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Side-by-Side Comparison|Updated March 2026

ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card vs ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card

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

ICICI Bank

ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card

8/10
Annual Fee₹20,000
Base Rewards0.8%
NetworkVisa
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ICICI Bank

ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card

8/10
Annual Fee₹3,500
Base Rewards0.25%
NetworkVisa
View Full Details

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit CardICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card
Annual Fee₹20,000₹3,500
Joining Fee₹20,000₹6,500
Fee Waiver Spend₹25,00,000₹6,00,000
Base Reward Rate0.8%0.25%
Reward CurrencyICICI Bank Reward PointsICICI Bank Rewards
NetworkVisaVisa
Editor Rating8/108/10
Forex Markup3.5%3.5%

Accelerated Rewards

ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card

  • 0% on Hotels via iShop
  • 0% on Flights via iShop

ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card

  • 0% on International Spends

Pros & Cons

ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card

Pros

  • Unlimited domestic and international lounge access for both primary and add-on cardholders.
  • Low forex markup fee of 1.49%, making it highly competitive for international spending.
  • High-value welcome and renewal benefits including ₹10,000 EaseMyTrip hotel vouchers and Zomato Gold.
  • Unique milestone rewards like helicopter transfers in Bangalore or luxury sedan airport transfers.

Cons

  • Base reward rate of 2% is lower than some competitors in the super-premium segment.
  • Milestone benefits are brand-specific (e.g., Klook, Tata CLiQ Luxury) which may not suit all users.
  • No complimentary guest access for airport lounges.

ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card

Pros

  • High-value welcome vouchers worth over ₹9,000 covering travel, shopping, and dining.
  • Dual-card advantage (Amex + Mastercard/Visa) allows for broader acceptance and network-specific offers.
  • Generous movie benefits with Buy 1 Get 1 up to ₹500 twice a month on BookMyShow.
  • Complimentary golf rounds (up to 4 per month) based on spending milestones.

Cons

  • High annual fee of ₹3,500 which is only waived on a relatively high spend of ₹6 lakhs.
  • Domestic lounge access is contingent on a high quarterly spend of ₹75,000.
  • Reward rate on utilities and insurance is low at 1 point per ₹100.

Our Verdict

Both ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card and ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card are strong options. Your choice should depend on your spending pattern and which card's rewards align better with your lifestyle.

Choose ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card if

Unlimited global lounge access and a low 1.49% forex markup provide significant value.

Choose ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card if

Offers both domestic and international lounge access along with travel-specific welcome vouchers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card or ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card?
Both ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card and ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card are strong options. Your choice should depend on your spending pattern and which card's rewards align better with your lifestyle.
What is the annual fee difference between ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card and ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card?
ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹20,000, while ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹3,500. ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card offers a fee waiver on ₹25,00,000 annual spend. ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card offers a fee waiver on ₹6,00,000 annual spend.
Which card has better rewards: ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card or ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card?
ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card offers a base reward rate of 0.8% with accelerated rewards on Hotels via iShop and Flights via iShop. ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card offers 0.25% base rewards with bonuses on International Spends. The better choice depends on your primary spending categories.
Can I have both ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card and ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card?
Yes, many users hold multiple credit cards to maximize rewards across different spending categories. ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card and ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card can complement each other if they cover different reward categories.
Which card is better for beginners: ICICI Bank - Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card or ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card?
For beginners, ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card may be more approachable with a lower annual fee of ₹3,500. However, evaluate based on your expected spending pattern rather than fee alone.

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