IDFC FIRST Wealth vs SBI Cashback
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
IDFC FIRST Wealth wins 5-4. Lifetime-free premium — best zero-fee card in India. SBI Cashback is still the right call if pure online cashback — 5% on any online merchant, no partner restrictions..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | IDFC FIRST Wealth | SBI Cashback |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | · ₹999 |
| Joining fee | None | · ₹999 |
| Top reward rate | · 3% (general) | 5% (shopping) |
| Base reward rate | 3% | · 1% |
| Forex markup | 1.5% | · 3.5% |
| Welcome bonus | = 5,000 reward points on first 90-day spend | = Cashback offsets joining fee on first ₹999+ spend |
| Fee waiver threshold | · N/A (no fee) | ₹200,000 / yr |
| Min income | · ₹1,200,000 | ₹360,000 |
| Min credit score | · 770 | 750 |
| Editorial rating | 4.7/5 | · 4.6/5 |
Benefits compared
IDFC FIRST Wealth
- 3x reward points on online spends (10x on weekends + travel)
- 4 international + 4 domestic lounge visits per quarter
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
- Low forex markup at 1.5%
- Lifetime free — no annual fee, no fee-waiver math
SBI Cashback
- 5% cashback on ALL online spends (not just listed merchants) — capped ₹5,000/month
- 1% cashback on offline spends
- Auto-credited within 2 days of statement
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
FAQ
›IDFC FIRST Wealth vs SBI Cashback: which is better?
IDFC FIRST Wealth 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 IDFC FIRST Wealth for its best categories, SBI Cashback for online shopping. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
IDFC FIRST Wealth: 5,000 reward points on first 90-day spend. SBI Cashback: Cashback offsets joining fee on first ₹999+ spend.