Amazon Pay ICICI vs Paytm 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
Amazon Pay ICICI and Paytm SBI Card differ first on recurring cost: Amazon Pay ICICI has an annual fee of ₹0 against ₹499 + GST for Paytm SBI Card, so Amazon Pay ICICI is cheaper to hold. On rewards, Amazon Pay ICICI earns 1% in Amazon Pay balance while Paytm SBI Card earns 1 Reward Point per ₹100 on eligible spends, including UPI; minimum eligible transaction ₹100. Amazon Pay ICICI has the lower forex markup at 1.99%. 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 | Amazon Pay ICICI | Paytm SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | ICICI Bank | SBI Card |
| Joining fee | ₹0 | ₹499 + GST |
| Annual fee | ₹0 | ₹499 + GST |
| Fee waiver | No waiver recorded | ₹1,00,000 annual eligible spend |
| Base rewards | 1% in Amazon Pay balance | 1 Reward Point per ₹100 on eligible spends, including UPI; minimum eligible transaction ₹100 |
| Accelerated routes | Amazon (Prime members) · Amazon (non-Prime) · Amazon Pay partner merchants | 3 Reward Points per ₹100 · 2 Reward Points per ₹100 |
| Reward exclusions | fuel, rent, gift cards, wallet load | fuel, wallet load, balance transfer, cash advance, easy money, encash, dial a draft, atm withdrawal, fees, education, flexipay, merchant emi |
| Forex markup | 1.99% | 3.5% |
| Domestic lounge | none | none |
| International lounge | none | none |
| Card networks | Visa, RuPay | Visa |
| Best suited to | amazon, cashback, first card, lifetime free | paytm ecosystem, cashback, first card |
| Issuer evidence | Checked 2026-07-16 | Checked 2026-07-30 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Amazon Pay ICICI better than the Paytm SBI Card?
Neither is universally better. Amazon Pay ICICI charges ₹0 a year and earns 1% in Amazon Pay balance; Paytm SBI Card charges ₹499 + GST and earns 1 Reward Point per ₹100 on eligible spends, including UPI; minimum eligible transaction ₹100. 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, Amazon Pay ICICI or Paytm SBI Card?
Amazon Pay ICICI has the lower recorded annual fee at ₹0. 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, Amazon Pay ICICI or Paytm SBI Card?
Amazon Pay ICICI publishes the lower forex markup at 1.99% 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.