SBI Cashback vs IDFC FIRST Select
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 Cashback is still the right call if pure online cashback — 5% on any online merchant, no partner restrictions..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | SBI Cashback | IDFC FIRST Select |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | · ₹999 | No annual fee |
| Joining fee | · ₹999 | None |
| Top reward rate | · 5% (shopping) | 10% (shopping) |
| Base reward rate | · 1% | 3% |
| Forex markup | · 3.5% | 1.99% |
| Welcome bonus | = Cashback offsets joining fee on first ₹999+ spend | = 600 reward points on ₹15K spend in first 90 days |
| Fee waiver threshold | ₹200,000 / yr | · N/A (no fee) |
| Min income | ₹360,000 | · ₹600,000 |
| Min credit score | = 750 | = 750 |
| Editorial rating | 4.6/5 | · 4.5/5 |
Benefits compared
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
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
FAQ
›SBI Cashback vs IDFC FIRST Select: 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 SBI Cashback for online shopping, IDFC FIRST Select for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
SBI Cashback: Cashback offsets joining fee on first ₹999+ spend. IDFC FIRST Select: 600 reward points on ₹15K spend in first 90 days.