming Cashback | Directly Credited Against Statement | Credited Against Credit Card Statement |
The Airtel Axis card offers tiered cashback rates, rewarding Airtel services, utilities, and select merchants generously. Here’s the detailed breakdown.
| Cashback Earning Categories with Airtel Axis | |
| Payment Type/Platform | Cashback Value |
| Airtel Thanks App | 25% – On Bill Payments For Active Airtel Connections |
| Capped at ₹250 per Month | |
| Swiggy, Big Basket, & Zomato | 10% |
| Capped at ₹500 per Month | |
| All Other Retail Spends | 1% |
| No Cap | |
| UPI Spends | 1% |
| No Cap | |
| Utility Bill Payments | 10% – When Made Through Airtel Thanks App |
| Capped at ₹250 per Month | |
The Swiggy HDFC card focuses on food, dining, and online shopping, offering high returns in these areas. Here’s what you can earn per category.
| Cashback Earning Categories with Swiggy HDFC | |
| Payment Type/Platform | Cashback Value |
| Swiggy, Instamart, Dineout, and Genie | 10% |
| Capped at ₹1,500 per Billing Cycle | |
| Online Spends | 5% |
| Capped at ₹1,500 per Billing Cycle | |
| All Other Eligible Categories | 1% |
| Capped at ₹500 per Billing Cycle | |
Other Lifestyle Perks
Beyond cashback, some extra benefits can make a big difference. Here’s a quick look at the lifestyle perks each card offers.
| Perks | Airtel Axis | Swiggy HDFC |
| Domestic Airport Lounge Access | 4 Visits Annually (Limited to One Each Quarter) on Spends of ₹50,000+ in the Previous Quarter | N/A |
| Dining Discounts | N/A | N/A |
| Others | N/A | Mastercard World Benefits like
|
Final Words
The Airtel Axis Credit Card is clearly more versatile, especially if:
- Your monthly Airtel bills are around ₹1,000 (25% cashback up to ₹250/month).
- You make utility bill payments up to ₹2,500/month (10% cashback up to ₹250/month via Airtel Thanks App).
- You order from Swiggy, Zomato, or Big Basket occasionally (10% cashback up to ₹500/month).
Many credit cards no longer provide rewards for utility payments, thereby rendering Airtel Axis a valuable alternative. The card offers cashback on expenditures up to ₹5000, amounting to a maximum of ₹ 500 per month on services such as Swiggy, Zomato, and Big Basket.
If you already have the Swiggy HDFC Credit Card (especially if it’s LTF), the two cards can complement each other, Swiggy HDFC for higher Swiggy/online spend caps and Airtel Axis for telecom, utilities, and grocery delivery via Big Basket.