HDFC Bank Regalia Gold vs ICICI Bank Sapphiro
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
HDFC Bank Regalia Gold and ICICI Bank Sapphiro differ first on recurring cost: HDFC Bank Regalia Gold has an annual fee of ₹2,500 + GST against ₹3,500 + GST for ICICI Bank Sapphiro, so HDFC Bank Regalia Gold is cheaper to hold. On rewards, HDFC Bank Regalia Gold earns 5 Reward Points per ₹200 on eligible retail spends; complete ₹200 multiples while ICICI Bank Sapphiro earns 2 ICICI Bank Reward Points per ₹100 on eligible domestic retail spend. HDFC Bank Regalia Gold has the lower forex markup at 2%. 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 | HDFC Bank Regalia Gold | ICICI Bank Sapphiro |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | HDFC Bank | ICICI Bank |
| Joining fee | ₹2,500 + GST | ₹6,500 + GST |
| Annual fee | ₹2,500 + GST | ₹3,500 + GST |
| Fee waiver | ₹4,00,000 annual eligible spend | ₹6,00,000 annual eligible spend |
| Base rewards | 5 Reward Points per ₹200 on eligible retail spends; complete ₹200 multiples | 2 ICICI Bank Reward Points per ₹100 on eligible domestic retail spend |
| Accelerated routes | 5X Reward Points on eligible direct merchant payments; incremental rewards capped at 5,000 points/month · Eligible grocery spend · Eligible utility and telecom spend | international spends · utility, insurance and government payments |
| Reward exclusions | fuel, rent, property management, wallet load, easy emi, smart emi, government, gaming, education third party, cash advance, fees | fuel, rent, wallet load, cash advance, fees |
| Forex markup | 2% | 3.5% |
| Domestic lounge | 3 visits/quarter after ₹60,000 spend in the preceding calendar quarter | 4/quarter (₹75,000 spend in previous quarter) |
| International lounge | 6/year outside India via Priority Pass; at least 4 card transactions required before requesting membership | 2/yr + complimentary Priority Pass membership |
| Card networks | Visa Signature, Mastercard | Visa Signature, Mastercard World, Amex, RuPay |
| Best suited to | travel, shopping, upper mid spender | lounge, golf, premium lifestyle |
| Issuer evidence | Checked 2026-07-26 | Checked 2026-08-01 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the HDFC Bank Regalia Gold better than the ICICI Bank Sapphiro?
Neither is universally better. HDFC Bank Regalia Gold charges ₹2,500 + GST a year and earns 5 Reward Points per ₹200 on eligible retail spends; complete ₹200 multiples; ICICI Bank Sapphiro charges ₹3,500 + GST and earns 2 ICICI Bank Reward Points per ₹100 on eligible domestic retail spend. 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, HDFC Bank Regalia Gold or ICICI Bank Sapphiro?
HDFC Bank Regalia Gold has the lower recorded annual fee at ₹2,500 + 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, HDFC Bank Regalia Gold or ICICI Bank Sapphiro?
HDFC Bank Regalia Gold publishes the lower forex markup at 2% versus 3.5%. Also confirm whether international transactions earn rewards, since some issuers exclude them.
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.