Side-by-side · honest numbers
Amex Membership Rewards CC vs Kotak Royale Signature Credit Card vs Standard Chartered Smart Card
Honest side-by-side comparison of Amex Membership Rewards CC, Kotak Royale Signature Credit Card, Standard Chartered Smart Card — annual fees, reward rates, income eligibility, and estimated net annual value on the same spend profile.
At a glance (moderate spend)
Quick verdict: On moderate spend, Standard Chartered Smart Card ranks first for estimated net annual value — ahead of Amex Membership Rewards CC by about ₹2,909/yr.
| Feature | Amex Membership Rewards CC American Express | Kotak Royale Signature Credit Card Kotak Mahindra Bank | Standard Chartered Smart Card Standard Chartered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees & eligibility | |||
| Annual fee | ₹4,500 | ₹999 | ₹499 |
| Fee waiver threshold | No waiver published | Waived at ₹1,00,000/yr spend | No waiver published |
| Min income | ₹60,000/mo | ₹25,000/mo | ₹30,000/mo |
| Secured / FD-backed | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Rewards | |||
| Net annual value (moderate) | ₹822/yr | ₹140/yr | ₹3,731/yr |
| Online shopping | — | — | 2% cashback → ₹200/mo (₹2,400/yr) |
| Fuel | — | 2 pts per ₹150 spend → ₹13/mo (₹160/yr) | — |
| Top reward rate | 2 RP/₹150 | 2X reward points | 2% cashback |
| Primary reward cap | No monthly cap published | No monthly cap published | No monthly cap published |
| Perks & restrictions | |||
| Lounge access | None | Limited domestic lounge visits — verify on issuer site | None |
| UPI rewards | Not supported (Visa/MC) | Not supported (Visa/MC) | Not supported (Visa/MC) |
| Key exclusions | EMI · Fuel · Rent · Some small merchants | EMI · Rent · Wallet | EMI · Fuel · Rent |
| Bonuses | |||
| Signup bonus | ₹4,000 | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
- Which card has the lower annual fee?
- Standard Chartered Smart Card has the lowest annual fee at ₹499.
- Which card earns more on moderate spend?
- Standard Chartered Smart Card leads with an estimated ₹3,731/yr net annual value on moderate spend.
- Which card has the lower income requirement?
- Kotak Royale Signature Credit Card lists a minimum monthly income of ₹25,000.
- Does this comparison pull my credit score?
- No. CardHungry estimates net value from public fee and reward rules only — no bureau check.
Customize your spend
Change spend profile or swap cards — results update live below.
Amex Membership Rewards CC
American Express
Kotak Royale Signature Credit Card
Kotak Mahindra Bank
Standard Chartered Smart Card
Standard Chartered
Your adjusted comparison
| Feature | American ExpressPlatinum Amex Membership Rewards CC •••• •••• •••• 4242 Quick facts Amex Membership Rewards CC Top reward2 RP/₹150 Annual fee₹4,500 Min income₹60,000/mo Tap to flip back Amex Membership Rewards CC American Express | Kotak Mahindra BankSignature Kotak Royale Signature Credit Card •••• •••• •••• 4242 Quick facts Kotak Royale Signature Credit Card Top reward2X reward points Annual fee₹999 Min income₹25,000/mo Tap to flip back Kotak Royale Signature Credit Card Kotak Mahindra Bank | Standard CharteredGold Standard Chartered Smart Card •••• •••• •••• 4242 Quick facts Standard Chartered Smart Card Top reward2% cashback Annual fee₹499 Min income₹30,000/mo Tap to flip back Standard Chartered Smart Card Standard Chartered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees & eligibility | |||
| Annual fee | ₹4,500 | ₹999 | ₹499 |
| Fee waiver threshold | No waiver published | Waived at ₹1,00,000/yr spend | No waiver published |
| Min income | ₹60,000/mo | ₹25,000/mo | ₹30,000/mo |
| Secured / FD-backed | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Rewards | |||
| Net annual value (moderate) | ₹822/yr | ₹140/yr | ₹3,731/yr |
| Online shopping | — | — | 2% cashback → ₹200/mo (₹2,400/yr) |
| Fuel | — | 2 pts per ₹150 spend → ₹13/mo (₹160/yr) | — |
| Top reward rate | 2 RP/₹150 | 2X reward points | 2% cashback |
| Primary reward cap | No monthly cap published | No monthly cap published | No monthly cap published |
| Perks & restrictions | |||
| Lounge access | None | Limited domestic lounge visits — verify on issuer site | None |
| UPI rewards | Not supported (Visa/MC) | Not supported (Visa/MC) | Not supported (Visa/MC) |
| Key exclusions | EMI · Fuel · Rent · Some small merchants | EMI · Rent · Wallet | EMI · Fuel · Rent |
| Bonuses | |||
| Signup bonus | ₹4,000 | — | — |
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https://cardhungry.com/in/en/compare/amex-mrcc-vs-kotak-royale-vs-sc-smartMore Amex Membership Rewards CC comparisons
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