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Side-by-Side Comparison|Updated March 2026

Apollo SBI Card vs Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card

Detailed comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and value to help you choose the right credit card for your spending pattern.

SBI Card

Apollo SBI Card

7.2/10
Annual Fee₹499
Base Rewards0.25%
NetworkMastercard
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Axis Bank

Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card

8.8/10
Annual Fee₹5,000
Base Rewards2%
NetworkVisa
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Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureApollo SBI CardAxis Bank Atlas Credit Card
Annual Fee₹499₹5,000
Joining Fee₹499₹5,000
Fee Waiver Spend₹1,00,000N/A
Base Reward Rate0.25%2%
Reward CurrencyReward PointsEDGE Miles
NetworkMastercardVisa
Editor Rating7.2/108.8/10
Forex Markup3.5%3.5%

Accelerated Rewards

Apollo SBI Card

  • 0% on Apollo Services
  • 0% on Dining, Movies & Entertainment
  • 0% on Beauty & Wellness

Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card

  • 5% on Direct Airlines — 10000 pts/month
  • 5% on Direct Hotels — 10000 pts/month
  • 5% on Travel EDGE Portal — 10000 pts/month

Pros & Cons

Apollo SBI Card

Pros

  • 3% value back (3X points) on all Apollo services including pharmacy and clinics
  • 1:1 redemption ratio where 1 Reward Point equals ₹1 at Apollo POS
  • Complimentary OneApollo Gold Tier membership for the first year
  • Low annual fee of ₹499 with a reachable waiver threshold of ₹1 Lakh

Cons

  • No airport lounge access (available only on the Select variant)
  • Low base reward rate of 0.5% on general spends
  • Rewards are primarily valuable only within the Apollo ecosystem

Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card

Pros

  • High reward rate of 5 EDGE Miles per ₹100 on direct airline and hotel spends.
  • Flexible 1:2 transfer ratio to major airline and hotel partners like Accor, ITC, and United.
  • Unique tier-based system (Silver, Gold, Platinum) that rewards higher annual spending with more miles and lounge access.
  • Lounge access is sharable with guests, a rare feature in the Indian market.

Cons

  • High foreign currency markup of 3.5% despite being a travel-focused card.
  • Accelerated rewards on travel are capped at ₹2 Lakhs spend per month.
  • Excludes common categories like fuel, rent, insurance, and utilities from reward earning.

Our Verdict

Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card edges ahead overall with a stronger combination of rewards and value. However, Apollo SBI Card could be the better pick if its specific category strengths match your spending habits.

Choose Apollo SBI Card if

Frequent users of Apollo Pharmacy and Apollo 24/7 app benefit from high reward rates and instant discounts.

Choose Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card if

Excellent for those who book directly with airlines and hotels and value flexible point transfers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: Apollo SBI Card or Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card?
Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card edges ahead overall with a stronger combination of rewards and value. However, Apollo SBI Card could be the better pick if its specific category strengths match your spending habits.
What is the annual fee difference between Apollo SBI Card and Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card?
Apollo SBI Card has an annual fee of ₹499, while Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹5,000. Apollo SBI Card offers a fee waiver on ₹1,00,000 annual spend.
Which card has better rewards: Apollo SBI Card or Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card?
Apollo SBI Card offers a base reward rate of 0.25% with accelerated rewards on Apollo Services and Dining, Movies & Entertainment. Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card offers 2% base rewards with bonuses on Direct Airlines and Direct Hotels. The better choice depends on your primary spending categories.
Can I have both Apollo SBI Card and Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card?
Yes, many users hold multiple credit cards to maximize rewards across different spending categories. Apollo SBI Card and Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card can complement each other if they cover different reward categories.
Which card is better for beginners: Apollo SBI Card or Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card?
For beginners, Apollo SBI Card may be more approachable with a lower annual fee of ₹499. However, evaluate based on your expected spending pattern rather than fee alone.

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