SBI Card IRCTC SBI Platinum vs IRCTC RBL Bank

IRCTC SBI Platinum vs IRCTC RBL Bank (Sept 2026): for the standard ₹32k/month profile IRCTC RBL Bank wins on score (27/100, ₹1,308 recurring net savings a year) vs IRCTC SBI Platinum 25/100 (₹1,818). Cheapest to hold: IRCTC SBI Platinum (₹354 incl. GST). Edit the spend on this page to re-score for yours.

Card	‹›⇄× SBI CardIRCTC SBI PlatinumIRCTC	‹›⇄× RBL BankIRCTC RBL BankIRCTC
Overview
Personal score	25/100	27/100 BEST
Recurring net savings	₹1,818/yr BEST	₹1,308/yr
Effective savings rate	0.5% BEST	0.3%
Annual fee incl. GST	You pay ₹354	Waived ₹590 BEST
Usable lounge visits	✈ none you can use 0	✈ none you can use 0
Why it fits	✓ 10% value back on IRCTC AC tickets (commute assumed partly rail) earns…	✓ Base rate 0.25% on other spends earns you about ₹580 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	₹1,812 at ₹0.25/Reward Points BEST	₹948 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	−₹354	₹0 waived at ₹1,00,000 spend BEST
− Forex markup on international spend	none	none
= Recurring net savings	₹1,818/yr BEST	₹1,308/yr
÷ Card spend counted	₹3,87,600 UPI-only rupees excluded on non-RuPay cards	₹3,87,600 UPI-only rupees excluded on non-RuPay cards
= Effective savings rate	0.5% BEST	0.3%
Rewards on your spend
Groceries & quick-commerce (₹72,000/yr)	₹180 0.3%	₹180 0.3%
Dining & food delivery (₹48,000/yr)	₹120 0.3%	₹120 0.3%
Online shopping (₹72,000/yr)	₹180 0.3%	₹180 0.3%
Fuel (₹36,000/yr)	₹0 0.0%	₹0 0.0%
Cabs & commute (₹18,000/yr)	₹1,098 6.1% BEST	₹234 1.3%
Bills & utilities (₹30,000/yr)	₹0 0.0%	₹0 0.0%
Flights (₹24,000/yr)	₹60 0.3%	₹60 0.3%
Hotels (₹12,000/yr)	₹30 0.3%	₹30 0.3%
Movies & OTT (₹9,600/yr)	₹24 0.3%	₹24 0.3%
Insurance premiums (₹18,000/yr)	₹0 0.0%	₹0 0.0%
Everything else (₹48,000/yr)	₹120 0.3%	₹120 0.3%
Base earn rate	0.25%	0.25%
Accelerated categories	1 rule 10% value back on IRCTC AC tickets (commute assumed partly rail) – 10.0%, cap ₹500/mo	1 rule 8 points/₹100 on IRCTC (commute assumed partly rail) – 2.0%
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)	1 RP/₹125 on UPI	1 point/₹100 on UPI
Fees & first year
Joining fee	₹300 + GST	₹500 + GST
Fee waiver	Never	On ₹1,00,000 annual spend
Renewal benefit	None	None
Welcome benefit (first year only)	350 RP on ₹500 spend ≈ ₹90	1,000 points on activation ≈ ₹250
First-year value (separate)	₹1,908 BEST	₹968
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	Details 1 point = ₹0.25 on the catalogue.	Details 1 point = ₹0.25 on the catalogue.
Redemption flexibility	★★☆☆☆	★★☆☆☆
Simplicity	★★★★☆	★★★★☆
Lifestyle
Benefits you asked for	fuel waiver	fuel waiver
All lifestyle perks	fuel waiver	fuel waiver
Eligibility	Income ₹3L+/yr	Income ₹3L+/yr
Score breakdown
Net savings rate	10/100 × 55% = 5.2	7/100 × 55% = 3.8
Usable lounge access	0/100 × 15% = 0.0	0/100 × 15% = 0.0
Redemption flexibility	40/100 × 10% = 4.0	40/100 × 10% = 4.0
Lifestyle fit	100/100 × 10% = 10.0	100/100 × 10% = 10.0
Simplicity	80/100 × 5% = 4.0	80/100 × 5% = 4.0
Fee safety	45/100 × 5% = 2.3	100/100 × 5% = 5.0
Sources
Official source	SBI Card – IRCTC SBI Platinum product page	RBL Bank – IRCTC RBL Bank product page
Last reviewed	2026-09-12	2026-09-12