Skip to content

Axis Magnus vs HDFC Infinia Metal

Verified 27 sources

Your monthly spend

HDFC Infinia Metal beats Axis Magnus by ₹16,500 a year at ₹30,000 a month: ₹11,300 against −₹5,200, after fees

HDFC Infinia Metal beats Axis Magnus by ₹22,600 a year at ₹75,000 a month: ₹28,200 against ₹5,600, after fees

HDFC Infinia Metal beats Axis Magnus by ₹32,500 a year at ₹1.5 lakh a month: ₹56,300 against ₹23,800, after fees

Axis Magnus beats HDFC Infinia Metal by ₹16,200 a year at ₹3 lakh a month: ₹1,28,900 against ₹1,12,700, after fees

Axis Magnus beats HDFC Infinia Metal by ₹82,200 a year at ₹5 lakh a month: ₹2,70,000 against ₹1,87,800, after fees

Axis Magnus credit card

Axis Bank

Axis Magnus

Our verdict: Keep

HDFC Infinia Metal credit card

HDFC Bank

HDFC Infinia Metal

Our verdict: Keep Invite only

HDFC Infinia Metal vs Axis Magnus: which should you pick?

The two ₹12,500 cards at the top of every premium shortlist, and monthly spend decides it. Infinia pays 5 HDFC points per ₹150 from the first rupee, moving 1:1 to KrisFlyer among 22 partners; Magnus pays 12 EDGE points per ₹200 up to ₹1.5L a month and 35 per ₹200 on every rupee above, moving 5:2 to 27 programmes. Infinia wins under ₹2.75L a month; Magnus takes over from ₹2.75L. The door is the other catch: Magnus is open to apply, and HDFC hands Infinia out by invitation. Infinia's fee is waived at ₹10,00,000 of spend, Magnus's only at ₹25,00,000, and both charge 2% abroad. Both open unlimited Priority Pass lounges abroad; Magnus's unlimited domestic visits need ₹50,000 of spend in the previous three months, Infinia's carry no published spend gate.

Below ₹2.75 lakh a month HDFC Infinia Metal is the better card; from ₹2.75 lakh up, Axis Magnus takes over, and by ₹5 lakh a month it is ₹82,200 a year ahead. At ₹75,000 a month most of HDFC Infinia Metal's edge is its milestone and renewal bonuses, worth ₹12,500 a year, where Axis Magnus pays none at that spend. Pick Axis Magnus instead if you want to move points to airlines and hotels: its points reach 27 transfer partners to HDFC Infinia Metal's 22. HDFC Infinia Metal is by invitation only; Axis Magnus is the one you can apply for directly.

HDFC Infinia Metal pays a renewal bonus whatever you spend, and Axis Magnus pays nothing to stay.

Axis Magnus review HDFC Infinia Metal review

Side by side

Axis Magnus and HDFC Infinia Metal, fact by fact
FactAxis MagnusHDFC Infinia Metal
Can you get itOpen to apply✓ BetterBy invitation only
Fee (joining · annual, + GST)₹12,500/yr₹12,500/yr
Fee waiverSpend ₹25,00,000 a yearSpend ₹10,00,000 a year
Reward rate on everyday spend2.4%3.3%✓ Better
PointsAxis EDGE Reward PointsHDFC Reward Points
Our value per point₹0.40₹1.00
Transfer partners27✓ Better22
Lounges it gets you into667 of 792720 of 792✓ Better
Forex markup2% + GST2% + GST
Welcome benefit₹12,500 voucher — Luxe, Postcard Hotels or Yatra12,500 reward points + complimentary Club Marriott, first year

✓ Better marks the side that wins a row; rows that compare unlike things are not scored. HDFC Infinia Metal is ahead on 6 of the 10 rows we can call.

More facts 8 rows
Rank, verdict, lounge visits and fine print
FactAxis MagnusHDFC Infinia Metal
Our rank#4Not ranked (invite-only)
Our verdictKeepKeep
Lounge visits in IndiaUnlimited at the 20 rooms on Axis's Set B list (primary + add-on)Unlimited (on the card itself)
Lounge visits abroadUnlimited (Priority Pass)Unlimited (Priority Pass, outside India)
Forex, in the bank’s words2% + GST. Dynamic currency conversion markup 2% since 28 August 2026, up from 1.5% — NOT the bank-wide 3.5% — per Magnus's own revision notice2% + GST
Interest (APR)3.0%/mo (42.58%/yr, compounded as quoted by Axis)1.99%/mo (23.88%/yr)
Income needed (salaried)₹24L+/yr₹5L+/month net (private sector); ₹3.5L+/month (govt)
Income needed (self-employed)₹24L+/yrITR ₹60L+/yr

Our value per point is what we think a point is worth when you use it well; every currency's figure and its reasoning is on points values.

What each is worth to you

A year of rewards and bonuses, after the fee
Monthly spendAxis MagnusHDFC Infinia Metal
At ₹30,000 a month−₹5,200₹11,300✓ Better
At ₹75,000 a month₹5,600₹28,200✓ Better
At ₹1.5 lakh a month₹23,800₹56,300✓ Better
At ₹3 lakh a month₹1,28,900✓ Better₹1,12,700
At ₹5 lakh a month₹2,70,000✓ Better₹1,87,800
Pays for itself from₹52,000 a monthThe first rupee✓ Better

On an everyday mix of spending (groceries, bills, travel, fuel and the rest), using each card's own rules for each kind of spend. The same figures as each card's own page.

Every spend from ₹25,000 to ₹5 lakh 20 steps
Axis Magnus and HDFC Infinia Metal at each ₹25,000 step
Monthly spendAxis MagnusHDFC Infinia MetalAhead
₹25,000−₹6,500₹9,400✓ BetterHDFC Infinia Metal by ₹15,900
₹50,000−₹400₹18,800✓ BetterHDFC Infinia Metal by ₹19,200
₹75,000₹5,600₹28,200✓ BetterHDFC Infinia Metal by ₹22,600
₹1 lakh₹11,700₹37,600✓ BetterHDFC Infinia Metal by ₹25,900
₹1.25 lakh₹17,700₹47,000✓ BetterHDFC Infinia Metal by ₹29,300
₹1.5 lakh₹23,800₹56,300✓ BetterHDFC Infinia Metal by ₹32,500
₹1.75 lakh₹29,800₹65,700✓ BetterHDFC Infinia Metal by ₹35,900
₹2 lakh₹45,800₹75,100✓ BetterHDFC Infinia Metal by ₹29,300
₹2.25 lakh₹63,500₹84,500✓ BetterHDFC Infinia Metal by ₹21,000
₹2.5 lakh₹93,600₹93,900✓ BetterHDFC Infinia Metal by ₹300
₹2.75 lakh₹1,11,200✓ Better₹1,03,300Axis Magnus by ₹7,900
₹3 lakh₹1,28,900✓ Better₹1,12,700Axis Magnus by ₹16,200
₹3.25 lakh₹1,46,500✓ Better₹1,22,100Axis Magnus by ₹24,400
₹3.5 lakh₹1,64,200✓ Better₹1,31,500Axis Magnus by ₹32,700
₹3.75 lakh₹1,81,800✓ Better₹1,40,900Axis Magnus by ₹40,900
₹4 lakh₹1,99,400✓ Better₹1,50,200Axis Magnus by ₹49,200
₹4.25 lakh₹2,17,100✓ Better₹1,59,600Axis Magnus by ₹57,500
₹4.5 lakh₹2,34,700✓ Better₹1,69,000Axis Magnus by ₹65,700
₹4.75 lakh₹2,52,400✓ Better₹1,78,400Axis Magnus by ₹74,000
₹5 lakh₹2,70,000✓ Better₹1,87,800Axis Magnus by ₹82,200
How we work out the yearly value

We put each card through the same everyday mix of spending, apply that card's own rules for each kind of spend (some earn nothing on fuel or bills), add its milestone and renewal bonuses at our value per point, and take off the fee unless that spend waives it. Bonus categories that need you to shop a certain way are not counted. Your own mix will differ: try your numbers in the calculator, or read how we value cards.

Before you choose

Transfer partners 27 and 22

Axis Magnus's Axis EDGE Reward Points move to 27 airline and hotel partners; HDFC Infinia Metal's HDFC Reward Points move to 22.

The best-known partners both reach (points : miles)
PartnerAxis MagnusHDFC Infinia Metal
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer5:21:1
Finnair Plus (Avios)5:11:1
Qatar Airways Privilege Club (Avios)5:12:1

Only Axis Magnus: Ethiopian ShebaMiles, Hilton Honors, IndiGo BluChip.

Only HDFC Infinia Metal: Marriott Bonvoy, Avianca LifeMiles, Club ITC.

Every partner and ratio is on each card's page; the best value for your points is on the transfer optimizer.

Watch out 6 points

Axis Magnus

  • The up-to-25,000 EDGE Miles monthly milestone is gone — the accelerated tier is all that's left
  • Marriott is still gone and ITC left the 25 Sep 2026 grid. Accor returned, but at 5:1 with BA, Finnair, Qatar, Cathay, IndiGo and Lotusmiles — not the 5:2 standard
  • Since Jun-2025 the 35/₹200 tier caps at (credit limit + ₹1.5L) a calendar month — spend past that ceiling drops back to 12 per ₹200, so recycling is dead

6 more on its page

HDFC Infinia Metal

  • SmartBuy monthly caps (15,000 RP/mo + a 3,000 RP/mo voucher sub-cap) limit the very best value
  • Two different bars, don't confuse them: ₹10L waives the ₹12,500 fee (HDFC's own page); a SEPARATE, HARDER rule keeps the card. HDFC's bank-wide MITC v4.7 carries it in writing — "Effective 1st April 2026, continued access to the Infinia programme will be aligned to a minimum Card spend or Relationship value": ₹18 lakh of Infinia spend (primary + add-ons) OR ₹50 lakh relationship value, per financial year
  • And that test RECURS every financial year, with closure at the end of it. The MITC's own words: fail it and HDFC "will offer the next best alternate card variant basis customer consent. If otherwise, customer can opt to close their card or Bank will close the existing credit card with prior intimation via SMS and/or email, with a minimum notice period of 30 days." This is a written closure right on a 30-day clock, not the soft downgrade the 2026 press coverage described

2 more on its page

Common questions 5 answered

Which is better, Axis Magnus or HDFC Infinia Metal?

Below ₹2.75 lakh a month HDFC Infinia Metal is the better card; from ₹2.75 lakh up, Axis Magnus takes over, and by ₹5 lakh a month it is ₹82,200 a year ahead. At ₹75,000 a month most of HDFC Infinia Metal's edge is its milestone and renewal bonuses, worth ₹12,500 a year, where Axis Magnus pays none at that spend. Pick Axis Magnus instead if you want to move points to airlines and hotels: its points reach 27 transfer partners to HDFC Infinia Metal's 22. HDFC Infinia Metal is by invitation only; Axis Magnus is the one you can apply for directly.

Axis Magnus or HDFC Infinia Metal: which is worth more at ₹3 lakh a month?

Axis Magnus beats HDFC Infinia Metal by ₹16,200 a year at ₹3 lakh a month. Both figures are a year's rewards and bonuses on an everyday spending mix, after the fee.

Which costs less to get, Axis Magnus or HDFC Infinia Metal?

They cost the same: ₹12,500/yr. Axis Magnus waives its fee if you spend ₹25,00,000 a year; HDFC Infinia Metal waives its fee if you spend ₹10,00,000 a year.

Which gets you into more airport lounges, Axis Magnus or HDFC Infinia Metal?

HDFC Infinia Metal: 720 of the 792 lounges we track, against 667 for Axis Magnus. Visit limits and guest charges differ by card; each card's page lists them.

How current is this comparison?

Axis Magnus was last checked against its bank's own documents on 10 Oct 2026, HDFC Infinia Metal on 25 Oct 2026. Every figure here is worked out again from those records each time the site is built, so a change to either card shows up the day we log it.

Get the Monday mail: every fee and devaluation that moved on these cards and the rest, in ₹.

Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe. Privacy

Sources

Axis Magnus was last checked against its bank's own documents on 10 Oct 2026, HDFC Infinia Metal on 25 Oct 2026. Every fact above comes from these 27 documents; the banks' own are marked official. A fact a bank does not publish shows as "not published", never as zero.

The documents 27 sources
  1. Official Magnus revision T&C PDF (eff. 20-Jun-2025) — 12 EDGE REWARD Points per ₹200 up to ₹1.5L a calendar month, 35 per ₹200 above it only up to (credit limit + ₹1.5L) read
  2. Official Axis Bank Magnus product page — welcome voucher worth ₹12,500 (Luxe, The Postcard Hotels or Yatra), unlimited domestic lounge visits read
  3. Official Axis Bank Key Fact Sheet, updated 12-Aug-2026 — Magnus joining ₹12,500 / annual ₹12,500 (Nil for a Burgundy Salary Account opened on or after 1 Jul 2026) read
  4. Official Axis's Magnus-specific revision notice — effective 28 Aug 2026: "Dynamic Currency Conversion markup will be revised to 2% from 1.5%" read
  5. Official Axis Bank Domestic Airport Lounge Access Program — Magnus sits in Set B with unlimited complimentary access, and is NOT on the list of cards exempted from the ₹50,000 read
  6. Official Axis Bank Points/Miles Transfer ratio table — "Reserve & Magnus credit card: 5 EDGE REWARD Points = 2 Partner Points", against 5:4 for Burgundy Private and Magnus for Burgundy read
  7. Community CardExpert review (portal earn + transfer caps) read
  8. Community CardInsider review read
  9. Community Apr-2026 partner purge read
  10. Community CardMaven — card network Visa Infinite (Mastercard World variant also issued) read
  11. Community CardMaven forum — Magnus RuPay live (Oct–Dec 2025), same fee & rewards read
  12. Community CardInsider forex table — Magnus 2% forex markup (below the 3.5% Axis standard) read
  13. Official Axis Bank master MITC for credit cards — the fees, charges and terms this card's MITC row is read from read
  14. Official Product page — "Joining Fee: ₹12,500 plus Applicable Taxes / Renewal Fee: ₹12,500 plus Applicable Taxes / Fee Waiver: Spend ₹10 lakh or more in a year before the renewal date" read
  15. Official Fees & charges / MITC PDF (Version 2.5, Mar-2025) — KFS table gives Infinia (Metal Edition) ₹12,500 fee, "₹10 Lakh / Annum" waiver and a 2% foreign-currency markup read
  16. Community CardExpert — ₹18L/FY spend OR ₹50L relationship value to KEEP the card (1-Apr-2026), and the same article dates the fee revisions to 15-May-2026: DCC markup read
  17. Community LiveFromALounge reproduces HDFC's own letter to cardholders — the two criteria verbatim, "Infinia Card Spends of INR 18,00,000" read
  18. Community Business Today (26-Feb-2026) — independent corroboration that HDFC emailed the ₹18L-spend (primary + add-on cards) or ₹50L relationship-value criteria read
  19. Official SmartBuy core-offer T&C (window 01-09-2026 to 30-09-2026) — Infinia earns 5X on Flights, 10X on Hotels and 5X on Brand Vouchers read
  20. Community CardInsider — SmartBuy 15k cap + 3k voucher sub-cap (Jul-2026) read
  21. Community TechnoFino — Infinia issued on Visa Infinite and Mastercard World (no RuPay) read
  22. Community TechnoFino — DCB→Infinia upgrade route; ₹12L limit + spend reported to stand in for salary read
  23. Community CardInsider forex table — Infinia 2% forex markup (below the 3.5% norm; the separate DCC markup on INR-billed foreign spends went 1% → 1.75% on 15-May-2026) read
  24. Official HDFC's own 15-May-2026 revision notice — states in writing that Infinia's reward accrual did NOT change, and sets the 1.75% DCC markup and the ₹3,500 metal re-issuance fee read
  25. Official HDFC Bank Key Fact Statement cum MITC v4.15 (October 2026), section E(v) — the ₹18L/₹50L retention test and the bank's right to close the card on 30 days' notice read
  26. Official HDFC Bank Rewards Points Program T&C — the fuel, rent, government, wallet and EMI exclusions, the monthly category and redemption caps, and a 2,00,000-RP earn ceiling a statement cycle read
  27. Official Infinia Airport Lounge Access Program (30-Sep-2025) — unlimited Indian lounges on the card itself; Priority Pass complimentary at lounges outside India read

Report a wrong fact on this page