HDFC Infinia vs ICICI Signature: Eligibility, fees and 2026 reward rules
HDFC Infinia charges a ₹12,500 joining fee and offers up to 33.3% rewards on travel and shopping. ICICI Signature charges a ₹25,000 joining fee and offers a flat 8.0% reward rate on base spends, utilities, and groceries. Compare their annual fees, income eligibility, and lounge access rules.
By Qrates research desk · 2026-10-28
HDFC Bank Infinia charges a ₹12,500 joining fee and offers up to 33.3% rewards on travel and shopping. ICICI Signature charges a ₹25,000 joining fee and offers a flat 8.0% reward rate on base spends, utilities, and groceries. HDFC requires a minimum income of ₹36 lakh a year and a 750 CIBIL score, while ICICI includes two domestic lounge visits a year compared to zero for Infinia.
At a glance: HDFC Infinia vs ICICI Signature
You can check the latest figures on the Qrates pages for the ICICI Signature Credit Card and the HDFC Bank Infinia Credit Card.
| Feature | HDFC Bank Infinia | ICICI Signature |
|---|---|---|
| Joining fee | ₹12,500 | ₹25,000 |
| Annual fee | ₹12,500 | ₹2,000 |
| Base reward rate | 3.33% | 8.0% |
| Travel and shopping | 33.3% | 8.0% |
| Utility and grocery | 3.33% | 8.0% |
| Domestic lounge visits | 0 a year | 2 a year |
| Minimum income | ₹36 lakh a year | Not specified |
| Minimum CIBIL | 750 | Not specified |
Joining and annual fees compared
The ICICI Signature Credit Card requires a ₹25,000 joining fee (Qrates directory). This is double the upfront cost of the HDFC card. The HDFC Bank Infinia Credit Card charges a ₹12,500 joining fee (Qrates directory).
Both banks add 18% GST to these joining fees. The tax adds ₹4,500 to the ICICI Signature upfront cost. It adds ₹2,250 to the HDFC Infinia upfront cost.
The recurring costs show a different pattern. ICICI Signature carries a ₹2,000 annual fee (Qrates directory). HDFC Infinia charges a much higher ₹12,500 annual fee (Qrates directory).
HDFC waives the ₹12,500 annual fee if you spend ₹10 lakh in a year (Qrates directory). This requires an average monthly spend of about ₹83,333 to qualify for the waiver. ICICI Bank does not offer a spend-based waiver for the Signature card in the directory data.
Reward rates and categories
HDFC Infinia reward points value
HDFC Infinia offers a 3.33% base reward rate on regular spends (Qrates directory). This applies to most everyday purchases. The card focuses heavily on specific lifestyle categories.
The reward rate increases to 33.3% for travel and shopping spends (Qrates directory). This makes it highly rewarding for booking flights or buying electronics. The high rate is restricted to these specific categories.
HDFC limits grocery, insurance, utilities, and telecom rewards to the 3.33% base rate (Qrates directory). You will not earn the premium 33.3% rate on these household bills. A ₹10,000 utility bill yields rewards at the 3.33% base rate.
ICICI Signature base and category rewards
ICICI Signature takes a flat-rate approach to its rewards program. It offers an 8.0% base reward rate through its Hand-picked Rewards structure (Qrates directory). This is more than double the base rate of the HDFC Infinia card. You can also explore ICICI Signature vs Axis Primus Credit Card: Comparing the Rs 2,000 and Rs 3 Lakh Annual Fees to see how it stacks up against other premium options.
ICICI maintains this 8.0% rate for utility, insurance, and grocery spends (Qrates directory). This makes it rewarding for regular household expenses. A ₹10,000 grocery bill earns the full 8.0% reward rate.
The ICICI card excludes several spending categories entirely. The reward rate drops to 0.0% for fuel, rent, and government payments (Qrates directory). You earn nothing when swiping the card for these expenses.
Lounge access and eligibility rules
ICICI Signature provides two domestic airport lounge visits a year (Qrates directory). It provides zero international lounge visits. This offers basic domestic travel comfort. If you travel often, understanding how airport lounge access on credit cards works in India is essential for maximizing your card benefits.
HDFC Infinia provides zero domestic and zero international lounge visits (Qrates directory). You will need a separate priority pass or a different card to access airport lounges.
HDFC enforces strict financial eligibility rules for the Infinia card. The bank requires a minimum income of ₹36 lakh a year (Qrates directory). You must also maintain a CIBIL score of at least 750. Before applying, you might want to use credit score apps in India to verify your current standing.
ICICI Bank does not publish a strict minimum income or CIBIL score requirement for the Signature card in the directory data. Approval depends on internal bank policies and your existing relationship with ICICI.
Who each one suits, by need
If travel rewards matter to you, note that HDFC Infinia offers 33.3% on travel compared to the 8.0% base rate on ICICI Signature.
If domestic lounge access matters to you, note that ICICI Signature includes two visits a year while HDFC Infinia includes none.
If a lower recurring cost matters to you, note that ICICI charges a ₹2,000 annual fee compared to the ₹12,500 annual fee on HDFC Infinia. It is always wise to read a credit card MITC document to find hidden charges before committing to high annual fees.
If household bills are your main expense, note that ICICI offers 8.0% on utilities and groceries compared to the 3.33% rate from HDFC.
If you want to avoid a high initial cost, note that HDFC charges ₹12,500 to join while ICICI charges ₹25,000.
FAQs
What is the limit of HDFC Infinia credit card?
HDFC Bank assigns credit limits based on your income and credit profile. The bank does not publish a fixed maximum limit for the Infinia card. Higher incomes generally result in higher assigned limits.
Is ICICI Signature credit card lifetime free?
No, the ICICI Signature Credit Card is not lifetime free. It carries a ₹25,000 joining fee and a ₹2,000 annual fee (Qrates directory). Both fees attract an additional 18% GST.
What is the foreign markup fee for HDFC Infinia?
HDFC Bank charges a markup fee on all foreign currency transactions. The bank applies this percentage to the transaction value when you spend outside India. You can check the current exact percentage in the bank's official pricing terms.
Can I upgrade from ICICI Signature to Emeralde?
ICICI Bank allows card upgrades based on your spending history and internal eligibility criteria. The bank reviews your profile to see if you meet the requirements for the premium Emeralde tier. You can check your upgrade options through the mobile app or internet banking portal.
The short version
- HDFC Infinia costs ₹12,500 to join and requires a ₹36 lakh annual income.
- HDFC Infinia focuses heavily on travel and shopping rewards with a 33.3% rate.
- ICICI Signature costs ₹25,000 to join and carries a lower ₹2,000 annual fee.
- ICICI Signature offers a flat 8.0% reward rate across base spends, utilities, and groceries.
- ICICI Signature provides two domestic lounge visits a year, while HDFC Infinia provides none.
Sources
- Infinia Credit Card Fees & Charges Online | HDFC Bank
- Metal Credit Card - Apply for Infinia Card Metal Edition | HDFC Bank
- ICICI Signature Credit Card: fees, rewards and lounge access | Qrates
- HDFC Bank Infinia Credit Card : fees, rewards and lounge access | Qrates
- Credit Card Changes in 2026: Fees & Rewards | Card Express
- SmartSpend Blog: Credit Card Devaluations, Rule Changes & Reward Guides
- Two Premium Cards, Two Philosophies: Choosing Between HDFC Infinia and ICICI Emeralde
- HDFC vs ICICI Bank Credit Cards - Features, Benefits, and Comparison
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.