This Article was fact checked and last updated for accuracy on July 17, 2025 by Mani Karthik
Hey folks! Mani here.
Back in 2024, I was helping my neighbor uncle get his first credit card.
He’s 58. Recently retired. Never used credit cards before.
“Mani beta, I just want something simple. No fancy features. Just basic discounts.”
That’s when I discovered the Axis Bank Neo.
At ₹250 annual fee, it seemed like a starter card.
But sometimes, the simplest solutions are the smartest ones. 💡
My Neo Discovery Story 📖
The Reluctant Recommendation
I’ll be honest. I wasn’t excited about reviewing the Neo initially.
Coming from premium cards like Infinia and Diners Black, a ₹250 fee card felt… basic.
But my younger brother (who’s still in college) needed his first credit card.
“Bhai, I just order food and pay bills. Nothing fancy.”
Perfect Neo customer.
The Family Experiment
I got the Neo for three family members:
- My brother (college student)
- My mother-in-law (senior citizen)
- My wife (as a backup card)
Three different age groups. Three different usage patterns.
The results were… interesting.
Axis Bank Neo At A Glance ⚡
The No-Frills Discount Card
Axis Bank Neo Credit Card provides users with discounts on online purchases from top brands including Zomato, BookMyShow, Myntra, Blinkit and Paytm, with cardholders able to save up to 40% on their online purchases.
The Lifetime Free Reality
There is now a Lifetime Free offer available on the Axis Bank Neo credit card, making it a good choice for those seeking an Axis credit card for merchant and discount benefits.
No annual fee. No complications. Just discounts.
The Competition Face Off 🥊
| Feature | Axis Bank Neo | SBI SimplyClick | HDFC MoneyBack+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | ₹0 (LTF) | ₹499 | ₹500 |
| Zomato Discount | 40% off (max ₹120) | No specific offer | 2X points |
| Utility Bill Discount | 5% off (max ₹150) | No specific offer | 2X points |
| Movie Discount | 10% off (max ₹100) | 10X points | 2X points |
| Reward Rate | 0.10% | 2.5% effective | 1% effective |
| Welcome Benefits | Vouchers worth ₹700 | ₹500 Amazon voucher | ₹500 cashback |
| Fuel Surcharge | 1% waiver | 1% waiver | 1% waiver |
| Best For | Discounts on specific brands | Online shopping rewards | Flexible rewards |
My Take: Neo wins on instant discounts. Others win on reward rates.
The Discount Structure Deep Dive 💰
The Big Four Offers
40% off on Zomato (max ₹120 twice per month), 5% off on mobile/broadband/DTH payments via Paytm (max ₹150 monthly), 10% off on Blinkit (max ₹250 monthly), and 10% off on BookMyShow (max ₹100 monthly).
My Family’s Monthly Savings Pattern
| Member | Primary Use | Monthly Savings | Annual Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brother | Zomato + Bills | ₹350 | ₹4,200 |
| Mother-in-law | Blinkit + Bills | ₹280 | ₹3,360 |
| Wife | Movies + Shopping | ₹200 | ₹2,400 |
| Total Family | Combined | ₹830 | ₹9,960 |
The Math Reality
Zero annual fee. ₹9,960 annual savings.
That’s pure profit for our family.
The Zomato Advantage Analysis 🍕
The 40% Magic
Offers 40% discount on food delivery via Zomato with maximum discount of Rs.120 per order on minimum order value of Rs.499, applicable twice a month using coupon code ‘AXISNEO’.
My Brother’s Usage Pattern
Monthly Zomato orders: 6-8 times Orders using Neo: 2 times (max benefit) Average order value: ₹600 Discount per order: ₹120 Monthly savings: ₹240 Annual savings: ₹2,880
The Family Weekend Routine
Every Saturday: Order from Zomato using Neo Every alternate Sunday: Second order with Neo
We’ve essentially systematized our food ordering around this card.
The Paytm Utility Bill Strategy 💡
The 5% Utility Discount
On mobile, DTH, and broadband payment via Paytm, the card offers a 5% discount with maximum discount of Rs.150 per month on a minimum transaction of Rs.299, applicable once monthly using coupon code ‘AXISNEO’.
My Mother-in-law’s Bill Payment System
Monthly utilities: ₹4,000 Monthly discount: ₹150 (5% capped) Annual savings: ₹1,800
She’s 65. Never used credit cards before.
Now she’s the family’s utility payment champion.
The Blinkit Grocery Hack 🛒
The 10% Grocery Discount
Offers discount of 10%, up to Rs.250 on Blinkit order with minimum order value of Rs.750, valid once per month.
My Wife’s Monthly Grocery Strategy
Monthly Blinkit order: ₹3,000 Monthly discount: ₹250 (10% capped) Annual savings: ₹3,000
She times her monthly grocery shopping around this offer.
Plans the entire month’s essentials in one go.
The BookMyShow Movie Plan 🎬
The 10% Movie Discount
10% off on every purchase of movie ticket on BookMyShow with maximum monthly benefits up to ₹100.
Our Family Movie Routine
Monthly movie nights: 2-3 times Monthly discount: ₹100 (cap reached) Annual savings: ₹1,200
We’ve become more regular movie watchers because of this card.
The discount makes family outings more affordable.
The Reward Rate Reality Check 📊
The Painful Truth
1 RP for every 200 INR spend (Reward Rate = 0.10%). Such low reward rate on Axis Neo is unacceptable in 2024 where even standard LTF cards can offer reward rate of ~2% or so.
This is the card’s biggest weakness.
My Annual Spend vs Rewards
Annual spend: ₹1,00,000 Points earned: 500 EDGE points Redemption value: ₹100 (₹0.20 per point)
Effective reward rate: 0.10%
That’s terrible by any standard.
The Welcome Benefits Surprise 🎁
The Voucher Collection
Amazon gift voucher worth ₹250, Zomato voucher worth ₹200, Blinkit voucher worth ₹250, and Pharmeasy 6 months subscription.
My Family’s Welcome Benefit Experience
Brother received: All vouchers within 60 days Mother-in-law received: Only Amazon and Blinkit vouchers Wife received: All vouchers within 45 days
Total welcome value: ₹700+
Not bad for a lifetime free card.
The Fuel Surcharge Benefit ⛽
The 1% Waiver
1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹400 to ₹4,000.
My Monthly Fuel Savings
Monthly fuel expense: ₹3,000 Surcharge waiver: ₹30 Annual savings: ₹360
Small amount. But every rupee counts.
The Application Process Experience 💻
The Simple Journey
Applied online for all three family members.
All approved within 2-3 days.
Credit Limits Assigned
- Brother (student): ₹25,000
- Mother-in-law (retired): ₹50,000
- Wife (homemaker): ₹1,00,000
Reasonable limits for a basic card.
The Customer Service Reality 📞
My Support Experiences
Had to call twice in 6 months:
- Points not credited: Resolved in 1 day
- Zomato offer not working: Resolved in 3 days
Axis Bank’s customer service is improving.
The Family Usage Patterns 👨👩👧👦
Different Generations, Different Needs
My Brother (23 years old)
- Primary use: Zomato + online shopping
- Monthly savings: ₹350
- Satisfaction: High
My Mother-in-law (65 years old)
- Primary use: Utility bills + groceries
- Monthly savings: ₹280
- Satisfaction: Very high
My Wife (35 years old)
- Primary use: Movies + backup card
- Monthly savings: ₹200
- Satisfaction: Moderate
The NRI Returnee Perspective 🏠
Why This Card Works for Returnees
Moving back to India meant learning new spending patterns.
Online discounts became important.
Neo simplified our transition.
The Cultural Adjustment
In the US, we used credit cards for everything.
In India, we had to learn which cards work where.
Neo works perfectly for digital India.
The Limitations Deep Dive ⚠️
What This Card Doesn’t Offer
❌ Airport lounge access (none)
❌ Travel insurance (none)
❌ International rewards (poor)
❌ High reward rates (0.10%)
❌ Premium benefits (none)
❌ Fuel rewards (just waiver)
My Workaround Strategy
I use Neo for discounts only.
Other cards handle rewards and premium benefits.
The Axis Bank Ecosystem Benefits 🏦
The Grab Deals Advantage
Axis Bank Grab Deals offers extra cashback on many merchant spends like Flipkart, Amazon, Myntra etc. where we can get 5% or more extra cashback on our spends.
Neo gives access to Axis Bank’s merchant offers.
During sales, these offers stack with card discounts.
My Festive Shopping Strategy
Use Neo during regular times. Use Grab Deals during sales. Stack both for maximum savings.
The Recent Changes Timeline 📅
The Lifetime Free Transition
There is now a Lifetime Free offer available on the Axis Bank Neo credit card.
This changed everything.
My Timeline Analysis
- 2023: ₹250 annual fee
- 2024: Lifetime free offer
- 2025: Enhanced benefits
Perfect timing for new applicants.
The Alternative Cards Comparison 🔄
If You Want Higher Rewards
| Alternative | Why Consider | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| SBI SimplyClick | 10X partner rewards | Online shopping |
| HDFC MoneyBack+ | 2X all online | Flexibility |
| Flipkart Axis | 5% Flipkart cashback | Flipkart shoppers |
If You Want Premium Benefits
| Alternative | Why Consider | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Axis MyZone | Better rewards + benefits | Lifestyle spending |
| HDFC Millennia | 1% cashback + benefits | Balanced usage |
| SBI Simply Save | Offline focused | Offline spenders |
The Target Audience Analysis 🎯
Who Should Get This Card?
✅ College students (first card)
✅ Senior citizens (simple benefits)
✅ Zomato heavy users (40% discount)
✅ Utility bill payers (5% discount)
✅ Movie enthusiasts (10% discount)
✅ Budget conscious users (lifetime free)
Who Should Skip This Card?
❌ High spenders (poor reward rates)
❌ Travel enthusiasts (no travel benefits)
❌ Premium seekers (basic features)
❌ Reward optimizers (better options available)
The Verdict: Should You Get This Card? 🏆
My Bottom Line After 1 Year
Neo is a specialized discount card.
Not a comprehensive credit solution.
Perfect for specific use cases.
The Family Verdict
- Brother: Loves it (saves ₹4,200 annually)
- Mother-in-law: Adores it (saves ₹3,360 annually)
- Wife: Likes it (saves ₹2,400 annually)
My Recommendation Matrix
| Your Profile | Recommendation | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| First time user | Definitely get it | 8/10 |
| Zomato heavy user | Must have | 9/10 |
| Reward optimizer | Skip it | 3/10 |
| Backup card seeker | Good option | 7/10 |
Overall Rating: 6.5/10
Great for discounts. Poor for rewards.
The Strategic Usage Tips 💡
How to Maximize Value
- Use for partner brands only (Zomato, Paytm, Blinkit)
- Time your purchases (monthly discount caps)
- Stack with other offers (sales + Grab Deals)
- Don’t use for general spending (poor reward rate)
My Monthly Optimization Calendar
- Week 1: Zomato order with Neo
- Week 2: Utility bills via Paytm
- Week 3: Blinkit grocery order
- Week 4: BookMyShow movie tickets
The Future Outlook 📈
What’s Likely to Happen
Axis Bank will keep this card basic.
Perfect entry point for new users.
My Prediction
- 2025: More LTF availability
- 2026: Enhanced digital features
- 2027: Possible benefit adjustments
Get it now if you’re interested.
Final Thoughts: The Reality Check 💭
Look, I’ll be honest.
Neo isn’t exciting for credit card enthusiasts.
No premium perks. No high rewards. No status symbol.
But it does something valuable: it saves money on daily expenses.
For many Indian families, that’s exactly what matters.
My 2025 Status
All three family members still use Neo.
For specific discounts only.
Combined with other cards for complete coverage.
The Bottom Line
If you use Zomato, pay utility bills, and want a simple discount card, get Neo.
If you want comprehensive rewards and premium benefits, look elsewhere.
Sometimes, the best card is the one that just works.
Want More Credit Card Insights? 📬
I’ll keep reviewing Indian credit cards from an NRI returnee perspective.
Because building a smart credit portfolio shouldn’t be this complicated.
Coming Next:
- Axis Bank MyZone (the lifestyle card)
- HDFC Millennia (the balanced option)
- SBI Simply Save (the offline focused card)
Subscribe for practical credit card guidance that actually helps your family save money!
