Choosing a credit card today feels a lot like shopping online. Endless options, flashy offers, and the constant worry of “Am I picking the right one?” keep you confused. Two names keep popping up for young professionals and online shoppers: HDFC Millennia vs SBI SimplyClick. Both promise big savings on your everyday spends, both have tempting perks, and both are wildly popular in India. But the way they reward you is completely different.
One card gives you straightforward cashback that you can see on your bill. The other piles up reward points that look exciting but take some digging to understand. So, which one actually puts more money back in your pocket?
By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly which card fits your lifestyle; whether you’re the kind who orders groceries on Amazon every week, or the one who loves booking movie tickets and shopping on Myntra.
HDFC Millennia vs SBI SimplyClick: Quick comparison table
| Feature | HDFC Millennia | SBI SimplyClick |
| Typical annual fee | ₹1,000 + taxes (waived on ₹1,00,000 p.a. spend). | ₹499 + taxes (reversed if ₹1,00,000 annual spend). |
| Rewards / effective rate | 5% cashback on selected online partners; 1% on other spends. | 10X points on select partners (e.g. Myntra, BookMyShow); 5X on other online spends; 1 point/₹100 on offline. Point value ~₹0.25 (≈0.25% on non-online spends). |
| Best for | Straightforward cashback on big e-commerce platforms. | Low-cost card for varied online sites and milestone e-vouchers. |
| Lounge access | Available only via quarterly spend milestone (voucher or ₹1,000 brand voucher on meeting quarter spend). | No dedicated lounge access listed for SimplyClick (focus is online rewards). |
| Other highlights | Smart EMI, contactless, fuel surcharge waiver, quarterly voucher for high quarterly spends. | Milestone e-vouchers at ₹1L and ₹2L online spends; fuel surcharge waiver; Amazon gift card on joining fee. |
Overview of HDFC Millennia
Benefits
- Clear cashback structure: 5% cashback on a fixed list of online partners (Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Swiggy, BookMyShow, Uber, and others). This is simple to understand and use.
- Quarterly milestone reward: On high quarterly spends, the card offers ₹1,000 worth of vouchers or a Dreamfolks lounge voucher as part of the milestone programme. That can be useful if someone spends heavily in a short period.
- Fuel surcharge waiver and Smart EMI: Small but practical perks like 1% fuel surcharge waiver and the option to convert big purchases into EMI.
- Welcome / renewal points on fee: Paying the membership fee gives equivalent reward points as a form of welcome / renewal benefit.
Drawbacks
- The annual fee is higher than SimplyClick: ₹1,000 + taxes unless the user spends ₹1,00,000 in a year to get the renewal waived. That spend bar may be high for many casual users.
- Lounge access is not automatic. It is tied into a quarterly spend milestone rather than being a direct, built-in benefit. That means infrequent travellers may never use it.
- Cashback limited to listed merchants: The 5% applies only to specified brands. Other online spends get 1% only. You should check the partner list before deciding.
Overview of SBI SimplyClick
Benefits
- Low joining and renewal fee: ₹499 + taxes, and the fee is reversed if annual spends cross ₹1,00,000. That makes it a low-cost option when compared with many paid cards.
- Good multipliers for online shopping: 10X reward points at exclusive partner merchants (Myntra, BookMyShow, Yatra, Netmeds, etc.) and 5X on other online spends. That structure favours users who shop across varied online sites rather than one single platform.
- Milestone e-voucher rewards. e-vouchers (e.g., travel vouchers) are given on hitting ₹1L and ₹2L annual online spends. This can be useful for someone who books travel or uses partner sites often.
- Fuel surcharge waiver and standard SBI utilities. Includes fuel surcharge waiver and easy add-on features like Flexipay and balance transfer.
Drawbacks
- Points conversion reduces real value for offline spends. Outside the partner channels, the card earns only 1 point per ₹100. With typical SBI point valuation, that works out to roughly 0.25%, far lower than Millennia’s 1% on general spends.
- Redemption can be clunky. Reward points often need a minimum blocks to convert, and some redemptions carry charges or lower effective value. That reduces practical value unless the user concentrates on the accelerated categories.
HDFC Millennia vs SBI SimplyClick: Detailed head-to-head comparison
Rewards program
HDFC Millennia (cashback, simple math)
- 5% cashback on a set list of online merchants. That means: for ₹100 spent on those partners, the card earns ₹5 back. Example: ₹100 × 5% = ₹5 cashback.
- 1% on other spends: ₹100 × 1% = ₹1 cashback.
SBI SimplyClick (points, needs conversion)
- 10X on partner spends and 5X on other online spends. To convert to a percentage value, use the standard SBI conversion: 1 point is roughly ₹0.25 in value (this varies by card and redemption route).
Show the numbers step-by-step (so there is no confusion):
- 10X = 10 points per ₹100. If 1 point = ₹0.25, then 10 points = 10 × ₹0.25 = ₹2.50 for ₹100 spend → 2.5% effective.
- 5X = 5 points per ₹100 → 5 × ₹0.25 = ₹1.25 for ₹100 → 1.25% effective.
- 1 point per ₹100 → 1 × ₹0.25 = ₹0.25 for ₹100 → 0.25% effective.
Verdict on rewards: Millennia gives higher straight cashback (5% vs SBI’s ~2.5% at best on partner sites). For everyday non-partner spends, Millennia also gives more (1% vs ~0.25%). So Millennia wins on raw payout per rupee.
Annual fee & waiver
- HDFC Millennia: Joining/renewal fee ₹1,000 + taxes. This is waived if annual spends before renewal ≥ ₹1,00,000.
- SBI SimplyClick: ₹499 + taxes. Fee reversed for the subsequent year if annual spends ≥ ₹1,00,000.
Practical note: If you spend heavily online and can get the Millennia cashback often, the higher fee can still be worth it. But for medium spenders, the lower Rs 499 fee of SBI may look more attractive.
Travel and lounge benefits
- HDFC Millennia: Lounge access is available through the quarterly milestone programme. The card’s lounge benefit was reworked in recent years and is provided as a voucher when a quarterly spend threshold is met. This is not the same as unlimited lounge swipes.
- SBI SimplyClick: No built-in airport lounge access is shown on the SimplyClick feature list (the card focuses on online shopping benefits).
Cashback/shopping partnerships
- Millennia partners: Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Swiggy, BookMyShow, Tata CLiQ, Uber, SonyLIV, and others; fixed list with 5% cashback. Check HDFC’s partner list for updates.
- SimplyClick partners: Cleartrip, BookMyShow, Myntra, Netmeds, Yatra, Apollo 24×7, Dominos, IGP, and some others get 10X points; other online spends get 5X. Always confirm the latest partner list on SBI’s site.
Extra perks (insurance, EMI, flexipay, fuel)
- Millennia: Smart EMI, contactless payments, 1% fuel surcharge waiver (cap applies), zero liability on lost card fraud (if reported promptly).
- SimplyClick: Flexipay, balance transfer, fuel surcharge waiver (caps apply), milestone vouchers, and a login gift (Amazon e-gift card worth ₹500 on payment of annual fee).
Which card should you pick?
- If you are a heavy spender on big e-commerce and want plain cashback, go for HDFC Millennia. The 5% cashback on major platforms is hard to beat. It is especially good for people who already use those specific apps and want the benefit credited simply as cashback.
- If you want a lower fee and broader online coverage across many niche sites, go for SBI SimplyClick. The ₹499 fee is small. The 10X partners + 5X on other online spends are useful for someone who shops across travel sites, niche stores, and pharmacies, as well as fashion portals. But remember, the points need sensible redemption to get value.
- If the you want both lounge and shopping perks but only travel occasionally, Millennia’s milestone lounge voucher can help — but it requires meeting the quarterly spend threshold. If frequent lounge access is a priority, you should consider a higher-end travel card instead.
Alternatives worth considering
- HDFC MoneyBack+ — a cheaper HDFC option for steady everyday rewards and quarterly vouchers. Good for lower monthly spends and those who want a simple, low-fee HDFC card.
- SBI Cashback / other SBI cards — SBI has several low-fee cashback and co-branded variants (e.g., SBI Cashback card) that may suit specific use cases (Amazon, groceries, etc.). It is worth checking these if you want pure cashback rather than points.
FAQs
Q — Is HDFC Millennia better than SimplyClick for online shopping?
A — For straight value on the common big platforms (Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Swiggy, Uber), HDFC Millennia typically returns more per ₹100 (5% vs SBI SimplyClick’s effective ~2.5% at best on partner sites). For niche sites, travel portals, or multi-brand buys, SBI’s 10X + 5X structure can be valuable if you redeem points well.
Q — Which card has the lower annual fee?
A — SBI SimplyClick (₹499 + taxes) is cheaper than HDFC Millennia (₹1,000 + taxes), and both waive or reverse the fee on ₹1,00,000 annual spends.
Q — Does Millennia offer lounge access?
A — Yes, but only through the quarterly milestone programme. It is not automatic lounge access on every visit. The cardholder can choose a Dreamfolks lounge voucher when qualifying for the milestone.
Q — Are SBI points worth less than HDFC cashback?
A — Often, yes. Outside the accelerated partner channels, SBI’s points convert to a low effective rate (roughly 0.25% on many cards). For everyday or offline spends, HDFC’s 1% cashback is usually better.
Conclusion
Overall, HDFC Millennia credit card is better for you if you want straightforward, high cashback on major online platforms, and you will use those platforms often enough to cover the ₹1,000 fee. SBI SimplyClick shines for shoppers who want a low-fee card with wide online partner coverage and milestone vouchers, and who are comfortable with point-based rewards and the redemption process.
Apply now to maximise straight cashback on big e-commerce and food apps (choose HDFC Millennia). Apply now if you prefer a low-cost, multi-site online rewards card with milestone perks (choose SBI SimplyClick). For both cards, check the bank’s official terms and the current partner list before applying. Card rules and partners do change from time to time.
