Axis Bank ACE Credit Card Review 2026 | Card24.ai
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Axis Bank ACE Credit Card Review

5% cashback on utility bills via Google Pay (Android), 4% on Swiggy/Zomato/Ola, uncapped 1.5% on everything else, 4 domestic lounge visits on Rs 50,000 quarterly - India's best entry-level cashback card at Rs 499/year.

4.2
/5
Card24 Score
Cashback
4.5
Lounge
3.5
Fees
4
Last reviewed June 2026 · Card24.ai editorial team
Axis Bank ACE
Utility Cashback
5%*
Partner Cashback
4% Swiggy, Zomato, and Ola*
Base Cashback
1.5% cashback on ALL other eligible spends*
Lounge + Fee
4 complimentary domestic lounge visits/year*

Credit Card Verdict Axis Bank ACE

What we like

  • 5% cashback on utility bill payments via Google Pay - highest on utilities of any entry-level Indian card. Electricity, water, gas, LPG, broadband, and mobile recharges earn 5%. Most cards exclude utilities or give 0-1%. At Rs 6,000/month via GPay: Rs 300/month = Rs 3,600/year from a Rs 499 card.
  • 4% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato, and Ola - three of India's most-used apps by urban professionals. At Rs 4,000/month combined: Rs 160/month = Rs 1,920/year. Rewards the two biggest spending categories for millennials simultaneously.
  • Uncapped 1.5% cashback on all other eligible spends - no monthly ceiling, no categories excluded beyond the standard list. Auto-credited to statement every cycle. No portal login, no minimum, no expiry. The simplicity and automation of this earn is a genuine competitive advantage.
  • 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits/year - unusual for a Rs 499 card. Requires Rs 50,000 in preceding 3 calendar months, but waived for the first 4 months from card issuance. Entry-level card with lounge access is a meaningful differentiator.
  • Joining fee Rs 499 reversed on spending Rs 10,000 within 45 days. Annual fee waived at Rs 2L. Dining Delights: up to 15% off at 4,000+ restaurants via EazyDiner. Fuel surcharge waiver 1% (max Rs 500/month). Well-rounded beyond the core cashback.

Watch out for

  • ANDROID ONLY: 5% cashback on utility bills requires Google Pay Pay with Card feature - available ONLY on Android. iPhone users cannot access this and earn only 1.5% on utility bills. This is the single most important limitation of this card. If you use an iPhone, consider SBI Cashback Card or Amazon Pay ICICI instead.
  • Rs 500 combined cap on 5% + 4% categories fills at approximately Rs 8,500-10,000 monthly combined spend. Above the cap, these transactions earn only 1.5%. For households with high Google Pay utility bills (Rs 7,000+) plus active Swiggy/Zomato use, the cap depletes within the first 2 weeks of the month.
  • Lounge access requires Rs 50,000 in the preceding 3 calendar months. After Month 4 from issuance (when grace ends), missing Rs 50,000 in any quarter means no lounge access in the next quarter.
  • Zero cashback on: fuel, EMI, purchases converted to EMI, wallet loads, cash advances, rent (MCC 6513), gold items, card fees, outstanding payments. Utility bills paid via any platform other than Google Pay earn only 1.5%.

*5% cashback: utility bills (electricity/water/gas/LPG/broadband) + DTH + mobile recharges via Google Pay app (Android only; iOS not supported). 4% on Swiggy, Zomato, Ola. Combined 5%+4% cap: Rs 500 per statement cycle. 1.5% all other eligible - no monthly cap. Zero cashback: fuel, EMI, wallet loads, cash advances, rent MCC 6513, gold, card fees, outstanding. Utility via non-GPay platforms: 1.5% only. Lounge: 4 domestic/year on Rs 50,000 preceding 3 months (waived first 4 months from issuance). Annual fee Rs 499 waived at Rs 2,00,000. Joining reversed on Rs 10,000 in 45 days. T&Cs apply.

Credit Card Achievers Axis Bank ACE

Is Axis Bank ACE Credit Card Worth It in 2026?

Yes - emphatically for Android users who pay utility bills via Google Pay. 5% on electricity, gas, water, and broadband via GPay is the highest cashback rate on utilities on any entry-level Indian card. At Rs 5,000/month GPay bills: Rs 250/month = Rs 3,000/year. From a card costing Rs 499/year reversed at Rs 10,000 in 45 days and waived at Rs 2L. The math is straightforwardly positive. Full annual value at Rs 5,000 GPay utility + Rs 3,000 Swiggy/Zomato/Ola + Rs 15,000 other eligible: Rs 500 cap (6,000/year) + 1.5% uncapped on Rs 15,000 = Rs 225/month = Rs 2,700/year. Total: Rs 8,700/year. Annual fee Rs 499 waived at Rs 2L. Joining fee reversed on Rs 10,000. Lounge access (4/year) adds Rs 2,400+ market value. Net Year 1: strongly positive. Critical caveat: Android-only. iPhone users cannot use GPay Pay with Card and earn only 1.5% on utilities - the card's core proposition disappears. For iPhone users, SBI Cashback Card or Amazon Pay ICICI are better alternatives. For Android users, once the Rs 500 monthly cap fills, BOBCARD Cashback (5% all online, no cap) is the natural companion for remaining spend.

Axis ACE is India's best entry-level cashback card for Android users - 5% Google Pay utility cashback, 4% Swiggy/Zomato/Ola, uncapped 1.5% base, and 4 domestic lounges at Rs 499/year waived at Rs 2L.

Axis Bank ACE Credit Card Benefits

How to Get the Most Out of Axis Bank ACE Credit Card

Set Up All Utility Bills on Google Pay Day 1 (Android Essential) - The 5% cashback on utilities is exclusively via Google Pay Pay with Card - no other platform qualifies. Set up all recurring utility auto-payments (electricity, gas, broadband, mobile, LPG) on Google Pay with ACE as the linked card on Day 1 of card activation. At Rs 6,000/month via GPay: Rs 300/month = Rs 3,600/year. This single setup step unlocks the card's core value. Track the Rs 500 Cap and Route Excess to Second Card - The Rs 500/month cap fills at approximately Rs 8,500-10,000 combined GPay utilities + Swiggy/Zomato/Ola. Once the cap fills, remaining spend in these categories earns only 1.5%. Use ACE as primary for GPay utilities first each month. Once Rs 500 cap fills, switch Swiggy/Zomato orders to a second card for the remainder of the month. Route All Non-Fuel, Non-EMI Purchases for Uncapped 1.5% - Uncapped 1.5% on all eligible offline and online spend auto-credits every cycle. Route grocery, pharmacy, clothing, restaurant dining, offline shopping, online purchases (outside the capped categories) through ACE. At Rs 20,000/month uncapped: Rs 300/month = Rs 3,600/year on top of Rs 6,000 from the cap tiers. Maintain Rs 50,000 Quarterly for Lounge After Month 4 - Lounge access is free for first 4 months. After that, maintain Rs 50,000 spend in the preceding 3 calendar months (Rs 16,667/month). With Rs 5,000 GPay utilities + Rs 4,000 Swiggy/Zomato + Rs 7,667 other spend monthly - Rs 50,000/quarter is hit naturally. Track in Axis Mobile app. Pair With BOBCARD Cashback Once Rs 500 Cap Hits - When monthly GPay utility + Swiggy/Zomato/Ola spend crosses Rs 8,500-10,000 and the Rs 500 cap fills, switch remaining food delivery and online purchases to BOBCARD Cashback - 5% on all online with no monthly cashback cap. Use ACE for its uncapped 1.5% offline transactions and GPay utilities; Cashback for uncapped online spend.

Axis Bank ACE Credit Card Annual Fees

Joining Fee Rs 499 + GST. REVERSED on spending Rs 10,000 within first 45 days.
Annual Renewal Fee Rs 499 + GST from Year 2. Waived at Rs 2,00,000 annual spend. Rent (MCC 6513) and wallet loads (MCC 6540) excluded from waiver calculation.
5%+4% Combined Cap Rs 500 per statement cycle covering Google Pay utilities + Swiggy/Zomato/Ola combined.
1.5% Base Uncapped on all eligible spends. Auto-credited to statement. No portal, no threshold, no expiry.
Finance Charge 3.75% per month (45% per annum) - increased from 3.6% in December 2024.
Fuel Surcharge Waiver 1% on Rs 400-Rs 4,000 fuel transactions. Max Rs 500/month. Zero cashback on fuel.
Forex Markup 3.5% on international transactions.
Lounge Condition 4 domestic visits/year on Rs 50,000 in preceding 3 calendar months. First 4 months waived.
Cash Advance 2.5% or Rs 500 minimum. Zero cashback on cash advances.
Eligibility Age 18+. Indian resident. No published income minimum - holistic Axis Bank assessment. CIBIL 750+ recommended.

Axis Bank ACE Credit Card Eligibility & Documents

Age 18 years and above
Minimum annual income No officially published minimum. Holistic Axis Bank assessment. Entry-level card - accessible to first-time credit applicants.
Documents required PAN · Aadhaar (both sides) · Passport-size photograph · Latest 3 months salary slips or bank statement
Residency Indian Resident

Applying when ineligible creates a hard credit inquiry that may lower your CIBIL score. Verify your eligibility before applying.

How to Apply for Axis Bank ACE Credit Card

The application process is entirely online and takes about 5-7 minutes.

1

Confirm Android Device - The 5% GPay utility cashback works ONLY on Android. If using iPhone, evaluate SBI Cashback Card or Amazon Pay ICICI as better alternatives before proceeding with ACE application.

2

Apply Online - Visit axis.bank.in -> Credit Cards -> ACE -> Apply Now. Enter PAN, mobile, income, city. Existing Axis Bank customers apply via Axis Mobile app for faster streamlined approval.

3

KYC + Assessment - Complete Aadhaar digital KYC. Axis Bank reviews CIBIL and income. Decision within 24-72 hours.

4

Card Dispatch + Activation - Card dispatched in 7-10 working days. Activate via Axis Mobile app or call 1860 419 5555.

5

Set Up Google Pay Day 1 - After activation, open Google Pay -> Tap Pay -> Add Credit Card -> Axis ACE. Link all recurring utility bill auto-payments to GPay with ACE as the payment method. Make Rs 10,000 total spend within 45 days to trigger joining fee reversal.

*T&C Apply

Frequently Asked Questions

Axis ACE is a Visa Platinum cashback card: 5% on utility bills + DTH + mobile recharges via Google Pay (Android only, Rs 500 combined cap/month), 4% on Swiggy/Zomato/Ola, uncapped 1.5% on all other eligible. Annual fee Rs 499 waived at Rs 2L. 4 domestic lounge visits/year on Rs 50,000 quarterly. Cashback auto-credited - no portal. NOT the same as Airtel Axis Bank Card.
The 5% cashback on utility bills requires Google Pay Pay with Card - available ONLY on Android. iPhone users earn only 1.5% on utility bills - the card's core proposition disappears on iOS. The 4% on Swiggy/Zomato/Ola and 1.5% base work on both platforms. If using iPhone, consider SBI Cashback Card or Amazon Pay ICICI instead.
Rs 500 per statement cycle is a combined cap for 5% (GPay utility/recharge) + 4% (Swiggy/Zomato/Ola) categories together - they share one ceiling. Fills at approximately Rs 8,500-10,000 combined spend. Above the cap, these transactions earn 1.5% base. The 1.5% on all other spends has no monthly cap.
Yes - 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per year (max 1/quarter). Requires Rs 50,000 in the preceding 3 calendar months. For new cardholders, the spend condition is waived for the first 4 months from card issuance. After Month 4, maintain Rs 50,000/quarter.
No - completely different products. Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card was devalued effective April 12, 2026 (lounge access removed, cashback changed). Axis ACE is completely unaffected. ACE's 5% Google Pay utility cashback and 4% Swiggy/Zomato/Ola remain intact as of June 2026.