Axis Bank ACE vs Federal Bank Celesta
A field-by-field comparison of fees, reward rates, accelerated categories, caps, exclusions, lounge access and forex markup, using each issuer's own published terms. Affiliate payout never decides the verdict.
Short answer
Axis Bank ACE and Federal Bank Celesta differ first on recurring cost: Axis Bank ACE has an annual fee of ₹499 against ₹0 for Federal Bank Celesta, so Federal Bank Celesta is cheaper to hold. On rewards, Axis Bank ACE earns 1.5% in Cashback while Federal Bank Celesta earns 1 Federal Reward Point per ₹100 on eligible spend. Federal Bank Celesta has the lower forex markup at 2%. Neither card wins outright: the better choice depends on which accelerated categories match your spend, the monthly caps, the exclusions and issuer approval fit.
Source: CardMasters issuer-evidence catalogue, release 2026-08-01. Confirm final terms with the issuer.
| Feature | Axis Bank ACE | Federal Bank Celesta |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | Axis Bank | Federal Bank |
| Joining fee | ₹499 | ₹0 |
| Annual fee | ₹499 | ₹0 |
| Fee waiver | ₹2,00,000 annual eligible spend | No waiver recorded |
| Base rewards | 1.5% in Cashback | 1 Federal Reward Point per ₹100 on eligible spend |
| Accelerated routes | GPay bill payments/DTH/recharge · Swiggy, Zomato and Ola | travel & international spends · dining · insurance |
| Reward exclusions | fuel, rent, wallet load, emi, utility, telecom, education, government, insurance, gold, jewellery, financial institutions, cash advance, repayments | fuel, rent, wallet load, government, financial institution, quasi cash, cash advance |
| Forex markup | 3.5% | 2% |
| Domestic lounge | 4/yr (spend condition) | 2/quarter (₹60K spend in prior quarter) |
| International lounge | none | 2/yr, no spend criteria |
| Card networks | Visa | Visa Signature, Mastercard |
| Best suited to | bills utilities, cashback, flat rate | balanced, lifetime free, occasional traveler |
| Issuer evidence | Checked 2026-07-23 | Checked 2026-07-30 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Axis Bank ACE better than the Federal Bank Celesta?
Neither is universally better. Axis Bank ACE charges ₹499 a year and earns 1.5% in Cashback; Federal Bank Celesta charges ₹0 and earns 1 Federal Reward Point per ₹100 on eligible spend. The better card is the one whose accelerated categories, caps and exclusions match your actual spending, after subtracting the annual fee and GST.
Which of the two has the lower annual fee, Axis Bank ACE or Federal Bank Celesta?
Federal Bank Celesta has the lower recorded annual fee at ₹0. A spend-based waiver may reduce the effective cost of the other card, so check the waiver threshold before deciding.
Which is better for international spending, Axis Bank ACE or Federal Bank Celesta?
Federal Bank Celesta publishes the lower forex markup at 2% versus 3.5%. Also confirm whether international transactions earn rewards, since some issuers exclude them.
Can I hold both cards together?
Yes, provided each is approved on its own merits and you can pay both statements in full. Holding both makes sense only when their accelerated categories do not overlap; otherwise the second card adds an annual fee without adding rewards.