For someone ordering from both apps, start by comparing HDFC Millennia and Axis ACE. The right choice depends on your other purchases, shared cashback caps and fee offer. A universal “best” claim is not justified by the food-delivery rate alone.
A ₹6,000-a-month example
Assume ₹4,000 of qualifying Swiggy purchases and ₹2,000 of qualifying Zomato purchases each month, no other spending, no welcome offer and no lifetime-free offer. These amounts remain below the relevant caps when no other purchases use them.
| Card | Rate on these eligible orders | Annual rewards | Fee including GST | Net after fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Millennia | 5% | ₹3,600 | ₹1,180 | ₹2,420 |
| Axis ACE | 4% | ₹2,880 | ₹588.82 | ₹2,291.18 |
The calculation is monthly spend × rate × 12, less one applicable annual fee including GST. Neither card reaches its standard renewal-waiver threshold on this ₹72,000 annual food-only profile. Other qualifying purchases or a personal lifetime-free offer can change that. Millennia’s ₹128.82 lead here is small enough that redemption effort and your other spending matter.
Rates and conditions come from HDFC’s Millennia page and Axis’s ACE terms.
Both cards have shared ceilings
Millennia’s ₹1,000 ceiling for the 5% tier is shared across its eligible partner merchants. Amazon or Flipkart purchases can use that allowance before food delivery does. It is a statement-cycle limit; calendar-quarter milestones follow a different clock. We do not assume that capped 5% purchases automatically earn 1% instead.
ACE’s 4% partners share a ₹500 statement-cycle ceiling with its 5% Google Pay bill-payment category. ₹10,000 of qualifying Google Pay bills alone can exhaust that allowance. Your delivery orders do not get a separate ₹500 cap.
The old Swiggy card is a separate migration decision
HDFC’s Swiggy upgrade FAQ describes migration to Swiggy Ornge or Swiggy BLCK. Compare the replacement offered to you and its actual fee; do not apply the old card’s 10% rate and fee to every replacement.
For a recurring BLCK fee of ₹1,000 plus GST versus a lifetime-free Ornge offer, a five-percentage-point advantage needs about ₹23,600 of qualifying Swiggy purchases a year, or ₹1,967 a month, before the extra reward covers ₹1,180. This applies below the caps and assumes the same purchases qualify. At high spending both cards can reach the same cashback ceiling, so spending more does not keep increasing the advantage. Our migration report explains the offer differences.
How to use this comparison
Enter eligible orders, not wallet loads or gift-card purchases, and account for refunds. Check transaction minimums and the merchant’s classification. Then combine delivery with your other purchases in the calculator, selecting the app only if the whole entered amount qualifies. The current calculator accepts one channel per category, so a split across apps needs separate checks.
Is 5% always better than 4%?
No. Fees, shared caps, exclusions and redemption rules determine the result. The worked example differs by only ₹128.82 a year after standard fees.
Can I count a quarterly voucher and lounge visit together on Millennia?
No. The quarterly benefit is a choice between the voucher and lounge benefit. Count only the one you will use after meeting its conditions.