Last reviewed: 9 October 2026. Fees and benefits checked against Axis Bank’s official ACE card page, the ACE cashback terms, the lounge programme terms and the Axis Bank credit card MITC.
The Axis Bank ACE credit card is an entry level cashback card that pays straight cashback into your statement instead of points, with its best rates on bills paid through Google Pay and on Swiggy, Zomato and Ola. It suits salaried people and young families who pay electricity, broadband, DTH and mobile bills every month and want a simple card that pays for itself, without tracking points or vouchers.
Since 2024 the card has been trimmed a little: the flat rate on general spends dropped from 2% to 1.5%, the top categories now share a ₹500 monthly cap, and lounge visits depend on how much you spent in the previous quarter. Below we look at what that means in rupees. For how we score cards, see how we rate credit cards, loans and deposits.
Key facts
| Feature | Axis Bank ACE |
|---|---|
| Joining fee | ₹499 + 18% GST, waived if you spend ₹10,000 within 45 days of card set-up |
| Annual fee | ₹499 + 18% GST from the second year |
| Fee waiver | Annual fee waived on ₹2,00,000 spend in the previous card year |
| Accelerated cashback | 5% on bills (electricity, water, gas, LPG, broadband), DTH and mobile recharges paid via Google Pay; 4% on Swiggy, Zomato and Ola. Combined cap ₹500 per statement |
| Base cashback | 1.5% on other eligible spends, no cap (₹1.50 per ₹100) |
| Welcome benefit | None stated on the official pages we checked |
| Lounge access | 4 complimentary airport lounge visits a year, unlocked by ₹50,000 spend in the previous 3 calendar months (waived for the first few months of a new card) |
| Forex markup | 3.5% of the transaction value |
| Fuel surcharge waiver | 1%, with the refund capped at ₹500 as per the MITC; fuel spends earn no cashback |
| Dining | Discounts of up to 15% at partner restaurants through Axis Bank’s dining programme |
| Network | Visa |
| Best for | Utility bills on Google Pay, food delivery and everyday cashback |
All fees and charges attract 18% GST.
What you would actually earn
Take a household that puts ₹30,000 a month on the card:
- ₹5,000 on electricity, broadband and mobile bills through Google Pay at 5% = ₹250
- ₹4,000 on Swiggy, Zomato and Ola at 4% = ₹160
- ₹21,000 on groceries, shopping and other eligible spends at 1.5% = ₹315
The first two lines add up to ₹410, which sits under the ₹500 monthly cap, so nothing is lost. Monthly cashback is ₹250 + ₹160 + ₹315 = ₹725, or ₹8,700 a year.
Annual spend here is ₹3,60,000, well above the ₹2,00,000 waiver mark, so the renewal fee is waived and the net value stays at ₹8,700. If your spend falls short of the waiver, you pay ₹499 + 18% GST = ₹588.82, and the net drops to ₹8,111.18. Even a lighter user spending ₹15,000 a month on general purchases alone earns ₹225 a month, or ₹2,700 a year, which still covers the fee several times over.
Watch the cap if your bills are large. A family paying ₹10,000 a month in utility bills through Google Pay would earn ₹500 from that alone and hit the ceiling, so food delivery cashback that month would add nothing.
Pros and cons
What works
- Cashback is credited automatically to the statement, so there are no points, catalogues or redemption fees to deal with.
- 5% on Google Pay bill payments is one of the higher rates available on a sub ₹500 fee card.
- 1.5% base rate has no monthly ceiling, so heavy general spenders keep earning.
- Fee is easy to waive at ₹2 lakh a year, about ₹16,700 a month.
What does not
- The ₹500 combined cap on the 5% and 4% categories limits the upside for big bill payers.
- Utility bills paid outside Google Pay earn nothing at all, and Axis charges 1% once utility spend in a cycle crosses ₹25,000.
- Long exclusion list: fuel, rent, wallet loads, insurance, education, government payments, jewellery and EMI purchases earn no cashback.
- Lounge access now needs ₹50,000 spend per quarter, and the 3.5% forex markup makes it a poor travel card.
Fees and charges
| Charge | Amount (plus 18% GST) |
|---|---|
| Finance charges | 3.75% a month (55.55% a year) |
| Late payment fee | Nil up to ₹500 due; ₹500 for ₹501 to ₹5,000; ₹750 for ₹5,001 to ₹10,000; ₹1,200 for ₹10,001 to ₹50,000; ₹1,300 above ₹50,000. An extra ₹100 applies if the minimum due is missed two cycles in a row |
| Cash withdrawal fee | 2.5% of the amount, minimum ₹500 |
| Over limit fee | 2.5% of the over limit amount, minimum ₹500 |
| Payment return or auto debit reversal | 2% of the payment amount, minimum ₹500 |
| Forex markup | 3.5% |
| Rent payments | 1% per transaction |
| Wallet, utility, fuel and gaming spends | 1% once cycle spend crosses ₹10,000 (wallet, gaming), ₹25,000 (utility) or ₹50,000 (fuel) |
| Reward redemption fee | Not applicable, cashback is credited automatically |
Eligibility and documents
Axis Bank decides eligibility on your credit profile and income, and the bank reserves the right to decline an application. We could not confirm a published minimum income for the ACE card on Axis Bank’s site at the time of this review, so check your offer in the Axis app or on the card page. In practice you will need:
- PAN card and Aadhaar for identity and address (KYC)
- Recent salary slips or bank statements if you are salaried
- Latest income tax return if you are self-employed
- A healthy credit score with no recent defaults
How it compares
We compared the ACE card with two other mid range cards whose terms we checked on their issuers’ websites in this same review cycle.
| Feature | Axis Bank ACE | IDFC FIRST Millennia | Amex Membership Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹499 (waived at ₹2 lakh) | Nil, lifetime free | ₹4,500 (waived at ₹1.5 lakh) |
| Base earn | 1.5% cashback | 3 points per ₹200 | 1 point per ₹50 |
| Top earn | 5% on GPay bills, 4% on Swiggy, Zomato, Ola (₹500 cap) | 10 points per ₹200 above ₹20,000 a month | Monthly bonus of up to 2,000 points |
| Forex markup | 3.5% | Nil | 3.5% |
| Lounge | 4 airport visits a year, spend linked | Railway lounges, spend linked | None |
If you want points that can stretch further on travel or vouchers, read our IDFC FIRST Millennia credit card review and our American Express Membership Rewards credit card review. Within Axis Bank, shoppers who live on Flipkart may prefer the Flipkart Axis Bank credit card, and Airtel users should look at the Airtel Axis Bank credit card. You can browse more options in our credit cards section.
Our verdict
The Axis Bank ACE credit card is still a sensible, low cost cashback card if you pay your bills through Google Pay and order food often; most such users will clear the fee waiver and pocket ₹6,000 to ₹9,000 a year. Skip it if your bills go through other apps, if you spend mostly on fuel, rent or insurance, or if you travel abroad, where the 3.5% markup eats the cashback.
How to apply
You can apply online on the official Axis Bank ACE card page. Existing Axis customers often see a pre-approved offer in the Axis Mobile app, which usually speeds up approval. Keep your PAN, Aadhaar and income proof ready, and complete video KYC if asked.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Axis Bank ACE credit card lifetime free?
No. It carries a ₹499 joining fee and a ₹499 annual fee plus GST. The joining fee is waived on ₹10,000 spend within 45 days, and the annual fee is waived on ₹2 lakh spend in the previous year.
Do I get 5% cashback on bills paid through Paytm or PhonePe?
No. Since 20 April 2024 the 5% rate applies only to bills, DTH and mobile recharges paid through Google Pay. Utility payments on other platforms earn no cashback at all.
What is the cashback cap on the ACE card?
The 5% and 4% categories together are capped at ₹500 per statement. The 1.5% base cashback on other eligible spends has no cap.
How do I get airport lounge access on the ACE card?
You need to have spent at least ₹50,000 on the card in the previous three calendar months. New cardholders get this condition waived for the month of issue and the three months after.
When is cashback credited?
Axis Bank credits it about three days before the statement date of the following billing cycle, so it reduces your next bill automatically.
Is the ACE card good for international spends?
Not really. The 3.5% forex markup is higher than the 1.5% cashback you earn, so you lose money on every foreign currency transaction.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Card terms change often; confirm the latest fees and benefits on the bank’s website before you apply.
