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Credit CardsComparisons

ICICI Emeralde Private Metal vs SBI Card ELITE

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

PremiumCard A
Annual Fee
₹12,499
Reward Rate
3% base (6 pts per ₹200) + Unlimited Lounge & Golf
Apply Now Read full review →
PremiumCard B

SBI Card ELITE

Mid-Tier Premium

Annual Fee
₹4,999
Reward Rate
5X on dining + milestone benefits
Apply Now Read full review →

Feature comparison

FeatureICICI EmeraldeSBI Card
Annual Fee₹12,499 (Waived on ₹10L spend)₹4,999 (Waived on ₹10L spend)
Reward Rate3% base (6 pts per ₹200) + Unlimited Lounge & Golf5X on dining + milestone benefits
Best ForGolf EnthusiastsMid-Tier Premium
First-Card Friendly
Lounge Access
Zero Forex Markup

Spending category coverage

Which categories does each card reward?

CategoryICICI EmeraldeSBI Card
Dining
Movies & entertainment
International travel
Airport lounge access

Quick verdict

Choose ICICI Emeralde Private Metal if:

  • You spend heavily on international travel
  • You spend heavily on concierge service

Choose SBI Card ELITE if:

  • Lower annual fee (₹4,999 vs ₹12,499)
  • You spend heavily on dining
  • You spend heavily on movies & entertainment

Full pros & cons

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

SBI Card ELITE

What's good
  • 2 free movie tickets every month via BookMyShow (up to ₹250/ticket)
  • Solid annual milestone bonuses
  • International lounge access via Priority Pass (6 visits/year, max 2/quarter)
Watch out for
  • Lounge access count is limited compared to true premium cards
  • Trident hotel membership discontinued — only 10% dining discount remains
  • Reward points expire and must be actively redeemed