SBI Cashback vs Kotak Royale Signature
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
SBI Cashback wins 3-2. Pure online cashback — 5% on any online merchant, no partner restrictions. Kotak Royale Signature is still the right call if mid-tier shopping/dining card with solid fee waiver economics..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | SBI Cashback | Kotak Royale Signature |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | = ₹999 | = ₹999 |
| Joining fee | = ₹999 | = ₹999 |
| Top reward rate | 5% (shopping) | · 4% (shopping) |
| Base reward rate | = 1% | = 1% |
| Forex markup | = 3.5% | = 3.5% |
| Welcome bonus | = Cashback offsets joining fee on first ₹999+ spend | = 2,000 reward points worth ₹500 + Pizza Hut voucher |
| Fee waiver threshold | ₹200,000 / yr | · ₹250,000 / yr |
| Min income | · ₹360,000 | ₹300,000 |
| Min credit score | · 750 | 740 |
| Editorial rating | 4.6/5 | · 4/5 |
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
Kotak Royale Signature
- 4 reward points per ₹150 on shopping + dining
- 1 reward point per ₹150 on other spends
- 2 complimentary domestic lounge visits per quarter
- Buy-1-get-1 movie ticket at PVR (Tuesdays)
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
FAQ
›SBI Cashback vs Kotak Royale Signature: which is better?
SBI Cashback wins on more dimensions (3 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 SBI Cashback for online shopping, Kotak Royale Signature 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. Kotak Royale Signature: 2,000 reward points worth ₹500 + Pizza Hut voucher.