Side-by-side · honest numbers
American Express SmartEarn Credit Card vs ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card vs IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card
Honest side-by-side comparison of American Express SmartEarn Credit Card, ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card, IDFC FIRST Millennia 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, IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card ranks first for estimated net annual value — ahead of American Express SmartEarn Credit Card by about ₹3,062/yr.
| Feature | American Express SmartEarn Credit Card American Express | ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card ICICI Bank | IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card IDFC FIRST Bank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees & eligibility | |||
| Annual fee | ₹495 | ₹12,000 | Lifetime free |
| Fee waiver threshold | Waived at ₹40,000/yr spend | No waiver published | Lifetime free |
| Min income | ₹25,000/mo | ₹1,00,000/mo | ₹20,000/mo |
| Secured / FD-backed | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Rewards | |||
| Net annual value (moderate) | ₹1,650/yr | -₹8,952/yr | ₹4,712/yr |
| Online shopping | 5 pts per ₹25 spend → ₹25/mo (₹300/yr) (cap hit) | — | 3% cashback → ₹300/mo (₹3,600/yr) |
| Travel | — | 6 pts per ₹150 spend → ₹80/mo (₹960/yr) | — |
| Top reward rate | 10X Membership Rewards | 4X reward points | 3% |
| Primary reward cap | ₹500 eligible spend/mo | No monthly cap published | ₹1,000 rewards/mo cap |
| Perks & restrictions | |||
| Lounge access | None | Unlimited domestic & international lounge access · No minimum spend required for lounge access | None |
| UPI rewards | Not supported (Visa/MC) | Not supported (Visa/MC) | Earns: 3% on online; 0.5% on other eligible spends · cap ₹1,000/month online cashback cap |
| Key exclusions | Fuel · Insurance · Utilities · EMI · Rent | EMI · Fuel · Rent · Wallet | EMI · Rent |
| Bonuses | |||
| Signup bonus | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
- Which card has the lower annual fee?
- IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card has a ₹0 annual fee (lifetime free or zero-fee tier).
- Which card earns more on moderate spend?
- IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card leads with an estimated ₹4,712/yr net annual value on moderate spend.
- Which card has the lower income requirement?
- IDFC FIRST Millennia 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
ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card
ICICI Bank
IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card
IDFC FIRST 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 | ICICI BankMetal ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card •••• •••• •••• 4242 Quick facts ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card Top reward4X reward points Annual fee₹12,000 Min income₹1,00,000/mo Tap to flip back ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card ICICI Bank | IDFC FIRST BankGold IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card •••• •••• •••• 4242 Quick facts IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card Top reward3% Annual feeLifetime Free Min income₹20,000/mo Tap to flip back IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card IDFC FIRST Bank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees & eligibility | |||
| Annual fee | ₹495 | ₹12,000 | Lifetime free |
| Fee waiver threshold | Waived at ₹40,000/yr spend | No waiver published | Lifetime free |
| Min income | ₹25,000/mo | ₹1,00,000/mo | ₹20,000/mo |
| Secured / FD-backed | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Rewards | |||
| Net annual value (moderate) | ₹1,650/yr | -₹8,952/yr | ₹4,712/yr |
| Online shopping | 5 pts per ₹25 spend → ₹25/mo (₹300/yr) (cap hit) | — | 3% cashback → ₹300/mo (₹3,600/yr) |
| Travel | — | 6 pts per ₹150 spend → ₹80/mo (₹960/yr) | — |
| Top reward rate | 10X Membership Rewards | 4X reward points | 3% |
| Primary reward cap | ₹500 eligible spend/mo | No monthly cap published | ₹1,000 rewards/mo cap |
| Perks & restrictions | |||
| Lounge access | None | Unlimited domestic & international lounge access · No minimum spend required for lounge access | None |
| UPI rewards | Not supported (Visa/MC) | Not supported (Visa/MC) | Earns: 3% on online; 0.5% on other eligible spends · cap ₹1,000/month online cashback cap |
| Key exclusions | Fuel · Insurance · Utilities · EMI · Rent | EMI · Fuel · Rent · Wallet | EMI · Rent |
| Bonuses | |||
| Signup bonus | — | — | — |
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https://cardhungry.com/in/en/compare/amex-smartearn-vs-icici-emeralde-vs-idfc-first-millenniaMore American Express SmartEarn Credit Card comparisons
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