Selecting the right credit card can make a significant difference in the benefits you reap from your purchases. Two popular credit cards catering to online shoppers in India are the ICICI Bank Amazon Pay Credit Card and the Standard Chartered DigiSmart Credit Card. Both offer unique perks and cater to different spending habits. This article provides an in-depth comparison to help you choose the best card for your online shopping needs.

ICICI Bank Amazon Pay Credit Card

The ICICI Bank Amazon Pay Credit Card is an entry-level card designed for frequent Amazon shoppers. It provides cashback on purchases made on Amazon India and partner merchants.

Key Features:

• Annual Fee: No joining or annual fee.
• Cashback on Amazon: 5% cashback for Amazon Prime members and 3% for non-Prime members.
• Other Partner Cashback: 2% cashback on partner merchants when transactions are done via Amazon Pay.
• Other Purchases: 1% cashback on all other transactions.
• Fuel Surcharge Waiver: 1% fuel surcharge waiver at HPCL fuel stations.
• Interest-Free Period: Up to 48 days.
• Eligibility: Minimum income of Rs. 25,000 per month.

Pros:

• No annual fee.
• High cashback rate for Amazon Prime members.
• Simple reward redemption as cashback is auto-credited to the Amazon Pay balance.
• Good cashback on partner merchants like Swiggy, BookMyShow, and more.

Cons:

• Limited benefits outside Amazon and partner merchants.
• No travel or lounge access benefits.
• No direct rewards redemption or point system.

Standard Chartered DigiSmart Credit Card

The Standard Chartered DigiSmart Credit Card is designed for millennials and online shoppers who frequently use platforms like Zomato, Myntra, Ola, and Grofers (Blinkit).

Key Features:

• Monthly Fee: Rs. 49 (waived if the monthly spend exceeds Rs. 5,000).
• Discounts & Offers:
  • 10% discount on Zomato (up to Rs. 150 per transaction, max 5 times a month).
  • 10% discount on Myntra (no cap, minimum spend Rs. 750).
  • 15% cashback on Ola rides (max Rs. 600 per month).
  • 20% cashback on Blinkit (up to Rs. 150 per month).
  • 10% off on Inox movie tickets (twice a month, up to Rs. 200 per transaction).
• Interest-Free Period: Up to 50 days.
• Eligibility: Minimum income of Rs. 30,000 per month.

Pros:

• Monthly fee instead of an annual charge, making it cost-effective.
• High discounts on major lifestyle and shopping platforms.
• Good cashback structure for ride-hailing services like Ola.
• Works well for frequent users of Blinkit and Myntra.

Cons:

• Monthly fee can be a hassle for some users.
• No direct cashback, only platform-based discounts.
• Not suitable for Amazon shoppers.

Detailed Comparison

Annual Fees and Charges

• ICICI Amazon Pay: Completely free, with no annual or joining fee.
• Standard Chartered DigiSmart: Rs. 49 per month (Rs. 588 annually), waived if you spend Rs. 5,000 per month.
• Winner: ICICI Amazon Pay (as it has no charges).

Best for Amazon Shopping

• ICICI Amazon Pay: Offers 5% cashback for Prime members and 3% for non-Prime members.
• Standard Chartered DigiSmart: No Amazon benefits.
• Winner: ICICI Amazon Pay.

Best for Lifestyle & Dining

• ICICI Amazon Pay: 2% cashback on partner merchants but no dining-specific perks.
• Standard Chartered DigiSmart: 10% off on Zomato, Myntra, and movie tickets.
• Winner: Standard Chartered DigiSmart.

Best for Travel & Commute

• ICICI Amazon Pay: No specific travel benefits.
• Standard Chartered DigiSmart: 15% cashback on Ola rides.
• Winner: Standard Chartered DigiSmart.

Cashback & Discounts Structure

• ICICI Amazon Pay: Direct cashback credited to Amazon Pay.
• Standard Chartered DigiSmart: Discounts on select platforms but no direct cashback.
• Winner: ICICI Amazon Pay (for simplicity and ease of use).

Overall Rewards & Offers

• ICICI Amazon Pay: Best suited for Amazon shoppers and select partners.
• Standard Chartered DigiSmart: Best for a variety of lifestyle purchases and ride-hailing.
• Winner: Depends on the user’s spending habits.
  • Amazon shoppers → ICICI Amazon Pay
  • Frequent Myntra, Zomato, and Ola users → Standard Chartered DigiSmart

Who Should Choose Which Card?

Criteria	ICICI Amazon Pay	Standard Chartered DigiSmart
Best for Amazon Shopping	✅ Yes	❌ No
Best for Dining Discounts	❌ No	✅ Yes (Zomato)
Best for Fashion Shopping	❌ No	✅ Yes (Myntra)
Best for Travel & Rides	❌ No	✅ Yes (Ola cashback)
Best for Grocery Discounts	❌ No	✅ Yes (Blinkit cashback)
Annual Fee Waiver	✅ Always free	✅ If spending Rs. 5,000/month
Direct Cashback	✅ Yes	❌ No (only discounts)
Lounge Access & Travel Perks	❌ No	❌ No

Which One to Choose?

Choosing between the ICICI Amazon Pay Credit Card and the Standard Chartered DigiSmart Credit Card depends on your spending habits:

• If you are an Amazon Prime member and shop frequently on Amazon, the ICICI Amazon Pay Credit Card is the clear winner due to its high cashback rates and zero fees.
• If you frequently order from Zomato, Myntra, Ola, and Blinkit, then the Standard Chartered DigiSmart Credit Card is the better option due to platform-based discounts and cashbacks.

For frequent online shoppers, having both cards could be a strategic move – use the ICICI Amazon Pay Card for Amazon purchases and the Standard Chartered DigiSmart Card for lifestyle expenses.

Our Recommendation

Both credit cards cater to different needs. The ICICI Amazon Pay Credit Card is best for Amazon shopping with its straightforward cashback structure and no fees.

The Standard Chartered DigiSmart Credit Card is ideal for those who prefer platform-specific discounts across various lifestyle categories. Choose the one that aligns with your spending habits to maximize savings and benefits on online purchases.