SBI Cashback Card vs Amazon Pay ICICI
Compare published earn rules, redemption choices and annual fees below. A cash-value winner is not calculated for this pair because the reward model does not yet cover both products.
SBI Cashback Card
Listed annual fee: ₹999 before GST. ₹999 renewal fee reversed after ₹2L or more spend in the preceding year
5% on eligible online and 1% on eligible offline (POS) purchases. From 1 April 2026: separate ₹2,000 online and ₹2,000 offline caps, ₹4,000 combined per statement cycle. Cashback accrues by transaction posting/settlement date, is credited within 2 working days after the next statement generation, and returns/reversals can be debited. Utility, insurance, fuel, rent, wallet, education, jewellery, railways, merchant/Flexipay EMI and issuer-listed MCCs are excluded; digital gaming, tolls and government MCCs were added in April 2026. ₹999 joining/renewal; renewal reversed at ₹2L+ eligible spend in preceding year.
Decision checklist
- Match the earn categories to your merchants, not just a headline multiplier.
- Compare the redemption option you will actually use and its charges.
- Count renewal fees unless your normal eligible spend meets the waiver.
Amazon Pay ICICI
Listed annual fee: ₹0 before GST. No joining or annual fee
Amazon.in: 5% for Prime / 3% for non-Prime, excluding gold coins and Amazon flight/hotel bookings; 2% on digitally fulfilled categories, Login and Pay with Amazon, and physical gift cards; 1% on other eligible Amazon.in purchases. Rewards are non-expiring, credit as Amazon Pay balance within 2 working days after the billing cycle, and round down to whole points. International, education, utility outside Amazon, fuel, precious metals, tax, rent, fees and EMI transactions do not earn points; cancellations/returns can claw them back. Current issuer page lists 1.99% forex markup and a separate 1% fuel-surcharge waiver.
Decision checklist
- Match the earn categories to your merchants, not just a headline multiplier.
- Compare the redemption option you will actually use and its charges.
- Count renewal fees unless your normal eligible spend meets the waiver.
How to choose
Use the lower-fee option when the extra benefits would go unused. A higher-fee card needs enough additional redeemable rewards or usable benefits to cover its incremental cost. Do not treat points from different issuers as equal cash amounts.