This Article was fact checked and last updated for accuracy on July 2, 2025 by Mani Karthik
When I moved back from USA in 2017, credit cards were a maze. My American credit history meant nothing here. I had to start fresh.
The Millennia card caught my attention because it promised rewards for online shopping. And let’s be honest, as NRIs transitioning back, we order everything online initially.
Bottom Line Up Front: This card works if you’re a heavy online shopper who spends on the right merchants. It doesn’t work if you’re looking for airport lounges or premium perks.
Card Overview: The Basics 📋
The HDFC Millennia is positioned as an entry level cashback card. It targets millennials who live online. Shop online. Order food online. Book movies online.
Target Audience:
- Young professionals (21-40 years)
- Heavy online shoppers
- First time credit card users
- People who want simple cashback rewards
Key Features Breakdown 🔥
Cashback Structure
- 5% cashback on 10 select merchants
- 1% cashback on all other spends
- Maximum cap: 1,000 CashPoints per category per month
The Golden 10 Merchants:
✅ Amazon
✅ BookMyShow
✅ Cult.fit
✅ Flipkart
✅ Myntra
✅ Sony LIV
✅ Swiggy
✅ Tata CLiQ
✅ Uber
✅ Zomato
Welcome Benefits
- 1,000 CashPoints on paying joining fee
- Essentially gets your first year fee back
Comprehensive Comparison Table 📊
| Feature | HDFC Millennia | Amazon Pay ICICI | Flipkart Axis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | ₹1,000 (Waivable) | ₹500 (Waivable) | ₹500 (Waivable) |
| Amazon Cashback | 5% | 5% | 1.5% |
| Flipkart Cashback | 5% | 1% | 5% |
| Other Online | 1% | 1% | 1.5% |
| Offline Spends | 1% | 1% | 1.5% |
| Fuel Surcharge Waiver | 1% (₹250 cap) | 2% (₹300 cap) | 1% (₹250 cap) |
| Lounge Access | Limited | None | None |
| Min Income Required | ₹35,000/month | ₹30,000/month | ₹25,000/month |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% |
| Reward Point Validity | 2 years | 3 years | 2 years |
Real World Usage: My Family’s Experience 💡
Month 1-3: The Honeymoon Phase
When we got this card, my wife was skeptical. “Another credit card?” she asked. But once she started using it for grocery orders on BigBasket and food on Swiggy, the CashPoints started adding up.
Our typical monthly spend breakdown:
- Amazon: ₹8,000 (5% = ₹400 CashPoints)
- Swiggy: ₹3,000 (5% = ₹150 CashPoints)
- Other spends: ₹15,000 (1% = ₹150 CashPoints)
- Total monthly CashPoints: ₹700
Month 6: Reality Check
The monthly caps kicked in. We were hitting the 1,000 CashPoint limit on Amazon easily. This meant our effective cashback dropped from 5% to around 2.5%.
Learning: Great card if your spending is distributed. Not so great if you’re a heavy Amazon user.
Fees and Charges Deep Dive 💰
| Charge Type | Amount | My Take |
|---|---|---|
| Joining Fee | ₹1,000 + GST | Recovered via welcome CashPoints |
| Renewal Fee | ₹1,000 + GST | Waived on ₹1L annual spend |
| Cash Advance | 2.5% or ₹500 | Never use credit cards for cash |
| Interest Rate | 43.2% per annum | Pay your bills on time |
| Foreign Transaction | 3.5% | Use forex cards instead |
| Overlimit Fee | ₹500 | Set spending alerts |
Annual Fee Waiver Math:
Spend ₹1,00,000 annually = Fee waived That’s ₹8,334 per month. Very achievable for most working professionals.
Quarterly Milestone Benefit 🎁
Spend ₹1,00,000 in a quarter = ₹1,000 gift voucher
Available vouchers include:
- Amazon
- Flipkart
- BookMyShow
- Myntra
- And more
My strategy: Time your big purchases (electronics, appliances) in one quarter to hit this milestone.
The Good, Bad, and Ugly ⚖️
The Good ✅
- Simple cashback structure
- Good for online shopping
- No reward points complexity
- Contactless payments enabled
- EMI conversion options
- Works on UPI transactions
The Bad ❌
- Monthly caps are restrictive
- Limited lounge access
- CashPoints credited monthly, not real time
- No premium benefits
- 2 year CashPoint expiry
The Ugly 🚫
- Foreign transaction fees are high
- Cash advance fees are brutal
- Limited merchant partnerships compared to competition
Who Should Get This Card? 🤔
Perfect For:
- Young professionals starting their credit journey
- Heavy online shoppers who use the partner merchants
- People who want simple cashback without reward point complexity
- Families who order groceries and food online regularly
Not Suitable For:
- Frequent travelers (limited lounge access)
- Premium shoppers (caps are restrictive)
- International spenders (high forex fees)
- Cash users (no offline benefits)
NRI Perspective: Moving Back Considerations 🇮🇳
Pros for NRIs:
- Easy to understand reward structure
- Covers essential online merchants
- Helps build Indian credit history
- No complex annual spend requirements
Cons for NRIs:
- No international lounge access
- High forex fees hurt international transactions
- Limited premium benefits compared to US cards
My advice: Get this as your first Indian credit card. Use it to build credit history. Upgrade to premium cards later.
Application Process & Tips 📝
Eligibility Requirements:
- Age: 21-40 years
- Income: ₹35,000+ per month
- Indian citizen
- Clean credit history
Required Documents:
- Identity Proof: Aadhaar, PAN, Passport
- Address Proof: Aadhaar, Utility bills
- Income Proof: Salary slips, ITR
Pro Tips:
- Apply online for faster processing
- Maintain CIBIL score above 750
- Have existing relationship with HDFC Bank
- Apply during festive offers for better deals
Alternatives to Consider 🔄
| If You Want | Consider Instead |
|---|---|
| Better Amazon rewards | Amazon Pay ICICI |
| More merchant options | Axis ACE |
| Premium benefits | HDFC Regalia |
| No annual fee | Paytm HDFC Select |
Final Verdict: The Bottom Line 🎯
Rating: 7.5/10
The HDFC Millennia is a solid starter credit card. It does what it promises. Gives decent cashback on popular online merchants. Helps build credit history.
But it’s not spectacular. The caps limit high spenders. The benefits are basic. The fees add up if you’re not careful.
My recommendation:
- Get it if you’re new to credit cards
- Get it if you shop primarily on the 10 partner merchants
- Skip it if you want premium benefits or unlimited cashback
Best Use Case Scenario:
Young professional, monthly income ₹50,000, spends ₹25,000 monthly across partner merchants, maintains discipline with payments.
Expected annual benefit: ₹6,000 in CashPoints + ₹4,000 in quarterly vouchers = ₹10,000 value for ₹1,000 fee.
Personal Anecdote: The Learning Curve 📚
Six months after getting this card, my older son (who was born in the US) asked me, “Dad, why do you have so many apps for paying bills?”
It hit me. In America, we had one credit card for everything. Here, we optimize cards for different merchants. It’s a different mindset.
The Millennia taught our family this optimization game. Now we use it specifically for online shopping. Other cards for other purposes.
Lesson learned: Credit cards in India are tools. Use the right tool for the right job.
Quick Action Items ✅
If you decide to get this card:
- Set up AutoPay for full amount
- Track monthly caps (1,000 CashPoints per category)
- Plan quarterly spends for milestone benefits
- Avoid cash advances at all costs
- Redeem CashPoints before 2 year expiry
Sources & References 📚
Data Sources:
- HDFC Bank Official Website
- Paisabazaar Card Details
- BankBazaar Features
- CardExpert Review
- Groww Card Analysis
Additional Resources:
Last Updated: July 2025
Next Review: October 2025
Connect with me:
For more insights on moving back to India and financial planning for NRIs, visit BackToIndia.com
Disclaimer: This review is based on personal experience and publicly available information. Card features and fees may change. Always verify current terms with HDFC Bank before applying.