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Axis Bank ACE Credit Card Review
- 5% cashback on utility bills via Google Pay — highest in market (most cards cap or exclude utilities)
- 4% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato, Ola (unlimited)
- 1.5% flat cashback on all other spends — no category complexity
- 4 domestic lounges/year (conditional on ₹50K prior-quarter spend)
- Fee waived on ₹2L annual spend — effectively LTF for active users
- 15% dining discount via EazyDiner
- 18+ eligibility, no minimum income specified
- Google Pay 5% utility cashback is Android-only (iOS users lose this)
- 4 lounges/year require ₹50K in the previous calendar quarter
- 3.5% forex — uncompetitive for international
- Cashback caps may apply on 5%/4% categories (check current Axis T&C)
- No premium travel / milestone benefits
- 1% transaction fees (since Dec 2024): Utility spends over ₹25K/cycle, wallet loads over ₹10K/cycle, online gaming over ₹10K/cycle, fuel over ₹50K/cycle each attract a 1% fee. Rent 1% (since Mar 2023). Education via 3rd-party apps 1%. Above ₹25K/cycle the 5% utility USP nets out to ~4%.
Fees & charges
| Item | Charge |
|---|---|
| Joining fee | ₹499 + GST (₹589 total) |
| Renewal fee | ₹499 + GST — waived on ₹2L annual spend |
| Finance charge | 3.75% p.m. (55.55% p.a.) |
| Cash advance | 2.5% (min ₹500) |
| Forex markup | 3.5% |
| DCC markup (INR at foreign merchants) | 1.5% |
| Late payment | Up to ₹1,300 |
Eligibility & documents
Age
18-70 years — very accessible entry point
Employment
Salaried or self-employed; Indian resident
Minimum income
Axis doesn’t publish a strict threshold; typical target ₹3L+/year salaried
Recommended CIBIL
720+
Typical credit limit
₹50,000 – ₹3 lakh at issuance
Documents
PAN, Aadhaar, salary slip + bank statement OR ITR, address proof
Rewards structure
Cashback tiers:
- 5% cashback on utility bill payments via Google Pay — mobile, electricity, water, gas, DTH, broadband (Android only, iOS users cannot access the “pay with card” feature on Google Pay India)
- 4% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato, and Ola spends (both app transactions and website)
- 1.5% flat cashback on all other spends — simple, uncapped on most categories
Cashback credit: Auto-applied to statement (no separate redemption). Typically credits within 30 days of qualifying transaction.
Exclusions: Wallet loads, rent, tax, insurance, government, EMI conversions at POS typically don’t earn cashback. Fuel earns 1% surcharge waiver but no accelerated cashback.
Welcome benefits & milestones
Welcome benefit: Typically a ₹500 Amazon voucher or similar on first transaction within 30 days of activation. Check current offer at application.
Annual fee waiver: Spend ₹2 lakh in the anniversary year → next year’s ₹499 fee waived. Easily achievable for mid-income users (~₹17K/month). Note: Rent (MCC 6513) and wallet-load (MCC 6540) spends don’t count toward this ₹2L threshold.
Key benefits
- 4 domestic lounge visits per year — conditional on ₹50,000+ spend in preceding calendar quarter
- EazyDiner dining: Up to 15% off at partner restaurants via EazyDiner platform
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver (₹400-₹4,000 transactions, cap ₹500/month)
- Free add-on cards for family
- EMI conversion on transactions ₹2,500+
Usage terms & fine print
Lounge access
4 domestic lounge visits per calendar year, gated by ₹50,000 spend in the preceding calendar quarter. Quarters with lower spend lose access. No international lounge.
Fuel surcharge waiver
1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions ₹400-₹4,000, cap ₹500/month. Fuel doesn’t earn accelerated cashback.
Interest-free period
Interest-free credit up to 50 days on retail. Minimum payment 5% or ₹250.
EMI conversion
EMI on transactions ₹2,500+. Tenures 3-24 months. Interest 0.99-1.5% p.m. Processing fee 1%.
Digital wallets & UPI
Google Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay supported. Google Pay “pay with card” feature for bills is Android-only. iOS Google Pay users cannot access the 5% utility cashback via the app.
Insurance cover
Lost card liability, basic purchase protection
Compared with alternatives
HDFC Swiggy (₹500) →
10% on Swiggy vs ACE’s 4%. But ACE has unbeatable 5% utility bills. Pair both if you’re a heavy user.
SBI Cashback (₹999) (comparison coming soon)
5% on all online, 1% offline. Simpler structure; higher fee. ACE better for utility + food-delivery.
Flipkart Axis (₹500) →
Same fee, different ecosystem. 5% on Flipkart/Myntra, 4% on Swiggy. Pick based on where you shop.
Amex SmartEarn (₹495) (comparison coming soon)
Similar fee. 10× on Amazon/Uber/BigBasket. Amex acceptance narrower than Visa.
Who the Axis Bank ACE is for
Anyone paying utility bills via Google Pay on Android — the 5% cashback on bills is the biggest single accelerator in the Indian market. Also strong for moderate Swiggy/Zomato/Ola users who want a simple, well-priced cashback card with zero complexity.
Not the right card if: you’re an iPhone user (5% utility benefit locked out) OR you want lounges/travel perks (step up to Axis Privilege/Select/Magnus). Also not right if you primarily shop online across broad categories — HDFC Millennia or Flipkart Axis may yield more.
How to apply & how to cancel
Apply: Apply via axisbank.com/ace or through Google Pay app (co-branded flow). Instant eligibility check. Approval 3-5 business days. Video-KYC supported.
Cancel: Call Axis helpline (1860 419 5555). Clear dues. Pending cashback credited before closure.
Final verdict
Axis ACE is the best utility-bill cashback card in India at a practically-free price. The 5% on Google Pay utility bills is unmatched and alone saves ₹5,000-10,000/year for average households. Must-hold for any Android user with ₹15K+ monthly utility spend. iOS users get less value and should consider alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the 5% Google Pay utility benefit Android-only?
Google Pay India’s “pay with card” feature for bill payments is restricted to Android versions per Google Pay India product policy. iOS users cannot trigger the same flow; bills paid via iOS earn the base 1.5% cashback.
What counts as utility bill payment?
Mobile postpaid, electricity, water, gas, DTH, broadband bills paid via Google Pay “pay with card” flow. Wallet loads, subscription services (Netflix, Prime) are NOT utilities per Axis categorisation.
Is there a cap on the 5% cashback?
Check current Axis T&C — historically the cap has been ₹500/month on the 5% utility cashback. Axis has revised caps periodically; confirm current policy at application.
How do lounges work?
4 domestic lounge visits per calendar year. To access them in a quarter, you must have spent ₹50,000+ in the preceding calendar quarter. Low-spend quarters lose access.
Can I get Axis ACE without a salary account?
Yes — Axis ACE is issued to non-Axis banking customers. Income proof required.
Does ACE support UPI payments?
ACE is available on both Visa and Rupay variants. The Rupay variant supports direct UPI linking (BHIM/GPay/PhonePe). The Visa variant does not support UPI-card linking but can be added to Google Pay for Visa-accepting merchants.
Can I upgrade Axis ACE to another Axis card?
Yes — upgrade to Axis Select, Flipkart Axis, or higher available based on usage. Tenure carries over.
How does fee waiver work?
Spend ₹2 lakh in the anniversary year → next year’s ₹499 fee is waived. Statement credit equivalent applied at renewal.
Data current as of April 2026. Credit card fees, rewards and benefits are revised periodically by issuers. Always confirm current terms with the issuer before applying.