Federal Scapia & IndusInd Tiger are two of the most-recommended lifetime-free credit cards in India right now.
Most comparisons boil it down to “Tiger for lifestyle, Scapia for travel” and stop there. That skips the details that actually decide which one fits your spending.
I have been using them both — Scapia for seven months, Tiger since last month.
And here’s a detailed head-to-head comparison of both cards.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | IndusInd Tiger | Scapia |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | IndusInd Bank x Tiger Fintech | Federal Bank / BOBCARD |
| Network | Visa Signature | Visa + RuPay (two physical cards) |
| Annual Fee | ₹0 | ₹0 |
| Forex Markup | 1.5% + GST | 0% |
| Reward Rate | Up to 6% (slab-based) | 2% base, 4% via app, 1% UPI — no cap |
| Domestic Lounge | 8/year, no spend condition | Unlimited, needs ₹20k spend last month |
| International Lounge | 2/year (Priority Pass) | None |
| Redemption | Cash, vouchers, Air India Maharaja Club, KrisFlyer | Travel/merchandise only, no cash-out |
| Best For | Air India Maharaja Club Points + Lounge Access | Zero Forex + Lounge Access |
| Mobodaily Rating | 4.8 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Apply | IndusInd Tiger → | Scapia → |
For a full breakdown, you can read my detailed reviews on Tiger and Scapia.
Fees & Forex
| Fee | Tiger | Scapia |
|---|---|---|
| Joining / Annual Fee | ₹0 | ₹0 |
| Forex Markup | 1.5% + GST | 0% |
If zero forex is important for you, Scapia wins outright — treat Tiger’s low markup as a nice-to-have on an otherwise free card, not a reason to get it.
Rewards & Earning
| Metric | Tiger | Scapia |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level rate | 1 pt/₹100 (1%) | 2% (Visa) / 1% (UPI) |
| Top rate | 6 pts/₹100 — only above ₹5L/year | 4% via Scapia app |
| Earning cap | None | None |
| Blended real-world return (₹6L/year spend) | ~3.33% | 2–4% flat from spend one |
| Excluded categories | Fuel, rent, insurance, utilities, EMI, govt, education | Fuel, rent, insurance, utilities, EMI, govt, education, intl. spends |
Scapia pays the same rate (2%) from day one.
Tiger’s headline “up to 6%” only kicks in once you’re past ₹5 lakh in annual spend — below that, you’re earning noticeably less.
Redemption
| Redemption Route | Tiger | Scapia |
|---|---|---|
| Cash / Statement Credit | ₹0.40/point (capped 5,000 pts/month) | NA |
| Travel Booking | Via Air India / KrisFlyer transfer | Via Scapia app, 5 coins = ₹1 |
| Airline Miles Transfer | Air India Maharaja Club (1:1), KrisFlyer (4:1) | NA |
| Merchandise | Via vouchers | Scapia Shop, 5 coins = ₹1 |
| Redemption Fee | ₹0 | ₹0 |
The sharpest real difference between these two cards: Scapia has zero cash-out option, ever — you’re locked into its travel ecosystem.
Tiger gives you cash, vouchers, or the Air India transfer. If you fly Air India, Tiger’s redemption is simply better.
Lounge & Travel Perks
| Perk | Tiger | Scapia |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic Lounge | 8/year (2/quarter) | Unlimited |
| Spend Condition (domestic) | None | ₹20,000 spend, previous month |
| International Lounge | 2/year (Priority Pass) | None |
| Golf | 4/year (1/quarter) | None |
| Movies | 2/year, up to ₹500 each | None |
| Airport Dining/Shopping/Spa | Not offered | Choose 1 out of 4 privileges (including lounge access) |
Scapia’s lounge access is unlimited but purely domestic. Note: You have to spend ₹20k in the current statement cycle to unlock access for the next cycle.
Tiger’s lounge access is capped but covers international too, with zero spend condition, making it a true lifetime-free card.
If you fly abroad even occasionally, Tiger’s smaller-but-guaranteed allocation beats chasing a monthly threshold.
Eligibility & Application
| Criteria | IndusInd Tiger | Scapia |
|---|---|---|
| Age | ~21–60 yrs | 21 (salaried) / 25 (self-employed) |
| Income (unofficial) | ₹20k–35k/month | ₹40k+/month |
| Credit Score (unofficial) | Not clearly published | 750+ |
| KYC Process | Standard | Video KYC (~10 min) |
| Time to Card | Varies | Virtual in ~3 hrs, physical in 5 days |
Scapia’s bar is higher on paper but its process is faster and fully digital. My own Tiger upgrade needed a written escalation before approval — though that was an upgrade, not a fresh application, so a first-time application may go smoother.
Which One Should You Get?
| Your Priority | Better Card |
|---|---|
| Zero forex on international spends | Scapia |
| Air India Maharaja Club miles | IndusInd Tiger |
| Guaranteed lounge access, no spend tracking | IndusInd Tiger |
| Unlimited domestic lounge visits | Scapia |
| Golf & movie perks | IndusInd Tiger |
| Fastest, simplest approval | Scapia |
| Want all of the above | Get both — see below |
Can You Have Both?
Yes — and I do. Neither charges a rupee, so there’s no cost to running both.
| Job | Card I Use |
|---|---|
| International spends (forex) | Scapia |
| Heavy domestic-travel months | Scapia |
| Category-agnostic everyday spend → Air India miles | IndusInd Tiger |
| Golf / movies | IndusInd Tiger |
They don’t compete for the same job.
“Tiger is my zero-cost Air India machine; Scapia is my forex-spend card.”
Final Verdict
Scapia is the stronger pure-travel card: zero forex, unlimited domestic lounges, a flat and predictable rate.
Tiger is the stronger lifestyle-plus-miles card: guaranteed lounge access, golf, movies, and a genuinely excellent Air India transfer.
If you can only pick one, use the tables above to match it to your travel pattern.
If you can hold both, there’s no reason not to.
FAQs
Can I hold both Scapia and IndusInd Tiger together?
Yes — no restriction between the two issuers, and both are lifetime free.
Which has better lounge access?
Depends on travel pattern — see the lounge table above. Unlimited-but-domestic-only (Scapia) vs. capped-but-includes-international (Tiger).
Which is better for international travel?
Scapia for forex savings. Tiger specifically if you fly Air India, since Scapia has no airline transfer option.
Which is easier to get approved for?
Scapia’s process was fully digital and fast in my experience. My Tiger upgrade needed a written escalation — a fresh application may differ.
Do both cards exclude the same spending categories?
Mostly — fuel, rent, insurance, utilities, EMI, and government payments are excluded on both. Neither is a great primary card if most of your spending falls there.
Disclaimer: This post reflects my own experience with both cards and is for informational purposes only, not financial advice. Some links are affiliate links — I may earn a commission if you apply through them, at no extra cost to you. Fees, rates, and reward terms can change; please verify current details on the issuer’s official page before applying.
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