Axis Magnus vs Kotak White Reserve
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
Kotak White Reserve wins 5-2. Premium dining + travel without breaking the ₹3K-fee tier. Axis Magnus is still the right call if high-spenders post-2024 devaluation — still solid for ₹2l+/month travel..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Axis Magnus | Kotak White Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | · ₹12,500 | ₹3,000 |
| Joining fee | · ₹12,500 | ₹3,000 |
| Top reward rate | 12% (travel) | · 4% (dining) |
| Base reward rate | 4.8% | · 1.5% |
| Forex markup | · 2% | 1.99% |
| Welcome bonus | = 12,500 EDGE Reward Points + ₹10,000 Tata CLiQ voucher | = 5,000 reward points + Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite |
| Fee waiver threshold | · ₹2,500,000 / yr | ₹600,000 / yr |
| Min income | = ₹1,800,000 | = ₹1,800,000 |
| Min credit score | = 780 | = 780 |
| Editorial rating | · 4.3/5 | 4.6/5 |
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
Kotak White Reserve
- 4 reward points/₹100 on dining + travel
- 6 international Priority Pass visits/year
- 24 domestic lounge visits/year (DragonPass)
- Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite included
- 1.99% forex markup
FAQ
›Axis Magnus vs Kotak White Reserve: which is better?
Kotak White Reserve wins on more dimensions (5 vs 2). 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, Kotak White Reserve 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. Kotak White Reserve: 5,000 reward points + Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite.