# IRCTC Credit Cards Compared: IRCTC SBI, IRCTC SBI Premier and IRCTC HDFC > IRCTC co-branded credit cards compared: up to 10% value back on AC train tickets, railway lounge visits, transaction-charge savings, and INR 500 vs INR 1,499 fees. - **Published**: 2026-10-31 - **Modified**: 2026-10-31 - **Category**: credit-cards - **URL**: https://www.tldr.money/articles/credit-cards/irctc-credit-cards-compared --- Our [best travel credit cards](/articles/credit-cards/best-travel-credit-cards-india) guide covers flights and hotels. This page compares the main **IRCTC co-branded credit cards** for people who book trains: the IRCTC SBI Card, the IRCTC SBI Card Premier and the IRCTC HDFC Bank card. **Last updated: 31 October 2026.** Educational, not advice. Bank of Baroda (BOBCARD) and RBL Bank also issue IRCTC cards; this page covers the SBI and HDFC versions. ## IRCTC credit cards at a glance | Feature | IRCTC SBI Card | IRCTC SBI Card Premier | IRCTC HDFC Bank | |---|---|---|---| | Joining / renewal fee | INR 500 | INR 1,499 | INR 500 + taxes | | Fee waiver | Not listed | Not listed | Renewal waived at INR 1.5 lakh a year | | Welcome | 350 points on a INR 500+ transaction within 60 days | 1,500 points on paying the first annual fee (1 point = INR 1) | INR 500 gift voucher on activation | | AC train tickets on IRCTC | Up to 10% value back as points | Up to 10% value back as points | 5 points per INR 100 (IRCTC website and Rail Connect app) | | Other IRCTC spends | -- | 5% back on air.irctc.co.in and e-catering | -- | | Other spends | 1 point per INR 125 (non-fuel) | 1 point per INR 125; 3 per INR 125 on dining and utility standing instructions | Not headlined | | Transaction charges saved | 1% on railway tickets | 1% on railway tickets; 1.8% on IRCTC air tickets | -- | | Railway lounges | 4 a year (1 a quarter) | 8 a year (2 a quarter) | -- | | Milestones | 500 points on paying renewal | 2,500 points at INR 50,000 and 5,000 at INR 1 lakh of travel spend | INR 500 voucher each calendar quarter you spend INR 30,000 | | Fuel | 1% surcharge waiver | 1% surcharge waiver | 1% surcharge waiver | You must link the SBI card to your IRCTC account to earn the value back. ## The maths Take someone who books **INR 2,000 a month of AC tickets** on IRCTC, INR 24,000 a year: - **IRCTC SBI Card:** up to 10% = up to INR 2,400 in points, plus about INR 240 saved in transaction charges (1%). Against a INR 500 fee, roughly INR 2,100 net. - **IRCTC SBI Card Premier:** the same INR 2,400 and INR 240, plus 1,500 welcome points in year one. The INR 1,499 fee eats most of the difference unless you also use the air, e-catering or lounge benefits or hit the INR 50,000 travel milestone. - **IRCTC HDFC:** 5 points per INR 100 = 1,200 points. If you also spend INR 30,000 each quarter on the card, four INR 500 vouchers add INR 2,000 a year, and the fee is waived at INR 1.5 lakh. Whether the SBI 10% holds all year matters. If only part of your bookings earn the full rate, the gap between the cards narrows. Check the current value-back terms before you choose. ## Who should get which - **IRCTC SBI Card:** you take AC trains every month and want the cheapest way to cut ticket costs. - **IRCTC SBI Card Premier:** you also fly through IRCTC, order e-catering, or want 8 lounge visits a year. - **IRCTC HDFC Bank:** you will make it a main card with INR 30,000 a quarter of spend. ## Who should skip them - **Sleeper-class travellers.** The SBI 10% doesn't apply. - **People who book trains through other apps.** The rewards need bookings on irctc.co.in or the IRCTC app (or Rail Connect for HDFC). - **Anyone who carries a balance.** See [the minimum-due trap](/articles/credit-cards/credit-card-fees-and-minimum-due-trap). SBI Card is also introducing a 1% fee on large transport and fuel spends from December; see [SBI Card's 1% fee on fuel and transport](/articles/credit-cards/sbi-card-1-percent-fee-fuel-transport-december-2026). ## Sources - IRCTC, IRCTC SBI Card and IRCTC SBI Card Premier features: https://contents.irctc.co.in/en/AboutSBICobrandCard.html - SBI Card, IRCTC RuPay SBI Card: https://www.sbicard.com/en/personal/credit-cards/travel/irctc-rupay-sbi-card.page - HDFC Bank, IRCTC HDFC Bank Credit Card: https://www.hdfc.bank.in/credit-cards/irctc-credit-card - Airtel Finance, IRCTC SBI Premier (seasonal value back reported): https://www.airtel.in/finance/credit-card/irctc-sbi-premier-credit-card - Example figures: tldr.money calculation --- - [More credit-cards articles](https://www.tldr.money/articles/category/credit-cards) - [All articles](https://www.tldr.money/articles)