Axis Magnus vs Standard Chartered Ultimate
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
Standard Chartered Ultimate wins 5-3. Best general earn-rate at the ₹5K 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 | Standard Chartered Ultimate |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | · ₹12,500 | ₹5,000 |
| Joining fee | · ₹12,500 | ₹5,000 |
| Top reward rate | 12% (travel) | · 3.3% (general) |
| Base reward rate | 4.8% | · 3.3% |
| Forex markup | 2% | · 3.5% |
| Welcome bonus | = 12,500 EDGE Reward Points + ₹10,000 Tata CLiQ voucher | = 6,000 reward points + ₹1,000 voucher |
| Fee waiver threshold | · ₹2,500,000 / yr | ₹1,500,000 / yr |
| Min income | · ₹1,800,000 | ₹1,500,000 |
| Min credit score | = 780 | = 780 |
| Editorial rating | · 4.3/5 | 4.4/5 |
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
Standard Chartered Ultimate
- 5 reward points per ₹150 (effectively 3.3%)
- 4 complimentary international lounge visits/year
- BookMyShow buy-1-get-1
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
- Comprehensive travel + purchase insurance
FAQ
›Axis Magnus vs Standard Chartered Ultimate: which is better?
Standard Chartered Ultimate wins on more dimensions (5 vs 3). 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, Standard Chartered Ultimate 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. Standard Chartered Ultimate: 6,000 reward points + ₹1,000 voucher.