ICICI Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card vs SBI Cards SimplySAVE Visa Platinum Credit Card: Which is Better in 2026?
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In short: SBI SimplySAVE has the lower annual fee (₹499 vs ₹12,499); ICICI Emeralde Private Metal has the lower forex markup (2% vs 3.5%).
| Key facts | ICICI Emeralde Private Metal | SBI SimplySAVE |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹12,499 | ₹499 |
| Joining fee | ₹12,499 | Not listed |
| Annual fee waived | On ₹10 lakh annual spend | On ₹1 lakh annual spend |
| Top reward rate | 6 reward points For Every ₹200 on Retail | Enjoy 10 Reward Points on Every ₹150 Spent at Dining |
| Base rewards | 6 reward points For Every ₹200 on Retail | 1 Reward Point Per ₹150 Spent |
| Lounge access | Unlimited domestic & international lounge access | Not listed |
| Forex markup | 2% | 3.5% |
From issuer benefit data, checked 25 Oct 2026. Milestones, welcome benefits and caps are in the full table below.
What you'd earn in a year
On ₹20,000 a month with ₹5,000 at each card's top rate, SBI SimplySAVE returns about ₹6,100 more a year after annual fees (₹1,300 vs ₹7,200 in rewards).
| Spend profile | ICICI Emeralde Private Metal | SBI SimplySAVE |
|---|---|---|
| Reward value: top rate / base rate | 3% / 3% | 1.67% / 0.17% |
| ₹20,000 a month, all general spends | ₹7,200 | ₹400 |
| ₹20,000 a month, ₹5,000 of it at each card's top rate | ₹7,200 | ₹1,300 |
| Annual fee | ₹12,499 | ₹499 |
Estimates from the earn rates above, with stated cashback caps applied, before exclusions. Reward points are valued at the card's best listed redemption (often travel or vouchers via the bank's portal); cash-back on the statement is usually worth less. Annual fees may be waived on spend (see the table below).
Sbi Cards Simplysave Visa Platinum Credit Card lists a lower headline annual fee in our data (around ₹12,000 apart), before waivers. Icici Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card currently has more lounge detail available from the issuer data we index. Always confirm current fees and offers on the issuer’s site before you apply.
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| Feature | Icici Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card | Sbi Cards Simplysave Visa Platinum Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Bank | ICICI Bank | SBI Cards |
| Network | MasterCard | Visa |
| Joining fee | Joining Fee - Rs.12499 | — |
| Annual / renewal fee | Second Year Onwards Annual Fee of Rs.12499 | Annual Fee of Rs.499 |
| Annual fee waiver | Spend Rs.10 Lakh For Waiver of Annual Fee | Spend Rs.1 Lakhs For Waiver of Renewal Fee |
| Top reward rate | Earn 6 Rewards Points For Every Rs.200 on Retail | Enjoy 10 Reward Points on Every Rs. 150 Spent at Dining |
| Base rate (other spends) | — | Earn 1 Reward Point Per Rs.150 Spent |
| Lounge — domestic | Unlimited Complimentary Lounge Access | — |
| Lounge — international | Unlimited International Lounge Access With the Priority Pass Membership | — |
| Fuel surcharge waiver | 1% Fuel Surcharge Waiver | 1% Fuel Surcharge Waiver |
| Welcome benefit | Get 12500 Reward Points as Joining Bonus | Earn 2000 bonus Reward Points |
| Milestone benefit | EaseMyTrip Air Travel Vouchers Worth Rs.3000 On Spend of Rs.4 Lakhs; EaseMyTrip Air Travel Vouchers Worth Rs.3000 On Spend of Rs.8 Lakhs | — |
| Foreign currency markup | 2% - Foreign Currency Transactions | 3.5% - Foreign Currency Transactions |
Which is better for rewards?
Icici Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card shows a higher headline earn signal in the reward summaries we index (Earn 6 Rewards Points For Every Rs.200 on Retail vs Enjoy 10 Reward Points on Every Rs. 150 Spent at Dining). If you optimise for points or cashback on daily spend, start with that card’s reward bands — then model redemptions you actually use.
Which is better for travel?
Icici Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card has richer lounge-related fields in our current benefits extract (domestic: Unlimited Complimentary Lounge Access; international: Unlimited International Lounge Access With the Priority Pass Membership). Frequent flyers should still confirm guest access, visit limits and participating airports with the issuer.
Which has lower effective cost?
Sbi Cards Simplysave Visa Platinum Credit Card appears cheaper on headline renewal fee in our data before waivers. If you are fee-sensitive, also read the waiver rules in the table — a higher sticker fee can still be net-negative cost if you naturally clear spend thresholds.
Who should pick Icici Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card?
Consider Icici Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card if you already bank with ICICI Bank, and the fee, waiver and earn rows above line up with how you spend each month. Use CardChat on that card for deeper, personalised follow-ups.
Who should pick Sbi Cards Simplysave Visa Platinum Credit Card?
Consider Sbi Cards Simplysave Visa Platinum Credit Card if you already bank with SBI Cards, and the fee, waiver and earn rows above line up with how you spend each month. Use CardChat on that card for deeper, personalised follow-ups.
Frequently Asked Questions
From the lounge fields in our benefit data: Icici Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card — domestic: Unlimited Complimentary Lounge Access; international: Unlimited International Lounge Access With the Priority Pass Membership. Sbi Cards Simplysave Visa Platinum Credit Card — domestic: —; international: —. Guest rules, networks and visit caps change — confirm on the ICICI Bank and SBI Cards websites before you travel.
From the renewal-fee lines we index, the headline amounts are about ₹499 vs ₹12,499 per year before taxes and waivers. Campaigns and customer-specific pricing differ — use the comparison table and the ICICI Bank and SBI Cards websites for the final number.
On the first reward band we surface, Sbi Cards Simplysave Visa Platinum Credit Card shows a stronger headline earn (Enjoy 10 Reward Points on Every Rs. 150 Spent at Dining vs Earn 6 Rewards Points For Every Rs.200 on Retail). Category bonuses, caps and redemption value decide real-world returns — map this to where you actually spend.
Icici Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card: Spend Rs.10 Lakh For Waiver of Annual Fee Sbi Cards Simplysave Visa Platinum Credit Card: Spend Rs.1 Lakhs For Waiver of Renewal Fee Spend thresholds and anniversary rules change; confirm the latest T&Cs.
Icici Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card: 2% - Foreign Currency Transactions Sbi Cards Simplysave Visa Platinum Credit Card: 3.5% - Foreign Currency Transactions Lower published foreign-currency markup is usually better for overseas and foreign-currency online spend; confirm the live rate and exclusions on the ICICI Bank and SBI Cards websites.
Icici Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card: Get 12500 Reward Points as Joining Bonus Sbi Cards Simplysave Visa Platinum Credit Card: Earn 2000 bonus Reward Points Welcome campaigns are time-bound — verify eligibility and fulfilment on the ICICI Bank and SBI Cards websites.