HDFC Infinia (Metal) vs Axis Reserve
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
HDFC Infinia (Metal) wins 7-2. Top-tier travelers — invitation-only, the apex of HDFC reward redemption. Axis Reserve is still the right call if invitation-only super-premium — for ₹25l+/year spenders..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | HDFC Infinia (Metal) | Axis Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹12,500 | · ₹50,000 |
| Joining fee | ₹12,500 | · ₹50,000 |
| Top reward rate | 33% (travel) | · 5% (general) |
| Base reward rate | · 3.3% | 5% |
| Forex markup | · 1.99% | No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = 12,500 reward points (offsets joining fee 1:1) | = 50,000 EDGE points + Taj Epicure membership |
| Fee waiver threshold | ₹1,000,000 / yr | · ₹2,500,000 / yr |
| Min income | ₹4,000,000 | · ₹5,000,000 |
| Min credit score | 800 | · 820 |
| Editorial rating | 4.9/5 | · 4.7/5 |
Benefits compared
HDFC Infinia (Metal)
- Unlimited international + domestic lounge access (self + guest)
- 10x reward points on SmartBuy partners
- Free annual Club Marriott + Club Vistara Gold
- Concierge 24x7
- 2% forex markup
Axis Reserve
- 5 EDGE points per ₹100 (effectively 5%)
- Unlimited international + domestic lounge visits
- Taj Epicure + ITC Culinaire memberships
- Concierge 24x7 globally
- 0% forex markup on first ₹15L of FX/year
- Annual ₹25K vouchers at milestones
FAQ
›HDFC Infinia (Metal) vs Axis Reserve: which is better?
HDFC Infinia (Metal) wins on more dimensions (7 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 HDFC Infinia (Metal) for its best categories, Axis Reserve for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
HDFC Infinia (Metal): 12,500 reward points (offsets joining fee 1:1). Axis Reserve: 50,000 EDGE points + Taj Epicure membership.