SBI Cashback vs IDFC FIRST Wealth
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 | SBI Cashback | IDFC FIRST Wealth |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | · ₹999 | No annual fee |
| Joining fee | · ₹999 | None |
| Top reward rate | 5% (shopping) | · 3% (general) |
| Base reward rate | · 1% | 3% |
| Forex markup | · 3.5% | No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = No welcome bonus, value lives in the cashback rate | = ₹500 gift voucher on ₹5,000 spend within 30 days of card generation |
| Fee waiver threshold | ₹200,000 / yr | · N/A (no fee) |
| Min income | ₹360,000 | · ₹3,600,000 |
| Min credit score | 750 | · 770 |
| Editorial rating | · 4.6/5 | 4.7/5 |
Benefits compared
SBI Cashback
- 5% cashback on ALL online spends (not just listed merchants), capped ₹4,000 per statement cycle (₹2,000 online + ₹2,000 offline sub-caps, effective 1 Apr 2026)
- 1% cashback on offline spends
- Auto-credited within 2 days of statement
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
IDFC FIRST Wealth
- 3X reward points on eligible spends; 10X on dining and travel from the first eligible transaction
- 1 domestic + 1 international airport lounge visit per quarter, unlocked by ₹20,000 spend in the previous calendar month
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
- Zero forex markup on international transactions
- Lifetime free, no annual fee, no fee-waiver math
FAQ
›SBI Cashback vs IDFC FIRST Wealth: which is better?
IDFC FIRST Wealth wins on more dimensions (5 vs 4). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern. Run your own monthly spend through the maximizer to see which one pays you more.
›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 Wealth for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
SBI Cashback: No welcome bonus, value lives in the cashback rate. IDFC FIRST Wealth: ₹500 gift voucher on ₹5,000 spend within 30 days of card generation.