Earlier, HDFC Regalia was one of the most popular premium credit cards in India as this card provided a 3% return rate. However, at present, the reward return rate of HDFC Regalia has reduced to 1.3%.
On the other hand, HDFC Millennia is one of the best cashback credit cards in India, offering a reward rate of 3% to 4%.
Let’s compare the HDFC Regalia & Millennia credit card on the basis of fees & charges, features and redemption value.
Fees & Charges of HDFC Regalia Vs Millennia Credit Card
The HDFC Bank Regalia credit card generally comes with higher annual fees and lower foreign transaction fees compared to the Millennia credit card.
| Fees | HDFC Regalia Credit Card | HDFC Millennia Credit Card |
| Joining Fees | Rs. 2,500 | Rs. 1,000 |
| Renewal Fees | Rs. 2,500 | Rs. 1,000 |
| Renewal Fee Waiver | Spend annually Rs. 3 lakh or more | Spend annually Rs. 1 lakh or more |
| Welcome Benefit | 2,500 bonus Reward points | 1,000 CashPoints |
| Foreign Currency Mark-up | 2% | 3.5% |
As a result, the Regalia credit card is more suitable for international transactions due to its lower foreign currency markup fees.
Rewards Comparison of HDFC Regalia & Millennia Credit Card
HDFC Regalia credit card offers reward points on eligible spends, which can be redeemed for various rewards such as gift vouchers, merchandise, and air miles.
On the other hand, HDFC Millennia credit card offers cashback (as cashpoints) on online spends and select merchant categories, along with offline spends. The cashback earned can be utilized for future transactions or adjusted against the outstanding balance on the card.
Note: I am considering you hitting the milestone.
| Category | HDFC Regalia | HDFC Millennia |
| Reward Rate | 4 Reward Points per Rs. 150 spent (No Capping). | 5% Cashback (as CashPoints) on Amazon, BookMyShow, Cult.fit, Flipkart, Myntra, Sony LIV, Swiggy, Tata CLiQ, Uber and Zomato with max cap of Rs. 1000 monthly. 1% cashback on all other spends with max cap Rs. 1000 monthly. |
| Milestone Rewards | 10,000 Reward Points on spending over Rs. 5 lakhs in the anniversary year. Additional bonus of 5,000 Reward Points on spending over Rs. 8 lakhs in the anniversary year. | Gift voucher worth Rs. 1,000 on quarterly spends of Rs. 1,00,000 |
| Return Rate | 1.3% without milestone rewards. 2.2% with milestone reward points. | 6% special category. 2% regular category. |
Reward Return Calculation For HDFC Regalia credit card
For every Rs 150 spent, you’ll earn 4 reward points that are equivalent to Rs. 2 (1RP = 0.50 paise). The reward return rate is 1.3%.
Additionally, when you achieve the spending milestone of Rs 8 lakh, you’ll receive an impressive bonus of 15000 points, which is worth a maximum of Rs. 7500 (1RP = 0.50 paise).
The overall reward return rate is 2.2% (1.3% regular return + 0.93% milestone return).
For HDFC Millennia credit card
For purchases made in special categories, you can receive a whopping 5% cashback, while regular categories will earn you a 1% cashback rate.
Furthermore, once you reach the spending milestone, you’ll receive an additional 1% cashback return rate. (Gift voucher worth Rs. 1,000 on quarterly spends of Rs. 1,00,000)
As a result, you can earn a total of 6% cashback on special category spending and 2% cashback on regular category spending, making this credit card an attractive option for those looking to maximize their rewards as compared to HDFC Regalia card.
Smartbuy Rewards Rate
Here is a table displaying the Smartbuy rewards rates for Millennia and Regalia.
| Shopping Category | Rewards on Regalia | Cashback on Millennia |
| IGP.com | 10x | 10% |
| Hotels (Cleartrip and MakeMyTrip) | 10x | 5% |
| Flights (Cleartrip and Yatra) | 5x | 5% |
| Instant Vouchers (Amazon) | 5x | 5% |
| Apple Store | 5x | 5% |
| Bus | 5x | 5% |
| IRTC | 3x | 5% |
| Flipkart | 3x | 1% |
Reward Redemption Value
| Category | HDFC Regalia (Value of 1 Reward Point) | HDFC Millennia (Value of 1 CashPoint) |
| Smartbuy (Flights/Hotels booking) | 1 RP = Rs. 0.50 | 1 CashPoint = Rs. 0.30 |
| Airmiles – Intermiles, Singapore Airlines (Krisflyer), Club Vistara | 1 RP = 0.5 Airmiles | 1 CashPoint = Rs. 0.30 |
| Rewards Catalogue (Including Vouchers) | 1 RP = Rs 0.35 | 1 CashPoint = Rs. 0.30 |
| Cashback | 1 RP = Rs 0.20 | 1 CashPoint = Rs 1 |
Airport Lounge Access
| Lounge Access | HDFC Regalia | HDFC Millennia |
| Domestic | 12 complimentary domestic lounge access every year (3 visits every quarter) | 8 complimentary domestic lounge access every year (Max 2 visits per quarter) |
| International | 6 complimentary international lounge access every year through the priority pass. Complimentary Priority Pass membership | Not Available |
Which Card is Better – Regalia Vs Millennia?
For frequent flyers, HDFC Regalia credit card is a suitable choice for you as the card offers complimentary domestic and international lounge access with Priority Pass membership.
Additionally, the card offers a lower mark-up fee on foreign currency transactions, making it a cost-effective option for those who frequently travel abroad.
But HDFC Regalia credit card has lost its previous days’ charm. Now I would recommend the HDFC Regalia Gold credit card which provides better reward value.
If you frequently shop online, especially on popular e-commerce websites like Amazon, Flipkart, and Myntra, then HDFC Millennia credit card is an ideal choice for you. With this card, you can earn a generous cashback of 5% on eligible spends, making it a lucrative option for online shoppers.
Additionally, the earned CashPoints can be conveniently adjusted against your card’s statement balance, with each CashPoint valued at Rs. 1 under a 1:1 redemption ratio.
FAQs:
#1. Are there any fuel benefits on both the cards?
Yes, you are eligible for a 1% fuel surcharge waiver when you make a transaction of at least Rs. 400 and up to a maximum of Rs. 5000 on both cards.
The maximum amount of waiver per payment cycle is Rs. 250 for Millennia credit card and Rs. 500 for Regalia card. You can read about the best credit cards for fuel here.
#2. What is the validity of earned reward points on HDFC Regalia credit card?
Reward Points are valid only for 2 years from the date of accumulation.
#3. What is the expiry of cashpoints on HDFC Millennia credit card?
Cash Points are valid only for 2 years from the date of accumulation.
