Highlights
- Comparison of Axis Privilege Credit card and HDFC Regalia Credit Card
- See the Differences between Fees, Offers, and Features of both the credit cards.
- The Credit Limit of both the cards depends on your CIBIL Score and Income.
Navigating the premium credit card landscape in India can be challenging, particularly when choosing between two popular options like the Axis Bank Privilege Credit Card and the HDFC Regalia Credit Card. Both cards target the affluent segment with attractive rewards, airport lounge access, and lifestyle benefits, but differ significantly in their fee structures and reward mechanisms. The Axis Bank Privilege Credit Card has an annual fee of Rs. 1,500 (plus taxes) that can be waived with annual spending of Rs. 2.5 lakhs, while offering 10 EDGE reward points for every Rs. 200 spent domestically or internationally. In contrast, the HDFC Regalia Credit Card, priced at Rs. 2,500 annually (plus taxes), requires spending of Rs. 3 lakhs for fee waiver and provides 4 reward points for every Rs. 150 spent. Each card has distinctive milestone benefits and airport lounge access policies that cater to different travel and spending patterns, making your choice dependent on personal usage habits and lifestyle preferences. Let's examine these cards in detail to help you make an informed decision based on your lifestyle and spending habits. Once you decide which credit card to apply for, check your free CIBIL score on Wishfin and also view your detailed CIBIL report. The credit score is a very important eligibility criterion that credit card issuers look into before approving your application. Hence it is important to check it before you apply in order to know if you are fulfilling the standards set by them.
Comparing the Features and Benefits of the Axis Bank Privilege Credit Card and the HDFC Regalia Credit Card
Axis Bank Privilege Credit Card
The Axis Bank Privilege Credit Card is designed to offer unlimited benefits across various spending categories. After recent updates in April 2024, this card continues to provide valuable offerings to cardholders.
HDFC Regalia Credit Card
The HDFC Regalia Credit Card is one of the most popular premium credit cards in India, offering a blend of travel, lifestyle, and shopping benefits.
| Feature | Axis Bank Privilege Credit Card | HDFC Regalia Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
|
Annual Fee |
Rs. 1,500 |
Rs. 2,500 |
|
Fee Waiver Condition |
Spend Rs. 5 lakh in previous card anniversary year (effective April 2025) |
Spend Rs. 3 lakh in an anniversary year |
|
Reward Rate |
10 EDGE reward points on every Rs. 200 spent (domestic & international) |
4 reward points on every Rs. 150 spent |
|
Reward Point Value |
1 EDGE point = Rs. 0.20 |
Up to Rs. 0.50 for travel bookings, Rs. 0.20 for cashback |
|
Welcome Benefit |
12,500 EDGE reward points worth Rs. 2,500 |
|
|
Milestone Benefits |
10,000 EDGE points on spending Rs. 2.5 lakh in anniversary year |
10,000 Reward points on spending Rs. 5 lakh and additional 5,000 points on Rs. 8 lakh annually |
|
Domestic Lounge Access |
2 complimentary visits per calendar quarter (Spending Rs. 50,000 in the previous 3 months) |
12 complimentary visits per calendar year |
|
International Lounge Access |
Not available |
6 complimentary visits outside India with priority pass |
|
Fuel Surcharge Waiver |
1% of transaction amount (Rs. 400-4,000), up to a maximum of Rs. 400 per month |
1% fuel surcharge waiver at fuel stations across India on transactions in the range of Rs. 400 to Rs. 5,000 |
|
Dining Benefits |
Discounts through the Axis Bank Dining Delights program |
Enjoy Zomato Gold membership for a year at Nil fees. Also, enjoy up to 2 drinks at no extra charge when you dine at participating restaurants. |
|
Insurance Coverage |
Purchase protection (Rs. 1 lakh), Credit shield (Rs. 1 lakh) |
Air accident cover (Rs. 1 crore), Emergency hospitalization (Rs. 15 lakh), Credit liability (Rs. 9 lakh) |
|
Add-on Card Fee |
Nil |
Not specified |
|
Foreign Transaction Fee |
3.50% of transaction value |
3.50% on foreign currency spends |
|
Miles Transfer Program |
Available with partner-specific conversion rates |
Available through airmiles conversion |
Recent Changes to Both the Credit Cards
Axis Bank Privilege Credit Card
The card underwent significant changes in April 2024, including.
- Revised reward structure.
- Division of Miles transfer partners into Group A and Group B with annual transfer limits.
- Exclusion of certain transactions (rent, wallet, insurance, government services, utilities, fuel, and educational services) from annual fee waiver eligibility.
HDFC Regalia Credit Card
Changes effective from December 2023:
- Lounge access now tied to spending criteria
- Need to spend Rs. 1 lakh or more per calendar quarter to qualify for domestic lounge access.
- Vouchers must be generated through the Regalia SmartBuy portal.
Which Card Should You Choose?
Choose Axis Bank Privilege if:
- You prefer a lower annual fee.
- You value welcome benefits that exceed the annual fee.
- You want a simple, consistent reward structure across all spending categories.
- You frequently make fuel transactions.
Choose HDFC Regalia if:
- You travel frequently and value extensive lounge access.
- You need comprehensive travel insurance coverage.
- You can maximize value through travel bookings (where reward points have higher value).
- You enjoy dining benefits and restaurant discounts.
Both cards offer compelling benefits, but your choice should ultimately depend on your spending patterns, travel frequency, and which benefits you'll actually use. The Axis Bank Privilege Card offers better value for general spending, while the HDFC Regalia excels for frequent travelers who can maximize its travel and insurance benefits.
Note: HDFC Bank is no longer accepting applications for Regalia Credit Card, however existing cardholders can continue using the card.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Amongst the Axis Bank Privilege Credit Card and the HDFC Regalia credit card, which card offers better value for frequent travelers?
HDFC Regalia offers better value for frequent travelers with 12 domestic lounge accesses and 6 international lounge accesses through the priority pass annually. It also includes a comprehensive air travel insurance cover of Rs. 1 crore for air accidents, Rs. 15 lakh for emergency overseas hospitalization, and a low forex markup fee of 2%. Axis Bank Privilege offers 8 domestic lounge accesses per year (2 per quarter with Rs. 50,000 spending in the previous quarter).
2. Which card is better for international transactions? The Axis Bank Privilege Credit Card or the HDFC Regalia Credit Card?
HDFC Regalia has a lower foreign currency markup fee of 2% on international transactions compared to Axis Bank Privilege which charges 3.50% of the transaction value, making HDFC Regalia more economical for international transactions.
3. How do the reward programs compare between the Axis Bank Privilege credit card and the HDFC Regalia credit card?
Axis Bank Privilege offers 10 EDGE reward points for every Rs. 200 spent on domestic and international transactions. HDFC Regalia offers 4 reward points for every Rs. 150 spent on retail purchases including insurance. HDFC Regalia's points have a higher redemption value (up to Rs. 0.50 per point for travel bookings) compared to Axis Bank's EDGE points (around Rs. 0.20 per point).
4. What insurance benefits are offered by the Axis Bank Privilege Credit Card and the HDFC Regalia Credit Card?
HDFC Regalia offers more comprehensive insurance coverage, including air accident death cover of Rs. 1 crore, emergency overseas hospitalization cover of Rs. 15 lakh, and credit liability cover of Rs. 9 lakh. Axis Bank Privilege offers purchase protection of Rs. 1 lakh, credit shield worth Rs. 1 lakh, and travel insurance covering loss of travel documents (up to $300), delay in check-in baggage (up to $300), and loss of check-in baggage (up to $500).
5. For which spending habits is the Axis Bank Privilege Credit Card and the HDFC Regalia Credit Card better optimized?
Axis Bank Privilege is better for consistent spending across all categories as it offers uniform rewards without category acceleration. HDFC Regalia is better for travel-related expenses and offers better value when rewards are redeemed against travel bookings (flights, hotels) through the HDFC SmartBuy.
