Kotak UPI RuPay Credit Card vs Reliance SBI Card

• The Kotak UPI RuPay Credit Card is issued entirely in digital form. No physical card is provided
• Card details are automatically registered under the Credit Card section of Kotak Mobile Banking after issuance
• The card can be connected with supported UPI applications and used for eligible merchant payments after setting a UPI PIN
• It is designed primarily for merchant UPI transactions. Credit cards linked to UPI generally cannot be used for person-to-person transfers, cash withdrawals or other transactions restricted under RuPay and NPCI rules
• Cardholders earn 3 Kotak Reward Points for every Rs. 100 spent on eligible transactions
• Reward points can be earned on both qualifying UPI purchases and regular card transactions completed virtually
• Regular virtual-card spending includes eligible online, e-commerce and international transactions
• Under standard non-cash redemption options, every 1,000 reward points are worth Rs. 100. This means one reward point ordinarily provides a value of Rs. 0.10
• A minimum of 1,000 reward points is required for redemption against regular options such as products, vouchers, recharge, movies or travel
• With effect from June 1, 2025, cash redemption provides a lower value of Rs. 0.07 per reward point
• Cash redemption requires at least 2,000 reward points
• Reward points may be redeemed through Kotak Rewards for mobile recharges, products, brand vouchers, movies, travel and other options available in the rewards catalogue
• Utility payments earn points only on spending of up to Rs. 35,000 in a statement cycle. Utility spending above this limit does not earn reward points
• Reward points are not earned on rent, fuel, railway, wallet-loading, EMI, education or balance-transfer transactions
• Insurance, government payments and online skill-based gaming transactions are also excluded from earning reward points
• Spending in excluded categories does not count towards any applicable milestone benefit
• The card has no joining fee and no annual renewal fee, making it lifetime free without any minimum-spending requirement
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old and must already hold an eligible Kotak Bank credit card

• Milestone Benefits include getting a waiver of renewal fees on annual spends on Reliance Retail outlet of Rs. 1 Lakh in the previous year. Get Rs. 500 worth Reliance Retail Voucher on Annual Spends of Rs. 25,000 at participating Reliance Retail Stores, Rs. 750 worth Reliance Retail Voucher on Annual Spends of Rs. 50,000 at participating Reliance Retail Stores, and Rs. 1,000 worth Reliance Retail Voucher on Annual Spends of Rs. 80,000 at participating Reliance Retail Stores
• Get 5 Reward Points per Rs. 100 spent on the participating Reliance Retail Stores (except on UPI payments) and (subject to the Reliance Retail Stores MIDs received from partner and mapped in SBIC system)
• Get 5 Reward Points per Rs. 100 spent on Dinning and Movies
• Get 1 Reward Points per Rs. 100 spent on other retail purchases (except fuel, property rental, wallet upload) 
• Avail 1% surcharge at all petrol pumps for transactions between Rs. 500 and Rs. 4,000
• Other Benefits: Transactions offers at participating Reliance Retail Stores. Redeem the Rewards Points against Reliance Retail Vouchers
• Reliance SBI Card SBI Card in over 24 million outlets across the globe, including 3,25,000 outlets in India
• Withdraw cash from over 1 million Visa or MasterCard ATMs across the globe
• Transfer outstanding balance of other banks’ credit cards to Reliance SBI Card, and avail a lower rate of interest and pay back in EMIs
• With Flexipay, convert transactions in easy monthly installments. Make any purchase for Rs. 2,500 or more and log in with your username and password to sbicard.com within 30 days of purchase to convert it into Flexipay

Pros

• Lifetime free with no joining or renewal fee
• Supports merchant UPI payments through compatible UPI apps
• Earns rewards on eligible UPI and regular card transactions
• Instantly accessible as a virtual card through Kotak Mobile Banking
• Reward points can be redeemed for vouchers, shopping, travel, movies and recharges

Cons

• Available only to existing Kotak credit-card holders
• No physical credit card is issued
• Low effective reward rate of approximately 0.30% on regular redemptions
• No rewards on fuel, rent, EMI, education, wallet loading and several other categories
• No complimentary lounge access or fuel-surcharge waiver

Pros

• 5 Reward Points per Rs. 100 spent on Dinning and Movies
• Get 1 Reward Points per Rs. 100 spent on other retail purchases
• Milestone Benefits

Cons

• Mostly Reliance SBI Card is mainly beneficial for those who make regular purchases from Reliance stores
• No golf or cashback benefits
• No airport lounge access