HDFC vs Bank of Baroda Credit Cards: The Cheapest Lounge Access Against the Biggest Ladder

HDFC Bank has the larger lineup and the stronger flagship cards. BOBCARD has a handful of cards that beat HDFC on a specific number for lower money, and the interesting part of this comparison is finding which ones.

Lounge access for the money

BOB Eterna costs ₹2,499 (waived at ₹2.5 lakh) and lists unlimited complimentary domestic lounge access, 3.75% on travel, dining and online under monthly caps, 2% forex and a ₹1,00,000 floor. Tiara is the RuPay version at the same fee. HDFC Regalia Gold costs ₹2,500 (waived at ₹4 lakh), with 2% forex and a ₹1,50,000 floor, while Diners Club Privilege costs ₹1,000 with 2 domestic and 1 international visits. For domestic lounge use on a mid-range income, Eterna looks like the best deal in this pair. Read our BOB Eterna review and Tiara review.

HPCL fuel card

HPCL Bank of Baroda ENERGIE costs ₹499 (waived at ₹50,000) and lists 6.5% on fuel with a monthly spend cap of ₹4,000 and a ₹15,000 floor. HDFC IndianOil costs ₹500 (waived at ₹50,000) and lists 5% on fuel under a ₹250 monthly cap, with a ₹12,000 floor. The fees are almost identical, and ENERGIE has the higher rate and a larger cap, so fuel is a clear BOBCARD win for HPCL customers. HDFC wins if IndianOil is your pump. See the HDFC IndianOil review.

Cashback and train travel

BOBCARD Cashback costs ₹499 and lists 5% online under a ₹1,500 monthly cap, with a ₹20,000 floor. HDFC Millennia costs ₹1,000 (waived at ₹1 lakh) and lists 5% online under a ₹1,000 cap with a ₹35,000 floor. BOB's card costs half and has the higher cap, so a modest online spender saves money with it. Millennia has the wider network of redemption options. Swiggy (₹500) is HDFC's better answer for dining and food delivery, with 10% on dining under a ₹1,500 cap. See the HDFC Millennia review.

IRCTC BOBCARD costs ₹350, lists 10% on travel and 4 lounge visits. HDFC IRCTC costs ₹500 (waived at ₹1.5 lakh), lists 5% on travel under a ₹1,000 monthly cap and 8 lounge visits. BOB has the lower fee and higher rate on paper, HDFC the higher lounge count and a spend waiver. The HDFC IRCTC review walks through the cap.

Zero-forex travel and miles

BOBCARD Scapia has no annual fee, lists 4% on travel and 0% forex. Etihad Guest Premium costs ₹5,000 and lists 6% on travel, 0% forex and 12 domestic and 8 international lounge visits. HDFC's Infinia, Diners Black and Regalia Gold list 2%; its entry cards list 3.5%. For overseas spending at a low cost BOB is clearly ahead.

Super-premium and RuPay

BOB has nothing at Infinia's level. HDFC Infinia costs ₹12,500 (waived at ₹10 lakh, 3.33% base earn, ₹5,00,000 floor) and Diners Club Black ₹10,000. If you qualify, the question answers itself. Our HDFC Infinia review shows what the fee buys.

Both lineups are heavy on RuPay. HDFC has the UPI RuPay (₹99), Pixel Go (₹250), Pixel Play (₹500), PhonePe Uno and IRCTC. BOB has Easy, Classic, Cashback, Snapdeal, Varunah and Tiara. HDFC's cards usually pay more on UPI-era categories, and BOB's cost less.

Best match by need

Domestic flyer at a mid fee: BOB Eterna. HPCL driver: ENERGIE. Light online spender: BOBCARD Cashback. Wide spread of categories or brands: HDFC. Overseas spend on a budget: Scapia. Very high earner: Infinia.

Both guides and one more BOB review

See the HDFC credit cards guide and the Bank of Baroda credit cards guide. For BOB's own range, the BOB Premier review is a good next card to check.