IRCTC SBI Card Premier vs IDFC FIRST Millennia 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 SBI Card PremierState Bank of India5 recent changes → |  IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit CardIDFC First Bank7 recent changes → | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rewards by spend | |||
| Rewards | 0.8% base, up to 2.4% on dining; 8% only at partner merchants | 0.38% base, up to 1.25% on dining | |
| UPI payments (scan and pay)same | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Online shopping | 0.8% | 0.38% | |
| Dining and food delivery | 2.4% | 1.25% | |
| Groceries | 0.8% | 0.38% | |
| Travel: flights, hotels, trains | 0.8%; 8% only at IRCTC | 1.25% | |
| Fuelsame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Bills and recharges | 2.4% | 0.13% | |
| Rent | Earns nothing | 0.38% | |
| Insurance premiums | 0.8% | 0.38% | |
| School and college fees | 0.8% | 0.38% | |
| Wallet top-ups | Earns nothing | 0.38% | |
| Taxes and government payments | Earns nothing | Not stated | |
| Spend abroad or in a foreign currency | 0.8% | Earns nothing | |
| Everything else | 0.8% | 0.38% | |
| Card identity | |||
| Card type | Travel | Dining | |
| Networksame | Visa | Visa | |
| Card tier | Mid | Entry | |
| Fees | |||
| Joining fee | ₹1,499 + GST | Free | |
| Annual fee | ₹1,499 + GST | Free | |
| Lifetime free | No | Yes | |
| Fee waived at | ₹2,00,000 | - | |
| Eligibility | |||
| Employment type | - | BOTH | |
| Min monthly salary | - | ₹25,000 | |
| Rewards | |||
| Reward typesame | Reward points | Reward points | |
| Point value | ₹1 | ₹0 | |
| Fuel surcharge | |||
| Fuel surcharge waiversame | Yes | Yes | |
| Fuel waiver cap | ₹250 | - | |
| Lounge access | |||
| Domestic lounge visitssame | 0 | 0 | |
| International lounge visitssame | 0 | 0 | |
| Railway lounge visits | 8 | 16 | |
| Lounge condition | 8 complimentary railway lounge visits a year (2 per quarter) at participating stations | Spend Rs 20,000 in the previous month for lounge access | |
| Forex and international | |||
| Forex markup | 3.5% | None | |
| Interest and charges | |||
| Interest rate (monthly) | - | 0.71% | |
| Interest rate (annual) | - | 8.52% | |
| Redemption | |||
| Redemption fee | - | ₹99 | |
| 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
- ₹2,880
- Fee a year
- ₹0
- You keep
- ₹2,880
- Rewards a year
- ₹1,440
- Fee a year
- ₹0
- You keep
- ₹1,440
At this spend, IRCTC SBI Card Premier comes out ₹1,440 a year ahead of IDFC FIRST Millennia 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
- Travel only at IRCTC: 8% back
- Dining: 2.4% back
- Spending ₹16,667 or more a month: the ₹1,769 fee is waived
- Flyers: some airport lounge visits a year
- First-time card users
- Young earners
- UPI payment users
- People who want no annual fee
Watch-Outs
- Skip it if you spend less than ₹16,667 a month (₹2,00,000 a year, rent and wallet loads not counted): the ₹1,769 fee is then charged
- Skip it if most of your spending is fuel, rent, wallet top-ups or government payments: those earn nothing on this card
- Skip it if you pay mostly by UPI: a Visa or Mastercard card cannot pay by UPI
- Skip it if you rarely spend on IRCTC: the 8% rate applies only there, everything else earns 0.8%
- Base earning is only about 0.38%
- Low earning on utility bills
- No airport lounge access
Card data sourced via CardAdvisor.in (IRCTC SBI Card Premier, IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card), India Credit Card Facts, CC BY 4.0, adapted by SkyloFin.
Questions People Ask
Which has the lower annual fee, IRCTC SBI Card Premier or IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card?
IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card. IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card: no annual fee; IRCTC SBI Card Premier: ₹1,499. Check whether a spend-based waiver applies before you decide.
Which is better for spending abroad?
IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card has the lowest forex markup. IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card: 0%; IRCTC SBI Card Premier: 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 SBI Card Premier 0.8%, IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card 0.38%. Bonus categories, rates limited to named merchants and monthly caps change the picture, so compare the rewards by spend too.
Which gives airport lounge access?
IRCTC SBI Card Premier: no complimentary lounge visits; IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card: no complimentary lounge visits. Some cards need a minimum spend in the quarter before a visit counts, so check the lounge terms.
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
Other Comparisons
- IRCTC SBI Card Premier vs Federal Scapia Credit cardSide by side →
- IRCTC SBI Card Premier vs SBI Card MILES PRIMESide by side →
- IRCTC SBI Card Premier vs SBI Flipkart Credit CardSide by side →
- IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card vs HSBC Live Plus Credit CardSide by side →
- IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card vs SBI BPCL Credit CardSide by side →
- IDFC FIRST Millennia Credit Card vs SBI SimplySAVE Credit CardSide by side →
We earn a commission if you are approved, and you pay nothing extra. How we make money.
Guides in Plain Words
Short reads that explain how it works before you decide.
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 →- GuidesBest Credit Cards Under ₹500 a Year in India (2026)Credit cards with an annual fee of ₹500 or less (before GST) in 2026, ranked by the reward rate each bank states, with fee waivers.Read the guide →
GuidesNo-Cost EMI: What It Really Costs You, With a Worked ExampleNo-cost EMI is not a trick, but it is rarely free. Here is where the money goes: the discount you give up, the processing fee, and GST on the interest, worked out on a Rs 30,000 phone.Read the guide →
