In short: HDFC Regalia Gold has the lower annual fee (₹2,500 vs ₹3,000); Axis Horizon includes 6 airport lounge visits, HDFC Regalia Gold 3 airport lounge visits a quarter; HDFC Regalia Gold has the lower forex markup (2% vs 3.5%).
| Key facts | Axis Horizon | HDFC Regalia Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹3,000 | ₹2,500 |
| Joining fee | ₹3,000 | ₹2,500 |
| Annual fee waived | Not listed | On ₹4 lakh annual spend |
| Top reward rate | 5 EDGE Miles on Every ₹100 Spent on Travel | 5X reward points on Myntra, Reliance Digital, Nykaa and 1 more |
| Base rewards | 2 EDGE Miles Per ₹100 On All Other Spends | 5 reward points For Every ₹200 |
| Lounge access | 6 airport lounge visits | 3 airport lounge visits a quarter |
| Forex markup | 3.5% | 2% |
From issuer benefit data, checked 8 Nov 2026. Milestones, welcome benefits and caps are in the full table below.
The Axis Bank Horizon Mastercard Credit Card and the Hdfc Bank Regalia Gold Credit Card both offer premium benefits with a focus on rewards and travel perks, but they cater to different spending preferences and fee sensitivities. Axis Bank Horizon emphasizes travel rewards with EDGE Miles and a higher number of complimentary lounges, while HDFC Regalia Gold provides accelerated rewards on select shopping brands and milestone vouchers. Their fee structures and forex charges also differ, influencing the overall cost-effectiveness depending on your usage.
Comparison notes and quick badges use AI, grounded in the benefit data shown in the table. Confirm details on each issuer’s site.
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| Feature | Axis Bank Horizon Mastercard Credit Card | Hdfc Bank Regalia Gold Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Bank | Axis Bank | HDFC Bank |
| Network | MasterCard | MasterCard |
| Joining fee | Joining Fee of Rs.3000 | Joining Fee of Rs. 2500 |
| Annual / renewal fee | Annual Fee - Rs.3000 | Renewal Fee of Rs. 2500 |
| Annual fee waiver | — | Spend Rs.400000 For Renewal Fee Waiver |
| Top reward rate | Earn 5 EDGE Miles on Every Rs.100 Spent on Travel | 5X reward points on Myntra, Reliance Digital, Nykaa and 1 more |
| Base rate (other spends) | Earn 2 EDGE Miles Per Rs.100 On All Other Spends | Earn 5 Rewards Points For Every Rs.200 |
| Lounge — domestic | 6 Complimentary Lounge Access in India | 3 Domestic Lounge Visits Per Calendar Quarter |
| Lounge — international | Enjoy 2 International Complimentary Airport Lounge Access | 6 Complimentary Lounge Access Outside India |
| Fuel surcharge waiver | 1% Fuel Surcharge Waiver | — |
| Welcome benefit | Welcome Benefits - 5000 EDGE Reward Points | Complimentary MMT Black Gold Membership |
| Milestone benefit | Renewal Benefit - 1500 EDGE Miles | Get Rs.1500 Vouchers on Spend Rs.150000; Get Rs.5000 Additional Flight Vouchers on Spend Rs.7.5 Lakhs |
| Foreign currency markup | 3.50% - Foreign Currency Transactions | 2% - Foreign Currency Transactions |
Both cards offer strong rewards but in different ways. The Axis Bank Horizon Mastercard rewards 5 EDGE Miles per Rs.100 spent on travel and 2 EDGE Miles per Rs.100 on other spends, which is straightforward and travel-focused. The HDFC Regalia Gold gives 5 reward points per Rs.200 spent generally, but offers 5X points on brands like Myntra, Nykaa, Reliance Digital, and Marks & Spencer, which benefits shoppers more. Neither card has a simple cashback scheme, but Axis Bank Horizon’s EDGE Miles can be redeemed for flights and hotels, while HDFC’s brand-specific multipliers suit frequent online shoppers. Overall, rewards value depends on your spending pattern, making this a tie.
Axis Bank Horizon Mastercard has a clear edge for travel benefits with 6 complimentary domestic lounge visits and 2 international lounge accesses, compared to HDFC Regalia Gold’s 3 domestic and 6 international lounge visits. Horizon’s travel rewards are also more directly aligned with travel spends, earning 5 EDGE Miles per Rs.100 on travel. HDFC Regalia Gold offers milestone flight vouchers up to Rs.5,000 and additional vouchers on higher spends, which add value but require significant annual expenditure. If frequent lounge access and travel-focused rewards matter most, Axis Bank Horizon is better suited.
HDFC Regalia Gold has a lower joining and renewal fee of Rs.2,500 compared to Axis Bank Horizon’s Rs.3,000 fees. Moreover, HDFC offers a renewal fee waiver if you spend Rs.4,00,000 annually, which can reduce the effective cost substantially for high spenders. Axis Bank Horizon does not list any fee waiver in our data. Additionally, HDFC’s forex markup is 2%, significantly lower than Axis Bank’s 3.5%, making it more cost-effective for international transactions. For those concerned about fees and forex charges, HDFC Regalia Gold offers better value.
HDFC Regalia Gold offers a more favorable forex markup of 2% on foreign currency transactions compared to Axis Bank Horizon’s 3.5%. This makes HDFC Regalia Gold more cost-effective for cardholders who frequently travel abroad or shop internationally.
HDFC Regalia Gold provides milestone benefits in the form of flight vouchers worth Rs.1,500 quarterly on Rs.1.5 lakh spend, and additional vouchers up to Rs.5,000 on spends of Rs.5 lakh and Rs.7.5 lakh annually. Axis Bank Horizon offers a renewal benefit of 1,500 EDGE Miles, which is less tangible but still adds value on renewal.
Consider Axis Bank Horizon Mastercard Credit Card if you prioritize travel rewards and frequent lounge access, especially domestic lounges, and want straightforward rewards on travel spends. This card is suitable for those who value EDGE Miles for flight and hotel bookings and are comfortable with a higher annual fee for premium travel benefits.
Consider Hdfc Bank Regalia Gold Credit Card if you prefer a card with lower fees, a potential renewal fee waiver on high spends, and rewards tailored to online shopping brands like Myntra, Nykaa, and Reliance Digital. It also suits cardholders looking for milestone vouchers and better forex rates, making it a good choice for both shopping and international usage.
Axis Bank Horizon Mastercard has a joining and renewal fee of Rs.3,000 each, while HDFC Regalia Gold charges Rs.2,500 for both joining and renewal.
HDFC Regalia Gold offers a renewal fee waiver if you spend Rs.4,00,000 annually. Axis Bank Horizon does not list any renewal fee waiver in our data.
Axis Bank Horizon Mastercard provides 6 complimentary domestic lounge visits and 2 international lounge accesses. HDFC Regalia Gold offers 3 domestic lounge visits per calendar quarter and 6 international lounge accesses.
Axis Bank Horizon Mastercard rewards 5 EDGE Miles per Rs.100 spent on travel, while HDFC Regalia Gold’s rewards are more focused on shopping brands, with no specific travel reward multiplier listed.
Axis Bank Horizon Mastercard charges a 3.5% forex markup on foreign currency transactions, whereas HDFC Regalia Gold charges 2%, making it cheaper for international spends.
Axis Bank Horizon Mastercard offers a 1% fuel surcharge waiver capped at Rs.400 per statement. HDFC Regalia Gold’s fuel surcharge waiver is not listed in our data.