ICICI Signature vs Axis Primus Credit Card: Comparing the Rs 2,000 and Rs 3 Lakh Annual Fees
The Axis Primus charges a ₹3 lakh annual fee, while the ICICI Signature charges a much lower ₹2,000 annual fee. Compare their base reward rates, fuel cashback rules, and domestic airport lounge access limits to see how these two credit cards differ.
By Qrates research desk · 2026-10-27
An ICICI Signature vs Axis Primus credit card comparison comes down to a massive gap in upfront costs. The Axis Primus charges a ₹3 lakh annual fee, while the ICICI Signature charges ₹2,000 (Qrates directory). You can check the latest fees and reward limits directly on the ICICI Signature Credit Card and the Axis Primus Credit Card Qrates pages.
Quick answer: ICICI Signature vs Axis Primus credit card
The Axis Primus charges a ₹3 lakh annual fee. The ICICI Signature charges a much lower ₹2,000 annual fee.
The ICICI Signature offers an 8.0% base reward rate. It also provides two domestic lounge visits a year.
The Axis Primus offers a 5.0% base reward rate. It provides zero lounge visits.
At a glance: Fees, rewards and lounge access
You can compare money apps side by side on our compare page, but here is how these two credit cards stack up based on Qrates directory facts. Before applying, it is wise to learn how airport lounge access on credit cards works in India to understand the current rules.
| Feature | ICICI Signature Credit Card | Axis Primus Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Joining fee | ₹25,000 | ₹5 lakh |
| Annual fee | ₹2,000 | ₹3 lakh |
| Base reward rate | 8.0% | 5.0% |
| Domestic lounge visits | 2 a year | None |
| International lounge visits | 0 a year | None |
The massive difference in joining and annual fees
The Axis Primus requires a ₹5 lakh joining fee. It then charges a ₹3 lakh annual fee every year after your first year.
The ICICI Signature requires a ₹25,000 joining fee. Its annual fee drops to ₹2,000 in the following years.
An 18% GST applies to all credit card fee figures. The government adds this tax to the fees charged by both ICICI Bank and Axis Bank. If you are ever unsure about specific costs, read a credit card MITC document to find hidden charges before signing up.
Reward rates and category exclusions
ICICI Hand-picked Rewards
The ICICI Signature gives an 8.0% reward rate on base spends. It matches this 8.0% rate on your utility, insurance, and grocery payments.
The card gives 0.0% on fuel, rent, and government spends. You earn zero rewards when you use this card in those excluded categories.
Axis EDGE Miles
The Axis Primus gives a 5.0% reward rate across base spends. It offers this exact same rate on dining, travel, grocery, fuel, utilities, and insurance.
This means the card does not exclude fuel from its reward program. You earn the same rate at the petrol pump as you do on regular shopping. If you plan to use these cards abroad, be sure to review the forex markup on credit cards in India to avoid unexpected costs.
Airport lounge access in 2026
The ICICI Signature includes two domestic lounge visits a year. It provides zero international visits.
The Axis Primus includes zero domestic lounge visits. It also provides zero international visits.
Who each one suits, by need
- If keeping annual fees low matters to you, note that the ICICI Signature costs ₹2,000 a year compared to ₹3 lakh for the Axis Primus.
- If earning rewards on fuel matters to you, note that the Axis Primus gives 5.0% while the ICICI Signature gives 0.0%.
- If domestic lounge access matters to you, note that the ICICI Signature includes two visits a year while the Axis Primus includes none.
FAQs
Which is better ICICI Signature or Axis Primus?
The choice depends on your fee tolerance and your specific spending categories. The Axis Primus costs ₹3 lakh a year and gives 5.0% on fuel, while the ICICI Signature costs ₹2,000 a year and gives 0.0% on fuel. The ICICI card includes two domestic lounge visits a year, and the Axis card includes none.
Axis Primus credit card ki annual fee kitni hai?
The Axis Primus annual fee is ₹3 lakh. The bank also adds an 18% GST to this amount.
ICICI Signature credit card me lounge access milta hai kya?
Yes, the ICICI Signature provides two domestic lounge visits a year. It offers zero international lounge visits.
What is the reward rate of Axis Primus credit card?
The Axis Primus base reward rate is 5.0%. It gives this same 5.0% rate on dining, travel, grocery, fuel, utilities, and insurance.
The short version
- The Axis Primus has a much higher fee structure at ₹3 lakh annually compared to ₹2,000 for the ICICI Signature.
- The ICICI Signature provides a higher base reward rate of 8.0% but excludes fuel, rent, and government spends.
- The Axis Primus provides a flat 5.0% reward rate across most categories including fuel.
Sources
- GST on Credit Card EMI, Impact, Charges and Tax Details
- Credit Cards - Upcoming changes to Credit Card features and charges
- ICICI Signature Credit Card: fees, rewards and lounge access | Qrates
- Axis Primus Credit Card: fees, rewards and lounge access | Qrates
- Home | Official website of Reserve Bank of India
- sosc credit cards (PDF, axis.bank.in)
- terms and conditions generic all (PDF, campaign.axis.bank.in)
- 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
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.