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Side-by-Side Comparison|Updated March 2026

SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT 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.

SBI Card

SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT

8.2/10
Annual Fee₹2,999
Base Rewards1%
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

FeatureSBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECTEmirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card
Annual Fee₹2,999₹10,000
Joining Fee₹2,999₹10,000
Fee Waiver Spend₹3,00,000N/A
Base Reward Rate1%1%
Reward CurrencyEmpower PointSkywards Miles
NetworkVisaVisa
Editor Rating8.2/108.5/10
Forex Markup3.5%3.5%

Accelerated Rewards

SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT

No accelerated rewards listed

Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card

  • 2.5% on Emirates Bookings

Pros & Cons

SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT

Pros

  • High 5% value back at select Tata outlets like Westside and Taj
  • Direct 2% value back on all Croma and cromaretail.com purchases
  • Welcome and Anniversary vouchers of ₹3,000 effectively cover the annual fee
  • Generous 3% reward rate on Dining, Groceries, and International spends

Cons

  • High annual fee of ₹2,999 with a relatively high waiver threshold of ₹3 Lakh
  • Rewards are primarily optimized for the Tata ecosystem redemption
  • No complimentary international lounge access despite the premium fee

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, SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT could be the better pick if its specific category strengths match your spending habits.

Choose SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT if

Excellent value back across Croma, Westside, Taj, and other Tata brands.

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: SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT 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, SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT could be the better pick if its specific category strengths match your spending habits.
What is the annual fee difference between SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT and Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card?
SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT has an annual fee of ₹2,999, while Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹10,000. SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT offers a fee waiver on ₹3,00,000 annual spend.
Which card has better rewards: SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT or Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card?
SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT offers a base reward rate of 1%. 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 SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT and Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card?
Yes, many users hold multiple credit cards to maximize rewards across different spending categories. SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT and Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card can complement each other if they cover different reward categories.
Which card is better for beginners: SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT or Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card?
For beginners, SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT may be more approachable with a lower annual fee of ₹2,999. However, evaluate based on your expected spending pattern rather than fee alone.

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