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Tell us the spend - merchant, amount, method. We rank your cards by real net rupees: caps counted, exclusions flagged, portal routes compared, fees subtracted.
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- ⊘ Flags when a card earns nothing - and when to skip cards entirely
- 🧾 Every rule dated + cited to the bank’s own MITC · no login
Where?
⚡ Use this
HDFC Infinia Metal
SmartBuy gift vouchers 5X (capped Jul 2026)
700 pts
≈ +₹700 net
16.3% of the spend
→
Buy a BigBasket gift voucher via HDFC SmartBuy portal (smartbuy.hdfcbank.com) first, then pay with itportal route
▼ 2026-08-31 HSBC RuPay Cashback: 0% forex mark-up is an OFFER expiring 31 Aug 2026; standard 3.5% applies after. forexPct already set to the post-offer rate.▼ 2026-08-28 Axis ACE: 28 Aug 2026 generic wave: DCC markup 1.5%→3.5%, late-fee slab ₹1,300 above ₹50k, tolls + gift cards excluded from rewards. No change announced to the 5/4/1.5% rates or ₹500 cap.▼ 2026-08-28 Axis Magnus: 28 Aug 2026: DCC 1.5%→2%, late-fee slab, tolls + gift-card exclusions, Priority Pass invalid for domestic lounges. Since 1 Jul 2026 an LTF variant exists for Burgundy Salary accounts (₹2L+/month salary).▼ 2026-08-28 Flipkart Axis Bank: Lounge access discontinued 20 Jun 2025. 28 Aug 2026: DCC→3.5%, late-fee slab, gift-card category excluded.▼ 2026-08-28 Airtel Axis Bank: 28 Aug 2026: DCC 1.5%→3.5%, late-fee slab, tolls + gift-card exclusions (generic wave).▼ 2026-08-28 Axis Bank Cashback: 28 Aug 2026 generic wave applies (DCC→3.5%, late-fee slab, gift-card category). Travel spends - even online - earn 0.75% base, never the online tiers.▼ 2026-08-28 Axis Privilege: 28 Aug 2026: DCC→3.5%, late-fee slab, gift-card + tolls exclusions; from 1 Nov 2026 the District movie BOGO gains a ₹25,000/3-month spend gate.▼ 2026-08-28 Axis Reserve: 28 Aug 2026: late-fee slab, gift-card + tolls exclusions, PP invalid for domestic (DCC unchanged at 1.5%). Transfer caps: 1L ERP/yr Group A, 4L Group B.▼ 2026-08-28 Axis Burgundy Private: 1 Sep 2026: annual fee becomes ₹1,00,000+GST if Burgundy Private TRV falls below ₹5 Cr (complimentary only while TRV holds). 28 Aug 2026: payment-order codification, PP invalid domestic; 15 Nov 2026 membership consent.▼ 2026-08-28 Axis Magnus for Burgundy: Axis has announced a further T&C update effective 28 Aug 2026 for Magnus, Magnus for Burgundy and Burgundy Private - re-verify after that date.▼ 2026-08-28 Axis Magnus for Burgundy: 28 Aug 2026: DCC 1.5%→2%, late-fee slab, tolls + gift-card exclusions, PP invalid for domestic lounges; 15 Nov 2026 memberships renew only with explicit consent.▼ 2026-08-01 Amex SmartEarn: Amex India is currently not accepting new card applications - existing cardholders unaffected.▼ 2026-08-01 Amex Platinum Reserve: Amex India is currently not accepting new card applications.▼ 2026-08-01 Amex Gold Charge: Amex India is currently not accepting new card applications.▼ 2026-08-01 Amex Platinum Charge: Amex India is currently not accepting new card applications.▼ 2026-07-01 HDFC Infinia Metal: SmartBuy brand-voucher bonus capped at 3,000 pts/month (~80% cut to the voucher route).▼ 2026-07-01 PhonePe SBI SELECT BLACK: Scan & Pay / UPI outside PhonePe earns nothing; insurance sub-capped 500 RP/month.▼ 2026-06-15 YES Bank Marquee: Bank notice: ₹100 fee per reward redemption request; insurance, education, railways, toll, ferry stop earning points; fuel waiver band now ₹500-₹5,000.▼ 2026-05-01 HDFC Diners Club Privilege: Lounge access now conditional on ₹60K/quarter spend (was unconditional).▼ 2026-05-01 HDFC Regalia Gold: Base rate cut 1.33%→1.25%. Lounge now needs ₹60K/quarter.▼ 2026-04-10 AU Zenith: Repriced/devalued between Nov 2025 and Feb 2026: fee ₹4,999→₹7,999, waiver ₹8L→₹5L, lounge gated ₹50k/quarter and cut to 2/quarter each. Earn table verified via Jul 2026 archive of the bank page (live page bot-walled) - keep tracker until a live confirm.▼ 2026-04-02 Axis Atlas: Accor/Marriott/Qatar removed as transfer partners; BA/Finnair/Vietnam added at 2:1. Stopped for new applicants.▼ 2026-04-01 Axis Magnus: Accor, Marriott, Qatar Avios removed as transfer partners. ₹199+GST fee per transfer.▼ 2026-04-01 Airtel Axis Bank: Lounge access removed. Caps made dynamic: Airtel ₹250/mo, partners ₹500/mo, combined ₹750/mo.▼ 2026-04-01 SBI Cashback Card: Combined cap cut ₹5,000→₹4,000/cycle. Gaming, tolls, jewellery newly excluded.▼ 2026-04-01 Kotak 811 #DreamDifferent: Reward Points Program discontinued 1 Apr 2026 (MITC); points expire after 30 Sep 2026. Cashback program starts from the Sept 2026 billing cycle - paid into a Kotak savings account and requires paying the card via Kotak digital channels; structure not yet published. Card renamed "Dream Different" (a separate cheaper "Kotak 811 Credit Card" also exists - do not conflate).▼ 2026-04-01 ICICI Sapphiro: Domestic lounge now requires ₹75K/quarter (was unconditional). BMS offer needs ₹25K/quarter.▼ 2026-04-01 ICICI Emeralde Private Metal: iShop voucher value cut ~18%→~3%; voucher processing fee raised to 3.5%+GST on major brands.▼ 2026-01-18 IDFC FIRST Select: Reward base revised ₹150 to ₹200 per point (~25% earn cut); app travel bonus added.▼ 2026-01-14 HDFC Infinia Metal: Announced 5X→3X voucher cut for Jan 16 was reversed before going live - 5X stayed.▼ 2026-01-01 Kotak Royale Signature [Discontinued]: Discontinued for new applications (bank site, Aug 2026).▼ 2025-06-01 Kotak Zen Signature: Zen point cash value cut ₹0.25 to ₹0.20; min 2,000 pts to redeem.▼ 2025-06-01 Kotak Royale Signature [Discontinued]: Point value cut ₹0.25 to ₹0.20; min 2,000 pts to redeem.▼ 2025-06-01 Kotak League Platinum: League point cash value cut ₹0.10 to ₹0.07.▼ 2025-06-01 Kotak Urbane Gold (discontinued): Cash redemption cut to ₹0.07/pt; utility points capped; fuel/wallet/gaming/insurance/govt/rent/education earn zero and are excluded from the ₹1L milestone. Card discontinued for new applications.▼ 2025-05-28 IDFC FIRST Wealth: Reward structure overhauled: 10X-above-₹20K replaced by MCC tiers (10/3/1 per ₹200); points now expire in 24 months (were never-expiring).▼ 2025-03-07 IndusInd Legend: Lounge access discontinued entirely.▼ 2024-10-15 Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip: Complimentary international lounge access discontinued.▼ 2024-10-01 MakeMyTrip ICICI: Old MMT Black/Signature cards discontinued; replaced by this single co-brand (₹999 fee, 6/3/1% myCash, 0.99% forex).▼ 2024-09-01 Axis Magnus: Fee ₹10K→₹12.5K, waiver ₹15L→₹25L, monthly milestone removed, transfer ratio 5:4→5:2.▼ 2024-04-20 Axis Burgundy Private: Welcome/annual 30,000 EDGE RP benefit discontinued; govt, gold/jewellery, fuel, utilities & telecom stopped earning; insurance capped 6,000 RP/mo; partner transfers capped 15,00,000 EDGE RP/calendar year.▼ 2023-09-01 Amex Platinum Reserve: Centurion Lounge access removed; partner lounges only (3/quarter).▼ 2026-08-31 HSBC RuPay Cashback: 0% forex mark-up is an OFFER expiring 31 Aug 2026; standard 3.5% applies after. forexPct already set to the post-offer rate.▼ 2026-08-28 Axis ACE: 28 Aug 2026 generic wave: DCC markup 1.5%→3.5%, late-fee slab ₹1,300 above ₹50k, tolls + gift cards excluded from rewards. No change announced to the 5/4/1.5% rates or ₹500 cap.▼ 2026-08-28 Axis Magnus: 28 Aug 2026: DCC 1.5%→2%, late-fee slab, tolls + gift-card exclusions, Priority Pass invalid for domestic lounges. Since 1 Jul 2026 an LTF variant exists for Burgundy Salary accounts (₹2L+/month salary).▼ 2026-08-28 Flipkart Axis Bank: Lounge access discontinued 20 Jun 2025. 28 Aug 2026: DCC→3.5%, late-fee slab, gift-card category excluded.▼ 2026-08-28 Airtel Axis Bank: 28 Aug 2026: DCC 1.5%→3.5%, late-fee slab, tolls + gift-card exclusions (generic wave).▼ 2026-08-28 Axis Bank Cashback: 28 Aug 2026 generic wave applies (DCC→3.5%, late-fee slab, gift-card category). Travel spends - even online - earn 0.75% base, never the online tiers.▼ 2026-08-28 Axis Privilege: 28 Aug 2026: DCC→3.5%, late-fee slab, gift-card + tolls exclusions; from 1 Nov 2026 the District movie BOGO gains a ₹25,000/3-month spend gate.▼ 2026-08-28 Axis Reserve: 28 Aug 2026: late-fee slab, gift-card + tolls exclusions, PP invalid for domestic (DCC unchanged at 1.5%). Transfer caps: 1L ERP/yr Group A, 4L Group B.▼ 2026-08-28 Axis Burgundy Private: 1 Sep 2026: annual fee becomes ₹1,00,000+GST if Burgundy Private TRV falls below ₹5 Cr (complimentary only while TRV holds). 28 Aug 2026: payment-order codification, PP invalid domestic; 15 Nov 2026 membership consent.▼ 2026-08-28 Axis Magnus for Burgundy: Axis has announced a further T&C update effective 28 Aug 2026 for Magnus, Magnus for Burgundy and Burgundy Private - re-verify after that date.▼ 2026-08-28 Axis Magnus for Burgundy: 28 Aug 2026: DCC 1.5%→2%, late-fee slab, tolls + gift-card exclusions, PP invalid for domestic lounges; 15 Nov 2026 memberships renew only with explicit consent.▼ 2026-08-01 Amex SmartEarn: Amex India is currently not accepting new card applications - existing cardholders unaffected.▼ 2026-08-01 Amex Platinum Reserve: Amex India is currently not accepting new card applications.▼ 2026-08-01 Amex Gold Charge: Amex India is currently not accepting new card applications.▼ 2026-08-01 Amex Platinum Charge: Amex India is currently not accepting new card applications.▼ 2026-07-01 HDFC Infinia Metal: SmartBuy brand-voucher bonus capped at 3,000 pts/month (~80% cut to the voucher route).▼ 2026-07-01 PhonePe SBI SELECT BLACK: Scan & Pay / UPI outside PhonePe earns nothing; insurance sub-capped 500 RP/month.▼ 2026-06-15 YES Bank Marquee: Bank notice: ₹100 fee per reward redemption request; insurance, education, railways, toll, ferry stop earning points; fuel waiver band now ₹500-₹5,000.▼ 2026-05-01 HDFC Diners Club Privilege: Lounge access now conditional on ₹60K/quarter spend (was unconditional).▼ 2026-05-01 HDFC Regalia Gold: Base rate cut 1.33%→1.25%. Lounge now needs ₹60K/quarter.▼ 2026-04-10 AU Zenith: Repriced/devalued between Nov 2025 and Feb 2026: fee ₹4,999→₹7,999, waiver ₹8L→₹5L, lounge gated ₹50k/quarter and cut to 2/quarter each. Earn table verified via Jul 2026 archive of the bank page (live page bot-walled) - keep tracker until a live confirm.▼ 2026-04-02 Axis Atlas: Accor/Marriott/Qatar removed as transfer partners; BA/Finnair/Vietnam added at 2:1. Stopped for new applicants.▼ 2026-04-01 Axis Magnus: Accor, Marriott, Qatar Avios removed as transfer partners. ₹199+GST fee per transfer.▼ 2026-04-01 Airtel Axis Bank: Lounge access removed. Caps made dynamic: Airtel ₹250/mo, partners ₹500/mo, combined ₹750/mo.▼ 2026-04-01 SBI Cashback Card: Combined cap cut ₹5,000→₹4,000/cycle. Gaming, tolls, jewellery newly excluded.▼ 2026-04-01 Kotak 811 #DreamDifferent: Reward Points Program discontinued 1 Apr 2026 (MITC); points expire after 30 Sep 2026. Cashback program starts from the Sept 2026 billing cycle - paid into a Kotak savings account and requires paying the card via Kotak digital channels; structure not yet published. Card renamed "Dream Different" (a separate cheaper "Kotak 811 Credit Card" also exists - do not conflate).▼ 2026-04-01 ICICI Sapphiro: Domestic lounge now requires ₹75K/quarter (was unconditional). BMS offer needs ₹25K/quarter.▼ 2026-04-01 ICICI Emeralde Private Metal: iShop voucher value cut ~18%→~3%; voucher processing fee raised to 3.5%+GST on major brands.▼ 2026-01-18 IDFC FIRST Select: Reward base revised ₹150 to ₹200 per point (~25% earn cut); app travel bonus added.▼ 2026-01-14 HDFC Infinia Metal: Announced 5X→3X voucher cut for Jan 16 was reversed before going live - 5X stayed.▼ 2026-01-01 Kotak Royale Signature [Discontinued]: Discontinued for new applications (bank site, Aug 2026).▼ 2025-06-01 Kotak Zen Signature: Zen point cash value cut ₹0.25 to ₹0.20; min 2,000 pts to redeem.▼ 2025-06-01 Kotak Royale Signature [Discontinued]: Point value cut ₹0.25 to ₹0.20; min 2,000 pts to redeem.▼ 2025-06-01 Kotak League Platinum: League point cash value cut ₹0.10 to ₹0.07.▼ 2025-06-01 Kotak Urbane Gold (discontinued): Cash redemption cut to ₹0.07/pt; utility points capped; fuel/wallet/gaming/insurance/govt/rent/education earn zero and are excluded from the ₹1L milestone. Card discontinued for new applications.▼ 2025-05-28 IDFC FIRST Wealth: Reward structure overhauled: 10X-above-₹20K replaced by MCC tiers (10/3/1 per ₹200); points now expire in 24 months (were never-expiring).▼ 2025-03-07 IndusInd Legend: Lounge access discontinued entirely.▼ 2024-10-15 Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip: Complimentary international lounge access discontinued.▼ 2024-10-01 MakeMyTrip ICICI: Old MMT Black/Signature cards discontinued; replaced by this single co-brand (₹999 fee, 6/3/1% myCash, 0.99% forex).▼ 2024-09-01 Axis Magnus: Fee ₹10K→₹12.5K, waiver ₹15L→₹25L, monthly milestone removed, transfer ratio 5:4→5:2.▼ 2024-04-20 Axis Burgundy Private: Welcome/annual 30,000 EDGE RP benefit discontinued; govt, gold/jewellery, fuel, utilities & telecom stopped earning; insurance capped 6,000 RP/mo; partner transfers capped 15,00,000 EDGE RP/calendar year.▼ 2023-09-01 Amex Platinum Reserve: Centurion Lounge access removed; partner lounges only (3/quarter).
Best card by category
Computed live by the same engine, on a ₹10,000 spend, across every card we track - not editorial picks.
🛍️ Online shopping
- 🥇HSBC Live+10.0%
- 🥈HDFC Millennia (at Amazon)5.0%
- 🥉Swiggy HDFC Bank (at Amazon)5.0%
🛒 Groceries
- 🥇HSBC Live+10.0%
- 🥈Tata Neu Infinity HDFC (at BigBasket)5.0%
- 🥉SBI Cashback Card5.0%
🍽️ Dining out
- 🥇HSBC Live+10.0%
- 🥈Axis Burgundy Private4.5%
- 🥉HSBC RuPay Cashback4.0%
🛵 Food delivery
✈️ Flights
🏨 Hotels
⛽ Fuel
💡 Utility bills
- 🥇HSBC Live+10.0%
- 🥈Axis ACE5.0%
- 🥉SBI Card PRIME5.0%
Show the math
Every rupee traces back to rate × spend, cap applied, fee netted. Nothing is a black box.
No losing swipes
When every card nets zero or negative - rent, tax, wallet loads - we say “pay by UPI” instead. UPI is an answer too.
Dated & cited
Rules carry verified-on dates and MITC links. Devaluations get tracked, corrections get published.