American Express SmartEarn Credit Card
American Express · Amex
Why this card?
- Earns reward points — the issuer does not clearly publish their rupee value
- ₹495 annual fee; renewal fee waived on ₹40,000 yearly spend
Card details
- Issuer
- American Express
- Network
- Amex
- Annual Fee
- ₹495
- Joining Fee
- None
- Reward Type
- points
- Best Reward Rate
- 10% on Zomato, Uber, and BookMyShow
- Forex Markup
- 3.5%
- Domestic Lounge
- None
- Min. Monthly Income
- ₹25,000
- Rates verified
- 2026-07-06
Our verdict
Amex SmartEarn is a smart entry into the Membership Rewards ecosystem — 10X on Zomato, Uber, and BookMyShow and 5X on Amazon and Paytm at just ₹495/year (effectively free at ₹40K spend) makes it one of the best entry-level cards for urban lifestyle spend. Amex's lower merchant acceptance in smaller cities is the primary limitation.
Pros
- 10X Membership Rewards on Zomato, Uber, and BookMyShow
- 5X on Amazon and Paytm
- ₹500 Amazon voucher when you spend ₹40K in the year — makes the card practically free
- MR points transfer to frequent flyer programs (Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton, IndiGo BluChip)
Cons
- Amex acceptance is patchy outside metros and top-tier cities — not suitable as your only card
- Rewards in MR points, not direct cashback — requires portal redemption or airline transfer
- 3.5% forex markup — not useful for international purchases