ICICI Bank Rubyx vs Kotak Mahindra Bank League Platinum
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
ICICI Bank Rubyx and Kotak Mahindra Bank League Platinum differ first on recurring cost: ICICI Bank Rubyx has an annual fee of ₹2,000 + GST against ₹499 + GST for Kotak Mahindra Bank League Platinum, so Kotak Mahindra Bank League Platinum is cheaper to hold. On rewards, ICICI Bank Rubyx earns 2 ICICI Bank Reward Points per ₹100 on eligible domestic retail spend while Kotak Mahindra Bank League Platinum earns 4 Reward Points per ₹150 on eligible spend below ₹2 lakh a year. 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 2026-08-04. Confirm final terms with the issuer.
| Feature | ICICI Bank Rubyx | Kotak Mahindra Bank League Platinum |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | ICICI Bank | Kotak Mahindra Bank |
| Joining fee | ₹3,000 + GST | ₹499 + GST |
| Annual fee | ₹2,000 + GST | ₹499 + GST |
| Fee waiver | ₹3,00,000 annual eligible spend | ₹50,000 annual eligible spend |
| Base rewards | 2 ICICI Bank Reward Points per ₹100 on eligible domestic retail spend | 4 Reward Points per ₹150 on eligible spend below ₹2 lakh a year |
| Accelerated routes | international spends · utility, insurance and government payments | 8 Reward Points per ₹150 on issuer-listed special categories, and on all eligible spend once ₹2 lakh of annual spend is reached |
| Reward exclusions | fuel, rent, wallet load, cash advance, fees | fuel, rent, wallet load |
| Forex markup | 3.5% | 3.5% |
| Domestic lounge | 2/quarter (₹75,000 spend in previous quarter) | none |
| International lounge | none | none |
| Card networks | Visa, Mastercard, Amex, RuPay | Visa Platinum |
| Best suited to | mid spender, movies, dual card | movies, first card, milestone spender |
| Issuer evidence | Checked 2026-08-01 | Checked 2026-08-04 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the ICICI Bank Rubyx better than the Kotak Mahindra Bank League Platinum?
Neither is universally better. ICICI Bank Rubyx charges ₹2,000 + GST a year and earns 2 ICICI Bank Reward Points per ₹100 on eligible domestic retail spend; Kotak Mahindra Bank League Platinum charges ₹499 + GST and earns 4 Reward Points per ₹150 on eligible spend below ₹2 lakh a year. 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, ICICI Bank Rubyx or Kotak Mahindra Bank League Platinum?
Kotak Mahindra Bank League Platinum has the lower recorded annual fee at ₹499 + 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, ICICI Bank Rubyx or Kotak Mahindra Bank League Platinum?
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.