Side-by-side · honest numbers
American Express SmartEarn Credit Card vs HSBC Cashback Credit Card vs IRCTC ICICI Bank Credit Card
Honest side-by-side comparison of American Express SmartEarn Credit Card, HSBC Cashback Credit Card, IRCTC ICICI Bank Credit 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, HSBC Cashback Credit Card ranks first for estimated net annual value — ahead of American Express SmartEarn Credit Card by about ₹6,291/yr.
| Feature | American Express SmartEarn Credit Card American Express | HSBC Cashback Credit Card HSBC | IRCTC ICICI Bank Credit Card ICICI Bank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees & eligibility | |||
| Annual fee | ₹495 | ₹999 | Lifetime free |
| Fee waiver threshold | Waived at ₹40,000/yr spend | No waiver published | Lifetime free |
| Min income | ₹25,000/mo | ₹40,000/mo | ₹20,000/mo |
| Secured / FD-backed | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Rewards | |||
| Net annual value (moderate) | ₹1,650/yr | ₹7,941/yr | ₹880/yr |
| Online shopping | 5 pts per ₹25 spend → ₹25/mo (₹300/yr) (cap hit) | — | — |
| Dining & delivery | — | 10% cashback → ₹400/mo (₹4,800/yr) | — |
| Travel | — | — | 10 pts per ₹150 spend → ₹83/mo (₹1,000/yr) |
| Top reward rate | 10X Membership Rewards | 10% | 10% reward points |
| Primary reward cap | ₹500 eligible spend/mo | ₹1,000 eligible spend/mo | No monthly cap published |
| Perks & restrictions | |||
| Lounge access | None | None | Complimentary railway lounge access at select IRCTC partner stations · Railway lounge benefit — no spend milestone in public T&Cs |
| UPI rewards | Not supported (Visa/MC) | Not supported (Visa/MC) | Not supported (Visa/MC) |
| Key exclusions | Fuel · Insurance · Utilities · EMI · Rent | EMI · Fuel · Rent · Wallet | EMI · Fuel · Rent |
| Bonuses | |||
| Signup bonus | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
- Which card has the lower annual fee?
- IRCTC ICICI Bank Credit Card has a ₹0 annual fee (lifetime free or zero-fee tier).
- Which card earns more on moderate spend?
- HSBC Cashback Credit Card leads with an estimated ₹7,941/yr net annual value on moderate spend.
- Which card has the lower income requirement?
- IRCTC ICICI Bank Credit Card lists a minimum monthly income of ₹20,000.
- 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
HSBC Cashback Credit Card
HSBC
IRCTC ICICI Bank Credit Card
ICICI Bank
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 | HSBCGold HSBC Cashback Credit Card •••• •••• •••• 4242 Quick facts HSBC Cashback Credit Card Top reward10% Annual fee₹999 Min income₹40,000/mo Tap to flip back HSBC Cashback Credit Card HSBC | ICICI BankClassic IRCTC ICICI Bank Credit Card •••• •••• •••• 4242 Quick facts IRCTC ICICI Bank Credit Card Top reward10% reward points Annual feeLifetime Free Min income₹20,000/mo Tap to flip back IRCTC ICICI Bank Credit Card ICICI Bank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees & eligibility | |||
| Annual fee | ₹495 | ₹999 | Lifetime free |
| Fee waiver threshold | Waived at ₹40,000/yr spend | No waiver published | Lifetime free |
| Min income | ₹25,000/mo | ₹40,000/mo | ₹20,000/mo |
| Secured / FD-backed | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Rewards | |||
| Net annual value (moderate) | ₹1,650/yr | ₹7,941/yr | ₹880/yr |
| Online shopping | 5 pts per ₹25 spend → ₹25/mo (₹300/yr) (cap hit) | — | — |
| Dining & delivery | — | 10% cashback → ₹400/mo (₹4,800/yr) | — |
| Travel | — | — | 10 pts per ₹150 spend → ₹83/mo (₹1,000/yr) |
| Top reward rate | 10X Membership Rewards | 10% | 10% reward points |
| Primary reward cap | ₹500 eligible spend/mo | ₹1,000 eligible spend/mo | No monthly cap published |
| Perks & restrictions | |||
| Lounge access | None | None | Complimentary railway lounge access at select IRCTC partner stations · Railway lounge benefit — no spend milestone in public T&Cs |
| UPI rewards | Not supported (Visa/MC) | Not supported (Visa/MC) | Not supported (Visa/MC) |
| Key exclusions | Fuel · Insurance · Utilities · EMI · Rent | EMI · Fuel · Rent · Wallet | EMI · Fuel · Rent |
| Bonuses | |||
| Signup bonus | — | — | — |
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https://cardhungry.com/in/en/compare/amex-smartearn-vs-hsbc-cashback-vs-irctc-iciciMore American Express SmartEarn Credit Card comparisons
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