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IRCTC RBL Bank Credit Card VS IRCTC SBI Card Premier VS HDFC Bank RuPay IRCTC Credit Card VS IRCTC RuPay BOBCARD Credit Card

A detailed, side-by-side look at 4 leading credit cards. Analyze the features that matter most to you and make an informed choice.
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Last updated: 18 July 2026

Fees & Charges

Joining Fee₹500 + GST
Joining Fee₹1,499 + GST
Joining Fee₹500 + GST
Joining Fee₹500 + GST
Renewal Fee₹500 + GST
Renewal Fee₹1,499 + GST
Renewal Fee₹500 + GST
Renewal Fee₹350 + GST
Spend Based WaiverNot applicable.
Spend Based WaiverRenewal fee waived on achieving annual spends of ₹2 Lakhs.
Spend Based WaiverRenewal fee waived if you spend INR 1,50,000 or more in an anniversary year.
Spend Based Waiver
Foreign Transaction Fees3.5%
Foreign Transaction Fees3.5% markup on all international transactions.
Foreign Transaction Fees3.5% of the total transacted amount.
Foreign Transaction Fees3.5% on all foreign transactions.
Interest Rate (APR)2.5% to 3.99% Per Month
Interest Rate (APR)Monthly interest rate of 3.5% (approx 42% per annum).
Interest Rate (APR)3.75% Per Month (45% Annually) on revolving credit.
Interest Rate (APR)3.75% per month (45% annually).

Rewards & Benefits

Welcome BonusEarn 500 Reward Points on spending a minimum of ₹500 within the first 30 days of card issuance.
Welcome BonusGet 1500 Reward Points (worth ₹1500) on payment of the first annual fee.
Welcome BonusAmazon voucher worth ₹500 upon activation with first transaction within 37 days.
Welcome Bonus500 bonus reward points on ₹5,000 spend within 60 days of card issuance.
Rewards RateEarn 5 Reward Points for every ₹200 on IRCTC train bookings (2.5% rate); 1 RP for every ₹200 on other spends.
Rewards RateUp to 10% value back on IRCTC railway bookings. 3 RP/₹125 on dining & utilities. 1 RP/₹125 on other retail.
Rewards Rate5 Reward Points for every ₹100 spent on IRCTC, 1 Reward Point for every ₹100 on other retail spends.
Rewards RateEarn up to 40 RP/₹100 on IRCTC, 4 RP/₹100 on groceries/departmental stores, 2 RP/₹100 on others.
Reward TypeReward Points
Reward TypeReward Points
Reward TypeReward Points
Reward TypeReward Points
Reward Redemption Fee₹99 + GST
Reward Redemption FeeA fee of ₹99 is applicable per rewards redemption request.
Reward Redemption Fee₹99 + GST.
Reward Redemption FeeNil

Travel & Lifestyle

Domestic Lounge Access2 complimentary railway lounge visits each quarter, totaling up to 8 visits each year.
Domestic Lounge Access8 complimentary railway lounge accesses annually across India (max 2 per quarter) for primary cardholders.
Domestic Lounge Access8 complimentary accesses to select IRCTC Executive Lounges annually (2 per quarter).
Domestic Lounge Access4 complimentary railway lounge accesses per year (1 per quarter) for primary cardholder.
International Lounge Access
International Lounge Access
International Lounge AccessNot Applicable
International Lounge Access
Travel BenefitsHigh rewards on IRCTC train bookings, NCMC for public transport, 2 complimentary railway lounge visits/quarter.
Travel Benefits8 complimentary railway lounge access annually (max 2/quarter). Waivers on IRCTC railway/airline booking charges.
Travel BenefitsAccelerated rewards on IRCTC bookings, 5% cashback via SmartBuy, 1% transaction charges waiver.
Travel BenefitsUp to 40 RP/₹100 on IRCTC bookings, complimentary railway lounge access, railway surcharge waiver.
Movie Benefits
Movie Benefits
Movie BenefitsNot Applicable
Movie Benefits
Dining Benefits
Dining BenefitsEarn 3 Reward Points per ₹125 spent on Dining expenses.
Dining BenefitsNot Applicable
Dining Benefits
Golf Benefits
Golf Benefits
Golf BenefitsNot Applicable
Golf Benefits
Fuel Surcharge Waiver1% surcharge waiver.
Fuel Surcharge Waiver1% waiver on fuel transactions between ₹500-₹4000 (max ₹250/cycle).
Fuel Surcharge Waiver1% waiver on fuel transactions (min ₹400, max ₹5000), capped at ₹250/cycle.
Fuel Surcharge Waiver1% waiver on fuel transactions between ₹500-₹3,000, capped at ₹100 per statement.

Security & Other

Insurance BenefitsTrain Cancellation Cover up to ₹5,000 in case your train is cancelled at the last minute.
Insurance BenefitsComplimentary fraud liability cover of ₹1 lakh & overseas accident cover of ₹50 lakh.
Insurance BenefitsNot Applicable
Insurance Benefits
Cash Advance Charges2.5% of the cash amount or a minimum of ₹500.
Cash Advance Charges2.5% of cash advance or ₹500, whichever is higher.
Cash Advance Charges2.5% of cash amount or ₹500, whichever is higher.
Cash Advance Charges2.5% of amount withdrawn or ₹500, whichever is higher.
Best valueHigher costHighlights apply to Joining Fee and Renewal Fee only.

IRCTC RBL Bank Credit Card

IRCTC SBI Card Premier

HDFC Bank RuPay IRCTC Credit Card

IRCTC RuPay BOBCARD Credit Card

Who is it for?

Who is it for?

Who is it for?

Who is it for?

Pros

Key benefits and features.

Offers a high 2.5% reward rate on train ticket bookings through IRCTC, very useful for frequent train travelers.

Features NCMC for tap-and-pay convenience across metros and public transport networks.

Available at a low joining and annual fee of just ₹500 + GST, making it accessible.

Provides complimentary railway lounge access with 8 visits per year for enhanced travel comfort.

The RuPay variant enables convenient and secure UPI payments for daily transactions.

Pros

Key benefits and features.

Offers significant savings and rewards for frequent Indian Railways travelers.

Generous 1:1 reward point value, with 1500 bonus points offsetting joining fee.

Enjoy complimentary railway lounge access and waivers on IRCTC booking fees.

Achieve annual fee waiver on spends over Rs. 2 Lakhs, enhancing long-term value.

Pros

Key benefits and features.

Provides an Amazon voucher worth ₹500 as a welcome benefit upon card activation.

Earn 5X Reward Points on IRCTC spends and competitive rates on other retail purchases.

Includes complimentary railway lounge access (8 per year, 2 per quarter).

Allows for a spend-based waiver of the annual renewal fee.

Grants an additional 5% cashback on train ticket bookings via HDFC SmartBuy.

Pros

Key benefits and features.

Offers up to 40 Reward Points per ₹100 on IRCTC bookings, ideal for train travelers.

Provides 4 complimentary railway lounge accesses annually, enhancing travel comfort.

Accelerated rewards on grocery and departmental store purchases for daily spends.

Includes waivers on fuel and IRCTC transaction surcharges, saving on common expenses.

Benefit from lifetime free add-on cards and convenient Smart EMI options.

Cons

Key drawbacks and limitations.

Primarily travel-focused, lacking specific benefits for dining, movies, or other common spending categories.

Reward points are not earned on specific categories like fuel, utilities, and certain offline UPI transactions.

A redemption fee of ₹99 + GST is charged for redeeming reward points, which can reduce overall savings.

The annual fee of ₹500 + GST is not eligible for a spend-based waiver, making it a recurring cost.

Cons

Key drawbacks and limitations.

A redemption fee of Rs. 99 applies to each reward point redemption request.

High foreign currency markup of 3.5% for all international transactions.

Certain valuable insurance benefits like air/rail accident cover will be discontinued.

A 1% charge is levied on online railway ticket cancellations booked with the card.

Cons

Key drawbacks and limitations.

A minimum of 100 points is required for reward redemption.

Maximum value for reward points is limited to train ticket purchases on HDFC SmartBuy.

A Rewards Redemption Fee of ₹99 + GST applies.

Features a high Foreign Currency Markup of 3.5%.

Carries a high interest rate of 3.75% per month (45% annually) for revolving credit.

Cons

Key drawbacks and limitations.

High foreign currency markup of 3.5% makes international spends expensive.

Interest rates are high at 3.75% per month, discouraging revolving credit.

Reward points for IRCTC bookings are only on primary cardholder's fare.

Accelerated rewards on other categories are capped per statement cycle.

Limited benefits outside of train travel, groceries, and departmental stores.

How We Compare These Cards

Every comparison on CardsForYou is built from the same verified data set we use across the site - joining and renewal fees, reward rates, forex markup, lounge access, and insurance benefits - sourced directly from each issuer and refreshed regularly. We highlight the lower-cost option on fees automatically, but "best" always depends on your own spending pattern: a card that wins on annual fee may lose on reward rate for a heavy spender, and vice versa. Use the table above alongside your own typical monthly spend to judge real value, not just the headline numbers.