Pravin2407
TF Neo
The HDFC Bank Equitas Excite Credit Card is a co-branded entry-level card focused on everyday spending like fuel, groceries, and utility bills. With an annual fee of ₹500 + GST, it is among the more affordable cards, and the fee gets waived if you spend ₹1 lakh in a year. The joining fee can also be waived if you spend ₹20,000 within the first 90 days.
In terms of rewards, the card gives 2 reward points for every ₹150 spent. On certain categories like fuel, groceries, utilities, IRCTC, and tax payments, you earn 3× reward points, though monthly caps apply. There are also milestone bonuses – 500 bonus points for monthly spends of ₹20,000 and 2,500 bonus points annually for spends of ₹1.8 lakh.
The card includes domestic airport lounge access, but this is only available if you spend ₹50,000 in the previous quarter. Once you meet this condition, you receive a voucher for lounge entry.
However, the card has some limitations. The 3.5% foreign transaction fee makes it less suitable for international use, and HDFC recently stopped awarding reward points on rent, wallet loads, insurance, and gaming spends.
Final Take
The Equitas Excite Credit Card is a reasonable choice for those who spend regularly on daily essentials and can hit the milestone spends to maximize rewards. It’s a good fit for budget-conscious users looking for domestic benefits, but not the best option for premium perks or foreign transactions.How It Compares with Lifetime Free Cards
When compared to lifetime free (LTF) credit cards, the Equitas Excite falls in the middle ground. LTF cards like Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card or IDFC FIRST Classic/Select Credit Card don’t charge any annual or joining fees at all and still offer cashback or unlimited reward points without conditions. The Excite card, on the other hand, charges ₹500 annually unless you meet the waiver criteria. While it offers milestone bonuses and lounge access, the benefits are conditional and may not always be accessible to everyone.So, if you’re looking for a no-maintenance, hassle-free card, an LTF card might be better. But if you don’t mind tracking your spends and want to unlock milestone rewards plus occasional lounge visits, the Equitas Excite Card can still be worth considering.
