IDFC FIRST Select vs SBI IRCTC Premier
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
IDFC FIRST Select wins 5-3. Lifetime-free with surprisingly strong reward earn rates. SBI IRCTC Premier is still the right call if heavy irctc train booking users..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | IDFC FIRST Select | SBI IRCTC Premier |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | · ₹1,499 |
| Joining fee | None | · ₹1,499 |
| Top reward rate | = 10% (shopping) | = 10% (travel) |
| Base reward rate | 3% | · 1.25% |
| Forex markup | 1.99% | · 3.5% |
| Welcome bonus | = 600 reward points on ₹15K spend in first 90 days | = 1,500 reward points + waived first-year fee on ₹1L spend |
| Fee waiver threshold | · N/A (no fee) | ₹200,000 / yr |
| Min income | · ₹600,000 | ₹300,000 |
| Min credit score | · 750 | 740 |
| Editorial rating | 4.5/5 | · 3.9/5 |
Benefits compared
IDFC FIRST Select
- 10x reward points on ₹20K+ monthly spend
- 6x reward points on ₹20K below threshold
- 3x reward points on offline spend
- Lifetime free — no annual fee, ever
- 4 complimentary domestic + 2 international lounge visits per quarter
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
SBI IRCTC Premier
- 10% IRCTC reward points on train ticket bookings
- 1.25% on other spends
- 4 IRCTC lounge visits/year
- 1% transaction fee waiver on IRCTC site
FAQ
›IDFC FIRST Select vs SBI IRCTC Premier: which is better?
IDFC FIRST Select wins on more dimensions (5 vs 3). 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 IDFC FIRST Select for its best categories, SBI IRCTC Premier for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
IDFC FIRST Select: 600 reward points on ₹15K spend in first 90 days. SBI IRCTC Premier: 1,500 reward points + waived first-year fee on ₹1L spend.