Shopping has become an essential part of our daily lives, especially when it comes to everyday household needs. Thanks to digitalization, online payments and shopping are now quicker and more convenient than ever. In India, platforms like Google Pay and Amazon Pay have become major players in the digital payment space, making transactions smooth and hassle-free for millions of users.
To strengthen their presence in the growing credit card market, both platforms have partnered with banks to launch cashback cards: the Axis Bank ACE Credit Card and the Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card. These cards are especially for young, digital users who frequently shop online and prefer cashback and rewards on everyday spending.
The Axis Bank ACE Credit Card offers great cashback on utility bills, food delivery, and online shopping. Meanwhile, the Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card provides excellent rewards for Amazon shoppers, including perks for bill payments and Amazon Prime members.
With the rise in online transactions after digitalization, both cards aim to make spending more rewarding, simple, and suited to the lifestyle of today’s tech-savvy generation.
Fees and Welcome Benefits Comparison
When it comes to fees, the Axis Bank ACE Credit Card comes with a joining fee and annual fee of around ₹499 + GST, although the annual fee can be waived if you meet the required spending criteria of ₹10,000 within 45 days of card setup, and the annual membership fee is waived off on achieving an annual spend of ₹2 Lakh in the preceding year. On the other hand, the Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card is a lifetime free card with zero joining and zero annual charges, making it more appealing for users who do not want to spend on a credit card.
In terms of welcome benefits, the difference is quite clear. The Axis Bank ACE Credit Card does not offer any specific welcome bonus or joining rewards. However, the Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card comes with attractive welcome benefits, including cashback and discounts worth up to ₹2,500 along with a one-month EazyDiner membership.
| Feature | Axis Bank ACE Credit Card | Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card |
| Joining Fee/ Annual Fee | ₹499 + GST | Lifetime Free |
| Joining Fee Waiver | Waived on Spending ₹10,000 within 45 Days | N/A |
| Annual Fee Waiver | Waived on Annual Spend of ₹2 Lakh in the Previous Year | N/A |
| Welcome Benefits | N/A | Cashback & Discounts Up to ₹2,500 and 1-Month EazyDiner Membership |
Which Card Offers Better Cashback Benefits
The Axis ACE Credit Card gives you cashback, which means you get a part of the money you spend back on your credit card. If you use the card to pay utility bills such as electricity, water, gas, broadband, DTH, or mobile recharges through Google Pay, you earn 5% cashback. For example, if you pay a ₹2,000 electricity bill, you will get ₹100 back. When you use the card on Swiggy, Zomato, or Ola, you earn 4% cashback. For instance, a ₹1,000 food order on Swiggy will give you ₹40 back. For all other eligible purchases, such as shopping, dining, or online spending, you earn 1.5% cashback. So, if you spend ₹10,000, you will get ₹150 back. The maximum cashback you can earn from the 5% and 4% categories together is ₹500 in one billing cycle. However, there is no cashback limit on the 1.5% category.
On the other hand, the Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card earns reward points, which will be converted into an Amazon Pay balance that you can use to shop on Amazon or pay at merchants that accept Amazon Pay. If you are an Amazon Prime member, you earn 5 reward points for every ₹100 spent on Amazon, which is equal to 5% cashback. If you are not a Prime member, you earn 3 reward points for every ₹100 spent on Amazon, which is equal to 3% cashback. When you shop at 100+ Amazon Pay partner merchants using Amazon Pay with this card, you earn 2 reward points for every ₹100 spent, or 2% cashback. For all other eligible purchases, you earn 1 reward point for every ₹100 spent, which is equal to 1% cashback. There is no limit on the reward points you can earn, so you continue earning rewards no matter how much you spend.
| Category | Axis Bank ACE Credit Card | Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card |
| Utility Bills & Recharges | 5% Cashback via Google Pay (Electricity, Water, Gas, LPG, Broadband, Mobile and DTH) | 2% Cashback on Bill Payments and Recharges via Amazon Pay |
| Food Delivery & Cab Rides | 4% cashback on Zomato, Swiggy, Ola | N/A |
| Amazon Shopping | 1.5% Cashback | 5% Unlimited Cashback (Prime Users) |
| Travel (Flights & Hotels) | N/A | 5% Cashback via Amazon Pay |
| Other Spends | 1.5% Cashback on All Other Eligible Spends | 1% on All Other Spends |
Cashback Exclusions
Cashback does not apply to the given categories of transactions:
| Axis Bank ACE Credit Card | Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card |
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Airport Lounge Perks Compared
When it comes to airport lounge benefits, the difference between the two cards is quite clear. The Axis Bank ACE Credit Card offers 4 complimentary airport lounge visits every year at selected domestic airports on a spend of ₹50,000, which can be useful for frequent travelers who want a bit of comfort and convenience while waiting for flights.
On the other hand, the Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card does not provide any complimentary airport lounge access, so users will not get this travel perk with the card. This makes the ACE card a better option for those who value basic travel benefits along with cashback, while the Amazon Pay ICICI card focuses more on online shopping rewards instead of travel-related perks.
Which Card Offers Better Dining Discounts
When it comes to dining benefits, both cards offer good value, but in slightly different ways. The Axis Bank ACE Credit Card gives users up to a 15% discount on dining bills at more than 4000 restaurants under the Dining Delights program, which makes eating out more affordable at a wide range of partner restaurants. Along with this, it also offers 4% cashback on popular food delivery apps like Swiggy and Zomato, which adds extra savings for those who often order food online.
On the other hand, the Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card also provides dining savings through the Culinary Treats program, offering a minimum 15% discount at participating restaurants. However, its dining benefit is more focused on offline restaurant partners and does not include extra cashback on food delivery apps. Overall, the ACE card offers a slightly broader dining advantage because it combines restaurant discounts with additional cashback on online food orders, while the Amazon Pay ICICI card focuses mainly on restaurant dining discounts.
Bottom Line
Both the Axis Bank ACE Credit Card and the Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card are strong cashback credit cards, each rewarding different spending habits. Rather than competing directly, they complement each other by offering benefits across different categories.
The Axis Bank ACE Credit Card is a great choice for earning higher cashback on utility bill payments made through Google Pay, food delivery, cab rides, and everyday purchases, along with the added advantage of complimentary domestic airport lounge access. Meanwhile, the Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card stands out for Amazon shopping, Amazon Pay transactions, and travel bookings on Amazon, especially for Amazon Prime members, while also being a lifetime free card.
Keeping both cards in your wallet can help you maximize cashback across a wide range of expenses. You can use the Axis ACE Credit Card for utility bills, Swiggy, Zomato, and Ola payments, while reserving the Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card for Amazon purchases, Amazon Pay partner merchants, and travel bookings. This way, you can make the most of each card’s strengths instead of relying on a single card for every transaction.
Ultimately, the best choice depends on your spending pattern. However, for users who frequently shop online, pay digital bills, and want to maximize savings on everyday expenses, having both cards can be a smart combination that delivers the best of both worlds.