Axis ACE vs IDFC FIRST Wealth
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
IDFC FIRST Wealth wins 5-4. Lifetime-free premium, best zero-fee card in India. Axis ACE is still the right call if bill payments + utilities + fuel, set-and-forget cashback.
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Axis ACE | IDFC FIRST Wealth |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | · ₹499 | No annual fee |
| Joining fee | · ₹499 | None |
| Top reward rate | 4% (fuel) | · 3% (general) |
| Base reward rate | · 1.5% | 3% |
| Forex markup | · 3.5% | No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = Up to ₹2,000 cashback on first 60-day spends | = ₹500 gift voucher on ₹5,000 spend within 30 days of card generation |
| Fee waiver threshold | ₹200,000 / yr | · N/A (no fee) |
| Min income | ₹360,000 | · ₹3,600,000 |
| Min credit score | 750 | · 770 |
| Editorial rating | · 4.5/5 | 4.7/5 |
Benefits compared
Axis ACE
- 5% cashback on Google Pay bill payments (electricity, gas, broadband, mobile, DTH)
- 4% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato, Ola
- 2% cashback on every other transaction
- 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per year
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
IDFC FIRST Wealth
- 3X reward points on eligible spends; 10X on dining and travel from the first eligible transaction
- 1 domestic + 1 international airport lounge visit per quarter, unlocked by ₹20,000 spend in the previous calendar month
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
- Zero forex markup on international transactions
- Lifetime free, no annual fee, no fee-waiver math
FAQ
›Axis ACE vs IDFC FIRST Wealth: which is better?
IDFC FIRST Wealth wins on more dimensions (5 vs 4). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern. Run your own monthly spend through the maximizer to see which one pays you more.
›Can I get both?
Yes, if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use Axis ACE for its best categories, IDFC FIRST Wealth for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Axis ACE: Up to ₹2,000 cashback on first 60-day spends. IDFC FIRST Wealth: ₹500 gift voucher on ₹5,000 spend within 30 days of card generation.