Side-by-side · honest numbers
American Express SmartEarn Credit Card vs IDFC FIRST WOW Credit Card vs IRCTC ICICI Bank Credit Card
Honest side-by-side comparison of American Express SmartEarn Credit Card, IDFC FIRST WOW 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, American Express SmartEarn Credit Card ranks first for estimated net annual value — ahead of IRCTC ICICI Bank Credit Card by about ₹770/yr.
| Feature | American Express SmartEarn Credit Card American Express | IDFC FIRST WOW Credit Card IDFC FIRST Bank | IRCTC ICICI Bank Credit Card ICICI Bank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees & eligibility | |||
| Annual fee | ₹495 | Lifetime free | Lifetime free |
| Fee waiver threshold | Waived at ₹40,000/yr spend | Lifetime free | Lifetime free |
| Min income | ₹25,000/mo | Not stated | ₹20,000/mo |
| Secured / FD-backed | Standard | FD-backed | Standard |
| Rewards | |||
| Net annual value (moderate) | ₹1,650/yr | ₹800/yr | ₹880/yr |
| Online shopping | 5 pts per ₹25 spend → ₹25/mo (₹300/yr) (cap hit) | — | — |
| Travel | — | — | 10 pts per ₹150 spend → ₹83/mo (₹1,000/yr) |
| Top reward rate | 10X Membership Rewards | 1X reward points | 10% reward points |
| Primary reward cap | ₹500 eligible spend/mo | No monthly cap published | 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) | Earns: Reward points on eligible spends via UPI and card · cap Lifetime-free; standard earn caps per IDFC T&Cs | Not supported (Visa/MC) |
| Key exclusions | Fuel · Insurance · Utilities · EMI · Rent | Not stated | EMI · Fuel · Rent |
| Bonuses | |||
| Signup bonus | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
- Which card has the lower annual fee?
- IDFC FIRST WOW Credit Card has a ₹0 annual fee (lifetime free or zero-fee tier).
- Which card earns more on moderate spend?
- American Express SmartEarn Credit Card leads with an estimated ₹1,650/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.
- Which cards are secured (FD-backed)?
- IDFC FIRST WOW Credit Card is secured — useful for thin credit files without a bureau pull at application.
- 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
IDFC FIRST WOW Credit Card
IDFC FIRST Bank
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 | IDFC FIRST BankClassic IDFC FIRST WOW Credit Card •••• •••• •••• 4242 Quick facts IDFC FIRST WOW Credit Card Top reward1X reward points Annual feeLifetime Free Tap to flip back IDFC FIRST WOW Credit Card IDFC FIRST Bank | 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 | Lifetime free | Lifetime free |
| Fee waiver threshold | Waived at ₹40,000/yr spend | Lifetime free | Lifetime free |
| Min income | ₹25,000/mo | Not stated | ₹20,000/mo |
| Secured / FD-backed | Standard | FD-backed | Standard |
| Rewards | |||
| Net annual value (moderate) | ₹1,650/yr | ₹800/yr | ₹880/yr |
| Online shopping | 5 pts per ₹25 spend → ₹25/mo (₹300/yr) (cap hit) | — | — |
| Travel | — | — | 10 pts per ₹150 spend → ₹83/mo (₹1,000/yr) |
| Top reward rate | 10X Membership Rewards | 1X reward points | 10% reward points |
| Primary reward cap | ₹500 eligible spend/mo | No monthly cap published | 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) | Earns: Reward points on eligible spends via UPI and card · cap Lifetime-free; standard earn caps per IDFC T&Cs | Not supported (Visa/MC) |
| Key exclusions | Fuel · Insurance · Utilities · EMI · Rent | Not stated | EMI · Fuel · Rent |
| Bonuses | |||
| Signup bonus | — | — | — |
Share this comparison
https://cardhungry.com/in/en/compare/amex-smartearn-vs-idfc-first-wow-vs-irctc-iciciMore 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