The verdict
One of the most versatile entry-level cards in India. While the 5% utility benefit requires an Android device with Google Pay and shares a ₹500 monthly cap with 4% partners, the 1.5% flat uncapped offline cashback makes it superior to most competitors for brick-and-mortar retail spending.
Maxing out monthly utility bills on Google Pay (₹5,000 for ₹250 cashback) and food/cab rides (₹6,250 for ₹250 cashback) delivers ₹6,000 annual statement savings. Adding ₹1 Lakh in offline spending at 1.5% (₹1,500) yields ₹7,500 total value against a ₹499 fee (15× ROI).
iOS (iPhone) users cannot access the 5% Google Pay utility feature as Google Pay on iOS does not support bill payments via credit card in India.
✓What works
- +5% cashback on electricity, water, gas, DTH, and mobile recharges via Google Pay Android.
- +4% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato, and Ola rides.
- +1.5% flat uncapped cashback on all other online and offline retail spending.
- +Automatic monthly cashback credit directly to credit card statement balance.
✕What doesn't
- −5% utility cashback is exclusive to Android devices (not available on Google Pay iOS).
- −Combined monthly cap of ₹500 across 5% utility and 4% partner categories.
- −Domestic lounge access requires ₹50,000 spend in the preceding quarter.
- −0% cashback on fuel, rent, wallet loads, insurance, and government utilities.
What it earns
Cashback earned during a billing cycle is credited to your statement before payment due date.
| Category | Rate | Monthly Cap | Per ₹1L spent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Pay Utility Bills (Android) | 5.0% | ₹500 / month (shared with 4%) | ₹5,000 (Capped at ₹500) |
| Swiggy, Zomato & Ola | 4.0% | ₹500 / month (shared with 5%) | ₹4,000 (Capped at ₹500) |
| General Offline & Online Retail | 1.5% | Uncapped | ₹1,500 Cashback |
| Fuel & Rent | 0% | Excluded | ₹0 |
Max combined accelerated monthly cashback across 5% and 4% categories is ₹500/month.
Accelerated earn
Cashback rates are automatically applied to transactions based on merchant category.
Redemption options
Direct monthly statement credit — zero manual redemption required.
| Redemption Channel | Value Per Point | Minimum | Ceiling / Limits | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto Statement CreditBEST VALUE | ₹1.00 per ₹1.00 cashback | ₹0 (Auto-credited) | None | Nil |
Reward Scope: Inclusions & Exclusions
✓Eligible Spends (Inclusions)
- +Utility bill payments made through Google Pay on Android.
- +Orders on Swiggy food delivery and Zomato.
- +Cab bookings on Ola.
- +General offline POS store swipes and online e-commerce transactions (1.5% cashback).
✕Excluded Spends & Fee Traps
- −Rent payments via aggregator platforms.
- −Fuel purchases (1% surcharge waiver on ₹400–₹4,000, max ₹400/cycle).
- −Wallet reloads, insurance premiums, and educational fees.
- −EMI conversions.
Fee Schedule & Waiver Criteria
| Fee Component | Amount / Rate |
|---|---|
| Joining Fee | ₹499 + GST |
| Annual Renewal Fee | ₹499 + GST (Waived at ₹2 Lakh spend) |
| Forex Markup | 3.5% + GST |
| Finance Charges | 3.75% / month (52.86% / year) |
Eligibility & Approval Criteria
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Age | 18–70 years |
| Salaried Income | ₹20,000+ monthly net salary |
| Self-Employed Income | ITR above ₹3 Lakhs per annum |
Policy Changes & Devaluation History
0 RecordsFrequently Asked Questions
Does Axis Bank Ace Credit Card offer airport lounge access?
What are the MITC charges, annual fees, and interest rates for Axis Bank Ace Credit Card?
What is the reward rate and point redemption value on Axis Bank Ace Credit Card?
Which transactions are excluded from earning rewards on Axis Bank Ace Credit Card?
Who is Axis Bank Ace Credit Card best suited for in 2026?
Editorial Deep-Dive Analysis
Comprehensive Overview: Axis Bank ACE Credit Card
The Axis Bank ACE Credit Card is widely regarded as one of India’s most powerful entry-level cashback credit cards, engineered for households looking to maximize savings on recurring monthly utility bills and everyday offline retail spending. Issued on the Visa network at an affordable annual fee of ₹499 + GST, the renewal fee is completely reversed upon crossing ₹2,00,000 in qualifying retail spends within the card anniversary year.
The ACE card operates on a transparent, automated monthly statement credit model: cardholders earn 5.0% cashback on utility bill payments (electricity, water, gas, DTH, and mobile recharges) initiated through Google Pay on Android, 4.0% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato, and Ola, and an industry-leading 1.5% flat uncapped cashback on all other offline store swipes and online retail transactions, paired with 4 domestic airport lounge visits per year.
Key Privileges and Practical Everyday Benefits
- 5% Cashback on Google Pay Utilities (Android): Earn 5.0% direct statement cashback on electricity, piped gas, water, DTH, and mobile recharge bills paid through the Google Pay app on Android devices.
- 4% Cashback on Food Delivery & Cab Rides: Earn 4.0% cashback on orders placed via Swiggy and Zomato, as well as cab rides booked on Ola.
- 1.5% Flat Uncapped General Cashback: Earn an industry-leading 1.5% flat uncapped cashback on all other eligible online and physical POS store retail spending, without restrictive merchant exclusions.
- Automated Monthly Statement Credit: Cashback earned during each billing cycle is automatically credited directly to the credit card statement balance before the payment due date with zero manual voucher conversion fees.
- Domestic Airport Lounge Access: 1 complimentary domestic airport lounge visit per calendar quarter (4 visits/year) across major airport terminals in India (subject to the standard ₹50,000 spend in the preceding 3 calendar months).
Important Terms and Spend Conditions to Keep in Mind
- Shared Accelerated Monthly Cashback Cap: The 5% Google Pay utility and 4% partner cashback categories share a combined monthly ceiling of ₹500 per billing cycle.
- Android Device Exclusivity for 5%: The 5% utility cashback requires an Android smartphone with Google Pay; Apple iOS users cannot pay credit card utility bills via Google Pay in India.
- Quarterly Lounge Access Spend Gate: Domestic lounge access requires spending at least ₹50,000 in the preceding 3 calendar months.
- Excluded Spend Categories: Fuel transactions, rent payments, wallet reloads, cash advances, insurance premiums, educational fees, and government taxes do not earn cashback.
- Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) Fee: A 1.0% + GST markup applies on foreign transactions processed in INR by overseas merchants.
Who Benefits Most
- Android Users with Regular Household Bills: Families paying ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 monthly in electricity, water, gas, and mobile bills via Google Pay, extracting the maximum ₹500 monthly cap (₹6,000/year).
- Daily Commuters & Food App Users: Frequent Swiggy, Zomato, and Ola users who want automated statement savings on daily lifestyle orders.
- Heavy Offline Store Spenders: Shoppers who frequently swipe their card at local grocery stores, supermarkets, electronics shops, and clothing outlets, earning an uncapped 1.5% valueback.
- Axis Bank — ACE Credit Card schedule of charges
- Google Pay & Axis Bank — ACE cashback terms and capping circular
Independent Editorial & Statutory Disclaimers
Institutional Transparency & Nominative Fair Use Statement
CredSutra operates as an independent credit card discovery and consumer intelligence engine. CredSutra is NOT a bank, Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), Direct Selling Agent (DSA), or Lending Service Provider (LSP).