HSBC Premier Credit Card vs ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card
HSBC Bank · ICICI Bank — side-by-side CardCheck comparison


HSBC Premier Credit Card leads overall with a CardCheck Score of 91/100 (+50 pts over ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card).
4-Pillar Head-to-Head Breakdown
HSBC vs ICICI- CardCheck Score
- 91Best
- 41
- Rating Verdict
- Elite
- Basic
- Reward Power (35%)
- 34/35
- 15/35
- Fee Value & ROI (25%)
- 25/25
- 14/25
- Lounge & Travel (20%)
- 18/20
- 4/20
- Forex & Access (20%)
- 14/20
- 8/20
- Bank
- HSBC Bank
- ICICI Bank
- Network
- Visa
- Visa
- Card type
- Premium
- —
- Best for
- HSBC Premier banking customers — zero forex, unlimited lounge, premium travel
- —
- Joining fee
- FreeBest
- ₹3,000
- Annual fee
- FreeBest
- ₹3,000
- Interest-free days
- 48
- —
- APR (min)
- 42%
- —
- APR (max)
- 42%
- —
- Late payment fee
- ₹1,200
- —
- Cash advance fee
- 2.5%
- —
- Reward type
- points
- —
- Min rate
- 2%
- —
- Max rate
- 5%
- —
- Intl lounge / year
- 8
- —
- Priority Pass
- DreamFolks
- Forex markup
- 0%
- —
- Fuel surcharge waiver
- Metal card
- Contactless
- UPI linked
- Min age
- 18
- —
- Min income / month
- ₹4,00,000
- —
- Min CIBIL
- 800
- —
- Invite only
| Attribute ↓ | ★ Overall pick Column A ![]() | Column B ![]() |
|---|---|---|
01—CardCheck Score & Pillars Differences highlighted | ||
| CardCheck Score | 91Best | 41 |
| Rating Verdict | Elite | Basic |
| Reward Power (35%) | 34/35 | 15/35 |
| Fee Value & ROI (25%) | 25/25 | 14/25 |
| Lounge & Travel (20%) | 18/20 | 4/20 |
| Forex & Access (20%) | 14/20 | 8/20 |
02—Basic Info Differences highlighted | ||
| Bank | HSBC Bank | ICICI Bank |
| Network | Visa | Visa |
| Card type | Premium | — |
| Best for | HSBC Premier banking customers — zero forex, unlimited lounge, premium travel | — |
03—Fees Differences highlighted | ||
| Joining fee | FreeBest | ₹3,000 |
| Annual fee | FreeBest | ₹3,000 |
| Interest-free days | 48 | — |
04—Interest Differences highlighted | ||
| APR (min) | 42% | — |
| APR (max) | 42% | — |
| Late payment fee | ₹1,200 | — |
| Cash advance fee | 2.5% | — |
05—Rewards Differences highlighted | ||
| Reward type | points | — |
| Min rate | 2% | — |
| Max rate | 5% | — |
06—Travel & Lounge Differences highlighted | ||
| Intl lounge / year | 8 | — |
| Priority Pass | ||
| DreamFolks | ||
07—Forex & Fuel Differences highlighted | ||
| Forex markup | 0% | — |
| Fuel surcharge waiver | ||
08—Features Differences highlighted | ||
| Metal card | ||
| Contactless | ||
| UPI linked | ||
09—Eligibility Differences highlighted | ||
| Min age | 18 | — |
| Min income / month | ₹4,00,000 | — |
| Min CIBIL | 800 | — |
| Invite only | ||
| Rows won | 03of 03 | 00of 03 |
| Key Specification | HSBC Premier Credit Card | ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| CardCheck Score | 91/100Elite | 41/100Basic |
| Annual Fee | Free (₹0) | ₹3,000 |
| Fee Waiver Spend | No waiver | No waiver |
| Max Reward Potential | 5% | Standard |
| Domestic Lounge Access | Check terms | Check terms |
| International Lounge | 8 / year | None |
| Forex Markup Fee | 0% | 3.5% |
Choose HSBC Premier Credit Card if:
Your spending centers around hsbc premier banking customers — zero forex, unlimited lounge, premium travel and you want direct partner rewards with HSBC Bank.
Choose ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card if:
You prioritize ICICI Bank's features, reward redemption catalog, and fee terms.
Frequently asked questions: HSBC Premier Credit Card vs ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card
- Which is better: HSBC Premier Credit Card or ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card?
- HSBC Premier Credit Card holds a higher overall rating with a CardCheck Score of 91/100 (Elite) compared to 41/100 (Basic) for ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card (a lead of +50 points). HSBC Premier Credit Card is classified in our Elite tier due to superior spend returns and comprehensive travel perks.
- How do annual fees and fee waiver spend rules compare?
- HSBC Premier Credit Card charges an annual fee of ₹0 (Lifetime Free / Zero Fee) with no official annual spend waiver milestone for renewal fee waiver. In comparison, ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card charges an annual fee of ₹3,000 with no official annual spend waiver milestone.
- How do the reward rates and cashback compare between HSBC Premier Credit Card and ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card?
- HSBC Premier Credit Card offers a base reward rate of 2% and up to 5% on accelerated partner categories. Meanwhile, ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card offers a base rate of standard and up to accelerated on eligible spends. Compare net returns against your monthly spend in our Rewards Calculator.
- Which card has better airport lounge access: HSBC Premier Credit Card or ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card?
- HSBC Premier Credit Card provides standard lounge access terms subject to bank quarterly spend criteria. On the other hand, ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card provides standard lounge access terms subject to bank quarterly spend criteria. Note that most issuers now require meeting minimum quarterly spend criteria (typically ₹10,000 to ₹50,000 in the preceding quarter) to unlock lounge access.
- Which card is better for international foreign currency spends?
- HSBC Premier Credit Card levies a foreign currency markup fee of 0%, while ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card charges 3.50%. Lower forex markup directly reduces costs when transacting overseas or on international e-commerce platforms.
- Is CardCheck's comparison data unbiased and verified against official bank MITC?
- Yes. All credit card fees, interest rates, lounge visit quotas, and reward calculations on CardCheck are 100% unsponsored and verified directly against each bank's official Most Important Terms & Conditions (MITC).