Head-to-head · 🇮🇳 India
Axis Magnus vs HDFC Pixel
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
IN
Premium
Axis Bank
Axis Magnus
Wins 5 of 10
IN
HDFC Bank
HDFC Pixel
VISA
Wins 4 of 10
Verdict
Axis Magnus wins 5-4. High-spenders post-2024 devaluation — still solid for ₹2L+/month travel. HDFC Pixel is still the right call if gen z first card — fully digital, instant approval, customizable art..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Axis Magnus | HDFC Pixel |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | · ₹12,500 | No annual fee |
| Joining fee | · ₹12,500 | None |
| Top reward rate | 12% (travel) | · 3% (shopping) |
| Base reward rate | 4.8% | · 1% |
| Forex markup | 2% | · 3.5% |
| Welcome bonus | = 12,500 EDGE Reward Points + ₹10,000 Tata CLiQ voucher | = Customizable card design + ₹250 voucher |
| Fee waiver threshold | ₹2,500,000 / yr | · N/A (no fee) |
| Min income | · ₹1,800,000 | ₹200,000 |
| Min credit score | · 780 | 700 |
| Editorial rating | 4.3/5 | · 4.2/5 |
Benefits compared
Axis Magnus
- 12 EDGE points per ₹200 on travel via TravelEdge portal
- 4.8 EDGE points per ₹200 on general spend
- Unlimited international + domestic lounge access (Priority Pass)
- Buy 1 get 1 BookMyShow tickets monthly (capped 5)
- Annual ₹10,000 milestone vouchers from Tata CLiQ
- Concierge 24x7 + golf 4x/month
HDFC Pixel
- 3% cashback on 2 chosen merchants (Swiggy/Zomato/Uber/Amazon/etc.)
- 1% on other spends
- Lifetime free
- Mobile-first app experience
- Dynamic CVV for security
FAQ
›Axis Magnus vs HDFC Pixel: which is better?
Axis Magnus 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 Magnus for its best categories, HDFC Pixel for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Axis Magnus: 12,500 EDGE Reward Points + ₹10,000 Tata CLiQ voucher. HDFC Pixel: Customizable card design + ₹250 voucher.