IDFC FIRST Private vs SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card Compared
Which credit card suits you? Side by side on the numbers that decide it. A blank means the provider has not published that figure, not that it is zero. Data last verified: 11 October 2026.
| Feature |  IDFC FIRST Private Credit CardIDFC First Bank5 recent changes → |  SBI SimplySAVE Credit CardState Bank of India4 recent changes → | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rewards by spend | |||
| Rewards | 1.67% on most spends | 0.17% base, up to 1.67% on dining | |
| UPI payments (scan and pay)same | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Online shopping | 1.67% | 0.17% | |
| Dining and food deliverysame | 1.67% | 1.67% | |
| Groceriessame | 1.67% | 1.67% | |
| Travel: flights, hotels, trains | 1.67% | 0.17% | |
| Fuel | Not stated | Earns nothing | |
| Bills and rechargessame | 0.17% | 0.17% | |
| Rent | 0.17% | Earns nothing | |
| Insurance premiumssame | 0.17% | 0.17% | |
| School and college feessame | 0.17% | 0.17% | |
| Wallet top-upssame | 0.17% | 0.17% | |
| Taxes and government payments | 0.17% | Earns nothing | |
| Spend abroad or in a foreign currency | 0.83% | 0.17% | |
| Everything else | 1.67% | 0.17% | |
| Card identity | |||
| Card type | Rewards | Dining | |
| Networksame | Visa | Visa | |
| Card tier | Super premium | Entry | |
| Fees | |||
| Joining fee | ₹50,000 + GST | ₹499 + GST | |
| Annual fee | ₹25,000 + GST | ₹499 + GST | |
| Fee waived at | - | ₹1,00,000 | |
| Eligibility | |||
| Employment type | - | BOTH | |
| Rewards | |||
| Reward typesame | Reward points | Reward points | |
| Point valuesame | ₹0 | ₹0 | |
| Fuel surcharge | |||
| Fuel surcharge waiversame | Yes | Yes | |
| Fuel waiver cap | - | ₹100 | |
| Lounge access | |||
| Domestic lounge unlimited | Yes | No | |
| International lounge unlimited | Yes | No | |
| Lounge condition | Unlimited complimentary domestic and international airport lounge access for the primary cardholder | - | |
| Forex and international | |||
| Forex markup | None | 3.5% | |
| Interest and charges | |||
| Interest rate (monthly) | 0.75% | 3.75% | |
| Interest rate (annual) | 9% | 45% | |
| Redemption | |||
| Redemption fee | ₹0 | - | |
| Page content | |||
| Documents needed | - | PAN card Aadhaar / valid address proof Latest 3 months bank statement Income proof, salary slips (salaried) or ITR (self-employed) Recent passport-size photograph | |
| Apply | Apply Now | Apply Now | |
Worth in Rupees at ₹20,000 a Month
- Rewards a year
- ₹4,008
- Fee a year
- - ₹29,500
- You keep
- - ₹25,492
- Rewards a year
- ₹1,320
- Fee a year
- ₹0
- You keep
- ₹1,320
At this spend, SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card comes out ₹26,812 a year ahead of IDFC FIRST Private Credit Card. Worked out from each card's published reward rate, caps and fee, on ₹20,000 a month. Your own spend changes the answer: try the rewards calculator.
Best For
- Frequent flyers: unlimited airport lounge visits
- Spending abroad: 0% markup, most cards add 3.5%
- First-time card users
- Families with regular grocery bills
- People who eat out often
Watch-Outs
- Skip it if you spend less than ₹1,47,500 a month: below that the ₹29,500 fee costs more than the rewards
- Skip it if you pay mostly by UPI: a Visa or Mastercard card cannot pay by UPI
- Skip it if you spend a lot on fuel: the card's terms do not state a rate there, so we count nothing
- Skip it if you sometimes pay only the minimum due: interest of 0.75% a month (9% a year) outweighs any reward
- Very low rate outside 10X categories
- Accelerated points are capped monthly
- No lounge access
Card data sourced via CardAdvisor.in (IDFC FIRST Private Credit Card, SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card), India Credit Card Facts, CC BY 4.0, adapted by SkyloFin.
Questions People Ask
Which has the lower annual fee, IDFC FIRST Private Credit Card or SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card?
SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card. SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card: ₹499; IDFC FIRST Private Credit Card: ₹25,000. Check whether a spend-based waiver applies before you decide.
Which is better for spending abroad?
IDFC FIRST Private Credit Card has the lowest forex markup. IDFC FIRST Private Credit Card: 0%; SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card: 3.5%. The markup is charged on every foreign-currency transaction, before GST.
Which earns more on everyday spending?
On spends outside any bonus category: IDFC FIRST Private Credit Card 1.67%, SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card 0.17%. Bonus categories, rates limited to named merchants and monthly caps change the picture, so compare the rewards by spend too.
Can I hold more than one of these cards?
Usually yes, if each bank approves you. Many people keep one card for everyday spending and another for a specific use such as travel. Each application is a separate credit check.
Work Out the Numbers
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Guides in Plain Words
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