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Side-by-Side Comparison|Updated March 2026

Apollo SBI Card vs Axis Bank Magnus 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 Magnus Credit Card

8/10
Annual Fee₹12,500
Base Rewards0.2%
NetworkVisa
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Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureApollo SBI CardAxis Bank Magnus Credit Card
Annual Fee₹499₹12,500
Joining Fee₹499₹12,500
Fee Waiver Spend₹1,00,000₹25,00,000
Base Reward Rate0.25%0.2%
Reward CurrencyReward PointsEDGE Reward Points
NetworkMastercardVisa
Editor Rating7.2/108/10
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 Magnus Credit Card

No accelerated rewards listed

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 Magnus Credit Card

Pros

  • High reward rate of 17.5 EDGE points per ₹200 on spends above ₹1.5 Lakhs monthly.
  • Unlimited domestic and international lounge access for primary and add-on cardholders.
  • Low foreign currency markup fee of 2% for international transactions.
  • Welcome benefit voucher worth ₹12,500 effectively offsets the joining fee.

Cons

  • Significant devaluation in 2024 removed monthly milestone bonuses and concierge services.
  • High annual fee waiver threshold of ₹25 Lakhs is difficult for most users to reach.
  • Reward points transfer ratio to air miles reduced from 5:4 to 5:2 for non-Burgundy users.

Our Verdict

Axis Bank Magnus 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 Magnus Credit Card if

Best value is unlocked after crossing the ₹1.5 Lakh monthly spend threshold.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: Apollo SBI Card or Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card?
Axis Bank Magnus 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 Magnus Credit Card?
Apollo SBI Card has an annual fee of ₹499, while Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹12,500. Apollo SBI Card offers a fee waiver on ₹1,00,000 annual spend. Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card offers a fee waiver on ₹25,00,000 annual spend.
Which card has better rewards: Apollo SBI Card or Axis Bank Magnus 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 Magnus Credit Card offers 0.2% base rewards. The better choice depends on your primary spending categories.
Can I have both Apollo SBI Card and Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card?
Yes, many users hold multiple credit cards to maximize rewards across different spending categories. Apollo SBI Card and Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card can complement each other if they cover different reward categories.
Which card is better for beginners: Apollo SBI Card or Axis Bank Magnus 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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