Axis Bank ACE Credit Card
The Axis Bank ACE Credit Card remains one of the stronger flat-rate cashback options for everyday Indian spenders, though it isn't free to hold — the ₹499 fee only drops off once you clear ₹2 lakh in annual spend, and neither rent payments nor wallet top-ups count toward that threshold. Route utility bills through Google Pay (electricity, water, gas, LPG, broadband, plus DTH and mobile recharges) and you'll earn 5% cashback, while Swiggy, Zomato and Ola purchases return 4% without needing Google Pay at all — that requirement applies only to the utility tier. Both accelerated categories draw from a shared ₹500-per-cycle cap, after which spending falls back to an uncapped 1.5% base rate, and there's also a 1% fuel surcharge waiver. Spend ₹50,000 across the prior three months and you unlock four free domestic lounge visits a year. One wrinkle worth knowing: since December 2024, Axis has been charging 1% on utility spending above ₹25,000 in a cycle — a surcharge that directly eats into the category this card is built to reward. Account for that cap and it's still a clean, reliable cashback card.
Key features
The headline features that define how this card earns and pays off.
5% on Utility Bills
5% cashback on bill payments via Google Pay — electricity, water, gas, LPG and broadband, plus DTH and mobile recharges. Shares a ₹500/cycle cap with the 4% Swiggy/Zomato/Ola earn.
4% on Dining
4% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato and Ola, on their websites and apps — no Google Pay requirement (that condition applies only to the 5% utility tier). Shares the ₹500/cycle accelerated cap.
️ Airport Lounge Access
4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits a year — an annual allowance with no per-quarter limit — unlocked by spending ₹50,000 in the previous 3 calendar months
Annual Fee Waiver
Fee of ₹499 + 18% GST (₹589 all-in)/yr fully waived when you spend ₹2,00,000/year
Fuel Surcharge Waiver
1% waiver on fuel transactions, capped at ₹500/month
UPI Linked
Link to PhonePe, GPay or Paytm and earn credit card rewards on UPI payments
Full reward structure
| Category | Type | Rate | Monthly cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utility Bills | cashback | 5% | ₹500 |
| Dining | cashback | 4% | ₹500 |
| Other | cashback | 1.5% | — |
Fees & charges
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual fee (incl. 18% GST) | ₹589 |
| Joining fee (incl. 18% GST) | ₹589 |
| Finance charge (APR) | 3.75% p.m. |
| Forex markup | 3.5% |
| Fuel surcharge waiver | 1%, cap ₹500 |
Perks & benefits
Beyond cashback, the extras here add up to around ₹4,000 a year.
️ Airport Lounge Access ~ ₹4,000/yr
4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits a year — an annual allowance with no per-quarter limit — unlocked by spending ₹50,000 in the previous 3 calendar months
Should you get it?
Best for: Google Pay utility bill payer, Swiggy/Zomato daily orderer, Airtel or Jio postpaid subscriber, ₹30K–70K salary, Bengaluru/Mumbai/Delhi resident
It suits entry-level and first-time cardholders well, and the payoff is highest for anyone spending heavily on utility bills, where the return hits 5%. Frequent flyers also get extra mileage from the bundled lounge access.
✓ Pros
- 5% cashback on utility bill payments — electricity, water, gas, LPG, broadband, DTH and mobile recharges — made through Google Pay
- 4% on Swiggy, Zomato and Ola directly through their own sites and apps, sharing the same ₹500-per-cycle accelerated cap, no Google Pay needed for this category
- An uncapped 1.5% cashback on all other spending, a dependable flat baseline
- Cashback lands as a monthly statement credit — no portal, no minimum threshold, no expiry
✕ Cons
- Not free to hold — the ₹499 fee only waives once you cross ₹2 lakh in annual spend
- The 5% utility rate works only through Google Pay's Bill Pay feature, not direct bank transfers or BBPS on other apps
- The 1.5% baseline on everything else is fairly modest, so pairing it with a stronger flat-rate card helps for non-food, non-utility spending
Eligibility & documents
Age
18 –60 years
Min. income
₹15,000 /mo
Employment
Salaried · Self-employed · Student
Documents required
- PAN card
- Aadhaar / valid address proof
- Latest 3 months bank statement
- Income proof — salary slips (salaried) or ITR (self-employed)
- Recent passport-size photograph
How to redeem rewards
The available ways to turn earned cashback into real value.
🎁 Statement credit / cashback adjustment
🎁 Online rewards catalogue (vouchers, merchandise)
🎁 Flight & hotel bookings via the issuer rewards portal
What your Cashback are worth
What each unit of cashback is genuinely worth once redeemed — the gap between routes is where most people lose value.
Statement credit Direct cash adjustment — no conversion
The concern Axis has a track record of trimming ACE benefits before — the grocery exclusion and cap changes among them — so today's rates shouldn't be assumed to hold indefinitely.
The bottom line
This card holds up as one of the better mid-tier cashback options, but go in with clear expectations: it isn't free to hold, the 5%/4% accelerated categories share a single ₹500-per-cycle cap, and the real workhorse is the uncapped 1.5% base rate. Cross ₹2 lakh in annual spend and the fee disappears entirely — fall short of that, and a genuinely fee-free flat-cashback card might serve you better.
Sources & verification
Fees, reward rates, and benefits for the Axis Bank ACE Credit Card are taken from Axis Bank 's official Most Important Terms & Conditions (MITC) and fee schedule — see the card's official page . Last verified 15 Aug 2026 . Reviewed by the SarvCred Editorial Team . Always confirm current details on the issuer's site before applying. How we research →
Independence. SarvCred is an independent editorial publication. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or authorised to act for Axis Bank . All issuer names, product names, and payment-network marks are the property of their respective owners and appear here for identification and comparison only. Card faces shown on this site are our own original illustrations — we do not display or host issuer card artwork or logos.
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