Which ICICI credit card is best? We compare fees, rewards, forex and lounges across eight ICICI cards, with Benchmarksutra Scores from 55 to 76.
Quick Verdict
The best ICICI credit card depends on one thing: where you spend.Amazon Pay ICICI is our top-scored pick at 76/100 for Amazon shoppers, while MakeMyTrip ICICI suits travellers who want nil forex markup. Everyday spenders can start with the lifetime-free Platinum Chip.
We scored ICICI cards that publish clear fees on official pages. None reaches A Tier. ICICI does not state a rupee value for its Reward Points on the card pages we read, so we scored redemption conservatively. Data is as of November 2026.
If you... | Consider | Score |
|---|---|---|
Shop mostly on Amazon | Amazon Pay ICICI (lifetime free) | 76/100, B Tier |
Book trips on MakeMyTrip | MakeMyTrip ICICI (nil forex) | 63/100, C Tier |
Fill up at HPCL | HPCL Super Saver | 62/100, C Tier |
Want a free starter card | Platinum Chip | 60/100, C Tier |
Have an FD and no credit history | Instant Platinum (FD-backed) | 57/100, Avoid unless niche |
Want a premium card | Rubyx or Sapphiro | 55/100 each, Avoid unless niche |
Benchmarksutra Score: top ICICI pickAmazon Pay ICICI 76/100 — B Tier
Which ICICI Bank Credit Card Is Best for Me?
ICICI Bank lists more than 20 cards on its credit card page, from Platinum Chip to invite-only Emeralde Private Metal and 1838 Reserve. Below we cover the ones with clear public terms. Emeralde, Times Black, Emirates co-brands and the invite-only metal cards are not scored here because their terms are invite-led or we could not confirm them.
Pick by use, not by tier name. A premium name does not mean better value. Ourhow to compare credit cards in Indiaguide shows the method.
ICICI Credit Cards Compared: Fees and Eligibility
Card | Joining / annual fee (+GST) | Fee waiver | Income needed (salaried) |
|---|---|---|---|
Platinum Chip | Nil | Not applicable | ₹20,000 a month |
Amazon Pay ICICI | Lifetime free | Not applicable | ₹30,000 a month; invite-only |
Instant Platinum (FD) | Nil | Not applicable | FD of ₹50,000+ |
Coral | ₹500 / ₹500 | Spend over ₹1.5 lakh | ₹20,000 a month |
HPCL Super Saver | ₹500 / ₹500 | Spend over ₹1.5 lakh | ₹20,000 a month |
MakeMyTrip ICICI | ₹999 / ₹999 | Spend over ₹3 lakh | ₹20,000 a month |
Rubyx | ₹3,000 / ₹2,000 | Spend over ₹3 lakh | ₹75,000 a month |
Sapphiro | ₹6,500 / ₹3,500 | Spend over ₹6 lakh | ₹75,000 a month |
Self-employed income needs are ₹2.4 lakh a year for the ₹20,000 cards and ₹9 lakh a year for Rubyx and Sapphiro. ICICI pages say age 21 and above in one place and 21 to 65 in the FAQ. Confirm with ICICI. For fee basics seeannual fee vs joining fee.
ICICI Credit Cards Compared: Rewards and Forex
Card | Reward rate | Forex markup | Lounge access |
|---|---|---|---|
Platinum Chip | 2 RP per ₹100 retail; 1 on utilities | Not stated on page | None listed |
Amazon Pay ICICI | 5% Amazon (Prime), 3% non-Prime, 2% partners, 1% other | 1.99% | None listed |
Coral | 2 RP per ₹100; 1 on utilities | 3.5% | 1 domestic a quarter |
HPCL Super Saver | 5% at HPCL (cashback capped ₹200 a month) | Not stated on page | None listed |
MakeMyTrip ICICI | myCash: 6 hotels, 3 flights/bus/cab, 1 other per ₹100 | Nil | 2 domestic a quarter; 1 international a year |
Rubyx | 4 RP international, 2 domestic per ₹100 | 3.5% | 2 domestic a quarter |
Sapphiro | 4 RP international, 2 domestic per ₹100 | 3.5% | 4 domestic a quarter; 2 Priority Pass a year |
Domestic lounge visits need ₹75,000 of spend in the previous calendar quarter, per ICICI's change notice. ICICI lists Times Black, Emeralde and some other cards as excluded from that rule. Forex gaps: for cards where the page does not state it, check the MITC. See ourmerchant category code guidefor why some spends earn nothing, and ourforex markup calculatorfor trips.
Best ICICI Credit Card for Each Type of User
Freshers and beginners
The lifetime-free Platinum Chip is the simple start, with a ₹20,000 monthly income bar. With no credit history, the FD-backed Instant Platinum needs a fixed deposit of ₹50,000 or more, and ICICI says the limit can reach 90% of the FD. Seebest credit cards for low CIBIL scores.
Middle-aged families
Amazon Pay ICICI is the strongest if Amazon is your main store and you hold Prime. HPCL Super Saver fits a family car that fills at HPCL; cashback stops at ₹200 a month. Coral is a low-fee option with a quarterly lounge visit.
Travellers and frequent flyers
MakeMyTrip ICICI has nil forex and 0.99% DCC, but gives no myCash on international spends. For heavy overseas use, compare against zero-markup cards inour international travel guide. Sapphiro offers golf and Priority Pass, but charges 3.5% forex.
Professionals (CA, lawyer, doctor)
If you earn ₹75,000 a month (or ₹9 lakh a year if self-employed), Rubyx and Sapphiro are open to you. Score them against the fee: both scored 55. Check whether another bank gives you more at that fee.
Senior citizens and retirees
ICICI's FAQs state an age range of 21 to 65, so check eligibility if you are older. An FD-backed card is the usual route for pension-income households. Platinum Chip mentions a supplementary card; seeadd-on cards explained.
Best ICICI Credit Card Benchmarksutra Scores
Every card uses the same fixed 100-point framework. Readhow we score credit cards. Scores are conservative where ICICI does not state a reward point value.
Card | Score | Tier | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
Amazon Pay ICICI | 76/100 | B Tier | Amazon shoppers with Prime |
MakeMyTrip ICICI | 63/100 | C Tier | Travellers wanting nil forex |
HPCL Super Saver | 62/100 | C Tier | HPCL fuel buyers |
Platinum Chip | 60/100 | C Tier | Lifetime-free starter |
Instant Platinum (FD) | 57/100 | Avoid unless niche use case | FD holders building credit |
Coral | 57/100 | Avoid unless niche use case | Low-fee everyday use |
Rubyx | 55/100 | Avoid unless niche use case | Premium lifestyle |
Sapphiro | 55/100 | Avoid unless niche use case | Golf and lounge users |
Benchmarksutra Score: Amazon Pay ICICI76/100 — B Tier· MakeMyTrip ICICI63/100 — C Tier· HPCL Super Saver62/100 — C Tier· Platinum Chip60/100 — C Tier· Instant Platinum57/100 — Avoid unless niche use case· Coral57/100 — Avoid unless niche use case· Rubyx55/100 — Avoid unless niche use case· Sapphiro55/100 — Avoid unless niche use case
Card-by-Card Notes
Amazon Pay ICICI
Lifetime free, 5% on Amazon for Prime members with no cap, and 1% elsewhere. Rewards arrive as Amazon Pay balance, which works only on Amazon. ICICI's page describes it as invite-only.
MakeMyTrip ICICI
₹999 + GST, waived at ₹3 lakh. Earns myCash on bookings, and nil forex helps overseas. International transactions do not earn myCash.
HPCL Super Saver
4% cashback plus 1% surcharge waiver at HPCL pumps and the HP Pay app, with cashback capped at ₹200 a month. The page describes the grocery and utility reward two different ways, so confirm with ICICI.
Platinum Chip, Coral, Rubyx and Sapphiro
Platinum Chip is free with no lounge. Coral adds a lounge visit and a ₹2 lakh milestone worth 2,000 points. Rubyx and Sapphiro add richer milestones, lounges and golf, but their fees and 3.5% forex hold the scores down.
What Changed at ICICI Recently?
1 January 2025:domestic lounge access needs ₹75,000 spend in the previous quarter on most cards.
5 February 2024:rent payments and wallet loads stopped earning points; government payments are classed as utilities. Amazon Pay ICICI is exempt.
15 January 2026:DCC markups revised, from 0.99% on MakeMyTrip ICICI to 3.5% on most others.
1 April 2026:BookMyShow benefits need ₹25,000 spend per quarter on certain cards.
Checklist
List your top three spend areas: online shopping, fuel, travel, bills.
Check the income needed against your salary or ITR.
Check whether the fee is waived at a spend you will actually reach.
Ask whether points can be redeemed at a known rupee value.
Check forex and DCC if you travel, in the MITC.
Plan ₹75,000 of quarterly spend only if lounges matter to you.
Do the maths with ourannual fee breakeven calculator.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Picking Sapphiro or Rubyx for the name rather than your spend.
Assuming a lounge benefit is unconditional. It needs prior-quarter spend.
Expecting rewards on rent, wallet loads or Amazon EMI.
Paying in rupees abroad and incurring DCC.
Applying for several cards at once. Seehard vs soft enquiryif you are unsure.
Ignoring that many ICICI card pages do not state a point value.
Related on benchmarksutra
Credit cards in India: every benchmarksutra guide in one place
ICICI Sapphiro Credit Card Review: Benefits, Fees, Who It Suits
FAQs
Which ICICI Bank credit card is best for me?
It depends on where you spend. Amazon Pay ICICI scores highest at 76/100 for Amazon shoppers, MakeMyTrip ICICI suits overseas travel with nil forex, and Platinum Chip is a free starter.
Which ICICI credit card is lifetime free?
ICICI lists Amazon Pay and Platinum Chip with no joining or annual fee, and the FD-backed Instant Platinum also has none. Check current terms on ICICI's pages.
Which ICICI card has no forex markup?
ICICI's MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card page lists forex markup as nil. Most other ICICI cards we checked charge 3.5%, and Amazon Pay ICICI charges 1.99%.
Do ICICI credit cards give lounge access?
Yes, on several cards, but domestic visits need ₹75,000 of spend in the previous calendar quarter. The number of visits varies by card.
What income do I need for an ICICI credit card?
It ranges from ₹20,000 a month for Platinum Chip, Coral, HPCL Super Saver and MakeMyTrip, to ₹75,000 a month for Rubyx and Sapphiro.
Can I get an ICICI credit card without a salary?
The FD-backed Instant Platinum is the route, with an FD of ₹50,000 or more. Self-employed applicants can qualify on annual income stated on each card page.
Is an ICICI credit card better than HDFC or Axis?
There is no single winner. Compare fees, reward value and forex for your spends using our comparison guide, then pick the card that nets the most after fees.
Official Sources and Editorial Note
Data checked as of: 9 November 2026
This article is written from official sources and does not rely on third-party wording.
Editorial note: ICICI's credit card page lists more cards than we cover, and the page text we read may be truncated. Emeralde, Times Black, Emirates and Adani One cards are not scored. Fees, rewards and forex can change; confirm with ICICI before applying.
