Find my best card →
faayda.com › cards › HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card
HDFC Bank · Visa · हिन्दी

HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card: full review

The HDFC Freedom is a basic entry-level card whose value sits almost entirely in its 10X CashPoints at Swiggy, BigBasket, OYO, Uber and BookMyShow. Because a CashPoint is worth only ₹0.15, that top rate is about 0.75%, and the rest of your spending earns roughly 0.075%. It only makes sense for someone who already spends steadily at those five merchants and can reach ₹50,000 a year to waive the ₹500 renewal fee; anyone else will do better with a card that pays a flat rate on everything.

Apply now ↗Annual fee: ₹500 + GST
Last updated: October 2026 · Current terms verified
HDFC BANK
VISA
)))
FREEDOM
ASHOK KUMAR
12/28
₹500 + GST joining and annual (renewal waived on ₹50,000 annual spend)Annual fee
10X CashPoints (about 0.75%) at BigBasket, BookMyShow, OYO, Swiggy and Uber, capped at 2,500 CashPoints a month; 1 CashPoint per ₹200 (about 0.075%) on everything else; 1 CashPoint = ₹0.15Reward structure
NoneLounge access
10X CashPoints (10 per ₹200, about 0.75%) at BigBasket, BookMyShow, OYO, Swiggy and Uber, capped at 2,500 CashPoints a month1 CashPoint per ₹200 (about 0.075%) on all other spends; 1 CashPoint = ₹0.15 as cashback or on SmartBuy flights and hotels500 reward points as a welcome benefit, credited only when the joining fee is paidRenewal membership fee waived on ₹50,000 spend in an annual year1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions of ₹400 to ₹5,000, capped at ₹250 per statement cycleUp to 50 days interest-free credit periodAdd-on cards are lifetime free
Apply now ↗ Min. income: Salaried: net monthly income above ₹12,000, age 21 to 60. Self-employed: ITR above ₹6 lakh a year, age 21 to 65 · Credit score: Not publicly specified
Pros and cons
Pros
✓ Low ₹500 fee that ₹50,000 of annual spend waives
✓ 10X CashPoints on five popular merchants (Swiggy, BigBasket, OYO, Uber, BookMyShow)
✓ Low eligibility bar: ₹12,000 net monthly income for salaried applicants
✓ Add-on cards are lifetime free
Cons
✗ The 10X rate (about 0.75%) applies only at five named merchants and stops at 2,500 CashPoints a month; everything else earns about 0.075%
✗ A CashPoint is worth only ₹0.15, so even the accelerated rate is under 1%
✗ No lounge access of any kind
✗ 3.5% forex markup plus a 1.75% dynamic currency conversion markup on rupee-billed overseas spends
✗ HDFC's card page still shows an older 3.49% monthly interest rate, while its MITC says 3.75% a month (45% a year); we use the MITC figure
✗ Points are capped at 15,000 per statement cycle and expire after 2 years; cashback redemption carries a ₹50 fee
Quick facts
Issuer HDFC Bank
Network Visa
Annual feeThe yearly fee a bank charges for holding the card, often waived if you spend enough in a year.Full definition → ₹500 + GST joining and annual (renewal waived on ₹50,000 annual spend)
Joining feeA one-time fee charged when you first get the card, separate from the recurring annual fee.Full definition → ₹500
Lounge accessFree entry to airport lounges, usually limited to a set number of visits per quarter or year.Full definition → None
Forex markupThe extra fee your bank adds on top of the real exchange rate for any spend in a foreign currency.Full definition → 3.5%
Interest rate 3.75% per month (45% a year)
Fee waiver Renewal fee waived on ₹50,000 spend in the card year; below that the ₹500 + GST renewal fee applies
Add-on cards Add-on cards are lifetime free; HDFC's MITC does not state how many are allowed
Min. incomeThe minimum income, credit score, and other conditions a bank requires before approving your application.Full definition → Salaried: net monthly income above ₹12,000, age 21 to 60. Self-employed: ITR above ₹6 lakh a year, age 21 to 65
Min. credit scoreYour 3-digit credit score (300-900), higher scores make approval easier and can unlock better cards.Full definition → Not publicly specified
SourceHDFC Bank's Most Important Terms and Conditions (MITC), version 4.14, and its official Freedom card page · Last checked October 2026
Calculate your annual benefit

Enter your typical monthly spend to see exactly how much you'd earn with this card.

₹
₹
₹
₹
₹
₹
Enter your monthly spend above to see your benefit
Frequently asked questions
The annual fee for HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card is ₹500 + GST joining and annual (renewal waived on ₹50,000 annual spend). The joining fee is ₹500.
10X CashPoints (about 0.75%) at BigBasket, BookMyShow, OYO, Swiggy and Uber, capped at 2,500 CashPoints a month; 1 CashPoint per ₹200 (about 0.075%) on everything else; 1 CashPoint = ₹0.15
HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card is best for Swiggy, BigBasket, OYO, Uber and BookMyShow users who want a low-fee entry HDFC card and will spend ₹50,000 a year to waive the renewal fee. The HDFC Freedom is a basic entry-level card whose value sits almost entirely in its 10X CashPoints at Swiggy, BigBasket, OYO, Uber and BookMyShow. Because a CashPoint is worth only ₹0.15, that top rate is about 0.75%, and the rest of your spending earns roughly 0.075%. It only makes sense for someone who already spends steadily at those five merchants and can reach ₹50,000 a year to waive the ₹500 renewal fee; anyone else will do better with a card that pays a flat rate on everything.
The minimum income requirement for HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card is Salaried: net monthly income above ₹12,000, age 21 to 60. Self-employed: ITR above ₹6 lakh a year, age 21 to 65. A minimum credit score of Not publicly specified is also recommended.
HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card does not offer airport lounge access.
HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card charges a 3.5% foreign currency markup on international transactions. This is in line with the standard 3.5% charged by most Indian credit cards.
Related guides
Best Dining Credit Cards →Best Credit Cards for Swiggy and Zomato →Best Credit Cards for Grocery Shopping →Best Credit Cards for Movies & Entertainment →
Card reviews
Tata Neu Infinity SBI CardHeavy Tata ecosystem shoppers wanting NeuCoins across Air India, BigBasket, Croma, Westside and Tanishq, with a genuinely strong 1.5% base rate elsewhereYES Essence Credit CardSalaried women wanting lifestyle rewards on dining, shopping, beauty and travel with lounge accessAxis ACE Credit CardUtility bill payments and everyday flat cashbackHDFC Millennia Credit CardEveryday online shopping with a modest, capped cashback
Embed this card
Add this widget to your site
Writing a review or comparison for the HDFC Bank Freedom Credit Card? Embed this live widget. It always shows our current, verified fee and reward rate, so it never goes stale.
Live preview
<iframe src="https://faayda.com/embed/hdfc-freedom"
  width="420" height="260"
  frameborder="0"></iframe>
No sign-up · Free to use
HDFC Bank Freedom₹500 + GST
Apply now ↗