We have hundreds of credit cards available in the market these days, and that is why it has become a really challenging task for people to find the best-suited card for themselves. Different card issuers are offering entry-level to premium cards, and many people look for a basic card to start their credit journey. Today, we are going to discuss two such basic cards that might fit your requirements if you are looking for a credit card with affordable fees and decent benefits. These two cards are the American Express Smart Earn Credit Card and the Standard Chartered Super Value Titanium Credit Card. Both the cards are from two of the major card issuers in the country and come with quite an affordable membership fee.

AmEx Smart Earn vs Standard Chartered Super Value Titanium Credit Card

The AmEx Smart Earn Card has a lower annual fee, which gets waived easily upon achieving the required annual spends. It has a great reward rate across a few particular brands and a decent reward rate in other categories. The Super Value Titanium Card has a slightly higher annual fee compared to the other one, but it is absolutely free for premium banking customers. Also, it is a great option for those who spend very often on fuel as it offers a reward rate of 5% on fuel. If you want to choose one of these credit cards, but it seems to be confusing to you, we are here to help you make the right decision:

American Express Smart Earn Credit Card

The AmEx Smart Earn Credit Card is one of the most basic cards issued by American Express India. It comes with a nominal annual fee of Rs. 495, which is quite affordable for everyone who is looking for a basic credit card with amazing rewards and benefits. It offers a great reward rate of up to 10x Membership Reward points that are redeemable against a variety of options. Other benefits of this card include a 1% fuel surcharge waiver, a spend-based waiver of the annual fee, and a few more. All its features and benefits are given below in detail:

– Get a cashback of Rs. 500 on spending Rs. 10,000 or more within the first 90 days from card issuance.
– 1 Reward Point on every retail spend of Rs. 50.
– 5x Membership Rewards on Flipkart spends done via the AmEx Rewards Multiplier portal.
– 10x Reward Points on partnered brands, including Uber, Paytm, PVR, Swiggy, etc.
– 1% fuel surcharge waiver on all fuel transactions up to Rs. 5,000.
– The annual fee is waived on spending Rs. 40,000 or more in the previous anniversary year.

SC Super Value Titanium Credit Card

The SC Super Value Titanium Credit card is also a basic yet rewarding credit card issued by Standard Chartered Bank. It comes with an annual membership fee of Rs. 750 and is lifetime free for premium banking customers. Regarding its reward rate, it offers a 5% cashback on all fuel purchases and 1 reward point on every Rs. 150 spent on other purchases. Though it doesn’t have so many additional benefits, it can be of great value for those who spend very often on fuel or who are premium banking customers of Standard Chartered Bank. To understand all its benefits and features in detail, keep reading:

– Get 100% cashback (up to Rs. 1,500) on all fuel purchases made within the first 90 days from the card issuance date.
– No annual membership fee for premium banking customers.
– 5% cashback on fuel purchases, utility bill payments, and telephone bills.
– 1 Reward Point on every retail spend of Rs. 150.
– Complimentary Priority Pass membership (for premium banking customers).
– Exciting discount offers on dining spends under the Standard Chartered Good Life program.
– 1% fuel surcharge is applicable on all fuel purchases (not waived).

Quick Comparison

Now, you might have all the benefits of both these cards separately. Let us compare them based on different factors that you must consider:

Comparison Factor AmEx SmartEarn Credit Card Standard Chartered Super Value Titanium Credit Card
Annual Fee Rs. 495 + GST Rs. 750 + GST
Rewards Rate – 1 Membership Reward on every retail spend of Rs. 50.

– 5x Membership Rewards on Swiggy, PVR, Big Bazaar, Paytm wallet reloads, and many other merchants.

– 1x Membership Rewards on Amazon, Flipkart, and Uber rides.

– 1 RP on every retail spend of Rs. 150

– 5% cashback on fuel purchases, telephonic bills, and utility bill payments.

Reward Redemption The earned Reward Points can be redeemed against various products, vouchers, air miles, and lots of other options. – The cashback is directly credited to the cardholder’s credit card accounts.

– The Reward Points can be redeemed against various options available on the 360 Rewards portal. (1 RP = Re. 0.25)

Travel Benefits Nil Complimentary Priority Pass membership that can be used to access over 1,000 lounges globally. (only the membership is free, and every visit is chargeable)
Spend-Based Waiver The annual fee is waived on spending Rs. 40,000 or more in the previous year. The annual fee is waived on spending Rs. 90,000 or more in the previous year.

Bottom Line

After comparing the two cards, you might have come to a final decision. It is clear from the above comparison that the Standard Chartered Super Value Titanium Credit Card is a great choice for those who spend on fuel very often, whereas those who love shopping should go with the AmEx Smart Earn Card. Though there is a bit of difference in the annual fee of the two cards, you shouldn’t only consider the annual fee when choosing a card. There are many more factors to consider, such as the reward rate, your spending behavior, your requirements, etc. Another thing that you must check before applying for any of these cards is their eligibility criterion. Check whether you fulfill the requirements or not, as applying for any random card without doing good research is never a good idea. If you still have any questions regarding the two above credit cards, you can freely ask us in the comment section below!

Write A Comment