American Express SmartEarn vs SimplyCLICK SBI Card
A field-by-field comparison of fees, reward rates, accelerated categories, caps, exclusions, lounge access and forex markup, using each issuer's own published terms. Affiliate payout never decides the verdict.
Short answer
American Express SmartEarn and SimplyCLICK SBI Card differ first on recurring cost: American Express SmartEarn has an annual fee of ₹495 + GST against ₹499 + GST for SimplyCLICK SBI Card, so American Express SmartEarn is cheaper to hold. On rewards, American Express SmartEarn earns 1 Membership Rewards point per ₹50 on eligible spend while SimplyCLICK SBI Card earns 1 Reward Point per ₹100 on eligible spends. Both publish the same 3.5% forex markup. Neither card wins outright: the better choice depends on which accelerated categories match your spend, the monthly caps, the exclusions and issuer approval fit.
Source: CardMasters issuer-evidence catalogue, release 2026-08-01. Confirm final terms with the issuer.
| Feature | American Express SmartEarn | SimplyCLICK SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | American Express | SBI Card |
| Joining fee | ₹495 + GST | ₹499 + GST |
| Annual fee | ₹495 + GST | ₹499 + GST |
| Fee waiver | ₹40,000 annual eligible spend | ₹1,00,000 annual eligible spend |
| Base rewards | 1 Membership Rewards point per ₹50 on eligible spend | 1 Reward Point per ₹100 on eligible spends |
| Accelerated routes | selected 10X merchants excluding Zomato and EaseMyTrip · Zomato and EaseMyTrip · Amazon | 10 Reward Points per ₹100 at currently listed exclusive online partners · 5 Reward Points per ₹100 on eligible other online spend |
| Reward exclusions | fuel, insurance, utilities, cash advance | fuel, rent, wallet load, government, digital gaming, cash advance |
| Forex markup | 3.5% | 3.5% |
| Domestic lounge | none | none |
| International lounge | none | none |
| Card networks | Amex | Visa, Mastercard, RuPay |
| Best suited to | first amex, online shopping, low fee | online shopping, first card, low fee |
| Issuer evidence | Checked 2026-08-01 | Checked 2026-07-28 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the American Express SmartEarn better than the SimplyCLICK SBI Card?
Neither is universally better. American Express SmartEarn charges ₹495 + GST a year and earns 1 Membership Rewards point per ₹50 on eligible spend; SimplyCLICK SBI Card charges ₹499 + GST and earns 1 Reward Point per ₹100 on eligible spends. The better card is the one whose accelerated categories, caps and exclusions match your actual spending, after subtracting the annual fee and GST.
Which of the two has the lower annual fee, American Express SmartEarn or SimplyCLICK SBI Card?
American Express SmartEarn has the lower recorded annual fee at ₹495 + GST. A spend-based waiver may reduce the effective cost of the other card, so check the waiver threshold before deciding.
Which is better for international spending, American Express SmartEarn or SimplyCLICK SBI Card?
Both publish a 3.5% forex markup, so compare international reward eligibility and lounge access instead.
Can I hold both cards together?
Yes, provided each is approved on its own merits and you can pay both statements in full. Holding both makes sense only when their accelerated categories do not overlap; otherwise the second card adds an annual fee without adding rewards.