Two of India's most popular everyday cashback cards, aimed at the same person — a young salaried spender. HDFC Millennia rewards online shopping; Axis ACE rewards bills + food with a lower fee and simpler cashback. Which everyday card wins comes down to where your money goes.
Head-to-head (2026)
| Feature | HDFC Millennia | Axis ACE |
|---|---|---|
| Top rate | 5% on Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra (+ select e-comm) | 5% on utility bills via Google Pay (Android) |
| Second rate | 1% all else | 4% Swiggy/Zomato/Ola |
| Base rate | 1% | 1.5% all else |
| Cap | Max 1,000 CashPoints/month | ₹500/month combined (5%+4%) |
| Annual fee | ₹1,000 (waived at ₹1L spend) | ₹499 (waived at ₹2L spend) |
| Reward type | CashPoints (redeem) | Direct cashback (simpler) |
Millennia wins if… you shop online
5% on Amazon, Flipkart and Myntra makes Millennia the e-commerce pick — and its fee waives at a lower ₹1L spend. The catch: rewards are CashPoints (1% effective on non-bonus spends) capped at 1,000/month, and you redeem rather than get direct cashback. Strong if online shopping dominates your spend.
ACE wins if… you pay bills + want simplicity
ACE's 5% on Google Pay utility bills + 4% on food + a flat 1.5% on everything (vs Millennia's 1%) makes it the better all-rounder for bill-payers — and it's direct cashback, no points to redeem, at a lower ₹499 fee. The ₹500/month combined cap is its main limit. See the deeper SBI Cashback vs ACE comparison for how it stacks against a pure-online card.
Verdict for beginners
- Online shopper: HDFC Millennia (5% on the big e-commerce sites).
- Bill-payer / wants simplicity + lower fee: Axis ACE (direct cashback, 1.5% base, ₹499).
- Starting out: either works as a first card — see our beginner card guide. ACE's simplicity edges it for true beginners.
FAQ
Which is better for online shopping?
HDFC Millennia — 5% on Amazon, Flipkart and Myntra beats ACE's online rate.
Which has the lower fee?
Axis ACE (₹499, waived at ₹2L) vs Millennia (₹1,000, waived at ₹1L). Millennia waives at a lower spend, though.
Which is simpler for a beginner?
Axis ACE — direct cashback with no point redemption, plus a 1.5% base rate on everything.
Can I hold both?
Yes — Millennia for e-commerce, ACE for bills/food. Mind the fees and your utilization.
Verify current rates, caps and fees with the issuer. See our methodology and browse cards.
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