Axis Primus Credit Card vs IDFC Gaj Credit Card: Fees and rewards compared
Axis Primus costs ₹3 lakh a year and gives a flat 5.0% reward rate across most categories. IDFC Gaj costs ₹12,500 a year, gives up to 33.33% on hotels, and includes 4 domestic and 4 international lounge visits a year. Compare their exact fees and rewards.
By Qrates research desk · 2026-10-31
At a glance: Fees, rewards and lounge access
You can check the latest figures on the Axis Primus Credit Card and IDFC Gaj: Credit Card pages in the Qrates directory. Comparing the base facts side by side shows exactly where your money goes. The table below lists the core numbers for both cards.
| Feature | Axis Primus Credit Card | IDFC Gaj: Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Joining fee | ₹5 lakh | ₹12,500 |
| Annual fee | ₹3 lakh | ₹12,500 |
| Base reward rate | 5.0% | 3.33% |
| Domestic lounge visits | 0 | 4 a year |
| International lounge visits | 0 | 4 a year |
Readers looking to browse other options can check all credit cards in India on Qrates.
The fee gap: ₹3 lakh vs ₹12,500 a year
Axis Primus charges a ₹5 lakh joining fee and a ₹3 lakh annual fee, plus 18% GST (Qrates directory). IDFC Gaj charges ₹12,500 to join and ₹12,500 to renew, plus 18% GST. The difference in annual fees is ₹2,87,500 before taxes.
IDFC Gaj waives the annual fee if you spend ₹10 lakh in a year. Axis Primus does not list an annual fee waiver condition in its directory facts. You pay the ₹3 lakh fee every year regardless of your total spending volume.
Reward rates: Flat 5.0% vs category multipliers
Axis Primus EDGE Miles
Axis Primus offers a flat 5.0% reward rate on base spends. It maintains this 5.0% rate across dining, travel, grocery, and fuel categories. A flat reward structure means you earn the same return no matter where you spend.
The card also gives 5.0% on utilities and insurance. Many premium cards exclude or heavily cap these specific categories. Axis Primus gives the exact same return on a utility bill as it does on a flight ticket.
IDFC Gaj travel multipliers
IDFC Gaj offers a 3.33% base reward rate. The card jumps to 33.33% on hotels and 16.67% on flights. High returns on travel bookings make this card heavily focused on holiday spending.
The reward rate drops significantly for daily household bills. IDFC Gaj drops to 0.67% on UPI, insurance, and utilities. It offers a 2.0% reward rate on forex markup fees transactions.
Airport lounge access and travel perks
IDFC Gaj includes 4 domestic and 4 international lounge visits a year. Axis Primus includes zero domestic and zero international lounge visits in its base directory facts. Default lounge access limits heavily favour the cheaper card. You can learn more about how lounge access works to understand these benefits.
This means a card with a ₹12,500 fee offers standard airport access that a card with a ₹3 lakh fee does not. You will need to check if Axis Bank offers lounge access through a separate external membership program. The card itself provides zero direct visits.
Who each one suits, by need
Your spending patterns decide which fee structure makes mathematical sense. The right card depends entirely on where your money goes every month.
If you want to compare other premium cards, you can read about the Axis Primus vs HDFC Infinia or see how IDFC Gaj compares to ICICI Signature to weigh your options.
If a flat 5.0% return on all spends including utilities and insurance matters to you, note that Axis Primus offers this for a ₹3 lakh fee. You need massive yearly spending to recover that upfront cost.
If high returns on hotel and flight bookings matter to you, note that IDFC Gaj offers up to 33.33% for a ₹12,500 fee. If airport lounge access matters to you, note that IDFC Gaj includes 4 visits a year and Axis Primus includes none. You can use the Qrates tool to find a credit card for your spending if neither fits your exact needs.
FAQs
Axis Primus ki annual fee kitni hai?
The annual fee for Axis Primus is ₹3 lakh plus 18% GST. You also pay a ₹5 lakh joining fee when you first get the card.
Axis Primus card me kitne lounge access milte hai?
The card includes zero domestic and zero international lounge visits in its base directory facts. You do not get default airport lounge access directly on this card.
Is IDFC Gaj credit card lifetime free?
No, it carries a ₹12,500 annual fee plus taxes. The bank waives this annual fee if you spend ₹10 lakh in a year.
What is the forex markup on IDFC Gaj credit card?
The card offers a 2.0% reward rate on forex spends. You must check the official bank terms for the exact markup fee applied to these international transactions.
The short version
- Axis Primus requires massive spending to recover its ₹3 lakh annual fee through its 5.0% flat reward rate.
- IDFC Gaj recovers its ₹12,500 fee faster through travel multipliers like 33.33% on hotels.
- IDFC Gaj offers a clear ₹10 lakh waiver path for its annual fee.
- Axis Primus includes zero default lounge visits, while IDFC Gaj includes 4 domestic and 4 international visits a year.
Sources
- Axis Primus Credit Card: fees, rewards and lounge access | Qrates
- IDFC Gaj: Credit Card: fees, rewards and lounge access | Qrates
- IDFC Gaj Card TC Revised dec25 v3 dec24 (PDF, idfcfirst.bank.in)
- Axis Bank changed its credit card rules, here's what's different from August 28
- Axis Primus Credit Card - 5 most elite credit cards in India: Joining fees go up to ₹5 lakh; what do you get? | The Economic Times
- Axis Bank Primus Credit Card - Invite-Only Luxury | SaveSage Club
- Gaj: Credit Card Review 2026 | CreditCardHunt.in
- What Is the GST Rate for a Credit Card?
Disclaimer
Qrates is an information directory. It takes no commission from any company listed and does not recommend products. Figures are taken from the sources named and dated, and they change; check the company's own page before you decide. This is not investment, credit, insurance or tax advice for your situation.