Head-to-head · 🇮🇳 India
Axis ACE vs HDFC Diners Club Black
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
IN
Axis Bank
Axis ACE
VISA
Wins 5 of 10
IN
Premium
HDFC Bank
HDFC Diners Club Black
DINERS CLUB
Wins 4 of 10
Verdict
Axis ACE wins 5-4. Bill payments + utilities + fuel — set-and-forget cashback HDFC Diners Club Black is still the right call if frequent travelers spending ₹2l+/month.
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Axis ACE | HDFC Diners Club Black |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹499 | · ₹10,000 |
| Joining fee | ₹499 | · ₹10,000 |
| Top reward rate | · 4% (fuel) | 33% (travel) |
| Base reward rate | · 1.5% | 3.3% |
| Forex markup | · 3.5% | 1.99% |
| Welcome bonus | = Up to ₹2,000 cashback on first 60-day spends | = Annual fee waiver + 10,000 reward points |
| Fee waiver threshold | ₹200,000 / yr | · ₹500,000 / yr |
| Min income | ₹360,000 | · ₹1,750,000 |
| Min credit score | 750 | · 800 |
| Editorial rating | · 4.5/5 | 4.8/5 |
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
HDFC Diners Club Black
- 10x reward points on SmartBuy partners (flights, hotels)
- 6 complimentary international lounge visits per quarter (Priority Pass)
- Unlimited domestic lounge access
- 2 complimentary golf rounds per month at 280+ courses
- Annual memberships: Amazon Prime, Swiggy One, Disney+ Hotstar, Times Prime
- Low forex markup: 2%
FAQ
›Axis ACE vs HDFC Diners Club Black: which is better?
Axis ACE wins on more dimensions (5 vs 4). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern — see the calculator below.
›Can I get both?
Yes — if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use Axis ACE for its best categories, HDFC Diners Club Black 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. HDFC Diners Club Black: Annual fee waiver + 10,000 reward points.