AU Prathama Vs Tejas Credit Card
When choosing a credit card, the cheapest option is not always the one that offers the most value. Sometimes, paying a little more in annual fees can make sense if the card gives you better rewards and useful savings on the expenses you already make. This is where the AU Prathama and AU Tejas Credit Cards differ. Both cards are aimed at everyday users, but they follow a different approach. The Prathama keeps things simple with a very low annual fee of ₹100 + GST and basic rewards on regular spending, while the Tejas comes with a ₹500 + GST annual fee and focuses more on savings across food, groceries, movies, bill payments, and other everyday expenses. So, which one actually gives you better value for your money? In this comparison, we will look at the fees, rewards, discounts, and key benefits of both cards to help you decide which AU credit card fits your spending habits better.
Welcome Benefits on Both Cards
The AU Tejas Credit Card has an advantage when it comes to welcome benefits. New cardholders can choose between a ₹500 brand voucher or 2,000 Reward Points after activating the card and making their first successful transaction within 30 days of receiving the card. In comparison, the AU Prathama Credit Card does not offer any welcome benefit. So, if you prefer getting an immediate reward when you start using your credit card, the AU Tejas is the better option in this category.
Rewards on Everyday Spending
When it comes to earning Reward Points, the AU Tejas Credit Card has a clear advantage, especially for people who regularly book travel, pay bills, or shop through the AU Rewardz platform. It offers 5 Reward Points for every ₹100 spent on eligible transactions through AU Rewardz, which is worth ₹1.25 in redemption value.
The AU Prathama, on the other hand, offers 2 Reward Points per ₹100 on contactless or Tap & Pay transactions and 1 Reward Point per ₹100 on other purchases. Prathama also gives 500 bonus Reward Points when you successfully set up a recurring payment with a merchant for the first time.
This means that Tejas can give you more rewards on eligible spending, but there is an important catch that the higher 5-point rate is available only through AU Rewardz. Prathama may be a better fit if most of your spending is regular day-to-day purchases and you prefer a simple reward structure.
Looking at both cards, Tejas offers a higher reward rate, while Prathama keeps its rewards simpler and more useful for everyday spending.
Milestone Benefits on Higher Spending
The AU Prathama Credit Card is the better choice if you often spend more than ₹5,000 in a statement cycle. Once your spending crosses this amount, you can earn 2 Reward Points for every ₹100 spent on the amount above ₹5,000. You also continue to earn 2 Reward Points per ₹100 on contactless transactions. The AU Tejas Credit Card does not offer any milestone benefit. So, if you can cross the ₹5,000 spending mark, Prathama can give you extra rewards and offer more value in this category.
More Value Beyond Reward Points
When it comes to added benefits, the AU Tejas Credit Card is clearly ahead of the AU Prathama. Tejas offers several ways to save on everyday expenses, including 10% off on movie tickets, groceries and Zomato food orders, along with 10% cashback on cab bookings and eligible bill payments. Most of these offers come with a monthly limit, but they can still help reduce regular expenses. The AU Prathama Credit Card does not offer these additional benefits. So, if you regularly order food, shop for groceries, watch movies, use cabs, or pay bills through the card, AU Tejas can give you more savings and better value in this category.
Bottom Line
After comparing both cards, the AU Tejas Credit Card comes out ahead if you are looking for more benefits and regular savings. It offers a better welcome benefit, a higher reward rate through AU Rewardz, and several discounts and cashback offers on everyday expenses. However, the AU Prathama Credit Card should not be overlooked. Its much lower annual fee, milestone rewards, and simple reward structure make it a sensible choice for someone who does not want to pay a higher fee or use multiple offers every month. In my view, Tejas is the better option for people who actively use their card for groceries, food, movies, bills, cabs, travel, and other eligible purchases. But if you are a light spender and mainly want a low-cost card for regular transactions, Prathama makes more sense. In the end, the better card depends less on which one has more features and more on whether you will actually use those benefits.
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