Axis vs RBL Credit Cards: Everyday Cashback Against RBL's Zero-Forex World Safari
4 November 2026 · BestCard Editorial Team
Axis Bank has the deeper cashback range. RBL has three World Safari cards with a 0% forex markup, which Axis offers only on its lifetime-free Scapia card and not on any travel card below the ₹12,500 Magnus. The two banks barely overlap on strengths, which makes the choice easier than it first looks.
Online shopping and cashback
Axis's Flipkart card is ₹500, waived at ₹3.5 lakh, with 5% on Flipkart and Cleartrip capped at ₹4,000 a quarter and 4% on partners like Swiggy and Uber. The ACE is ₹499 with 5% on utilities capped at ₹500 a month, 4% on dining and travel and 1.5% on everything else. The Axis Cashback card is ₹1,000, with 5% on online spend up to ₹4,000 a month.
RBL's ShopRite pays 5% on groceries capped at ₹250 a month for ₹500 a year. The Apex is ₹1,000 and pays 2% on travel and online shopping, uncapped. The Jalsa RuPay is ₹999 with 5% on online spend capped at ₹500 a month.
Axis leads, with broader and higher-ceiling cashback.
Zero forex and travel cards
The RBL World Safari is ₹3,000, waived at ₹3 lakh, with 0% forex, two domestic lounge visits a quarter, Priority Pass with two international visits a year and a 5% rate on travel. The Lite is ₹1,000, and the Plus is ₹6,000 with four international visits. International spend on the standard Safari does not earn travel points.
Axis's Atlas is ₹5,000 with a 3.5% forex markup, tiered lounge access and miles transferable to partners. The Horizon is ₹3,000, also at 3.5%, with up to eight domestic visits a quarter on the Visa variant. For a traveller who spends a lot abroad, a 3.5% markup is a real cost, and RBL leads on that cost.
Axis leads when the goal is earning transferable miles.
Fuel
RBL's IndianOil card is ₹500 and pays 5% on fuel capped at ₹500 a month. The XTRA is ₹1,500 and pays 7.5% capped at ₹1,000 a month, waived at ₹2.75 lakh. Axis's IndianOil card is ₹500 with 4% on fuel, and the IndianOil Axis Premium is ₹1,000 with 4% capped at ₹15,000 of monthly spend, waived at ₹30,000. RBL's XTRA offers the highest fuel rate in either lineup. RBL leads on the headline percentage, and Axis's Premium card is the one to check if you want a rate that applies to a large monthly fuel bill.
Premium and super-premium
Axis has the Magnus at ₹12,500, Olympus at ₹20,000 and Reserve at ₹50,000. RBL's Icon is ₹5,000, its Nova is ₹12,500 with 12 domestic and 12 international visits a year and a 2% forex markup, and the invite-only LUMIÈRE is ₹50,000 with zero forex. Nova is a credible alternative to Magnus if you want a fixed lounge count and a 6% travel rate. Magnus wins if you want unlimited access and flexible points.
How to choose
If you shop on Flipkart or pay lots of utility bills by UPI, Axis. If you spend abroad regularly and want a mid-priced card, RBL's World Safari. If your car runs on IndianOil, compare the XTRA with Axis's Premium card on your actual monthly fuel spend. If you hold only one card, Axis's cashback range is the more useful default.
Where to go next
Our Axis Bank credit cards guide and RBL Bank credit cards guide cover each lineup in depth. For a comparison with a different bank, read Kotak vs Axis credit cards.
Related reading
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