HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card
Joining Fee: ₹499 + GST
Renewal Fee: ₹499 + GST
(Currently being offered as lifetime free)
Reward Type: Reward Points
Welcome and Renewal Benefits
Welcome Offer: Receive 500 bonus CashPoints upon paying the joining fee.
Annual Renewal Reward: Enjoy 500 bonus CashPoints on renewal each year, ensuring ongoing value.
Rewards Program Details
Earn Points on Everyday Spending and selected Categories
Earn 1 CashPoint for every ₹150 spent across all categories.
Enjoy accelerated rewards with 10X CashPoints on transactions with:
BigBasket for groceries.
Swiggy for food delivery.
BookMyShow for movie tickets.
OYO for travel and stays.
Uber for rides.
Monthly Cap: Maximum of 2,500 CashPoints under the 10X reward categories.
Reward Redemption Options
Flexible and Convenient Redemption Process
CashPoint Value: 1 CashPoint = ₹0.15 across all redemption categories.
Redemption is available for:
Cashback (minimum 500 CashPoints required).
Products listed in the HDFC product catalog.
Hotel and flight bookings through SmartBuy (limited to 50% CashPoints for payments).
Exclusions: Reward points cannot be redeemed for rent payments, fuel purchases, wallet loads, EMI transactions, or government-related spends.
Additional Features and Benefits
Fuel Surcharge Waiver
Save with a 1% fuel surcharge waiver for transactions between ₹400 and ₹5,000, capped at ₹250 per statement cycle.
Spend-Based Fee Waiver
Waive off the ₹500 annual renewal fee by spending ₹50,000 or more in the previous card anniversary year.
Conclusion
The HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card is best suited for individuals looking for a low-cost credit card with robust rewards on everyday spends. It is particularly beneficial for those new to credit or with modest incomes, offering excellent value through accelerated rewards and flexible redemption options.
However, newer options like the Swiggy HDFC Bank Credit Card deliver superior benefits at the same cost, making them more appealing for first-time credit card users.