Axis Bank ACE vs Federal Bank Scapia
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 Scapia differ first on recurring cost: Axis Bank ACE has an annual fee of ₹499 against ₹0 for Federal Bank Scapia, so Federal Bank Scapia is cheaper to hold. On rewards, Axis Bank ACE earns 1.5% in Cashback while Federal Bank Scapia earns 10 Scapia Coins per ₹100 on eligible Visa spends (worth ₹2 toward Scapia travel). Federal Bank Scapia has the lower forex markup at 0%. 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 Scapia |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 10 Scapia Coins per ₹100 on eligible Visa spends (worth ₹2 toward Scapia travel) |
| Accelerated routes | GPay bill payments/DTH/recharge · Swiggy, Zomato and Ola | travel booked on Scapia app |
| Reward exclusions | fuel, rent, wallet load, emi, utility, telecom, education, government, insurance, gold, jewellery, financial institutions, cash advance, repayments | rent, fuel, wallet load, emi, intl, education, gift card, card payment, crypto, insurance, utility, telecom, government, business service, financial institution, cash advance |
| Forex markup | 3.5% | 0% |
| Domestic lounge | 4/yr (spend condition) | unlimited domestic lounge access unlocks after ₹20,000 eligible spend in the preceding billing cycle; active-card, app QR, location and boarding-pass checks apply |
| International lounge | none | none |
| Card networks | Visa | Visa, RuPay |
| Best suited to | bills utilities, cashback, flat rate | international travel, zero forex, young traveler |
| Issuer evidence | Checked 2026-07-23 | Checked 2026-07-28 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Axis Bank ACE better than the Federal Bank Scapia?
Neither is universally better. Axis Bank ACE charges ₹499 a year and earns 1.5% in Cashback; Federal Bank Scapia charges ₹0 and earns 10 Scapia Coins per ₹100 on eligible Visa spends (worth ₹2 toward Scapia travel). 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 Scapia?
Federal Bank Scapia 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 Scapia?
Federal Bank Scapia publishes the lower forex markup at 0% 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.