Synopsis: Airtel Axis Credit Card is a well-known card that has just been devalued and altered the manner in which users receive cashback on their airtel and regular expenditure. This article focuses on the changes and points out three powerful replacement credit cards that might prove to be a better value to your spending.
The credit card often changes as the banks increase or decrease the reward structure to maintain the balance between benefits to customers and increasing costs of operations. A devaluation of one of the popular cards, Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card, is recent, and new terms are to be introduced on April 12, 2026. With the recent modifications to its reward system and benefits make many cardholders question its value and seek out other credit cards with the same or even better cashback benefits.
Changes made on Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card
| Feature | Before (Old Structure) | After Devaluation (From April 12, 2026) |
| Joining Fee | ₹500 + GST | No change |
| Annual Fee | ₹500 + GST | No change |
| Fee Waiver | ₹2 lakh annual spending | No change |
| Airtel Cashback | 25% cashback on Airtel Mobile, Broadband, Wi-Fi & DTH via Airtel Thanks app, capped at ₹250/month | 25% cashback remains but cap = 2× the base cashback earned in that statement cycle |
| Utility Bills | 10% cashback via Airtel Thanks app, capped at ₹250/month | 10% cashback remains but cap = 1× the base cashback earned |
| Food / Grocery | 10% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato, BigBasket | Cashback structure changed; benefits shifted to partner “value-back” on Zomato, Blinkit, District Movies, credits instead of direct cashback |
| Base Cashback | 1% cashback on all other spends | No change |
| Airport Lounge Access | 4 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year | Removed / discontinued |
| Fuel Benefit | 1% fuel surcharge waiver on ₹400-₹4000 transactions | No major change |
| Excluded Categories | Fuel, wallet loads, rent, etc. not eligible for cashback | Mostly unchanged |
Replacement cards
1. SBI Cashback Credit Card
The SBI Cashback credit card will be the most suitable one to be used by common online shoppers with 5% cashback on online purchases without any merchant restriction and 1% cashback on offline purchases. The cashback is automatically registered to the card statement, which means that it is not required to redeem it manually.
The joining and annual fee of the card is ₹999 + GST and this fee is not charged provided annual spending is 2 lakh. Maximum cashback is of ₹5,000 cashback earned by cardholders on a monthly statement. There are also such advantages like a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹500 to 3,000 (limited to 100 per statement cycle) and issue add-on cards to family members more than 18 years.
To apply for the card, please visit the Official Website
2. Axis ACE Credit Card
Axis ACE credit card provides cashback directly rather than as rewards points, which is why it is convenient to use in the case of those users who visit it to get a simple saving on everyday costs. Card comes with a Joining fee of ₹499 + GST and and Annual fee of ₹499 + GST, that is waived when the annual expenditure is over 2 lakh. Regarding rewards it gives 5% cashback on utility bill payments and recharges (electricity, gas, internet, mobile, and DTH) paid by Google Pay, and 4% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato, and Ola with a minimum spend of ₹12,500 per month for a cashback of ₹6000. Every other qualified spend will receive 1.5% unlimited cashback.
Other features are 4 free domestic airport lounge visits annually, 1% fuel surcharge waive on purchases between ₹400 and 4000 (limited to 500 per statement period), and Dining Delights program, which entitles to 15% discount in partner restaurants. Large purchases can also be converted by the cardholders into EMIs to make flexible payments.
To apply for the card, please visit the Official Website
3. Axis Neo Credit Card
Axis Neo Credit Card comes with a Joining Fee of ₹250+ GST and Annual fee is ₹250 from second year onwards. The Cardholders get 1 EDGE Reward points for every ₹200 spent and can be redeemed to get a number of rewards and offers. 10% discount on Swiggy orders (available during special Wednesday offers), up to 15% discount on flights and hotel bookings via MakeMyTrip during promotional offers and 10% discount on selected shopping platforms such as Tira during partner promotions. ₹120 instant discount on Zomato orders twice per month on minimum order value conditions and 5% discount on certain utility bill payments through partner platforms such as Paytm or Amazon Pay. Welcome Benefit include 100% cashback up to ₹300 on the first utility bill payment within 30 days of card issuance. Additional Benefits include 1% fuel surcharge waiver on fuel transactions.
To apply for the card, please visit the Official Website
Also read: Flat 5% on SBI Cashback vs Up to 7% on Axis Cashback – Which Credit Card Actually Saves You More?
| Feature | SBI Cashback Credit Card | Axis ACE Credit Card | Axis Neo Credit Card |
| Joining / Annual Fee | ₹999 + GST | ₹499 + GST | ₹250 + GST |
| Fee Waiver Condition | ₹2 lakh annual spend | ₹2 lakh annual spend | ₹25,000 annual spend |
| Main Cashback / Rewards | 5% cashback on all online spends | 5% cashback on utility bills via Google Pay | 1 EDGE reward point per ₹200 spent |
| Other Cashback / Rewards | 1% cashback on offline spends | 4% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato, Ola; 1.5% on other spends | Merchant discounts instead of cashback |
| Cashback Cap | ₹5,000 per statement cycle | ₹500 monthly cap on higher cashback categories | No major cashback cap (offer-based) |
| Lifestyle / Merchant Benefits | Cashback usable across most online platforms | Dining discounts via Axis Dining Delights | 10% Swiggy discount, MakeMyTrip travel offers, Zomato discount offers |
| Fuel Benefit | 1% fuel surcharge waiver (₹500-₹3000) | 1% fuel surcharge waiver (₹400-₹4000) | 1% fuel surcharge waiver |
| Airport Lounge Access | Not included | 4 domestic lounge visits per year | Not included |
| Best For | Heavy online shoppers | Utility bills & daily spending | Low-fee card with lifestyle discounts |
Conclusion
Due to the devaluation of the Airtel Axis Credit Card, users can look into alternatives based on the aspect of emphasis on online shopping, bill payments, and lifestyle discounts. The selection of the appropriate credit card is based on the ability to pick one that fits your daily spending habits and provides uniform benefits.
Written By Boyapati Sai Jasmitha
