MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card vs Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card: Comparison Analysis (2026)

A side-by-side review of MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card vs Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card in 2026 brings the ownership trade-offs into focus. These products from MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card (from ICICI Bank), Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card (from Utkarsh Small Finance Bank) can reward different categories, so the strongest option depends on where your monthly transactions occur. MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card has the lower annual fee, making it the lighter-cost option for long-term ownership. MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card leads on the listed reward rate, while Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card may still suit a different spending pattern.

Fee structures represent a fundamental differentiator in this head-to-head analysis. Specifically, MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card charges an initial Nil joining fee with an annual renewal charge of ₹ 999. In comparison, Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card charges an initial Nil joining fee with an annual renewal charge of ₹ 1,999. In India, annual membership charges attract a mandatory 18% Goods and Services Tax (GST), making spend-based fee waiver criteria essential to consider for long-term ownership. Here, MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card offers annual fee waiver by achieving annual retail spend milestones. Meanwhile, Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card offers annual fee waiver by achieving annual retail spend milestones. Factoring in introductory welcome offers—which often offset the first-year joining fee through instant partner vouchers or reward points—helps identify which card yields positive net value right from activation.

Analyzing earning rates and category perks separates marketing highlights from daily practical utility. Across everyday retail merchant spends, MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card features Up to 6% myCash on MakeMyTrip (myCash) and offers 8 complimentary Domestic Airport Lounge visits per year (2 per quarter). On the other hand, Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card features 1.25% cashback on all eligible transactions, 1% fuel surcharge waiver (Cashback) and offers No complimentary lounge access. Beyond core reward rates, cardholders must assess merchant exclusions—such as fuel surcharge waivers, rent payments, educational fee transactions, utility bill payments, and prepaid wallet reloads—where earn rates may be capped or excluded entirely. Furthermore, for frequent travelers, evaluating whether airport lounge visits carry minimum quarterly spend conditions ensures access is readily available during flight layovers.

CardsGuruji's listed score guidance for MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card is 720+; it is not an issuer requirement. CardsGuruji's listed score guidance for Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card is 650+; it is not an issuer requirement. Issuers independently assess applications using their current criteria and the applicant's financial profile; no score guarantees approval. In summary, if your spending is heavily centered on partner merchant ecosystems or zero-maintenance lifetime-free utility, prioritize the card with minimal fees; conversely, if your annual spends easily cross waiver thresholds and you prioritize travel comfort and milestone perks, opt for the card offering superior premium rewards. Review the summary breakdown below for a comprehensive side-by-side comparison.

Side-by-side comparison matrix across annual fees, spend waivers, reward rates, lounge perks, and card details in India (2026).

Key Metric MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card
Issuing Bank ICICI Bank Utkarsh Small Finance Bank
Joining Fee Nil joining fee Nil joining fee
Annual Renewal Fee ₹ 999 ₹ 1,999
Fee Waiver Milestone Annual retail spend milestone Annual retail spend milestone
Reward Mechanism Up to 6% myCash on MakeMyTrip 1.25% cashback on all eligible transactions, 1% fuel surcharge waiver
Welcome Gift / Bonus ₹1,000 MakeMyTrip Voucher and complimentary MMTBLACK Gold Tier Membership upon payment of the joining fee. No intro offer
Airport Lounge Access 8 complimentary Domestic Airport Lounge visits per year (2 per quarter) No complimentary access
Min. Recommended CIBIL 720+ (editorial guidance) 650+ (editorial guidance)
Card Network RuPay, Mastercard Mastercard, RuPay
Scroll horizontally to compare cards2 Cards
Feature / Attribute
MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card
MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card
Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card
Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card
Fees & Charges

Annual Fee

Recurring yearly card fee

₹ 999

₹ 1,999

Joining Fee

Initial fee charged upon approval

—

—

Annual Fee Waiver

Spend milestone to waive annual charges

Standard terms applyStandard terms apply

Foreign Currency Markup

Markup fee on overseas and foreign currency transactions

0.99% + GSTLow Forex Markup
3.5% + GST

Interest Rate (APR)

Finance charges on revolving balances

3.75% per month (45.0% annually)3.5% per month (42% p.a.)
Rewards & Cashback

Reward Rate

Earn rate on card spend

Up to 6% myCash on MakeMyTrip

1.25% cashback on all eligible transactions, 1% fuel surcharge waiver

Reward Currency

Form of reward: direct cashback, reward points, or air miles

myCashCashback

Welcome / Activation Gift

Introductory vouchers, reward points, or perks

₹1,000 MakeMyTrip Voucher and complimentary MMTBLACK Gold Tier Membership upon payment of the joining fee.
No intro offer

Points Expiry

Validity period of earned reward points

Standard (2–3 years)Standard (2–3 years)
Travel & Lifestyle Privileges

Airport Lounge Access

Domestic & international airport lounge visits

8 complimentary Domestic Airport Lounge visits per year (2 per quarter)
Not Included

Fuel Surcharge Waiver

1% fuel surcharge waiver across petrol pumps in India

1% Waiver (Standard)
1% fuel surcharge waiver
Eligibility & Card Specs

Editorial Credit Score Guidance

CardsGuruji guidance only; this is not an issuer requirement or approval guarantee

720+

Good (editorial)

650+

Good (editorial)

Payment Network

Visa, Mastercard, RuPay, or American Express

RuPay, MastercardMastercard, RuPay
Editorial Verdict: Pros & Cons

Standout Advantages (Pros)

Key features that make this card worth having

  • Excellent low forex markup (0.99%) for a card with an affordable ₹999 fee
  • Welcome and renewal vouchers completely offset the annual fee costs
  • Unlimited myCash accumulation (1 myCash = ₹1) with no expiration date
  • Available on the RuPay network for convenient UPI linkage
  • Flat 1.25% cashback on all spends
  • Fuel surcharge waiver
  • Zero joining fee

Points to Consider (Cons)

Limitations, spending conditions, or exclusions

  • Rewards are strictly locked into the MakeMyTrip ecosystem
  • Base reward rate of 1% on general offline/online spending is quite low
  • High annual fee waiver milestone (₹3 Lakhs) for an entry-level travel card
  • No fuel surcharge waiver is provided on this variant
  • Annual fee ₹1,999 after first year
  • Cashback capped at ₹5,000 per month
  • No complimentary lounge access
Detailed Cardholder Benefits

All Included Perks

Full list of features and rewards cataloged from the bank

  • Welcome Voucher: Receive a ₹1,000 MakeMyTrip voucher upon paying the joining fee
  • Annual Voucher: Receive a ₹1,000 MakeMyTrip hotel voucher upon paying the annual renewal fee
  • Annual fee of ₹999 is waived if you spend ₹3,00,000 or more in an anniversary year
  • 8 complimentary Domestic Airport Lounge visits per year (2 per quarter)
  • +3 more benefits
  • 1.25% cashback on all spends
  • 1% fuel surcharge waiver
  • Zero joining fee
  • Annual fee waiver on spend > ₹1.5 Lakh per year
  • +1 more benefits

Explore more side-by-side comparisons for each card in this matchup.

FAQs About MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card vs Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card in India (2026)

Detailed answers to common questions regarding fees, rewards, waiver milestones, and eligibility for MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card and Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card.

Looking specifically at MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card vs Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card, The better card depends directly on your spending profile: MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card is generally superior for cardholders seeking myCash with an annual fee of ₹ 999 and earn rates around Up to 6% myCash on MakeMyTrip. In contrast, Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card is better suited if you want Cashback with an annual fee of ₹ 1,999 and benefits of 1.25% cashback on all eligible transactions, 1% fuel surcharge waiver. Calculate your expected annual spend across each card's accelerated categories minus membership fees to see which delivers a higher net return.

From a cardholder's perspective, For MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card, the joining fee is Nil and the recurring annual renewal fee is ₹ 999. In contrast, Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card charges a joining fee of Nil and an annual fee of ₹ 1,999. In India, annual membership charges for both cards are subject to 18% Goods & Services Tax (GST).

The useful distinction here is simple: Spend-based waivers let you reverse annual renewal charges. For MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card, the annual fee is waived by reaching the annual milestone retail spend. For Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card, you can get the fee reversed by reaching the annual milestone retail spend. Check your average monthly transactions to confirm which milestone you can reach naturally without overspending.

MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card offers Up to 6% myCash on MakeMyTrip, with Earn 6 myCash per ₹100 (6%) on MakeMyTrip hotel bookings. Earn 3 myCash per ₹100 (3%) on MakeMyTrip flights, holiday packages, cabs, and bus bookings. Earn 1 myCash per ₹100 (1%) on other domestic retail spends (excluding fuel and rent). Insurance spends earn 1 myCash per ₹100 (capped at 1,000 myCash/year). 1 myCash = ₹1 on MakeMyTrip.. Meanwhile, Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card delivers 1.25% cashback on all eligible transactions, 1% fuel surcharge waiver, with Cashback is credited as statement credit; no cap on total cashback per month. Earn 1.25% on all spends and an additional 1% fuel surcharge waiver on fuel purchases.. If you want hassle-free monthly statement discounts, direct cashback is best; if you plan to redeem for flight tickets or hotel stays, reward point systems often offer higher multiplier returns.

For a practical 2026 decision, For airport lounge access, MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card offers 8 complimentary Domestic Airport Lounge visits per year (2 per quarter), while Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card does not include complimentary airport lounge visits. Always verify whether either card requires minimum calendar-quarter spends (typically ₹10,000 to ₹50,000 in the preceding quarter) to unlock complimentary access vouchers.

Looking specifically at MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card vs Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card, MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card features: "₹1,000 MakeMyTrip Voucher and complimentary MMTBLACK Gold Tier Membership upon payment of the joining fee.". Meanwhile, Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card provides: "No intro offer". These introductory gifts help recoup first-year joining costs right away.

From a cardholder's perspective, CardsGuruji's score guidance for MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card is 720+; CardsGuruji's score guidance for Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card is 650+. This is editorial guidance, not an issuer requirement. Each bank independently evaluates income, employment, existing obligations, repayment history and other criteria; check the current issuer terms, and remember that no score guarantees approval.

The useful distinction here is simple: Yes, holding both cards simultaneously can be a powerful two-card wallet strategy if they serve complementary spend categories (for example, using one card for online shopping and groceries, and the other for utility bills, travel, or fuel). If both cards are issued by different banks, each bank grants an independent credit limit, which increases your overall available credit and helps lower your credit utilization ratio.

Both MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card and Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card standardly offer a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹400 and ₹4,000 or ₹5,000 at petrol stations nationwide (subject to monthly waiver caps). However, categories like rent payments, wallet reloads, cash withdrawals, and government utility bills are often excluded from earning points or carry separate processing surcharges.

For a practical 2026 decision, Choose MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card if your spending aligns with its primary reward partner ecosystem, you can comfortably achieve its fee waiver milestone, and its fee structure (₹ 999) fits your budget. Select Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Eternal Credit Card if you will actively use its unique perks (1.25% cashback on all eligible transactions, 1% fuel surcharge waiver) and lounge access privileges (secondary travel perks). You can apply for either card online with paperless digital KYC verification.