Vyaya
Side-by-Side Comparison|Updated March 2026

SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT vs HDFC Bank - Infinia Metal

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
View Full Details

HDFC Bank

HDFC Bank - Infinia Metal

9.5/10
Annual Fee₹12,500
Base Rewards1.0989%
NetworkVisa
View Full Details

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureSBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECTHDFC Bank - Infinia Metal
Annual Fee₹2,999₹12,500
Joining Fee₹2,999₹12,500
Fee Waiver Spend₹3,00,000₹10,00,000
Base Reward Rate1%1.0989%
Reward CurrencyEmpower PointReward Points
NetworkVisaVisa
Editor Rating8.2/109.5/10
Forex Markup3.5%3.5%

Accelerated Rewards

SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT

No accelerated rewards listed

HDFC Bank - Infinia Metal

  • 10.99% on SmartBuy Flights & Hotels — 15000 pts/month
  • 5.48% on SmartBuy Other Categories — 15000 pts/month

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

HDFC Bank - Infinia Metal

Pros

  • Industry-leading 3.33% base reward rate with 1:1 redemption on travel.
  • Accelerated rewards up to 33% via HDFC SmartBuy platform.
  • Unlimited domestic and international lounge access for both primary and add-on members.
  • Low 2% foreign currency markup fee, ideal for international spenders.

Cons

  • Strictly invite-only, making it inaccessible to most applicants.
  • High annual fee of ₹12,500 + GST, though offset by renewal points.
  • Recent caps on reward redemptions for Apple products and Tanishq vouchers.

Our Verdict

HDFC Bank - Infinia Metal 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 HDFC Bank - Infinia Metal if

Exclusive lifestyle benefits, unlimited golf, and concierge services tailored for HNIs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT or HDFC Bank - Infinia Metal?
HDFC Bank - Infinia Metal 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 HDFC Bank - Infinia Metal?
SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT has an annual fee of ₹2,999, while HDFC Bank - Infinia Metal has an annual fee of ₹12,500. SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT offers a fee waiver on ₹3,00,000 annual spend. HDFC Bank - Infinia Metal offers a fee waiver on ₹10,00,000 annual spend.
Which card has better rewards: SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT or HDFC Bank - Infinia Metal?
SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT offers a base reward rate of 1%. HDFC Bank - Infinia Metal offers 1.0989% base rewards with bonuses on SmartBuy Flights & Hotels and SmartBuy Other Categories. The better choice depends on your primary spending categories.
Can I have both SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT and HDFC Bank - Infinia Metal?
Yes, many users hold multiple credit cards to maximize rewards across different spending categories. SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT and HDFC Bank - Infinia Metal can complement each other if they cover different reward categories.
Which card is better for beginners: SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT or HDFC Bank - Infinia Metal?
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.

Related Comparisons

SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT vs SBI Card PRIMEHDFC Bank - Infinia Metal vs SBI Card PRIME

Explore More

SBI Card - Tata Croma Card SELECT Full ReviewHDFC Bank - Infinia Metal Full ReviewAll SBI Card CardsAll HDFC Bank CardsBrowse All Credit CardsCredit Card Guides & Tips