Flipkart card is useless if you don't shop on Flipkart. I got it thinking I'd use it for general shopping but the 1.5% cashback is too low. Ended up using my Ace card instead.
I've been researching entry-level cashback cards and narrowed down to two popular options from Axis Bank: Axis Ace and Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card. Here's a detailed comparison to help others decide (and help me decide too! ).
Quick Specs Comparison
| Feature | Axis Ace | Flipkart Axis |
|---------|----------|---------------|
| Annual Fee | ₹499 (LTF if spend ₹2L in year) | ₹500 (waived on ₹30K annual spend) |
| Welcome Benefit | ₹500 Amazon voucher | ₹500 Flipkart voucher |
| Primary Cashback | 5% on bill payments, 2% on others | 5% on Flipkart/Myntra, 4% on Preferred partners, 1.5% on others |
| Cashback Cap | ₹2,000/month (₹24K/year) | ₹1,500/month (₹18K/year) |
| Card Type | Google Pay co-branded | Flipkart co-branded |
| Eligibility | ₹3L+ annual income | Super easy approval through Flipkart app |
Detailed Analysis
Axis Ace - Strengths
- 1. Bill Payments (5% cashback)
This is the killer feature. I pay these bills monthly:
- Electricity: ₹3,000
- Mobile/broadband: ₹2,000
- Gas cylinder: ₹1,000
- Monthly bills: ₹6,000 → ₹300 cashback/month → ₹3,600/year
- 2. Versatile 2% cashback
Applies to almost everything except fuel and rent:
- Groceries, dining, shopping, subscriptions
- Even works on Swiggy, Zomato, Amazon
3. No complicated categories
Simple structure: 5% on bills, 2% on everything else. No mental gymnastics.
- Cons:
- Monthly cap of ₹2,000 is limiting for high spenders
- 2% rate is lower than category-specific cards
- Google Pay branding feels gimmicky (doesn't add value)
Flipkart Axis - Strengths
- 1. E-commerce cashback (5% on Flipkart, 4% on partners)
If you shop online frequently:
- Flipkart: 5% unlimited (within monthly cap)
- Myntra: 4%
- Partner merchants (2GUD, Cleartrip): 4%
2. Super easy approval
Approval through Flipkart app is instant for existing Flipkart customers. I got approved in 15 minutes with just PAN and Aadhaar. No income proof needed.
3. Good for Flipkart addicts
If you're already spending ₹20-30K/month on Flipkart, this is a no-brainer.
- Cons:
- Useless if you don't shop on Flipkart
- Lower cashback (1.5%) on non-partner merchants
- Limited utility outside e-commerce
My Usage Pattern Analysis
- Monthly spends:
- Bills (electricity, mobile, etc.): ₹6,000
- Groceries/dining: ₹8,000
- Online shopping (Flipkart/Amazon mix): ₹10,000
- Others: ₹6,000
- Total: ₹30,000/month
- Cashback with Axis Ace:
- Bills (5%): ₹300
- Groceries/dining (2%): ₹160
- Online shopping (2%): ₹200
- Others (2%): ₹120
- Total: ₹780/month → ₹9,360/year
- Cashback with Flipkart Axis:
(Assuming 50% online shopping is on Flipkart)
- Flipkart (5%): ₹250
- Groceries/dining/others (1.5%): ₹210
- Bills (1.5%): ₹90
- Total: ₹550/month → ₹6,600/year
Verdict (For My Usage)
- Axis Ace wins for me because:
- Bill payment cashback (5%) is consistent and guaranteed
- 2% on everything else is more versatile
- Higher annual cashback (₹9,360 vs ₹6,600)
- Flipkart Axis would win if:
- You spend ₹20K+ on Flipkart every month
- You don't pay many bills (or pay through other methods)
- You value easy approval (instant through app)
Can You Have Both?
- YES! Both are LTF (lifetime free with minimal spend). I'm considering:
- Axis Ace: For bills, groceries, dining, everyday spends
- Flipkart Axis: Exclusively for Flipkart shopping
This way I maximize cashback across categories.
What do others think? Which card works better for your spending pattern?
3
Ace for everything except Flipkart. This is exactly my strategy. I have both cards - use Ace as primary, Flipkart Axis only for Flipkart Big Billion Day sales.
I have both for different purposes. Ace = bills + groceries + dining. Flipkart = only Flipkart. It's the optimal strategy.