Side-by-side · honest numbers
American Express SmartEarn Credit Card vs IDFC FIRST WOW Credit Card vs SBI Card ELITE
Honest side-by-side comparison of American Express SmartEarn Credit Card, IDFC FIRST WOW 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, SBI Card ELITE ranks first for estimated net annual value — ahead of American Express SmartEarn Credit Card by about ₹51/yr.
| Feature | American Express SmartEarn Credit Card American Express | IDFC FIRST WOW Credit Card IDFC FIRST 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 | Not stated | ₹60,000/mo |
| Secured / FD-backed | Standard | FD-backed | Standard |
| Rewards | |||
| Net annual value (moderate) | ₹1,650/yr | ₹800/yr | ₹1,701/yr |
| Online shopping | 5 pts per ₹25 spend → ₹25/mo (₹300/yr) (cap hit) | — | — |
| Travel | — | — | 8 pts per ₹150 spend → ₹67/mo (₹800/yr) |
| Top reward rate | 10X Membership Rewards | 1X reward points | 5X reward points |
| Primary reward cap | ₹500 eligible spend/mo | No monthly cap published | 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: 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 | Fuel · Rent · Wallet · EMI · Government |
| Bonuses | |||
| Signup bonus | — | — | ₹5,000 |
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?
- SBI Card ELITE leads with an estimated ₹1,701/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.
- 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
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 | 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 | 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 | Not stated | ₹60,000/mo |
| Secured / FD-backed | Standard | FD-backed | Standard |
| Rewards | |||
| Net annual value (moderate) | ₹1,650/yr | ₹800/yr | ₹1,701/yr |
| Online shopping | 5 pts per ₹25 spend → ₹25/mo (₹300/yr) (cap hit) | — | — |
| Travel | — | — | 8 pts per ₹150 spend → ₹67/mo (₹800/yr) |
| Top reward rate | 10X Membership Rewards | 1X reward points | 5X reward points |
| Primary reward cap | ₹500 eligible spend/mo | No monthly cap published | 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: 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 | Fuel · Rent · Wallet · EMI · Government |
| Bonuses | |||
| Signup bonus | — | — | ₹5,000 |
American Express SmartEarn Credit Card details →IDFC FIRST WOW Credit Card details →SBI Card ELITE details →
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https://cardhungry.com/in/en/compare/amex-smartearn-vs-idfc-first-wow-vs-sbi-eliteMore American Express SmartEarn Credit Card comparisons
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