Kotak Mahindra Bank PVR INOX Kotak vs RBL Bank Play
Side-by-side for the example profile – edit spend and travel needs to make it yours.
PVR INOX Kotak vs Play (Sept 2026): for the standard ₹32k/month profile Kotak Mahindra Bank PVR INOX Kotak wins on score (29/100, ₹1,573 recurring net savings a year) vs Play 29/100 (₹1,423). Cheapest to hold: PVR INOX Kotak (₹589 incl. GST). Edit the spend on this page to re-score for yours.
Recommendation for Typical Indian cardholder (₹32k/month)
Kotak Mahindra Bank PVR INOX Kotak scores highest (29/100) with ₹1,573 recurring net savings a year.
Edit your spend and travel needs above – scores, savings and this verdict update instantly.
Standard profile
Scored for Typical Indian cardholder · ₹32k/monthBills paid in full · first-year offers shown separately · set up your profile to score cards for your own spend
| Card | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Personal score | 29/100 | 29/100 |
| Recurring net savings | ₹1,573/yr BEST | ₹1,423/yr |
| Effective savings rate | 0.5% BEST | 0.4% |
| Annual fee incl. GST | Waived | Waived |
| Usable lounge visits | ✈ none you can use 0 | ✈ none you can use 0 |
| Why it fits | ✓ Base rate 0.5% on other spends earns you about ₹1,213 a year on… | ✓ Base rate 0.25% on other spends earns you about ₹583 a year on… |
| Main drawback | ! No usable lounge access although you asked for it. | ! No usable lounge access although you asked for it. |
| How the net figure adds up | ||
| + Reward value on your spend | ₹1,213 at ₹0.25/Reward Points BEST | ₹1,063 at ₹0.25/Reward Points |
| + Milestone bonuses you reach | none | none |
| + Fuel surcharge waiver | ₹360 | ₹360 |
| + Lifestyle benefits you asked for | none matched | none matched |
| + Renewal bonus (only when the fee is charged) | — | — |
| − Annual fee incl. 18% GST | ₹0 waived at ₹1,00,000 spend | ₹0 waived at ₹1,00,000 spend |
| − Forex markup on international spend | none | none |
| = Recurring net savings | ₹1,573/yr BEST | ₹1,423/yr |
| ÷ Card spend counted | ₹3,26,640 UPI-only rupees excluded on non-RuPay cards | ₹3,26,640 UPI-only rupees excluded on non-RuPay cards |
| = Effective savings rate | 0.5% BEST | 0.4% |
| Rewards on your spend | ||
| Groceries & quick-commerce (₹72,000/yr) | ₹216 0.3% BEST | ₹108 0.1% |
| Dining & food delivery (₹48,000/yr) | ₹211 0.4% BEST | ₹106 0.2% |
| Online shopping (₹72,000/yr) | ₹360 0.5% BEST | ₹180 0.3% |
| Fuel (₹36,000/yr) | ₹0 0.0% | ₹0 0.0% |
| Cabs & commute (₹18,000/yr) | ₹54 0.3% BEST | ₹27 0.1% |
| Bills & utilities (₹30,000/yr) | ₹0 0.0% | ₹0 0.0% |
| Flights (₹24,000/yr) | ₹120 0.5% BEST | ₹60 0.3% |
| Hotels (₹12,000/yr) | ₹60 0.5% BEST | ₹30 0.3% |
| Movies & OTT (₹9,600/yr) | ₹48 0.5% | ₹480 5.0% BEST |
| Insurance premiums (₹18,000/yr) | ₹0 0.0% | ₹0 0.0% |
| Everything else (₹48,000/yr) | ₹144 0.3% BEST | ₹72 0.1% |
| Base earn rate | 0.5% BEST | 0.25% |
| Accelerated categories | 1 rule
| 1 rule
|
| Excluded categories | fuel, rent, utilities, insurance, education | fuel, rent, utilities, insurance, education |
| Caps hit for your spend | None | None |
| Milestones | None | None |
| UPI rewards (RuPay) | Not UPI-enabled | Not UPI-enabled |
| Fees & first year | ||
| Joining fee | ₹499 + GST | ₹500 + GST |
| Fee waiver | On ₹1,00,000 annual spend | On ₹1,00,000 annual spend |
| Renewal benefit | None | None |
| Welcome benefit (first year only) | None | None |
| First-year value (separate) | ₹984 BEST | ₹833 |
| Travel | ||
| Domestic lounge entitlement | None | None |
| International lounge entitlement | None | None |
| Lounge condition | None | None |
| Forex markup | 3.5% | 3.5% |
| Redemption & simplicity | ||
| Reward currency | Reward Points · ₹0.25/unit | Reward Points · ₹0.25/unit |
| How to redeem | Details1 point = ₹0.25 on the catalogue. | Details1 point = ₹0.25 on the catalogue. |
| Redemption flexibility | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Simplicity | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Lifestyle | ||
| Benefits you asked for | fuel waiver | fuel waiver |
| All lifestyle perks | movies, fuel waiver | movies, ott, fuel waiver |
| Eligibility | Income ₹3L+/yr | Income ₹3L+/yr |
| Score breakdown | ||
| Net savings rate | 10/100 × 55% = 5.4 | 9/100 × 55% = 4.9 |
| Usable lounge access | 0/100 × 15% = 0.0 | 0/100 × 15% = 0.0 |
| Redemption flexibility | 60/100 × 10% = 6.0 | 60/100 × 10% = 6.0 |
| Lifestyle fit | 100/100 × 10% = 10.0 | 100/100 × 10% = 10.0 |
| Simplicity | 60/100 × 5% = 3.0 | 60/100 × 5% = 3.0 |
| Fee safety | 100/100 × 5% = 5.0 | 100/100 × 5% = 5.0 |
| Sources | ||
| Official source | Kotak Mahindra Bank – PVR INOX Kotak product page | RBL Bank – Play product page |
| Last reviewed | 2026-09-12 | 2026-09-12 |
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: PVR INOX Kotak or Play?
For the example profile, Kotak Mahindra Bank PVR INOX Kotak scores highest (29/100, ₹1,573 recurring net savings). The answer changes with your spend mix, lounge needs and fee comfort – edit the profile on this page.
Which has the lower annual fee?
PVR INOX Kotak: ₹589 incl. GST; Play: ₹590 incl. GST.