HDFC Bank INFINIA Vs Axis Bank Olympus Credit Card

HDFC INFINIA is a premium metal credit card, and the Axis Bank Olympus is also the premium offering from the respective bank. Choosing the right premium credit card isn’t just about perks or fees, and it’s more about finding a card that fits your lifestyle. If you’re someone who spends a lot on travel, shopping, or daily essentials, the INFINIA could be a great match. On the other hand, if you prefer lower foreign currency fees with an easy reward system, Olympus might be the better choice. There are key differences in their features, annual fees, reward systems, and other benefits. Here’s a breakdown of how the HDFC INFINIA compares to the Axis Olympus credit card.

Annual Fee and Welcome Benefits

HDFC INFINIA comes at a joining and renewal fee of ₹12,500 + GST. Against this fee, users get a welcome bonus of 12,500 Reward Points and a complimentary Club Marriott membership for the first year.  However, the renewal fee can be waived on achieving the spending milestone of ₹10 lakh in the previous year, which will disqualify the users from receiving the 12,500 reward points.

Axis Bank Olympus has a slightly higher annual fee of ₹20,000 + GST. Since this card does not offer a spend-based fee waiver, users will have to pay the fee anyway. The card’s welcome benefits include 2,500 EDGE Miles and a Taj/ITC Hotel voucher worth ₹10,000. Both of these benefits will be unlocked when cardholders make their first transaction with the card.

Earning and Redeeming Rewards

With the HDFC INFINIA Credit Card, cardholders earn 5 Reward Points for every ₹150 spent using the card, except for fuel. Travel and shopping spending on the SmartBuy platform earns 10X RPs at an acceleration rate, which is capped at 15,000 points per month. These rewards earned using the HDFC INFINA credit card are redeemable on HDFC’s SmartBuy platform or via Netbanking. When redeeming against hotel/flight bookings, DTH recharges, etc., on SmartBuy, 1 RP = ₹1, capped at 1,50,000 RPs per month. Points can also be converted into AirMiles, where 1 RP = 1 AirMile. Purchasing products and vouchers via Netbanking or on SmartBuy will give you a value of ₹0.50 for 1 RP. The reward points can also be redeemed for cash against the statement, where 1RP = ₹0.30.

Axis Olympus’s reward system is somewhat simpler than HDFC INFINIA’s. Cardholders earn 1 EDGE Mile for every ₹100 spent on domestic purchases and 2 EDGE Miles for every ₹100 spent on international purchases. The EDGE Miles secured can be transferred to partner programs, where 1 EDGE Mile = 4 Partner Points.

Lifestyle Perks

Both these cards offer a great deal of lifestyle perks that help cardholders get the most value for holding the card. For instance, both these cards provide unlimited access to domestic and international airport lounges, movie and dining discounts, and golf perks.

Key Takeaways

• HDFC INFINIA stands out with fewer exclusions in its rewards program, covering categories like utilities, insurance, and education spending, unlike Axis Olympus, which does not include these.
• Axis Olympus offers a lower foreign currency markup fee of 1.8%, which makes it a more attractive option for international transactions compared to HDFC INFINIA with 2%.
• HDFC INFINIA’s 10X travel and shopping rewards can significantly outshine the rewards collected through the Olympus card. Also, Axis Olympus does not reward points on jewelry purchases, which can limit the card’s usage for those who frequently shop in this category.
• Axis Olympus does not offer any milestone-based fee waiver, making the annual fee non-negotiable, whereas HDFC INFINIA has a spend-based fee waiver for the renewal fee.
• HDFC INFINIA’s Club Marriott membership is only available for the first year. At the same time, Axis Olympus consistently offers complimentary hotel memberships, vouchers, and bonus miles, which are renewed annually.

Bottom Line

In a nutshell, if you are a high-spender who values a wider range of reward-earning categories, especially in travel and shopping, the HDFC INFINIA is a stronger player. However, suppose you will make the most out of the low foreign currency charges. In that case, with annual hotel perks and simpler rewards, the Axis Olympus may suit your needs better despite its fewer reward categories and higher fixed yearly fees.