American Express SmartEarn Credit Card Review in 2025

American Express SmartEarn Credit Card is built for people like me who love ordering food, shopping online, and catching Uber rides. The 10X rewards on Zomato, Flipkart, and Uber aren't just marketing fluff. They're real, and they add up fast.

The monthly cap sits at 1,250 points, which you can hit by spending just ₹7,500 across the right categories. That's roughly ₹250 per day — totally doable if you're strategic about it in 2025.

Benefits and Rewards Structure

Let me break down what makes this card tick:

• 10X Rewards Partners: Zomato, Flipkart, Uber, BookMyShow, Myntra, Ajio, Nykaa, and several others give you 10 points for every ₹50 spent.

• 5X Rewards: Amazon shopping earns you 5 points per ₹50.

• Regular Spending: Everything else gets you 1 point per ₹50.

But here's where it gets interesting — you can earn vouchers worth ₹500 each when you hit spending milestones of ₹1.20 lakh, ₹1.80 lakh, and ₹2.40 lakh in a year. That's an extra ₹1,500 in vouchers if you max out.

The welcome benefit is sweet too: ₹500 cashback when you spend ₹10,000 in your first 90 days. It's like the card paying for itself right from the start.

Fees and Charges

The annual fee is ₹495 plus taxes — probably the cost of two decent restaurant meals. And here's the kicker: spend ₹40,000 in a year, and they waive the next year's fee.

For someone who orders food regularly and shops online, hitting ₹40,000 annually is like breathing. You'll probably cross it in six months without trying.

My Personal Story: The Amex SmartEarn Card Saga

Let me share a little story from my own wallet. I’ve held the Amex SmartEarn Card for years. It’s a beginner-level card, but honestly, it’s close to my heart-like that first bicycle you never really outgrow. The annual fee is ₹499 + GST, but American Express generously waives it if you spend ₹40,000 in a year. Easy, right?

Well, this year, I slipped up. I made my purchases, kept a mental tally, and was sure I’d crossed the threshold. But I forgot to account for a big refund that went back onto my card. When the annual fee hit my statement, I realized I’d fallen short by just ₹2,000. Ouch!

I called Amex customer service, hoping for a miracle. While they didn’t reverse the fee, they did the next best thing: they credited my account with an equivalent amount in reward points. It wasn’t exactly a fee waiver, but it felt like a win-and it reminded me that it never hurts to ask.

Coming back to the pros and cons of the card.

Pros and Cons

What I Love:

• That blue design (yes, I'm shallow about card aesthetics)

• 10X rewards on apps I actually use daily

• Low annual fee that practically pays for itself

• Achievable spending targets — no need to buy a car to hit milestones

What Could Be Better:

• Monthly points cap of 1,250 feels limiting for heavy spenders

• No lounge access (but at this price point, what do you expect?)

• Limited to online shopping benefits — not great for offline spenders

How to Apply

Here's where things get tricky. Amex has temporarily paused new card applications in India while they upgrade their systems as a part of their strategic business transformation to deliver better customer experiences.

But don't worry. This isn't permanent. They've done this before and always come back stronger. Keep checking their website, because when they reopen, this card will likely be in high demand.

The Final Verdict : This card is like that reliable friend who doesn't promise the moon but always delivers. It's perfect for Amex beginners who want to test the waters without diving into premium territory.

If you're someone who orders food frequently, shops online regularly, and wants decent rewards without jumping through hoops, this card makes sense. The blue design is just a bonus — though I won't lie, it does make me feel slightly more sophisticated when paying for my third Zomato order of the week.

Just remember: it's not about the card you carry, it's about how smartly you use it. And this one makes being smart pretty easy.