IDFC FIRST Select vs HDFC Swiggy
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
IDFC FIRST Select wins 4-3. Lifetime-free with surprisingly strong reward earn rates. HDFC Swiggy is still the right call if heavy swiggy/instamart users — 10% on the platform tops anything else..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | IDFC FIRST Select | HDFC Swiggy |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | · ₹500 |
| Joining fee | None | · ₹500 |
| Top reward rate | = 10% (shopping) | = 10% (dining) |
| Base reward rate | 3% | · 1% |
| Forex markup | 1.99% | · 3.5% |
| Welcome bonus | = 600 reward points on ₹15K spend in first 90 days | = 3-month Swiggy One membership (₹1,499 value) |
| Fee waiver threshold | · N/A (no fee) | ₹200,000 / yr |
| Min income | · ₹600,000 | ₹360,000 |
| Min credit score | · 750 | 740 |
| Editorial rating | = 4.5/5 | = 4.5/5 |
Benefits compared
IDFC FIRST Select
- 10x reward points on ₹20K+ monthly spend
- 6x reward points on ₹20K below threshold
- 3x reward points on offline spend
- Lifetime free — no annual fee, ever
- 4 complimentary domestic + 2 international lounge visits per quarter
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
HDFC Swiggy
- 10% cashback on Swiggy (food, Instamart, Genie, Dineout)
- 5% cashback on online MCC merchants (Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra)
- 1% cashback on other spends
- Cashback auto-credited as Swiggy Money
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
FAQ
›IDFC FIRST Select vs HDFC Swiggy: which is better?
IDFC FIRST Select wins on more dimensions (4 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 IDFC FIRST Select for its best categories, HDFC Swiggy for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
IDFC FIRST Select: 600 reward points on ₹15K spend in first 90 days. HDFC Swiggy: 3-month Swiggy One membership (₹1,499 value).