Axis Bank Cashback 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 Cashback and Federal Bank Scapia differ first on recurring cost: Axis Bank Cashback has an annual fee of ₹1,000 + GST against ₹0 for Federal Bank Scapia, so Federal Bank Scapia is cheaper to hold. On rewards, Axis Bank Cashback earns 0.75% statement cashback on eligible offline and travel spend 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 2026-08-25. Confirm final terms with the issuer.
| Feature | Axis Bank Cashback | Federal Bank Scapia |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | Axis Bank | Federal Bank |
| Joining fee | ₹1,000 + GST | ₹0 |
| Annual fee | ₹1,000 + GST | ₹0 |
| Fee waiver | ₹4,00,000 annual eligible spend | No waiver recorded |
| Base rewards | 0.75% statement cashback on eligible offline and travel spend | 10 Scapia Coins per ₹100 on eligible Visa spends (worth ₹2 toward Scapia travel) |
| Accelerated routes | eligible online spend excluding travel · eligible utility bill payments | travel booked on Scapia app |
| Reward exclusions | transportation, tolls, insurance, education, jewellery, precious metals, watches, government, wallet load, rent, fuel | 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% |
| Fuel surcharge waiver | Not recorded — confirm with issuer | Not recorded — confirm with issuer |
| Domestic lounge | none | 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, Mastercard | Visa, RuPay |
| Best suited to | cashback, online shopping, travel | international travel, zero forex, young traveler |
| Issuer evidence | Checked 2026-08-23 | Checked 2026-07-28 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Axis Bank Cashback better than the Federal Bank Scapia?
Neither is universally better. Axis Bank Cashback charges ₹1,000 + GST a year and earns 0.75% statement cashback on eligible offline and travel spend; 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 Cashback 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 Cashback 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.