6E Rewards - Indigo HDFC Bank Credit Card vs ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card Mastercard: Which is Better in 2026?
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In short: HDFC 6E Rewards - Indigo has the lower annual fee (₹500 vs ₹2,000); both charge a 3.5% forex markup.
| Key facts | HDFC 6E Rewards - Indigo | ICICI Rubyx |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹500 | ₹2,000 |
| Joining fee | ₹500 | ₹3,000 |
| Annual fee waived | Not listed | On ₹3 lakh annual spend |
| Top reward rate | 2.5 6E Rewards Per ₹100 Spends on Indigo | 4 reward points For Every ₹100 on International Spends |
| Base rewards | 1 6E Rewards Per ₹100 | 2 Reward Points on Every ₹100 Domestic Spends |
| Lounge access | Not listed | 2 airport lounge visits a quarter |
| Forex markup | 3.5% | 3.5% |
From issuer benefit data, checked 24 Oct 2026. Milestones, welcome benefits and caps are in the full table below.
What you'd earn in a year
On ₹20,000 a month with ₹5,000 at each card's top rate, HDFC 6E Rewards - Indigo returns about ₹3,300 more a year after annual fees (₹3,300 vs ₹1,500 in rewards).
| Spend profile | HDFC 6E Rewards - Indigo | ICICI Rubyx |
|---|---|---|
| Reward value: top rate / base rate | 2.5% / 1% | 1% / 0.5% |
| ₹20,000 a month, all general spends | ₹2,400 | ₹1,200 |
| ₹20,000 a month, ₹5,000 of it at each card's top rate | ₹3,300 | ₹1,500 |
| Annual fee | ₹500 | ₹2,000 |
Estimates from the earn rates above, with stated cashback caps applied, before exclusions. Reward points are valued at the card's best listed redemption (often travel or vouchers via the bank's portal); cash-back on the statement is usually worth less. Annual fees may be waived on spend (see the table below).
6E Rewards - Indigo Hdfc Bank Credit Card lists a lower headline annual fee in our data (around ₹1,500 apart), before waivers. ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card Mastercard currently has more lounge detail available from the issuer data we index. Always confirm current fees and offers on the issuer’s site before you apply.
Last updated:
| Feature | 6E Rewards - Indigo Hdfc Bank Credit Card | ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card Mastercard |
|---|---|---|
| Bank | HDFC Bank | ICICI Bank |
| Network | MasterCard | MasterCard |
| Joining fee | Joining Fee of Rs.500 | Joining Fee - Rs.3000 |
| Annual / renewal fee | Renewal Fee of Rs. 500 | Second Year Onwards Annual Fee of Rs.2000 |
| Annual fee waiver | — | Spend Rs.3 Lakh For Waiver of Annual Fee |
| Top reward rate | Earn 2.5 6E Rewards Per Rs.100 Spends on Indigo | Earn 4 Rewards Points For Every Rs.100 on International Spends |
| Base rate (other spends) | Earn 1 6E Rewards Per Rs.100 | Earn 2 Reward Points on Every Rs.100 Domestic Spends |
| Lounge — domestic | — | Enjoy 2 Complimentary Domestic Lounge Access Per Quarter |
| Fuel surcharge waiver | — | 1% Fuel Surcharge Waiver |
| Welcome benefit | Get 1 Complimentary Flight Ticket Worth Rs.1500 | Welcome Benefits - EaseMyTrip Voucher Worth Rs.2000 |
| Milestone benefit | — | Earn Upto 15000 Reward Points Every Anniversary Year |
| Foreign currency markup | 3.5% - Foreign Currency Transactions | 3.50% - Foreign Currency Transactions |
Which is better for rewards?
6E Rewards - Indigo Hdfc Bank Credit Card shows a higher headline earn signal in the reward summaries we index (Earn 2.5 6E Rewards Per Rs.100 Spends on Indigo vs Earn 4 Rewards Points For Every Rs.100 on International Spends). If you optimise for points or cashback on daily spend, start with that card’s reward bands — then model redemptions you actually use.
Which is better for travel?
ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card Mastercard has richer lounge-related fields in our current benefits extract (domestic: Enjoy 2 Complimentary Domestic Lounge Access Per Quarter; international: —). Frequent flyers should still confirm guest access, visit limits and participating airports with the issuer.
Which has lower effective cost?
6E Rewards - Indigo Hdfc Bank Credit Card appears cheaper on headline renewal fee in our data before waivers. If you are fee-sensitive, also read the waiver rules in the table — a higher sticker fee can still be net-negative cost if you naturally clear spend thresholds.
Who should pick 6E Rewards - Indigo Hdfc Bank Credit Card?
Consider 6E Rewards - Indigo Hdfc Bank Credit Card if you already bank with HDFC Bank, and the fee, waiver and earn rows above line up with how you spend each month. Use CardChat on that card for deeper, personalised follow-ups.
Who should pick ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card Mastercard ?
Consider ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card Mastercard if you already bank with ICICI Bank, and the fee, waiver and earn rows above line up with how you spend each month. Use CardChat on that card for deeper, personalised follow-ups.
Frequently Asked Questions
From the lounge fields in our benefit data: ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card Mastercard — domestic: Enjoy 2 Complimentary Domestic Lounge Access Per Quarter; international: —. 6E Rewards - Indigo Hdfc Bank Credit Card — domestic: —; international: —. Guest rules, networks and visit caps change — confirm on the HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank websites before you travel.
From the renewal-fee lines we index, the headline amounts are about ₹500 vs ₹2,000 per year before taxes and waivers. Campaigns and customer-specific pricing differ — use the comparison table and the HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank websites for the final number.
On the first reward band we surface, ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card Mastercard shows a stronger headline earn (Earn 4 Rewards Points For Every Rs.100 on International Spends vs Earn 2.5 6E Rewards Per Rs.100 Spends on Indigo). Category bonuses, caps and redemption value decide real-world returns — map this to where you actually spend.
6E Rewards - Indigo Hdfc Bank Credit Card: Waiver wording not in our benefit extract — check HDFC Bank. ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card Mastercard : Spend Rs.3 Lakh For Waiver of Annual Fee Spend thresholds and anniversary rules change; confirm the latest T&Cs.
6E Rewards - Indigo Hdfc Bank Credit Card: 3.5% - Foreign Currency Transactions ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card Mastercard : 3.50% - Foreign Currency Transactions Lower published foreign-currency markup is usually better for overseas and foreign-currency online spend; confirm the live rate and exclusions on the HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank websites.
6E Rewards - Indigo Hdfc Bank Credit Card: Get 1 Complimentary Flight Ticket Worth Rs.1500 ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card Mastercard : Welcome Benefits - EaseMyTrip Voucher Worth Rs.2000 Welcome campaigns are time-bound — verify eligibility and fulfilment on the HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank websites.