Amazon Pay ICICI vs Standard Chartered Ultimate
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
Amazon Pay ICICI wins 6-2. Heavy Amazon shoppers — best free card in India Standard Chartered Ultimate is still the right call if best general earn-rate at the ₹5k fee tier..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Amazon Pay ICICI | Standard Chartered Ultimate |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | · ₹5,000 |
| Joining fee | None | · ₹5,000 |
| Top reward rate | 5% (shopping) | · 3.3% (general) |
| Base reward rate | · 1% | 3.3% |
| Forex markup | = 3.5% | = 3.5% |
| Welcome bonus | = ₹500 Amazon Pay balance on first transaction | = 6,000 reward points + ₹1,000 voucher |
| Fee waiver threshold | · N/A (no fee) | ₹1,500,000 / yr |
| Min income | ₹300,000 | · ₹1,500,000 |
| Min credit score | 720 | · 780 |
| Editorial rating | 4.7/5 | · 4.4/5 |
Benefits compared
Amazon Pay ICICI
- 5% cashback on Amazon for Prime members (3% non-Prime)
- 2% cashback on 100+ Amazon Pay merchants (Swiggy, BigBasket, MakeMyTrip)
- 1% cashback on every other transaction
- No annual fee, no joining fee, ever
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
- No reward expiry, no minimum redemption
Standard Chartered Ultimate
- 5 reward points per ₹150 (effectively 3.3%)
- 4 complimentary international lounge visits/year
- BookMyShow buy-1-get-1
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
- Comprehensive travel + purchase insurance
FAQ
›Amazon Pay ICICI vs Standard Chartered Ultimate: which is better?
Amazon Pay ICICI wins on more dimensions (6 vs 2). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern — see the calculator below.
›Can I get both?
Yes — if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use Amazon Pay ICICI for its best categories, Standard Chartered Ultimate for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Amazon Pay ICICI: ₹500 Amazon Pay balance on first transaction. Standard Chartered Ultimate: 6,000 reward points + ₹1,000 voucher.