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Side-by-Side Comparison|Updated March 2026

City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card vs Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card

Detailed comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and value to help you choose the right credit card for your spending pattern.

City Union Bank

City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card

6.8/10
Annual Fee₹499
Base Rewards0.16666666666666669%
NetworkVisa
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ICICI Bank

Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card

8.5/10
Annual Fee₹10,000
Base Rewards1%
NetworkVisa
View Full Details

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureCity Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI CardEmirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card
Annual Fee₹499₹10,000
Joining Fee₹499₹10,000
Fee Waiver Spend₹1,00,000N/A
Base Reward Rate0.16666666666666669%1%
Reward CurrencyReward PointsSkywards Miles
NetworkVisaVisa
Editor Rating6.8/108.5/10
Forex Markup3.5%3.5%

Accelerated Rewards

City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card

  • 1.67% on Dining
  • 1.67% on Movies
  • 1.67% on Grocery
  • 1.67% on Departmental Stores

Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card

  • 2.5% on Emirates Bookings

Pros & Cons

City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card

Pros

  • 10X Reward Points on daily essentials like Dining, Movies, Departmental Stores, and Grocery.
  • Welcome bonus of 2,000 Reward Points effectively offsets the joining fee.
  • Low annual fee of ₹499 with a reachable waiver threshold of ₹1 Lakh annual spend.
  • 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹500 and ₹3,000.

Cons

  • Very low base reward rate of 0.17% on non-category spends.
  • Accelerated rewards are capped at 5,000 points per month.
  • No complimentary airport lounge access or travel-specific benefits.

Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card

Pros

  • Unlimited domestic and international lounge access for the primary cardholder.
  • Complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver Tier membership providing priority check-in and boarding.
  • High reward rate of 2.5 Skywards Miles per ₹100 on all spends (except exclusions).
  • Generous movie benefit with Buy 1 Get 1 up to ₹750 off, 4 times a month.

Cons

  • High annual fee of ₹10,000 with no specified spend-based waiver.
  • High foreign currency markup of 3.5% despite being a premium travel card.
  • Miles are primarily valuable only for Emirates loyalists.

Our Verdict

Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card edges ahead overall with a stronger combination of rewards and value. However, City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card could be the better pick if its specific category strengths match your spending habits.

Choose City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card if

Low entry barrier and high rewards on common categories like groceries and dining.

Choose Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card if

Silver Tier status and high mile earn rate on Emirates bookings make it highly rewarding for loyalists.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card or Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card?
Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card edges ahead overall with a stronger combination of rewards and value. However, City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card could be the better pick if its specific category strengths match your spending habits.
What is the annual fee difference between City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card and Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card?
City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card has an annual fee of ₹499, while Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹10,000. City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card offers a fee waiver on ₹1,00,000 annual spend.
Which card has better rewards: City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card or Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card?
City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card offers a base reward rate of 0.16666666666666669% with accelerated rewards on Dining and Movies. Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card offers 1% base rewards with bonuses on Emirates Bookings. The better choice depends on your primary spending categories.
Can I have both City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card and Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card?
Yes, many users hold multiple credit cards to maximize rewards across different spending categories. City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card and Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card can complement each other if they cover different reward categories.
Which card is better for beginners: City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card or Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card?
For beginners, City Union Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card may be more approachable with a lower annual fee of ₹499. However, evaluate based on your expected spending pattern rather than fee alone.

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