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Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card VS AU Altura Credit Card VS Axis Bank Freecharge Credit Card VS IDFC FIRST EARN Credit Card

A detailed, side-by-side look at 4 leading credit cards. Analyze the features that matter most to you and make an informed choice.

Fees & Charges

Joining Fee
Nil
₹199 + GST
₹250 + GST
₹499 + GST
Renewal Fee
Nil
₹199 + GST
₹250 + GST
₹499 + GST
Spend Based Waiver
Not Applicable
1st year fee waiver: ₹10,000 retail spends in 90 days. Subsequent year: ₹40,000 retail spends.
Annual fee waived on spending Rs. 50,000 or more in the preceding card anniversary year.
Annual fee of ₹499 is waived on annual spends of ₹1,00,000 or more in the previous year.
Foreign Transaction Fees
1.99%
3.49% on all international spends.
3.5% of the transacted amount
3.5% markup fee applicable on all international transactions.
Interest Rate (APR)
3.75% per month (45% per annum)
3.49% per month.
3.6% per month
Variable interest rates ranging from 8.5% up to 47.88% per annum based on eligibility.

Rewards & Benefits

Welcome Bonus
Perks and discounts worth up to ₹2,500 including EazyDiner and Amazon Prime membership offers.
A cashback of 5% on retail spends within the first 60 days of card setup.
Welcome gift vouchers worth up to Rs. 700.
10% cashback on first spend (up to ₹250) and 100% UPI cashback (up to ₹500) within 15 days.
Rewards Rate
5% for Prime / 3% for Non-Prime on Amazon; 2% on bills and 1% on other spends.
2% cashback on select retail spends (max ₹50/cycle), 1% on other retail spends (max ₹50/cycle).
5% cashback on Freecharge spends, 2% on local commute, 1% on all other spends.
1% cashback on UPI via IDFC app; 0.5% on other UPI, online spends, and utility payments.
Reward Type
Cashback
Cashback
Cashback
Cashback
Reward Redemption Fee
NIL
Nil
Nil
Not Applicable

Travel & Lifestyle

Domestic Lounge Access
Not Applicable
2 complimentary railway lounge accesses per quarter in select cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad.
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
International Lounge Access
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Travel Benefits
5% unlimited cashback for Prime members on flight and hotel bookings made via Amazon.
2 complimentary railway lounge accesses per quarter for primary and add-on cardholders.
Up to 15% off on flights & hotels via Goibibo/MakeMyTrip every Wednesday; Rs. 100 credit on Shuttl.
Bonus 8% cashback on hotels and 4% on flights via the FIRST Rewards Gallery or travel portal.
Movie Benefits
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
50% off on an annual subscription on Eros Now.
25% discount up to ₹100 on movie ticket bookings via the District app once every month.
Dining Benefits
Minimum 15% discount at participating restaurants through the ICICI Culinary Treats program.
Not Applicable
Up to Rs. 100 credit monthly on Fresh menu & Axis Bank Dining Delights Program offers.
Not Applicable
Golf Benefits
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Fuel Surcharge Waiver
1% waiver for all fuel purchases across India for transactions up to ₹4,000.
1% waiver on fuel transactions (₹400-₹5000), max ₹100 per statement cycle.
1% waiver on fuel transactions between Rs. 400 and Rs. 4,000.
Not Applicable

Security & Other

Insurance Benefits
Not Applicable
Zero liability for lost cards & fraud. Free insurance and extended warranty on mobile & electronics.
Not Applicable
Personal Accident Cover of ₹2,00,000 and Lost Card Liability Cover of ₹25,000.
Cash Advance Charges
2.5% of the withdrawn amount (minimum ₹500) plus 3.75% monthly interest.
₹100 or 2.5% of cash amount, whichever is higher.
2.5% of amount withdrawn, subject to a minimum of Rs. 500.
Monthly interest rates for cash advances range from 0.75% to 3.65%.
Best valueHigher costHighlights apply to Joining Fee and Renewal Fee only.

Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card

AU Altura Credit Card

Axis Bank Freecharge Credit Card

IDFC FIRST EARN Credit Card

Who is it for?

Who is it for?

Who is it for?

Who is it for?

Pros

Key benefits and features.

A lifetime-free credit card with no joining or annual maintenance fees for cardholders.

Offers a high reward rate of 5% for Prime members on all eligible Amazon.in purchases.

Cashback is automatically credited as Amazon Pay balance with no manual redemption required.

Rewards never expire and there is no maximum capping on the total cashback you can earn.

Competitive foreign currency markup of only 1.99% compared to the standard market rates.

Pros

Key benefits and features.

Offers amazing cashback on everyday spending categories with minimal annual fees.

Ideal for new credit users seeking a pocket-friendly card with good savings.

Enjoy complimentary railway lounge access, enhancing your travel experience.

Benefit from zero liability protection against various fraudulent card transactions.

Free lifetime add-on cards make sharing benefits with family easy.

Pros

Key benefits and features.

5% cashback on Freecharge app spends offers significant savings on utility payments and recharges.

Affordable joining and renewal fees make it a cost-effective credit card option.

Instant virtual card issuance on Freecharge app ensures secure and convenient online transactions.

Provides good value for daily commute and specific online shopping platforms like Swiggy and Amazon.

Annual fee waiver on achieving reasonable spend targets adds to its overall value proposition.

Pros

Key benefits and features.

Guaranteed approval with a low fixed deposit of ₹5,000 makes it accessible for everyone.

Earn competitive interest on your linked fixed deposit while enjoying credit card benefits.

Highly rewarding for UPI users with up to 1% cashback on transactions via the IDFC bank app.

Complimentary insurance covers and roadside assistance add significant value for the user.

Cons

Key drawbacks and limitations.

Benefits on other platforms or offline transactions are limited to a basic 1% reward rate.

Lacks premium lifestyle features like airport lounge access, golf perks, or movie deals.

The reward rate for Non-Prime members is significantly lower at 3% compared to Prime users.

No cashback is earned on fuel, rent, gold, EMI transactions, or international payments.

Cons

Key drawbacks and limitations.

Cashback earnings are capped at a low INR 50 per statement cycle per category.

Several common spending categories are excluded from earning any cashback benefits.

Complimentary lounge access is limited only to railway stations, not airports.

High foreign currency markup of 3.49% on all international transactions.

Fuel surcharge waiver is capped at a relatively low INR 100 per month.

Cons

Key drawbacks and limitations.

Limited variety of benefits compared to premium cards available in the market.

High foreign currency markup of 3.5% makes international spends less rewarding.

Cash advance charges of 2.5% (min Rs. 500) are relatively high for emergencies.

Interest rates at 3.6% per month are standard but can quickly accumulate if balances are carried.

Milestone benefits are tied to Edge Rewards, which may not appeal to pure cashback seekers.

Cons

Key drawbacks and limitations.

Monthly cashback is limited to a cap of ₹500, which may restrict heavy spenders' benefits.

The absence of a fuel surcharge waiver makes it less attractive for frequent vehicle users.

Users must pay a fee of ₹199 if they require a physical version of this virtual credit card.

Reward rate is halved to 0.5% when using third-party UPI apps instead of the IDFC mobile app.