Vyaya
Side-by-Side Comparison|Updated March 2026

ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card vs Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card

Detailed comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and value to help you choose the right credit card for your spending pattern.

ICICI Bank

ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card

8/10
Annual Fee₹20,000
Base Rewards0.8%
NetworkVisa
View Full Details

Axis Bank

Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card

8/10
Annual Fee₹12,500
Base Rewards0.2%
NetworkVisa
View Full Details

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit CardAxis Bank Magnus Credit Card
Annual Fee₹20,000₹12,500
Joining Fee₹20,000₹12,500
Fee Waiver Spend₹25,00,000₹25,00,000
Base Reward Rate0.8%0.2%
Reward CurrencyICICI Bank Reward PointsEDGE Reward Points
NetworkVisaVisa
Editor Rating8/108/10
Forex Markup3.5%3.5%

Accelerated Rewards

ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card

  • 0% on Hotels via iShop
  • 0% on Flights via iShop

Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card

No accelerated rewards listed

Pros & Cons

ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card

Pros

  • Unlimited domestic and international lounge access for both primary and add-on cardholders.
  • Low forex markup fee of 1.49%, making it highly competitive for international spending.
  • High-value welcome and renewal benefits including ₹10,000 EaseMyTrip hotel vouchers and Zomato Gold.
  • Unique milestone rewards like helicopter transfers in Bangalore or luxury sedan airport transfers.

Cons

  • Base reward rate of 2% is lower than some competitors in the super-premium segment.
  • Milestone benefits are brand-specific (e.g., Klook, Tata CLiQ Luxury) which may not suit all users.
  • No complimentary guest access for airport lounges.

Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card

Pros

  • High reward rate of 17.5 EDGE points per ₹200 on spends above ₹1.5 Lakhs monthly.
  • Unlimited domestic and international lounge access for primary and add-on cardholders.
  • Low foreign currency markup fee of 2% for international transactions.
  • Welcome benefit voucher worth ₹12,500 effectively offsets the joining fee.

Cons

  • Significant devaluation in 2024 removed monthly milestone bonuses and concierge services.
  • High annual fee waiver threshold of ₹25 Lakhs is difficult for most users to reach.
  • Reward points transfer ratio to air miles reduced from 5:4 to 5:2 for non-Burgundy users.

Our Verdict

ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card edges ahead overall with a stronger combination of rewards and value. However, Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card could be the better pick if its specific category strengths match your spending habits.

Choose ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card if

Unlimited global lounge access and a low 1.49% forex markup provide significant value.

Choose Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card if

Best value is unlocked after crossing the ₹1.5 Lakh monthly spend threshold.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card or Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card?
ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card edges ahead overall with a stronger combination of rewards and value. However, Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card could be the better pick if its specific category strengths match your spending habits.
What is the annual fee difference between ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card and Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card?
ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹20,000, while Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹12,500. ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card offers a fee waiver on ₹25,00,000 annual spend. Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card offers a fee waiver on ₹25,00,000 annual spend.
Which card has better rewards: ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card or Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card?
ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card offers a base reward rate of 0.8% with accelerated rewards on Hotels via iShop and Flights via iShop. Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card offers 0.2% base rewards. The better choice depends on your primary spending categories.
Can I have both ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card and Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card?
Yes, many users hold multiple credit cards to maximize rewards across different spending categories. ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card and Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card can complement each other if they cover different reward categories.
Which card is better for beginners: ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card or Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card?
For beginners, Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card may be more approachable with a lower annual fee of ₹12,500. However, evaluate based on your expected spending pattern rather than fee alone.

Related Comparisons

ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card vs Axis Bank Atlas Credit CardAxis Bank Magnus Credit Card vs Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card

Explore More

ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card Full ReviewAxis Bank Magnus Credit Card Full ReviewAll ICICI Bank CardsAll Axis Bank CardsBrowse All Credit CardsCredit Card Guides & Tips