Credit cards have always fascinated me with the many rewards and benefits they offer. However, I could never decide which one would be the best fit for my lifestyle and spending needs.
My passion for online shopping and food drew me to Axis Bank’s Flipkart co-branded credit card when it launched in 2019.
Just as I had made up my mind to apply for it, HDFC announced the launch of the Tata Neu Plus Credit Card. Now I was confused again. The Tata Neu Plus Card also had attractive rewards on Tata brand purchases which make up a significant portion of my monthly expenses.
I decided to do a detailed comparison of these two cards on parameters like fees, rewards, offers, and eligibility before taking the plunge. This comparison is a result of the extensive research I did to determine which credit card would maximize savings and value for my spending patterns.
In this blog, I will take you through a comprehensive feature-by-feature comparison between the Axis Flipkart and HDFC Tata Neu Plus Credit Card. We will evaluate which one comes out on top across fees, rewards, benefits, and eligibility.
So without further ado, let’s get started with breaking down all the fees and charges first.
Fees
The first thing to evaluate is the fee structure on both cards:
| Charges | Axis Flipkart | HDFC Tata Neu Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Joining Fee | Rs. 500 + 18% GST | Rs. 499 + Applicable Taxes |
| Annual Fee | Rs. 500 + 18% GST (waived on Rs. 2 lakhs annual spend) | Rs. 499 + Applicable Taxes (waived on Rs. 1 lakh annual spend) |
- Both cards have similar joining and annual fees in the range of Rs. 500.
- The annual fee waiver is easier to achieve on the Neu Plus card with a lower annual spend requirement of Rs. 1 lakh compared to Rs. 2 lakhs on the Flipkart card.
It may be more economical to use the Neu Plus card if you do not spend more than Rs. 1-2 lakhs annually.
Welcome Benefits
The next aspect is the welcome benefits you get on signing up:
Benefit
Axis Flipkart
HDFC Tata Neu Plus
Flipkart Voucher
Rs. 500
–
Myntra Cashback
15% upto Rs. 500
–
NeuCoins
–
499 (worth Rs. 499)
- The Flipkart card clearly wins when it comes to welcome benefits with vouchers worth Rs. 1000 compared to 499 NeuCoins on the Neu Plus card.
- For frequent Flipkart/Myntra shoppers, these vouchers can offset a major chunk of the annual fee in the first year itself.
- Many customers have received Axis Bank Flipkart credit cards as LTF.
Rewards Structure
The rewards rate on different categories of spending is where these cards differ significantly:
Flipkart Card Rewards
- 5% cashback – On Flipkart, Myntra
- 4% cashback – Swiggy, BookMyShow, Uber, CureFit
- 1.5% cashback – All other spends
Neu Plus Card Rewards
- 2% NeuCoins – Tata brand purchases
- 1% NeuCoins – All other spend
There is only one thing better, if you spend on Tata New Plus you get an additional 5% cashback, so overall spending is (2%+5%)=7%, which is better than Axis Bank Flipkart Credit cards.
Clearly, the Flipkart card provides higher rewards on online shopping and entertainment with 5% and 4% cashback respectively.
The Neu Plus card offers better rewards (2% vs 1.5%) only on Tata brand purchases. On all other spends, the Flipkart card gives 1.5% cashback compared to just 1% NeuCoins on the Neu Plus card.
For heavy online shoppers, a Flipkart card would provide more value. For someone with significant monthly spending on Tata brands, the Neu Plus card can be better.
Other Benefits
Some of the other key benefits offered on both cards:
Benefit
Axis Flipkart
HDFC Tata Neu Plus
Lounge Access
4 per year
4 per year
Fuel Surcharge Waiver
1% upto Rs. 500
1% upto Rs. 250
Dining Offers
20% off at partner restaurants
–
EMI Conversion
Available
Available
- Both cards provide 4 domestic lounge accesses per year
- The Flipkart card has an incremental benefit in the form of dining offers providing 20% off at partner restaurants.
- The fuel surcharge waiver is slightly higher on the Flipkart card at 1% up to Rs. 500 compared to Rs. 250 per month on the Neu Plus card.
The rest of the benefits are largely similar between the two cards.
Eligibility Criteria
There isn’t much differentiation in the eligibility criteria:
- Age – 21-65 years
- Income – Min Rs. 25,000 per month
Both cards have identical eligibility norms for prospective applicants.
Verdict
| Best Suited For | Recommended Card |
|---|---|
| Heavy online shoppers | Axis Flipkart |
| Tata brand loyalists | HDFC Tata Neu Plus |
| Diners/Movie-goers | Axis Flipkart |
| General spends | HDFC Tata Neu Plus |
As a summary, here are some recommendations for which card may be best for each type of customer:
- For heavy online shoppers on Flipkart & Myntra, the Axis Flipkart card offers better value with its high cashback.
- For Tata brand loyalists, the HDFC Tata Neu Plus card provides better rewards of 2% NeuCoins.
- Diners and movie-goers can benefit from the Flipkart card’s offers at partner restaurants and on BookMyShow.
- For general spending and expenses, the Neu Plus card is more versatile.
So evaluate your monthly spending patterns and choose the card that best optimizes your rewards.
I hope this detailed feature-by-feature comparison helps you decide between these two excellent credit cards. Do let me know if you have any other questions.
You can Apply HDFC Tata Neu Plus Here.
