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HDFC Infinia Metal Edition vs ICICI Emeralde Private Metal

A head-to-head comparison of HDFC Infinia Metal Edition and ICICI Emeralde Private Metal across fees, rewards, and spending categories to help you decide which card suits your wallet better.

PremiumCard A

HDFC Infinia Metal Edition

High Net-Worth Individuals

Annual Fee
₹12,500
Reward Rate
Up to 33% via SmartBuy (5X points)
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PremiumCard B
Annual Fee
₹12,499
Reward Rate
3% base (6 pts per ₹200) + Unlimited Lounge & Golf
Apply Now Read full review →

Feature comparison

FeatureHDFC InfiniaICICI Emeralde
Annual Fee₹12,500 (Waived on ₹10L spend; retention now requires ₹18L spend or ₹50L relationship value)₹12,499 (Waived on ₹10L spend)
Reward RateUp to 33% via SmartBuy (5X points)3% base (6 pts per ₹200) + Unlimited Lounge & Golf
Best ForHigh Net-Worth IndividualsGolf Enthusiasts
First-Card Friendly
Lounge Access
Zero Forex Markup

Spending category coverage

Which categories does each card reward?

CategoryHDFC InfiniaICICI Emeralde
Domestic travel
International travel
Airport lounge access

Quick verdict

Choose HDFC Infinia Metal Edition if:

  • You spend heavily on domestic travel

Choose ICICI Emeralde Private Metal if:

  • Lower annual fee (₹12,499 vs ₹12,500)

Full pros & cons

HDFC Infinia Metal Edition

What's good
  • Unlimited domestic and international lounge access for all add-on members
  • Best-in-class travel rewards via HDFC SmartBuy (5X points on flights & hotels)
  • Comprehensive concierge and lifestyle benefits
Watch out for
  • Strictly invite-only — no open application
  • Very high ₹10L annual spend criterion for fee waiver
  • Redemption requests capped at 5/month (February 2026) — limits booking flexibility for high-spend cardholders
  • From April 2026, requires ₹18L annual spend or ₹50L relationship value to retain the card
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ICICI Emeralde Private Metal

What's good
  • Unlimited airport lounge and spa access via Priority Pass globally
  • Low flight cancellation and rescheduling charges
  • Complimentary golf rounds at premium courses monthly
Watch out for
  • Reward point value is lower than HDFC Infinia
  • ₹3,500 one-time fee for new add-on cards (since January 2026)
  • DCC fee raised to 2% on international transactions using INR conversion
Apply Now
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