IDFC Gaj vs ICICI Signature: Comparing a 12,500 rupee annual fee with a 25,000 rupee joining fee
The ICICI Signature Credit Card charges a ₹25,000 joining fee to give you an 8.0% reward rate on daily household spending. The IDFC Gaj Credit Card charges a recurring ₹12,500 annual fee but targets heavy travellers with 33.33% rewards on hotels and four international lounge visits a year.
By Qrates research desk · 2026-10-29
Quick answer: ICICI Signature vs IDFC Gaj Credit Card
The ICICI Signature Credit Card requires a ₹25,000 upfront joining fee (Qrates directory). In return, it gives a high 8.0% reward rate on daily household spending like groceries, utilities and insurance.
The IDFC Gaj: Credit Card charges ₹12,500 every year instead. It focuses heavily on travel by offering up to 33.33% rewards on hotels and four international lounge visits a year (Qrates directory).
The choice depends on whether you want to earn points on everyday bills or on flight and hotel bookings. You can also find a credit card for your spending if you want to explore other options.
At a glance: Fees, rewards and lounge access
| Feature | ICICI Signature | IDFC Gaj |
|---|---|---|
| Joining fee | ₹25,000 | ₹12,500 |
| Annual fee | ₹2,000 | ₹12,500 |
| Base reward rate | 8.0% | 3.33% |
| Domestic lounge visits | 2 a year | 4 a year |
| International lounge visits | 0 a year | 4 a year |
Note that an 18% GST applies to all credit card fees. You can verify the exact fee structures, reward category percentages and lounge access limits on the Qrates directory pages for the ICICI Signature Credit Card and the IDFC Gaj Credit Card.
Joining and annual fees compared
The ICICI Signature card requires a steep one-time joining fee of ₹25,000. From the second year, the annual fee drops to ₹2,000 (Qrates directory).
The IDFC Gaj card charges ₹12,500 every year. However, this annual fee is waived if you spend ₹10 lakh in a year on the card (Qrates directory). Before signing up, learn how to read a credit card MITC document to find hidden charges to ensure you understand the terms.
Reward points value: Daily spends vs travel bookings
ICICI Signature: 8% on groceries and utilities
The ICICI Signature card gives a flat 8.0% reward rate on base spends. This high rate also applies to your utility, insurance and grocery payments (Qrates directory). The card explicitly gives a 0.0% return on fuel, rent and government payments.
IDFC Gaj: 33.33% on hotels and 16.67% on flights
The IDFC Gaj card gives a lower 0.67% return on utilities, insurance and UPI payments. The value jumps when you travel, offering 33.33% on hotels and 16.67% on flights (Qrates directory). Neither card rewards fuel, rent or government payments.
Domestic and international lounge access
The IDFC Gaj card includes four domestic and four international lounge visits a year (Qrates directory). Understanding how airport lounge access on credit cards works in India can help you maximize these benefits.
The ICICI Signature card offers two domestic lounge visits a year. It includes zero international lounge visits (Qrates directory).
Who each card suits, by need
- If high rewards on daily household bills matter to you, note that the ICICI Signature card gives 8.0% on groceries, utilities and insurance.
- If travel perks and international lounge access matter to you, note that the IDFC Gaj card offers four global lounge visits a year and high reward multipliers on flights and hotels.
- If you want to avoid recurring high fees, note that the ICICI Signature card drops to ₹2,000 a year, while the IDFC Gaj card stays at ₹12,500 unless you hit the ₹10 lakh milestone.
FAQs
Is ICICI Signature credit card lifetime free?
The ICICI Signature card is not lifetime free. It has a ₹25,000 joining fee and a ₹2,000 annual fee (Qrates directory).
What is the reward rate for ICICI Signature card?
The base reward rate for the ICICI Signature card is 8.0%. This rate also applies to groceries, utilities and insurance (Qrates directory).
Are there any hidden charges in IDFC credit cards?
The IDFC Gaj card charges a published ₹12,500 annual fee plus an 18% GST. It also charges a 2.0% forex markup fee on international transactions (Qrates directory). If you travel abroad frequently, you might want to compare this with the forex markup on credit cards in India.
How to check lounge access on IDFC credit card?
You can check your available lounge visits in the IDFC FIRST Bank mobile app. This is located under the credit card benefits section.
The short version
- The ICICI Signature card requires a high upfront cost of ₹25,000 but rewards daily spending at 8.0% with a low ongoing annual fee.
- The IDFC Gaj card requires a recurring ₹12,500 fee unless waived by spending ₹10 lakh.
- The IDFC Gaj card rewards heavy travellers with up to 33.33% on hotels and includes international lounge access.
Sources
- ERROR404 (indusind.com)
- IDFC First Gaj Credit Card Review 2026
- ICICI Signature Credit Card: fees, rewards and lounge access | Qrates
- IDFC Gaj: Credit Card: fees, rewards and lounge access | Qrates
- Club Vistara IDFC FIRST Credit Card finally comes to a close, cardmembers to receive Diamond Reserve Card Lifetime Free - Live From A Lounge
- Home | Official website of Reserve Bank of India
- Credit card additions hit second-highest monthly level in 2026 as banks gear up for festive season - The Economic Times
- Press Release IDFC FIRST Bank introduces Zero Forex Markup across all its Credit Cards existing and new (PDF, idfcfirst.bank.in)
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.