ICICI Coral vs Kotak White Reserve
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
ICICI Coral wins 5-4. Entry-tier card — easy approval, decent base earning, low fee. Kotak White Reserve is still the right call if premium dining + travel without breaking the ₹3k-fee tier..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | ICICI Coral | Kotak White Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹500 | · ₹3,000 |
| Joining fee | ₹500 | · ₹3,000 |
| Top reward rate | · 1% (general) | 4% (dining) |
| Base reward rate | · 1% | 1.5% |
| Forex markup | · 3.5% | 1.99% |
| Welcome bonus | = 2,000 PAYBACK points on first 60-day spend | = 5,000 reward points + Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite |
| Fee waiver threshold | ₹150,000 / yr | · ₹600,000 / yr |
| Min income | ₹240,000 | · ₹1,800,000 |
| Min credit score | 700 | · 780 |
| Editorial rating | · 4.2/5 | 4.6/5 |
Benefits compared
ICICI Coral
- 2 PAYBACK points per ₹100
- 4 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year
- 15% off at 2,500+ partner restaurants (Culinary Treats)
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
- Free movie tickets via BookMyShow (buy-1-get-1)
Kotak White Reserve
- 4 reward points/₹100 on dining + travel
- 6 international Priority Pass visits/year
- 24 domestic lounge visits/year (DragonPass)
- Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite included
- 1.99% forex markup
FAQ
›ICICI Coral vs Kotak White Reserve: which is better?
ICICI Coral wins on more dimensions (5 vs 4). 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 ICICI Coral for its best categories, Kotak White Reserve for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
ICICI Coral: 2,000 PAYBACK points on first 60-day spend. Kotak White Reserve: 5,000 reward points + Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite.