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ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card vs SBI AURUM Credit Card vs HDFC Bank INFINIA Metal Credit Card

A detailed, side-by-side look at 3 leading credit cards. Analyze the features that matter most to you and make an informed choice.

Features

ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card
ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card
SBI AURUM Credit Card
SBI AURUM Credit Card
HDFC Bank INFINIA Metal Credit Card
HDFC Bank INFINIA Metal Credit Card

Fees & Charges

Joining Fee
₹12,000 + GST
₹9,999 + GST
₹12,500 + GST
Renewal Fee
₹12,000 + GST
₹9,999 + GST
₹12,500 + GST
Spend Based Waiver
Annual fee waived on ₹10-15 lakh annual spends; monthly fee waived on ₹1 lakh monthly spends.
Annual fee waived on achieving annual spends of ₹12,00,000 in the previous anniversary year.
Renewal fee waived on ₹10 lakhs or more spend in preceding 12 months for Metal Edition.
Foreign Transaction Fees
2% of the transaction amount (some sources indicate 1.5%).
1.99% of the transaction amount.
2% + GST (~2.36%) on all foreign currency transactions.
Interest Rate (APR)
General finance charges: 3.75% or 3.40% per month. Cash advance: 3.75% or 1.99% per month.
3.75% per month (45% per annum).
1.99% per month (23.8% annualized) on the due amount.

Rewards & Benefits

Welcome Bonus
American Express Cardholders receive a shopping voucher from TATA CLiQ worth ₹5,000 on their birthday.
40,000 AURUM Reward Points (₹10,000), plus Club Marriott, WSJ, Mint, and IPV memberships.
Complimentary Club Marriott membership for 1st year & 12,500 bonus Reward Points on activation.
Rewards Rate
Earn 4 Reward Points on every ₹100 domestic/international spend; 1 RP on Utility/Insurance.
Earn 4 ARP on every ₹100 non-fuel spend (1 ARP = ₹0.25), a 1% reward rate.
Earn 5 RP for ₹150 retail spends; up to 10X RP on SmartBuy travel & shopping.
Reward Type
Reward Points
Reward Points
Reward Points
Reward Redemption Fee
₹99 + GST per reward redemption request.
₹99 + applicable taxes per redemption request.
Nil

Travel & Lifestyle

Domestic Lounge Access
Unlimited complimentary domestic airport lounge access for the primary Cardholder.
4 complimentary domestic lounge accesses per quarter for primary & add-on cardholders + spa access.
Unlimited complimentary airport lounge access in India for primary and add-on cardholders.
International Lounge Access
Unlimited complimentary international airport lounge access for the primary Cardholder.
Unlimited international lounge access via Dreamfolks program, with 1 complimentary guest visit per quarter.
Unlimited complimentary airport lounge access globally via Priority Pass for primary & add-on.
Travel Benefits
Unlimited complimentary international and domestic airport lounge access; travel cancellation protection.
Flight cancellation cover of ₹3,500 (refundable) / ₹3,000 (non-refundable), up to 2 times yearly.
Complimentary Club Marriott & ITC Hotels stay offers; Redeem RP for flights/airmiles on SmartBuy.
Movie Benefits
Buy one get one up to ₹750 off on movie/event tickets via BookMyShow, up to 4 times monthly.
4 complimentary BookMyShow movie tickets (₹250 each) every month, max 2 tickets per booking.
Dining Benefits
Minimum 15% discount on dining bills at partnered restaurants through the Culinary Treats Programme.
Complimentary Club Marriott membership; 1+1 buffet at ITC; FLAT 10% EXTRA OFF on Swiggy Dineout.
Golf Benefits
Up to 4 complimentary golf rounds or lessons monthly, based on eligible previous month's spends.
16 complimentary golf rounds (4/quarter) and 12 golf lessons per calendar year.
Unlimited complimentary golf lessons and games at leading courses across India and worldwide.
Fuel Surcharge Waiver
1% waiver on fuel transactions up to ₹4,000 at any fuel station across India.
1% waiver (₹500-₹4,000 transactions, max ₹250 waiver/cycle) across all petrol pumps.
1% waiver on transactions ₹400-₹1,00,000, capped at ₹1,000 per statement cycle.

Security & Other

Insurance Benefits
₹3 Crore Air Accident Insurance, ₹50,000 Credit Shield, and comprehensive international travel insurance.
₹1 Lakh travel insurance, ₹3.5 Crore air accidental death, ₹10 Lakh lost card & fraud protection.
Accidental Air Death ₹3 Cr, Emergency Overseas Hospitalization ₹50 L, Credit Shield ₹9 L.
Cash Advance Charges
Nil cash advance charges, but interest rates apply immediately from the transaction date.
2.50% of withdrawn amount, minimum charge of ₹500.
NIL, but interest charges are applicable from the date of cash advance.

ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card

SBI AURUM Credit Card

HDFC Bank INFINIA Metal Credit Card

Who is it for?

Who is it for?

Who is it for?

Pros

Key benefits and features.

Unlimited complimentary domestic & international airport lounge access for primary cardholder.

Get up to 4 free golf rounds/lessons monthly, based on your previous month's retail spends.

Attractive 'Buy One Get One' movie/event ticket offers via BookMyShow and dining discounts.

Comprehensive travel insurance, including ₹3 Crore air accident cover & cancellation waivers.

Choose between annual/monthly plans with spend-based fee waivers for financial flexibility.

Pros

Key benefits and features.

Generous welcome benefit of 40,000 Reward Points (equivalent to ₹10,000).

Attractive milestone benefits offer premium brand vouchers like Tata CLiQ Luxury, Taj, and Apple.

Exclusive complimentary memberships to Club Marriott, WSJ, Mint, and the Angel Investor Network (IPV).

Extensive travel benefits with unlimited international and domestic lounge access, plus spa access.

Comprehensive insurance coverage for travel, accidental death, and fraud protection.

Pros

Key benefits and features.

Unlimited lounge access globally for primary and add-on cardholders via Priority Pass membership.

Enjoy unlimited complimentary golf games and coaching at premier courses across the world.

Highly rewarding with 5 Reward Points for every ₹150 spent, up to 10X on SmartBuy.

Valuable welcome & renewal benefits, including bonus RPs & complimentary Club Marriott membership.

Comprehensive insurance benefits, including air accidental death cover and overseas hospitalization.

Cons

Key drawbacks and limitations.

Significant joining and annual fees, though waivable with high annual spending thresholds.

Very high-income criteria restrict access, making this card exclusive to high earners.

A charge of ₹99 + GST is applied for every request to redeem reward points.

Concierge services are restricted to major metropolitan cities in India only.

Discrepancies exist in reported foreign currency markup and interest rates across sources.

Cons

Key drawbacks and limitations.

A 1% standard reward rate is basic for a super-premium card with such a high annual fee.

Discontinuation of valuable prior subscriptions like Amazon Prime, Zomato Gold, and Discovery Plus.

Being an invite-only card significantly limits its accessibility, even for eligible high-income applicants.

Cons

Key drawbacks and limitations.

The card is strictly invite-only, making it inaccessible to most potential applicants due to rigorous criteria.

Significant joining and renewal fees, though a waiver is possible with very high annual spending.

Reward points have monthly caps on grocery, telecom, and utility transactions, limiting earning potential.

Low cashback redemption value (₹0.30 per point) compared to higher value redemptions for travel.

Ready to Choose?

Based on your comparison, select the credit card that best matches your spending habits and financial goals.