Side-by-side · honest numbers
American Express SmartEarn Credit Card vs HDFC Bharat Cashback Credit Card vs SBI Card ELITE
Honest side-by-side comparison of American Express SmartEarn Credit Card, HDFC Bharat Cashback Credit Card, SBI Card ELITE — 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, HDFC Bharat Cashback Credit Card ranks first for estimated net annual value — ahead of SBI Card ELITE by about ₹3,729/yr.
| Feature | American Express SmartEarn Credit Card American Express | HDFC Bharat Cashback Credit Card HDFC Bank | SBI Card ELITE SBI Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees & eligibility | |||
| Annual fee | ₹495 | Lifetime free | ₹4,999 |
| Fee waiver threshold | Waived at ₹40,000/yr spend | Lifetime free | ₹10,00,000/yr |
| Min income | ₹25,000/mo | ₹15,000/mo | ₹60,000/mo |
| Secured / FD-backed | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Rewards | |||
| Net annual value (moderate) | ₹1,650/yr | ₹5,430/yr | ₹1,701/yr |
| Online shopping | 5 pts per ₹25 spend → ₹25/mo (₹300/yr) (cap hit) | — | — |
| Fuel | — | 5% cashback → ₹200/mo (₹2,400/yr) | — |
| Travel | — | — | 8 pts per ₹150 spend → ₹67/mo (₹800/yr) |
| Top reward rate | 10X Membership Rewards | 5% cashback | 5X reward points |
| Primary reward cap | ₹500 eligible spend/mo | ₹250 rewards/mo cap | No monthly cap published |
| Perks & restrictions | |||
| Lounge access | None | None | 8 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year · No minimum spend required for lounge access |
| UPI rewards | Not supported (Visa/MC) | Earns: 5% cashback on select categories; 1% on other spends · cap ₹250/month fuel cashback cap | Not supported (Visa/MC) |
| Key exclusions | Fuel · Insurance · Utilities · EMI · Rent | EMI · Rent · Wallet loads · Insurance | Fuel · Rent · Wallet · EMI · Government |
| Bonuses | |||
| Signup bonus | — | — | ₹5,000 |
Frequently asked questions
- Which card has the lower annual fee?
- HDFC Bharat Cashback Credit Card has a ₹0 annual fee (lifetime free or zero-fee tier).
- Which card earns more on moderate spend?
- HDFC Bharat Cashback Credit Card leads with an estimated ₹5,430/yr net annual value on moderate spend.
- Which card has the lower income requirement?
- HDFC Bharat Cashback Credit Card lists a minimum monthly income of ₹15,000.
- 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.
American Express SmartEarn Credit Card
American Express
HDFC Bharat Cashback Credit Card
HDFC Bank
SBI Card ELITE
SBI Card
Your adjusted comparison
| Feature | American ExpressGold American Express SmartEarn Credit Card •••• •••• •••• 4242 Quick facts American Express SmartEarn Credit Card Top reward10X Membership Rewards Annual fee₹495 Min income₹25,000/mo Tap to flip back American Express SmartEarn Credit Card American Express | HDFC BankClassic HDFC Bharat Cashback Credit Card •••• •••• •••• 4242 Quick facts HDFC Bharat Cashback Credit Card Top reward5% cashback Annual feeLifetime Free Min income₹15,000/mo Tap to flip back HDFC Bharat Cashback Credit Card HDFC Bank | SBI CardPlatinum SBI Card ELITE •••• •••• •••• 4242 Quick facts SBI Card ELITE Top reward5X reward points Annual fee₹4,999 Min income₹60,000/mo Tap to flip back SBI Card ELITE SBI Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees & eligibility | |||
| Annual fee | ₹495 | Lifetime free | ₹4,999 |
| Fee waiver threshold | Waived at ₹40,000/yr spend | Lifetime free | ₹10,00,000/yr |
| Min income | ₹25,000/mo | ₹15,000/mo | ₹60,000/mo |
| Secured / FD-backed | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Rewards | |||
| Net annual value (moderate) | ₹1,650/yr | ₹5,430/yr | ₹1,701/yr |
| Online shopping | 5 pts per ₹25 spend → ₹25/mo (₹300/yr) (cap hit) | — | — |
| Fuel | — | 5% cashback → ₹200/mo (₹2,400/yr) | — |
| Travel | — | — | 8 pts per ₹150 spend → ₹67/mo (₹800/yr) |
| Top reward rate | 10X Membership Rewards | 5% cashback | 5X reward points |
| Primary reward cap | ₹500 eligible spend/mo | ₹250 rewards/mo cap | No monthly cap published |
| Perks & restrictions | |||
| Lounge access | None | None | 8 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year · No minimum spend required for lounge access |
| UPI rewards | Not supported (Visa/MC) | Earns: 5% cashback on select categories; 1% on other spends · cap ₹250/month fuel cashback cap | Not supported (Visa/MC) |
| Key exclusions | Fuel · Insurance · Utilities · EMI · Rent | EMI · Rent · Wallet loads · Insurance | Fuel · Rent · Wallet · EMI · Government |
| Bonuses | |||
| Signup bonus | — | — | ₹5,000 |
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https://cardhungry.com/in/en/compare/amex-smartearn-vs-hdfc-bharat-vs-sbi-eliteMore American Express SmartEarn Credit Card comparisons
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