Last reviewed: 10 October 2026. Fees and benefits checked against Axis Bank’s official card page, the Freecharge Plus cashback terms, the card’s terms revisions of April 2024 and June 2025, the credit card Key Fact Statement (last updated 17 September 2026) and the MITC.
Status update: the Axis Bank Freecharge Plus credit card is not listed on the bank’s current card page as of 10 Oct 2026, though it still appears in the fee schedule and MITC. Existing cards continue. For current alternatives, see our best cashback credit cards.
The Axis Bank Freecharge Plus credit card is a flat cashback card: 5% on spends made through the Freecharge app, 2% on local commute such as Ola and Uber, and 1% on almost everything else. The ₹350 fee is waived once you spend ₹50,000 in a year, which makes it close to free for most regular users. This review works out what you would actually earn and where the card falls short.
Axis Bank Freecharge Plus credit card: key facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Status | Not listed on Axis Bank’s current credit card page as of 10 Oct 2026; still in the fee schedule |
| Joining fee | ₹350 + 18% GST |
| Annual fee | ₹350 + 18% GST |
| Fee waiver | Annual fee waived on ₹50,000 spend in the preceding year (rent and wallet loads do not count) |
| Cashback on Freecharge | 5% on spends made in the Freecharge app |
| Cashback on local commute | 2% on taxi and local transport merchants, including Ola and Uber |
| Cashback on other spends | 1% on other eligible spends |
| Value per ₹100 | ₹5, ₹2 or ₹1 depending on category |
| Minimum transaction | ₹100 to qualify for cashback |
| Forex markup | 3.5% of the transaction amount |
| Fuel surcharge refund | Not applicable |
| Best for | Existing holders who pay bills through Freecharge and use cab apps |
GST at 18% is added to every fee and charge.
How cashback is credited
Cashback is worked out on each statement’s spends after returns and refunds, rounded down per transaction, and credited by the 8th of the following month. Axis’s own example: a statement dated 12 March covering 12 February to 11 March gets its cashback by 8 April. Since 20 April 2024, utility bills earn cashback only when paid through the Freecharge app.
Spends that earn no cashback
Wallet loads, fuel, cash withdrawals, gold and jewellery, government, insurance and education payments, utility payments outside Freecharge, gift cards, EMI transactions and rent earn nothing. Pending cashback is lost if the card is closed, converted, or the minimum due is missed.
What you would actually earn with the Axis Bank Freecharge Plus credit card
Consider a holder who spends ₹15,000 a month:
- Bills and recharges in the Freecharge app: ₹2,000 × 5% = ₹100
- Ola and Uber rides: ₹2,000 × 2% = ₹40
- Other eligible spends: ₹8,000 × 1% = ₹80
- Fuel and rent: ₹3,000 × 0 = ₹0
- Monthly cashback: ₹220, or ₹2,640 a year
Annual spend is ₹1.8 lakh, well past the ₹50,000 waiver, so there is no renewal fee from the second year. In the first year you pay the joining fee of ₹350 + ₹63 GST = ₹413, leaving a net gain of ₹2,640 minus ₹413 = ₹2,227. From year two the full ₹2,640 is yours, an effective return of about 1.5% on total spending.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Simple, flat cashback that needs no points conversion.
- 5% on Freecharge app spends is a strong rate for bills and recharges.
- Fee waiver at just ₹50,000 a year.
- No published monthly cap on cashback in the terms we read.
Cons
- Not listed on Axis Bank’s current card page for new applicants.
- Utility cashback only through the Freecharge app since April 2024.
- No fuel surcharge refund.
- Transactions under ₹100 earn nothing.
- 3.5% forex markup.
Fees and charges
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Finance charges | 3.75% a month (55.55% a year) |
| Interest free period | 20 to 50 days |
| 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; plus ₹100 if the minimum due is missed two cycles in a row |
| Cash advance fee | 2.5% of the amount, minimum ₹500 |
| Over limit fee | 2.5%, minimum ₹500 |
| Forex and DCC markup | 3.5% each |
| Rent transactions | 1% of each rent payment |
| Payment return | 2% of the payment amount, minimum ₹500 |
Eligibility and documents
The official documents we read do not set income criteria for this card, and it is not on Axis Bank’s current list. If you are offered it, Axis will ask for PAN, Aadhaar or another photo ID, address proof and income proof, and it will run a credit check.
How the Axis Bank Freecharge Plus credit card compares
| Card | Joining / annual fee | Annual fee waiver | Fuel surcharge refund |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axis Freecharge Plus | ₹350 / ₹350 | ₹50,000 spend | Not applicable |
| Axis Freecharge | ₹250 / ₹250 | None | Not applicable |
| Axis Bank ACE | ₹499 / ₹499 | ₹2 lakh spend | Up to ₹500 a cycle |
| Flipkart Axis Bank | ₹500 / ₹500 | ₹3.5 lakh spend | See our Flipkart review |
The basic Freecharge card is cheaper but has no published cashback and no waiver, so Plus beats it for anyone spending over ₹50,000 a year. Flipkart Axis Bank is a current card and suits heavy online shoppers better.
Our verdict
For existing holders, Freecharge Plus remains a sensible everyday cashback card: easy to understand, free after ₹50,000 of spend, and worth roughly ₹2,600 a year at ₹15,000 of monthly spending. Its weak spots are fuel, rent and anything abroad. Keep it for bills and cab rides, and pair it with another card for the rest.
How to apply
The card is not listed for new applicants. You can check the official Axis Bank Freecharge Plus card page for any change.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Axis Bank Freecharge Plus credit card still available?
It is not listed on Axis Bank’s current credit card page as of 10 October 2026, though it remains in the fee schedule. Existing cards continue.
How much cashback does Freecharge Plus give?
5% on Freecharge app spends, 2% on local commute such as Ola and Uber, and 1% on other eligible spends. Transactions under ₹100 do not qualify.
How do I get the annual fee waived?
Spend ₹50,000 in the preceding year. Rent and wallet loads are not counted.
Do utility bills earn cashback?
Only when paid through the Freecharge app. Utility payments on other platforms have earned nothing since 20 April 2024.
When is cashback credited?
By the 8th of the month after your statement is generated.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Card features and charges can change; check the bank’s official website before applying.
