
HDFC Diners Club Black Metal
₹28,200 a year, after fees
₹10,000 fee · Lounges in India and abroad · 2% forex markup · Reward rate 3.3%–33.3%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹11,900 a year
The best one for most people is HDFC Diners Club Black Metal.
₹28,200a year after fees, at ₹75,000 a month

₹28,200 a year, after fees
₹10,000 fee · Lounges in India and abroad · 2% forex markup · Reward rate 3.3%–33.3%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹11,900 a year
It pays back the most of the 27 HDFC Bank cards open to apply that we can value.
HDFC Bank's main points currency is HDFC Reward Points, worth ₹1.00 a point: 22 airline and hotel programmes take them. Its cards earn 7 kinds of points in all.
| Programme | Worth a point | Cards | Partners |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Reward Points | ₹1.00 | 41 | 22 |
| HDFC Bank CashPoints | ₹1.00 | 20 | none |
| Tata NeuCoins | ₹1.00 | 2 | none |
| HDFC PIXEL Times Reward Points | ₹0.25 | 2 | none |
| IRCTC HDFC Bank Reward Points | ₹1.00 | 1 | none |
| Marriott Bonvoyevery way to earn them | ₹0.50 | 1 | none |
| InterMiles | ₹0.20 | 4 | none |
10 more cards pay cash back. Values are what we think a point is worth in India.
| Transfer to | Ratio | One point becomes | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | 1:1 | ₹1.10 | 7 working days |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 2:1 | ₹0.50 | 24 hours |
| Avianca LifeMiles | 2:1 | ₹0.50 | 24 hours |
| The British Airways Club (Avios) | 2:1 | ₹0.50 | 24 hours |
| Qatar Airways Privilege Club (Avios) | 2:1 | ₹0.50 | 24 hours |
| Finnair Plus (Avios) | 1:1 | ₹1.00 | 24 hours |
| Air France-KLM Flying Blue | 1:1 | ₹1.00 | 24 hours |
| Cathay Asia Miles | 2:1 | ₹0.50 | 24 hours |
| Etihad Guest | 2:1 | ₹0.50 | 24 hours |
| Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles | 2:1 | ₹0.50 | 24 hours |
| United MileagePlus | 2:1 | ₹0.50 | 24 hours |
| Thai Royal Orchid Plus | 2:1 | ₹0.50 | 24 hours |
| Air India Maharaja Club | 2:1 | ₹0.50 | 48–96 hours |
| Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles | 1:1 | ₹1.00 | 24 hours |
| AirAsia Rewards | 1:1 | ₹0.23 | 24 hours |
| SpiceJet SpiceClub | 1:1 | ₹0.50 | 24 hours |
| ALL - Accor Live Limitless | 2:1 | ₹1.07 | 24 hours |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 2:1 | ₹0.25 | 24 hours |
| Club ITC | 2:1 | ₹0.50 | 2–4 working days |
| IHG One Rewards | 1:1 | ₹0.55 | 24 hours |
| Radisson Rewards | 1:1 | ₹0.22 | 24 hours |
| Wyndham Rewards | 1:1 | ₹0.65 | 24 hours |
Ratios read HDFC Reward Points : the partner's points. One point becomes = what it is worth once it lands, at our value for the partner.
| Transfer to | Ratio | One point becomes | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Rapid RewardsMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.40 | 1–2 days |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyerMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.37 | 2–4 days |
| Japan Airlines Mileage BankMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.37 | ~2 days |
| Air Canada AeroplanMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.33 | ~5 days |
| ANA Mileage ClubMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.33 | 4–7 days |
| Air France-KLM Flying BlueMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.33 | 1–3 days |
| Copa Airlines ConnectMilesMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.33 | ~3 days |
| Thai Royal Orchid PlusMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.33 | ~4 days |
| Turkish Airlines Miles&SmilesMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.33 | ~1 day |
| United MileagePlusMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.33 | 2–5 days |
| American Airlines AAdvantageMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.33 | ~2 days |
| The British Airways Club (Avios)Marriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.33 | 1–3 days |
| Cathay Pacific Asia MilesMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.33 | 1–5 days |
| Iberia Plus (Avios)Marriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.33 | 1–2 days |
| Qantas Frequent FlyerMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.33 | ~2 days |
| Qatar Airways Privilege Club (Avios)Marriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.33 | ~3 days |
| Saudia AlfursanMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.33 | ~5 days (crowdsourced) |
| Delta SkyMilesMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.33 | 1–2 days |
| Aegean Miles+BonusMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.33 | ~3 days |
| Aer Lingus AerClubMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.33 | not published |
| Alaska Airlines Atmos RewardsMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.33 | ~1 day |
| Avianca LifeMilesMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.33 | ~1 day |
| Etihad GuestMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.33 | ~3 days |
| Hainan Airlines Fortune WingsMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.33 | ~8 days |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying ClubMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.33 | 1–2 days |
| Virgin Australia VelocityMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.33 | ~1 day |
| Vueling ClubMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.33 | not published |
| Ethiopian ShebaMilesMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.33 | not published |
| Air China PhoenixMilesMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.30 | not published |
| Emirates SkywardsMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.30 | ~3 days |
| TAP Air Portugal Miles&GoMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.27 | not published |
| LATAM PassMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.27 | ~2 days |
| LATAM Pass BrazilMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.27 | not published |
| Air New Zealand AirpointsMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 200:1 | ₹0.26 | ~1 day |
| China Southern Sky Pearl ClubMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.25 | not published |
| Aeroméxico RewardsMarriott Bonvoy is itself a programme: a move between programmes | 3:1 | ₹0.20 | ~4 days |
| Frontier Miles | 3:1 | not priced | not published |
Ratios read Marriott Bonvoy : the partner's points. One point becomes = what it is worth once it lands, at our value for the partner.
Compare every route, including longer ones through other programmes
Fees run ₹0 to ₹12,500, and 10 of them are genuinely free for life. We cannot value 43 of them: HDFC Bank publishes no fee or no earn table for those cards, so they are listed as "Not valued". Each card shows what it pays back a year after its fee at ₹75,000 a month, and our verdict: 96 keep, 12 downgrade, 8 cancel.

₹28,200 a year, after fees
₹10,000 fee · Lounges in India and abroad · 2% forex markup · Reward rate 3.3%–33.3%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹11,900 a year

₹29,800 a year, after fees
₹2,500 fee · Lounges in India and abroad · 2% forex markup · Reward rate 1.6%–16.3%

₹8,500 a year, after fees
₹1,000 fee · Reward rate 1%–10%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹14,300 a year

₹17,600 a year, after fees
₹3,000 fee · Lounges in India and abroad · Reward rate 0.7%–2.7%

₹8,500 a year, after fees
₹500 fee · Reward rate 1%–5%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹10,800 a year

₹12,700 a year, after fees
₹1,499 fee · Lounges in India and abroad · 2% forex markup · Reward rate 1.5%–10%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹6,300 a year

₹12,500 a year, after fees
₹1,000 fee · Lounges in India · Reward rate 1%–5%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹7,200 a year

₹14,500 a year, after fees
₹1,000 fee · Lounges in India and abroad · 1 transfer partner · Reward rate 1%–10%
₹8,500 a year, after fees
₹500 fee · Reward rate 1%–5%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹5,400 a year
₹8,500 a year, after fees
₹499 fee · Lounges in India · Reward rate 1%–7%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹3,200 a year
₹0 a year, after fees
₹999 fee · Lounges in India · Reward rate 0%–10%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹10,800 a year
₹4,000 a year, after fees
₹4,500 fee · Lounges in India and abroad · Reward rate 1%–7%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹5,400 a year
₹6,000 a year, after fees
₹149 fee · Reward rate 1%–2%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹2,700 a year
₹4,100 a year, after fees
₹500 fee · Reward rate 0.6%–4.8%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹3,200 a year
₹10,500 a year, after fees
₹500 fee · Reward rate 1%–10%
Ranked lower: includes points worth full value only in one app
₹2,100 a year, after fees
₹500 fee · Reward rate 0.3%–2.5%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹3,600 a year
₹4,200 a year, after fees
₹149 fee · Reward rate 0.5%–2%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹1,100 a year
₹2,300 a year, after fees
₹1,000 fee · Reward rate 0.3%–2.5%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹3,000 a year
₹1,100 a year, after fees
₹299 fee · Reward rate 0.3%–3%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹2,500 a year
₹2,300 a year, after fees
₹500 fee · Reward rate 0.3%–1.3%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹1,400 a year
₹1,500 a year, after fees
₹99 fee · Reward rate 0.3%–0.8%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹1,400 a year
₹1,500 a year, after fees
₹99 fee · Reward rate 0.3%–0.8%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹1,400 a year
₹0 a year, after fees
₹499 fee · Reward rate 0%–2%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹2,200 a year
₹600 a year, after fees
₹500 fee · Reward rate 0.1%–0.8%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹1,200 a year

₹28,200 a year, after fees
₹12,500 fee · Lounges in India and abroad · 2% forex markup · Reward rate 3.3%–33.3%
Ranked lower: needs ₹18 lakh of spend a year to keep

₹33,200 a year, after fees
₹10,000 fee · Lounges in India and abroad · 2% forex markup · Reward rate 3.3%–33.3%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹11,900 a year

₹13,800 a year, after fees
₹2,500 fee · Lounges in India and abroad · 2% forex markup · Reward rate 1.6%–16.3%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹8,700 a year

₹8,500 a year, after fees
₹499 fee · 1% forex markup · Reward rate 1%–5%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹7,200 a year

₹9,500 a year, after fees
₹1,000 fee · Lounges in India · Reward rate 1%–5%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹5,000 a year
₹9,000 a year, after fees
₹500 fee · Reward rate 1%–3%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹1,800 a year
₹9,000 a year, after fees
₹0 fee · Lounges in India and abroad · Reward rate 1%
₹4,800 a year, after fees
₹0 fee · Reward rate 0.5%–5%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹4,000 a year
₹5,100 a year, after fees
₹500 fee · Reward rate 0.3%–3%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹2,900 a year
₹1,800 a year, after fees
₹0 joining + ₹500/yr · Reward rate 0.2%–0.4%
Not valued fee or rewards not published
Fee not published · Reward rate 0.3%–0.8%
Not valued fee or rewards not published
Fee not published · Lounges in India · Reward rate 0.6%
Not valued fee or rewards not published
Fee not published · Lounges in India and abroad · Reward rate 0.8%
Not valued fee or rewards not published
Fee not published · Lounges in India and abroad · Reward rate 0.4%
Not valued fee or rewards not published
Fee not published · Lounges in India and abroad · Reward rate 1%
₹30,000 a year, after fees
₹10,000 fee · Lounges in India and abroad · Reward rate 3.3%–33.3%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹13,500 a year
₹6,000 a year, after fees
₹500 fee · Reward rate 1%–10%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹13,500 a year
₹18,000 a year, after fees
₹1,000 fee · Lounges in India and abroad · Reward rate 2%
₹16,100 a year, after fees
₹2,500 fee · Lounges in India and abroad · Reward rate 1.3%–13.3%
₹9,000 a year, after fees
₹500 fee · Reward rate 1%–5%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹5,400 a year
₹12,000 a year, after fees
₹1,000 fee · Lounges in India · Reward rate 1.3%–5%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹1,800 a year
₹16,000 a year, after fees
₹2,500 fee · Lounges in India and abroad · Reward rate 1%
Ranked lower: includes ₹7,500 in vouchers
₹9,000 a year, after fees
₹2,500 fee · Lounges in India and abroad · Reward rate 1%
₹8,300 a year, after fees
₹300 joining + ₹700/yr · Reward rate 1%–5%
₹3,000 a year, after fees
₹499 fee · Reward rate 0.3%–5%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹2,700 a year
₹3,000 a year, after fees
₹499 fee · Reward rate 0.3%–5%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹2,700 a year
₹3,600 a year, after fees
₹1,000 fee · Lounges in India and abroad · Reward rate 0.4%–1.2%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹1,800 a year
₹16,000 a year, after fees
₹2,500 fee · Lounges in India and abroad · 1 transfer partner · Reward rate 1%–5%
₹4,100 a year, after fees
₹1,000 fee · 1 transfer partner · Reward rate 0.5%
₹0 a year, after fees
₹500 fee · Reward rate 0%–5%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹3,600 a year
₹0 a year, after fees
₹500 fee · Reward rate 0%–5%
Ranked higher: its bonus category adds ₹1,800 a year
Not valued fee or rewards not published
₹2,500 fee · Lounges in India and abroad
Not valued fee or rewards not published
₹10,000 fee · Lounges in India and abroad
Not valued fee or rewards not published
Fee not published · Reward rate 0.1%
Not valued fee or rewards not published
Fee not published · Lounges in India · Reward rate 0.6%
Not valued fee or rewards not published
Fee not published · Reward rate 1%–8%
The charges HDFC Bank words the same way on most of its cards, from each card's most important terms and conditions. A card that differs prints its own figure on its own page.
| Charge | What the bank says | Our read | Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Late payment fee | Nil ≤₹100; ₹100 (₹101–500); ₹500 (₹501–1,000); ₹600 (₹1,001–5,000); ₹750 (₹5,001–10,000); ₹900 (₹10,001–25,000); ₹1,100 (₹25,001–50,000); ₹1,300 (>₹50,000) | 16 of 26 | |
| Cash withdrawal fee | 2.5%, min ₹500 | 19 of 33 | |
| Add-on card fee | Lifetime free | Free | 23 of 28 |
Cards counts the HDFC Bank cards whose terms print this exact wording, out of those whose terms print the charge at all.
Source: the Reserve Bank of India's monthly card statistics, August 2026. Every bank's figures
The HDFC Bank documents that state its fees and charges, and RBI's release. Each card's page lists its own sources too.