IRCTC HDFC Bank vs SBI Flipkart 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 |  IRCTC HDFC Bank Credit CardHDFC Bank5 recent changes → |  SBI Flipkart Credit CardState Bank of India2 recent changes → | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rewards by spend | |||
| Rewards | 1% on most spends; 5% only at partner merchants | 1% on most spends; 7.5% only at partner merchants | |
| UPI payments (scan and pay) | 1% | Earns nothing | |
| Online shopping | 1% | 1%; 7.5% only at Myntra; 5% only at Flipkart, Shopsy & Flipkart Travel | |
| Dining and food deliverysame | 1% | 1% | |
| Groceriessame | 1% | 1% | |
| Travel: flights, hotels, trains | 1%; 5% only at IRCTC website & Rail Connect app | 1%; 5% only at Cleartrip | |
| Fuelsame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Bills and rechargessame | 1% | 1% | |
| Rentsame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Insurance premiums | 1% | Earns nothing | |
| School and college feessame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Wallet top-upssame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Taxes and government paymentssame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Spend abroad or in a foreign currencysame | 1% | 1% | |
| Everything elsesame | 1% | 1% | |
| Card identity | |||
| Card type | Travel | Shopping | |
| Network | RuPay | Mastercard | |
| Card tiersame | Mid | Mid | |
| Fees | |||
| Joining feesame | ₹500 + GST | ₹500 + GST | |
| Annual feesame | ₹500 + GST | ₹500 + GST | |
| Fee waived at | ₹1,50,000 | ₹3,50,000 | |
| Eligibility | |||
| Min age | 21 years | - | |
| Max age | 60 years | - | |
| Employment type | - | BOTH | |
| Min monthly salary | ₹25,000 | - | |
| Rewards | |||
| Reward type | Reward points | Cashback | |
| Point valuesame | ₹1 | ₹1 | |
| Fuel surcharge | |||
| Fuel surcharge waiversame | Yes | Yes | |
| Lounge access | |||
| Domestic lounge visits | 0 | - | |
| International lounge visits | 0 | - | |
| Railway lounge visits | 8 | - | |
| Lounge condition | 8 complimentary IRCTC Executive Lounge visits/year (2/quarter) at select railway stations, not airport lounges. You must present a valid, unexpired train ticket at the entrance, and a ₹2 card-validation charge applies per visit. Includes a 2-hour stay an | - | |
| Forex and international | |||
| Forex markupsame | 3.5% | 3.5% | |
| UPI rewards | |||
| Works on UPI | Yes | No | |
| Interest and charges | |||
| Interest rate (monthly) | 3.75% | - | |
| Interest rate (annual) | 45% | - | |
| Page content | |||
| Documents needed | - | PAN card Aadhaar / valid address proof 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
- ₹2,400
- Fee a year
- ₹0
- You keep
- ₹2,400
- Rewards a year
- ₹2,400
- Fee a year
- - ₹590
- You keep
- ₹1,810
At this spend, IRCTC HDFC Bank Credit Card comes out ₹590 a year ahead of SBI Flipkart 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
- Regular train travellers
- Families who book trains often
- People who commute between cities by rail
- Regular Flipkart shoppers
- Myntra fashion buyers
- Cleartrip travel bookers
Watch-Outs
- Most value is limited to IRCTC bookings
- Rewards are capped each month
- No airport lounge access
- Each boosted category has a monthly cap
- Only 1% outside partner brands
- High ₹3,50,000 waiver target
- No lounge access
Card data sourced via CardAdvisor.in (IRCTC HDFC Bank Credit Card, SBI Flipkart Credit Card), India Credit Card Facts, CC BY 4.0, adapted by SkyloFin.
Questions People Ask
Which has the lower annual fee, IRCTC HDFC Bank Credit Card or SBI Flipkart Credit Card?
They charge the same annual fee. IRCTC HDFC Bank Credit Card: ₹500; SBI Flipkart Credit Card: ₹500.
Which is better for spending abroad?
IRCTC HDFC Bank Credit Card has the lowest forex markup. IRCTC HDFC Bank Credit Card: 3.5%; SBI Flipkart 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: IRCTC HDFC Bank Credit Card 1%, SBI Flipkart Credit Card 1%. 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
Short reads that explain how it works before you decide.
- GuidesBest Credit Cards Under ₹5,000 a Year in India (2026)Credit cards with an annual fee of ₹5,000 or less (before GST) in 2026, ranked by the reward rate each bank states, with fee waivers.Read the guide →
- GuidesBest Credit Cards Under ₹1,000 a Year in India (2026)Credit cards with an annual fee of ₹1,000 or less (before GST) in 2026, ranked by the reward rate each bank states, with fee waivers.Read the guide →
Credit CardsTata Neu HDFC Credit Card: Claim Your NeuCoins from 25 November 2026From 25 November 2026, NeuCoins earned on a Tata Neu HDFC Bank credit card no longer reach your Tata Neu account by themselves. You claim them in the Tata Neu App within 12 months, or they expire. Here is what changes, how to claim, and the dates that matter.Read the guide →
