Side-by-side · honest numbers
American Express SmartEarn Credit Card vs ICICI Sapphiro Credit Card vs IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card
Honest side-by-side comparison of American Express SmartEarn Credit Card, ICICI Sapphiro Credit Card, IDFC FIRST Select 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, ICICI Sapphiro Credit Card ranks first for estimated net annual value — ahead of IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card by about ₹1,486/yr.
| Feature | American Express SmartEarn Credit Card American Express | ICICI Sapphiro Credit Card ICICI Bank | IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card IDFC FIRST Bank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees & eligibility | |||
| Annual fee | ₹495 | ₹3,500 | Lifetime free |
| Fee waiver threshold | Waived at ₹40,000/yr spend | No waiver published | Lifetime free |
| Min income | ₹25,000/mo | ₹75,000/mo | ₹30,000/mo |
| Secured / FD-backed | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Rewards | |||
| Net annual value (moderate) | ₹1,650/yr | ₹3,556/yr | ₹2,070/yr |
| Online shopping | 5 pts per ₹25 spend → ₹25/mo (₹300/yr) (cap hit) | — | — |
| Top reward rate | 10X Membership Rewards | 4 RP/₹100 | 3X reward points |
| Primary reward cap | ₹500 eligible spend/mo | No monthly cap published | No monthly cap published |
| Perks & restrictions | |||
| Lounge access | None | Domestic + international lounge · Premium dual-card pack — lounge visits typically bundled; verify quarterly caps on issuer site | 2 domestic visits/quarter + railway lounges · ₹20,000 spend in previous calendar month per visit block (issuer 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 | EMI · Rent |
| Bonuses | |||
| Signup bonus | — | ₹4,000 | — |
Frequently asked questions
- Which card has the lower annual fee?
- IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card has a ₹0 annual fee (lifetime free or zero-fee tier).
- Which card earns more on moderate spend?
- ICICI Sapphiro Credit Card leads with an estimated ₹3,556/yr net annual value on moderate spend.
- Which card has the lower income requirement?
- American Express SmartEarn 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.
American Express SmartEarn Credit Card
American Express
ICICI Sapphiro Credit Card
ICICI Bank
IDFC FIRST Select 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 BankPlatinum ICICI Sapphiro Credit Card •••• •••• •••• 4242 Quick facts ICICI Sapphiro Credit Card Top reward4 RP/₹100 Annual fee₹3,500 Min income₹75,000/mo Tap to flip back ICICI Sapphiro Credit Card ICICI Bank | IDFC FIRST BankPlatinum IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card •••• •••• •••• 4242 Quick facts IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card Top reward3X reward points Annual feeLifetime Free Min income₹30,000/mo Tap to flip back IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card IDFC FIRST Bank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees & eligibility | |||
| Annual fee | ₹495 | ₹3,500 | Lifetime free |
| Fee waiver threshold | Waived at ₹40,000/yr spend | No waiver published | Lifetime free |
| Min income | ₹25,000/mo | ₹75,000/mo | ₹30,000/mo |
| Secured / FD-backed | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Rewards | |||
| Net annual value (moderate) | ₹1,650/yr | ₹3,556/yr | ₹2,070/yr |
| Online shopping | 5 pts per ₹25 spend → ₹25/mo (₹300/yr) (cap hit) | — | — |
| Top reward rate | 10X Membership Rewards | 4 RP/₹100 | 3X reward points |
| Primary reward cap | ₹500 eligible spend/mo | No monthly cap published | No monthly cap published |
| Perks & restrictions | |||
| Lounge access | None | Domestic + international lounge · Premium dual-card pack — lounge visits typically bundled; verify quarterly caps on issuer site | 2 domestic visits/quarter + railway lounges · ₹20,000 spend in previous calendar month per visit block (issuer 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 | EMI · Rent |
| Bonuses | |||
| Signup bonus | — | ₹4,000 | — |
Share this comparison
https://cardhungry.com/in/en/compare/amex-smartearn-vs-icici-sapphiro-vs-idfc-first-selectMore American Express SmartEarn Credit Card comparisons
- American Express SmartEarn Credit Card vs 811 Dream Different Credit Card
- American Express SmartEarn Credit Card vs AU Altura Credit Card
- American Express SmartEarn Credit Card vs AU Zenith Credit Card
- American Express SmartEarn Credit Card vs American Express Gold Card
- American Express SmartEarn Credit Card vs American Express Platinum Travel Card
- American Express SmartEarn Credit Card vs Amex Membership Rewards CC
- American Express SmartEarn Credit Card vs Axis Bank ACE Credit Card
- American Express SmartEarn Credit Card vs Axis Bank Airtel Credit Card
- American Express SmartEarn Credit Card vs Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card
- American Express SmartEarn Credit Card vs Axis Bank Flipkart Credit Card
- American Express SmartEarn Credit Card vs Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card
- American Express SmartEarn Credit Card vs Axis Bank My Zone Credit Card