The verdict: BLCK if you qualify, Ornge if you don’t
BLCK earns at least as much as Ornge on every rupee and has ₹1,500 more cap room each month. The extra ₹590 a year in fees is covered by about ₹1,000 a month on Swiggy. The catch is eligibility: BLCK asks for ₹1 lakh a month in salary, Ornge ₹20,000.
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Pick BLCK: you order on Swiggy every week, also shop on Amazon or Flipkart, and spend ₹2 lakh a year on the card so the renewal is free.
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Pick Ornge: you don’t meet BLCK’s income bar, spend under ₹1,000 a month on Swiggy, or can get Ornge lifetime free.
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Keep Swiggy orders at ₹249 or more. Smaller orders earn nothing. Check your own numbers in the calculator above.
Ornge vs BLCK, side by side
From HDFC Bank’s combined Ornge and BLCK terms (15 October 2026), the two product pages and the MITC.
| Feature | Ornge | BLCK |
|---|---|---|
| Swiggy app | 5% | 10% |
| Select online spends | 5% | 5% |
| 5% and 10% caps, per billing cycle | ₹1,500 shared by Swiggy and online | ₹1,500 Swiggy + ₹1,500 online |
| Other spends | 1%, up to ₹1,000 | 1%, up to ₹1,000 |
| Most cashback a month | ₹2,500 | ₹4,000 |
| Spend to max every cap | ₹30,000 Swiggy + online, ₹1 lakh other | ₹15,000 Swiggy, ₹30,000 online, ₹1 lakh other |
| Smallest transaction that earns | ₹249 for 5%, ₹100 for 1% | ₹249 for 10%, ₹100 for 5% and 1% |
| Welcome benefit | Swiggy One, 12 months | Swiggy BLCK, 3 months |
| Joining fee | ₹500 + GST | ₹1,000 + GST, waived on ₹75,000 spend in 90 days |
| Renewal fee | ₹500 + GST, waived on ₹1.5 lakh a year | ₹1,000 + GST, waived on ₹2 lakh a year |
| Lifetime-free route | Yes, through the Swiggy app and some employers | None listed |
| Salaried income | Over ₹20,000 a month | Over ₹1 lakh a month |
| Self-employed income | ITR over ₹6 lakh a year | ITR over ₹12 lakh a year |
| Age | 21 to 60 salaried, 21 to 65 self-employed | |
| Network | Mastercard World only | |
| Golf | 4 free green-fee rounds a calendar year, 50% off after that, 12 free lessons a year (Mastercard) | |
| Interest-free period | Up to 50 days | |
| Lounge access | None listed | |
Where BLCK pulls ahead: on ₹6,000 of Swiggy a month, Ornge pays ₹300 and BLCK ₹600. Ornge’s single ₹1,500 cap fills at ₹30,000 of Swiggy and online spend together; on BLCK, online cashback has its own ₹1,500.
Where the 5% online cashback applies
Online transactions only, at select merchants under these merchant codes (Table 2.1 of the terms). Same list on both cards.
| Apparel | 5137513956115621563156415651565556615691569756995948 |
|---|---|
| Pharmacies | 51225912597580428043 |
| Pet stores | 519257335735594159425945599578297941 |
| Personal care | 5977723072977298 |
| Ola, Zoom, Uber | 41114121551155217512 |
| Reliance Retail, Vijay Sales, Croma | 17315045504650655099572257325734594673727622762376297631 |
| Paytm Travel, EaseMyTrip, Ixigo, Yatra, Ibibo | 411141124121413147227011 |
| Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Nykaa, Cleartrip, Ajio, Netflix, Hotstar, BookMyShow, Meesho | All online transactions except the excluded codes |
- Brand list on the cashback sheetsAmazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Nykaa, Cleartrip, BookMyShow, Uber, PharmEasy, Croma, Vijay Sales, Reliance Digital, Netflix, SonyLIV, Prime, Hotstar, Paytm Travel, Ixigo, Yatra, EaseMyTrip and Ibibo. Ornge’s sheet adds Swiggy, because its 5% pool includes Swiggy.
- Swiggy counts only on the appFood delivery, Instamart and Dineout. Not Swiggy Money wallet loads, Swiggy Liquor or other Swiggy platforms. Tracked by merchant and terminal IDs that Swiggy shares with HDFC.
- Wrong merchant code, no cashbackThe merchant sets the code. HDFC isn’t responsible if a merchant outside its own network captures it wrongly.
One of Ornge’s two 5% cashback sheets also lists an Entertainment row (4411, 4899, 5193, 5992, 7032, 7033, 7333, 7832, 7911, 7922, 7929, 7933, 7991, 7996, 7997). The main terms don’t, so treat it as unconfirmed.
No cashback on these
Excluded from all cashback on both cards, per section 2.5 of the terms. Smartpay, SmartBuy, cash advances, traveller’s cheques and foreign currency purchases earn nothing either.
| Fuel | 5172554155425983 |
|---|---|
| Rent | 6513 |
| Wallets | 6540 |
| Jewellery | 50945944 |
| Government | 92119222922393119399940294059950 |
| Gift cards | 5947 |
| Gaming | 58167995 |
| Education | 821182208241824482498299 |
| EMI | All EMI types, any code |
The terms list gaming as 5816; the 1% cashback sheets list 7995. Both are shown.
How cashback is paid
- Credit
- Automatic, on the statementEach billing cycle’s cashback is set off against your outstanding. Not against interest or finance charges.
- Counted by
- Posting dateA transaction that posts in the next cycle earns in that cycle. Refunds in the same cycle are netted off.
- Refunds
- Cashback reversedShown as “Cashback Rev” on the statement.
- EMI conversion
- Cashback reversedNext statement, even if you later foreclose or cancel the EMI.
- On the statement
- One summary line per rateNo per-transaction cashback detail.
- Missing cashback
- Report within 30 daysIn writing, from the statement date.
- Lost cashback
- If the card closes or you defaultUnposted cashback lapses if the card is cancelled, or the minimum due isn’t paid by the due date.
- Fuel
- No surcharge waiverAnd no cashback on fuel.
Personal use only
If HDFC finds the card used for business, resale or other prohibited purposes, it can cancel the card and withhold cashback without notice.
Partner and birthday offers
Limited-period offers in the terms, on top of the 5% or 10% cashback. Same on both cards.
| Extra | Where, and the limit |
|---|---|
| 6.35% | Instant discount on Cleartrip flightsWith coupon CTSWHDFC. Plus 5% cashback |
| 20% | Instant discount on Cleartrip hotelsWith coupon CTSWHDFC. Plus 5% cashback |
| 5% | Instant discount on NykaaOrders of ₹1,000 or more, up to ₹100 each, two a month. Plus 5% cashback |
| 10% | Extra off Swiggy Dineout in your birthday weekUp to ₹500 on bills of ₹3,000 or more, with coupon SWIGGYCARDBDAY. Once per cardholder, from 3 days before to 3 days after the birthday in bank records, and only 30 days after activation |
Old Swiggy card, upgrades and free offers
- The old Swiggy HDFC card is being phased outHolders get SMS and email at least 30 days before. If you don’t pick a variant, the card moves to Ornge.
- Migrated Ornge cards are lifetime freePer HDFC’s migration FAQ (29 October 2026). The same FAQ also says the joining fee is charged within 120 days and the renewal date resets, so check your statement.
- New number, old card for 60 daysThe old card stops on your first new-card transaction, after 60 days, or at its expiry. Autopay, mandates and card controls don’t move over.
- Migration welcome couponSwiggy One for 1 year, sent within 20 days of activation. Redeem within a year of card issue.
- Old-card cashback queriesUp to one month from the new card’s issue date. Cashback around migration posts within 5 business days.
- Switching between Ornge and BLCKYour card must be at least 6 months old. Ornge to BLCK needs a ₹1.5 lakh credit limit, and HDFC’s internal checks.
- Ornge lifetime freeFor applications through the Swiggy app from 1 July 2026. Also for staff of select employers applying on HDFC’s own channels from 1 April 2026; they see the ₹500 fee while applying, and it’s removed within 90 days.
- Ornge first year free has endedIt covered applications from 15 April to 10 September 2026.
- Swiggy app offers stay on that numberOffers shown in the Swiggy app work only with the mobile number on that Swiggy account.
Fees and charges
From HDFC Bank’s MITC (October 2026) and the card terms. 18% GST applies to fees, interest and charges.
Card fees
- Ornge joining and renewal
- ₹500 + GST₹590. Charged within 120 days. Renewal waived on ₹1.5 lakh spend in the year before.
- BLCK joining
- ₹1,000 + GST₹1,180. Waived if you spend ₹75,000 in the first 90 days.
- BLCK renewal
- ₹1,000 + GSTWaived on ₹2 lakh spend in the year before.
- Not counted for waivers
- Cash, Cash on Call, balance transfer
- Add-on card
- Lifetime free
- Card reissue
- ₹199Lost, stolen, damaged or network change.
Interest and late fee
- Interest-free period
- Up to 50 daysLost if last month’s bill isn’t paid in full, or on cash withdrawals.
- Interest
- 3.75% a month45% a year, on revolved balances and cash from the transaction date.
- Late fee, by bill amount
- ₹0 to ₹1,300Up to ₹100: nil. ₹101–500: ₹100. ₹501–1,000: ₹500. ₹1,001–5,000: ₹600. ₹5,001–10,000: ₹750. ₹10,001–25,000: ₹900. ₹25,001–50,000: ₹1,100. Above ₹50,000: ₹1,300. Charged if the minimum due isn’t paid by the due date.
- Cash advance
- 2.5%, minimum ₹500Plus interest from the day you withdraw.
- Over-limit
- 2.5%, minimum ₹550Only with your consent to go over the limit.
- Payment return
- 2%, minimum ₹450Bounced cheque or failed autopay.
Usage fees
- Foreign currency
- 3.5% markup
- Rupee payments abroad
- 1.75% markupAlso at Indian merchants registered overseas.
- Rent
- 1% of every rent paymentUp to ₹4,999 a transaction.
- Utilities
- 1% above ₹50,000 a monthOn the whole month’s utility spend. Up to ₹4,999 a month.
- Fuel
- 1% above ₹15,000On the whole transaction. Up to ₹4,999 a transaction.
- Wallet loads
- 1% above ₹10,000 a monthPayZapp excluded. Up to ₹4,999 a month.
- Online skill gaming
- 1% above ₹10,000 a monthUp to ₹4,999 a month.
- Education
- 1% through third-party appsLike CRED or NoBroker. Free on the school’s own website or POS.
- Railway tickets
- 1% + GST
- Cash bill payment at a branch or ATM
- ₹100
Quick answers
Is BLCK always better than Ornge?
On cashback, yes: it pays the same or more on every spend. After fees, BLCK wins once you spend about ₹1,000 a month on Swiggy, unless your Ornge is lifetime free.
Is the cashback credited automatically?
Yes. Each billing cycle’s cashback is adjusted against your card outstanding. There’s nothing to claim.
What’s the most I can earn?
Ornge: ₹2,500 a billing cycle (₹1,500 at 5% + ₹1,000 at 1%). BLCK: ₹4,000 (₹1,500 at 10% + ₹1,500 at 5% + ₹1,000 at 1%).
Can I get the fee waived?
Ornge renewal: spend ₹1.5 lakh a year. BLCK: ₹75,000 in the first 90 days waives the joining fee, ₹2 lakh a year waives renewal. Ornge is lifetime free through the Swiggy app.
What happens to my old Swiggy HDFC card?
It’s being phased out. Unless you choose BLCK, it moves to a lifetime-free Ornge card with a new number, and you get a 1-year Swiggy One coupon.
Is either card good abroad?
No. Both charge a 3.5% foreign currency markup and have no lounge access listed.
Sources
- HDFC Bank: Swiggy Ornge and BLCK terms and conditions, 15 Oct 2026 (PDF)Issuer (opens in a new tab)
- HDFC Bank: Most Important Terms and Conditions, October 2026 (PDF)Issuer (opens in a new tab)
- HDFC Bank: Swiggy Ornge Credit Card product pageIssuer (opens in a new tab)
- HDFC Bank: Swiggy BLCK Credit Card product pageIssuer (opens in a new tab)
- HDFC Bank: Ornge 5% cashback merchants (PDF)Issuer (opens in a new tab)
- HDFC Bank: BLCK 5% cashback merchants (PDF)Issuer (opens in a new tab)
- HDFC Bank: Ornge first-year-free and lifetime-free offer terms (PDF)Issuer (opens in a new tab)
- HDFC Bank: Swiggy card migration FAQs, 29 Oct 2026 (PDF)Issuer (opens in a new tab)
Cashback rates, caps, exclusions, welcome and partner offers, and upgrade rules come from the combined terms. Eligibility, golf and the interest-free period come from the product pages. Fees, interest, late fee and usage fees come from the MITC. Migration details come from the migration FAQ. Card images are HDFC Bank’s official card designs from its product pages. This is an independent review, not financial advice or an HDFC Bank or Swiggy endorsement.