Vyaya
Side-by-Side Comparison|Updated March 2026

Apollo SBI Card vs Axis Bank Magnus for Burgundy 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
View Full Details

Axis Bank

Axis Bank Magnus for Burgundy Credit Card

9.2/10
Annual Fee₹30,000
Base Rewards1.2000000000000002%
NetworkMastercard
View Full Details

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureApollo SBI CardAxis Bank Magnus for Burgundy Credit Card
Annual Fee₹499₹30,000
Joining Fee₹499₹30,000
Fee Waiver Spend₹1,00,000₹30,00,000
Base Reward Rate0.25%1.2000000000000002%
Reward CurrencyReward PointsEDGE Reward Points
NetworkMastercardMastercard
Editor Rating7.2/109.2/10
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 for Burgundy Credit Card

  • 1.2% on Monthly Spends > ₹1.5 Lakh — 2 pts/month
  • 1.2% on Travel EDGE Portal (< ₹2 Lakh) — 200000 pts/month
  • 1.2% on Travel EDGE Portal (> ₹2 Lakh)

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 for Burgundy Credit Card

Pros

  • Industry-leading 5:4 transfer ratio to 20+ airline and hotel partners.
  • Up to 24% value-back on travel bookings via the Travel EDGE portal.
  • Unlimited domestic and international lounge access with 4 guest visits annually.
  • 8 complimentary airport meet-and-greet services per calendar year.

Cons

  • High eligibility barrier requiring Axis Burgundy relationship status.
  • Strict spend-based criteria (₹50k in 3 months) for domestic lounge access.
  • Significant list of reward exclusions including utilities, insurance, and gold.

Our Verdict

Axis Bank Magnus for Burgundy 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 for Burgundy Credit Card if

Optimized for monthly spends exceeding ₹1.5 Lakh with accelerated 14% reward rates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: Apollo SBI Card or Axis Bank Magnus for Burgundy Credit Card?
Axis Bank Magnus for Burgundy 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 for Burgundy Credit Card?
Apollo SBI Card has an annual fee of ₹499, while Axis Bank Magnus for Burgundy Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹30,000. Apollo SBI Card offers a fee waiver on ₹1,00,000 annual spend. Axis Bank Magnus for Burgundy Credit Card offers a fee waiver on ₹30,00,000 annual spend.
Which card has better rewards: Apollo SBI Card or Axis Bank Magnus for Burgundy 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 for Burgundy Credit Card offers 1.2000000000000002% base rewards with bonuses on Monthly Spends > ₹1.5 Lakh and Travel EDGE Portal (< ₹2 Lakh). The better choice depends on your primary spending categories.
Can I have both Apollo SBI Card and Axis Bank Magnus for Burgundy Credit Card?
Yes, many users hold multiple credit cards to maximize rewards across different spending categories. Apollo SBI Card and Axis Bank Magnus for Burgundy 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 for Burgundy 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.

Related Comparisons

Explore More