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Credit CardsComparisons

Amazon Pay ICICI vs IDFC FIRST Millennia

Amazon Pay ICICI and IDFC FIRST Millennia are two of India's most popular lifetime-free credit cards — both charge zero annual fee, ever. Amazon Pay ICICI is a specialist: it delivers 5% cashback on Amazon purchases for Prime members and minimal rewards elsewhere. IDFC FIRST Millennia is a generalist: it offers tiered rewards across spending categories, with points that never expire.

Amazon Pay ICICI is the clear winner if Amazon is your primary shopping platform; IDFC Millennia is better for non-Amazon spenders who want versatile, non-expiring rewards.

Recommended
Lifetime FreeCard A

Amazon Pay ICICI

Amazon Loyalists

Annual Fee
Lifetime Free
Reward Rate
5% for Prime Members
Apply Now Read full review →
Lifetime FreeCard B

IDFC FIRST Millennia

First-Time Earners

Annual Fee
Lifetime Free
Reward Rate
Up to 10X Points
Apply Now Read full review →

Feature comparison

FeatureAmazon PayIDFC FIRST
Annual FeeLifetime FreeLifetime Free
Reward Rate5% for Prime MembersUp to 10X Points
Best ForAmazon LoyalistsFirst-Time Earners
First-Card Friendly
Lounge Access
Zero Forex Markup

Spending category coverage

Which categories does each card reward?

CategoryAmazon PayIDFC FIRST
Online shopping
Everyday spending

Earning example

Scenario: Monthly spend: ₹10,000 on Amazon + ₹15,000 on other categories

Amazon Pay ICICI
₹500 on Amazon (5% Prime) + ₹150 elsewhere (1%) = ₹650
Direct Amazon Pay balance credit. Restricted to Amazon India.
IDFC FIRST Millennia
₹100-₹250 depending on spend tier (base 0.5% to 10X above ₹20K)
Reward points never expire. Flexible redemption options.

Our verdict: which card should you pick?

Pick Amazon Pay ICICI

  • You have Amazon Prime and shop on Amazon.in frequently — the 5% cashback is one of the best lifetime-free rates available for any single platform.
  • You want cashback that auto-credits to your Amazon Pay wallet without any redemption required.
  • You also do international transactions (1.99% forex markup, reduced from the standard 3.5%).

Pick IDFC FIRST Millennia

  • Your shopping is split across multiple platforms — Myntra, Nykaa, Zomato, offline retail, EMI purchases — where Amazon Pay ICICI earns only 1%.
  • You want reward points with no expiry that build up over years and can be redeemed flexibly.
  • You don't have Amazon Prime or don't spend regularly on Amazon.
  • You prefer a card that earns across grocery, utilities, and lifestyle rather than one platform.

Full pros & cons

Amazon Pay ICICI

What's good
  • Zero annual fee — forever free to hold
  • Cashback added instantly to Amazon Pay balance
  • 3% cashback for non-Prime members on Amazon
  • Reduced 1.99% forex markup on international transactions (since October 2025)
Watch out for
  • Only 1% returns outside the Amazon ecosystem
  • Cashback redeemable only on Amazon India
  • No cashback on rent, EMI, utilities, fuel, taxes, education, and international transactions at non-Amazon merchants; gold coins, rent, taxes, education excluded on Amazon too
  • 1% fee on wallet loads of ₹5,000+ (since January 2026)

IDFC FIRST Millennia

What's good
  • Reward points never expire — accumulate without pressure
  • No joining or annual fee ever
  • Welcome benefits worth up to ₹1,500 (₹500 voucher on ₹5K spend + up to ₹1,000 cashback on first EMI)
Watch out for
  • Railway lounge access only (not airport) — requires ₹20,000 spend in the previous month, 4 visits per quarter
  • High ₹20,000 spend required to unlock the 10X multiplier tier

Frequently asked questions

What is the reward rate on Amazon Pay ICICI for non-Prime members?
Non-Prime members earn 3% cashback on Amazon.in purchases and 1% on other merchants. The 5% rate is exclusive to active Amazon Prime subscribers. The cashback is credited directly to your Amazon Pay balance, usable for future purchases, recharges, and Amazon Pay merchant payments.
Do IDFC FIRST Millennia reward points expire?
No. IDFC FIRST Millennia reward points never expire as long as your account is active. This is a significant advantage for infrequent users who accumulate points slowly — there's no risk of losing earned rewards due to expiry deadlines.
Can I hold both Amazon Pay ICICI and IDFC FIRST Millennia?
Yes, and many cardholders do. The strategy is to use Amazon Pay ICICI for all Amazon purchases and IDFC Millennia for everything else. Together they provide 5% on Amazon and flexible rewards on other categories, all with no annual fee.