Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
KTC credit card vs Upgrade
KTC credit card
Upgrade
Higher score in this comparison
Where KTC credit card and Upgrade differ
| Compare | KTC credit cardReviewVisitVisit | UpgradeReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | THB 0 | $0 |
| APR | 20% to 25% | 7.74% to 35.99%Lower |
| Currency conversion fee | 2%Lower | 3% |
| Rewards type | Points | Cashback |
| Rewards rate | 1 point per 25 baht spend (KTC FOREVER points, no expiry) | 3% cash back on gas, groceries, streaming and monthly subscriptions, and utilities; 1% on everything else, uncapped |
| Perks | 0% instalment plans up to 10 months at over 10,000 merchants, 0.74% per month instalment conversion for up to 10 months via KTC Mobile or KTC PHONE, Travel insurance up to 8 million baht, Accident insurance up to 300,000 baht for 90 days for new primary cardholders, Cash advance up to 100% of credit limit, KTC Personal Assistant service 24 hours a day on 02 123 5000, KTC FOREVER points and points redemption at participating merchants, Visa contactless and payments via Google Pay, Garmin Pay, SWATCHPAY | Visa Zero Liability protection, Travel and Emergency Assistance Services, Roadside Dispatch, Upgrade Shopping offers, Rewards do not expire, 24/7 fraud monitoring and real time alerts, Flexible payment options Pay Now, Pay in 4, Pay Over Time (coming soon) |
| Credit needed | Fair | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- Upgrade scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.0.
- APR is lower at Upgrade: 7.74% to 35.99% vs 20% to 25%.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at KTC credit card: 2% vs 3%.
- Perks: only KTC credit card offers 0% instalment plans up to 10 months at over 10,000 merchants, 0.74% per month instalment conversion for up to 10 months via KTC Mobile or KTC PHONE, Travel insurance up to 8 million baht.
- Perks: only Upgrade offers Visa Zero Liability protection, Travel and Emergency Assistance Services, Roadside Dispatch.
- Support channels: only Upgrade offers Email.
- Pricing model: only KTC credit card offers No annual fee.
- Pricing model: only Upgrade offers Fixed rate.
- Features: only KTC credit card offers Rewards.
- Features: only Upgrade offers Same day funding, Credit line.
Our verdict on each
KTC credit card
KTC credit card suits Thai residents wanting a rewards card with no yearly charge and useful instalment plans. The cost score is 5.1, and the annual fee on the Visa Platinum card is THB 0. Eligibility is limited to Thai nationals with a stated income and job tenure.
Upgrade
Upgrade suits US borrowers who want a direct lender with fixed rate personal loans, a credit line and quick access to money, and the fee is taken from the proceeds before you see it. It scores 6.4 on offer, and the arrangement fee runs 1.85% to 9.99% on top of the rate.
Score breakdown
| Area | KTC credit card | Upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| Offer | 9.2 | 9.4HigherDirect lender with loans of $1,000 to $50,000 over 24 to 84 at 7.74% to 35.99%, plus same day funding and a credit line. |
| Trust | 8.9 | 9.4Higher |
How they place
| Ranking | KTC credit card | Upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Loans | 110 of 2043 | 94 of 2043 |
| Personal loans | 94 of 1317 | 80 of 1317 |
| Credit and debit cards | 35 of 1594 | 26 of 1594 |
| Credit cards | 13 of 421 | 9 of 421 |
Where these facts come from
KTC credit card
- ktc.co.th: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- cuelinks.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Upgrade
- upgrade.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | KTC credit card | Upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | Fixed rate |
| Features | Rewards | Same day funding, Credit line |
| Legal entity | Krungthai Card Public Company Limited | Upgrade, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Thailand | United States |
| Founded | 1996 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Loans
| Fact | KTC credit card | Upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Loan amount | from THB 15,000 | $1,000 to $50,000 |
| Term | 12 to 60 months | 24 to 84 monthsHigher |
| Arrangement fee | Not confirmed | 1.85%-9.99% one-time origination fee, deducted from loan proceeds |
| Credit check | Not confirmed | Soft prequal |
| Funding time | Funds transferred to the account within 1 business day after approval | Within 1 business day of clearing verifications |
| Representative example | Not confirmed | $10,000 unsecured personal loan, 36-month term, 17.59% APR including 13.94% yearly interest rate and 5% one-time origination fee; $9,500 received, $341.48 monthly payment, $12,293.46 total |
| Rate type | Fixed | Fixed |
| Lender type | Direct lender | Direct lender |
| Free early repayment | Yes | Yes |
| Eligibility | Thai nationality, age 20-60, minimum income 15,000 baht per month, at least 4 months in the current job; foreigners residing in Thailand cannot apply | Be a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident, or living in the U.S. on a valid visa; be at least 18 years old (or older where the majority age is higher); provide verifiable bank account information and a valid email address |
| Origination fee (%) | Not confirmed | 1.85% to 9.99% |
| Loan types | Personal | Personal, Debt consolidation, Secured, CarCovers more |
| Use cases | Not confirmed | Home improvement |
Debit cards
| Fact | KTC credit card | Upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Free ATM withdrawals | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Card type | Not confirmed | Debit |
| Cashback rate | Not confirmed | 2% |
| Card network | Not confirmed | Visa |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | KTC credit card | Upgrade | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 20% to 25%above the median | 7.74% to 35.99%below the median | 11.635 |
| Currency conversion fee | 2%above the median | 3%highest quarter | 1% |
Median across 486 listed providers.
Pros and cons
KTC credit card
Pros
- Annual fee of THB 0 on the KTC Visa Platinum card
- Points on everyday spend at 1 point per 25 baht spend (KTC FOREVER points, no expiry)
- Instalment plans, cash advances and travel cover listed in 0% instalment plans up to 10 months at over 10,000 merchants, 0.74% per month instalment conversion for up to 10 months via KTC Mobile or KTC PHONE and travel insurance up to 8 million baht
Cons
- Currency conversion fee of 2% against a site median of 1%
- Personal loan rate of 20% to 25% on a fixed basis
- Eligibility rules bar foreigners residing in Thailand and ask for a waiting period in the current job
Upgrade
Pros
- Fixed rate personal loans with an APR of 7.74% to 35.99%
- Free early repayment lets you settle the balance early without a charge
- Soft prequalification, so a soft prequal credit check comes before a hard search
Cons
- The arrangement fee of 1.85% to 9.99% is deducted from loan proceeds, so the amount received is lower than the amount borrowed
- The top of the APR range is far above the site median of 15.5%
- The smallest loan is $1,000 to $50,000, which rules out small emergency amounts
Who each suits
KTC credit card
Who it suits
- Thai nationals with a steady monthly income who want a fee free rewards card
- Spenders who will use the instalment options listed in 0% instalment plans up to 10 months at over 10,000 merchants, 0.74% per month instalment conversion for up to 10 months via KTC Mobile or KTC PHONE and travel insurance up to 8 million baht
- Applicants happy to earn points rather than cash back
Who should look elsewhere
- Frequent overseas spenders, who pay 2% on conversion where the Wise card carries a fee of £0
- Card holders shopping purely on fees, since bunq also charges €0
- Applicants building a credit record, since the Varo Believe Secured Credit Card is secured and charges $0
Upgrade
Who it suits
- US residents who want one lender for a loan and a credit line
- Borrowers consolidating debt or funding home improvement who value a fixed rate
- Adults who prefer a soft prequal credit check before committing
Who should look elsewhere
- Borrowers who would rather pay fees up front, since the arrangement fee of 1.85% to 9.99% comes out of the amount borrowed
- Anyone outside the US, as eligibility is tied to US residency and citizenship status
- Borrowers who need a very large sum, since the maximum is $1,000 to $50,000
Current offers
KTC credit card
Current offer
First period offer
KTC X Visa Signature - first year annual fee waiver: 5,000 baht annual fee waived for the first year
Monthly income from 50,000 baht; valid 1 Jan 2026 - 31 Dec 2026
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
KTC X World Rewards Mastercard - first year annual fee waiver: 5,000 baht annual fee waived for the first year
Monthly income from 50,000 baht; valid 1 Jan 2026 - 31 Dec 2026
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
PTT Station fuel cashback with KTC credit card: 2 baht cashback per litre
Valid 1 Jul 2026 - 31 Oct 2026
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Customer Choice promotion on KTC credit cards: choose cashback up to 2% or points up to 25%
Valid 1 Jul 2026 - 31 Dec 2026
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | KTC credit card | Upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Thailand | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
KTC credit card
Does the KTC credit card charge an annual fee?+
The KTC Visa Platinum card carries an annual fee of THB 0 and is listed as a no annual fee card, so there is no yearly charge to clear. The card kind is credit rather than a charge card, and the rewards type is points.
What does borrowing cost?+
The KTC Cash personal loan is offered directly by the provider, on a fixed rate of 20% to 25% over terms of 12 to 60. Loan amounts start at from THB 15,000, early repayment is free, and funds reach the account the day after approval.
Upgrade
What rate will I pay on an Upgrade personal loan?+
Upgrade offers fixed rate loans with an APR of 7.74% to 35.99% and terms of 24 to 84. Loans cover personal, debt consolidation, secured and car borrowing, and the model is fixed rate rather than variable, so repayments stay the same each month.
How much does an Upgrade loan cost in fees?+
An arrangement fee of 1.85% to 9.99% applies, and it is deducted from your loan proceeds rather than billed separately. That means the amount you receive is lower than the amount you borrow, so the fee and the interest rate stack up.