Vyaya
Side-by-Side Comparison|Updated March 2026

Axis Bank Cashback Credit Card vs SBI Card ELITE

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

Axis Bank

Axis Bank Cashback Credit Card

8.2/10
Annual Fee₹1,000
Base Rewards1%
NetworkVisa
View Full Details

SBI Card

SBI Card ELITE

7.2/10
Annual Fee₹4,999
Base Rewards0.5%
NetworkVisa
View Full Details

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureAxis Bank Cashback Credit CardSBI Card ELITE
Annual Fee₹1,000₹4,999
Joining Fee₹1,000₹4,999
Fee Waiver Spend₹4,00,000₹10,00,000
Base Reward Rate1%0.5%
Reward CurrencyCashbackSBI Reward Points
NetworkVisaVisa
Editor Rating8.2/107.2/10
Forex Markup3.5%3.5%

Accelerated Rewards

Axis Bank Cashback Credit Card

  • 0% on Online Spends
  • 0% on Online Spends
  • 0% on Online Spends

SBI Card ELITE

  • 0.62% on Dining
  • 0.62% on Departmental Stores
  • 0.62% on Grocery

Pros & Cons

Axis Bank Cashback Credit Card

Pros

  • High tiered cashback up to 7% on online spends above ₹40,000 monthly.
  • Unlimited 0.75% cashback on all offline and travel-related transactions.
  • Welcome benefit of 5,000 EDGE points (₹1,000) fully offsets the joining fee.
  • Automatic cashback redemption as statement credit every month.

Cons

  • No complimentary domestic or international airport lounge access.
  • Complicated tiered structure for online cashback compared to flat-rate competitors.
  • Low 0.5% cashback on utility bills with a strict ₹100 monthly cap.

SBI Card ELITE

Pros

  • Complimentary movie tickets worth ₹6,000 annually (₹500 per month).
  • Low foreign currency markup of 1.99% compared to the standard 3.5%.
  • High milestone rewards of up to 50,000 bonus points worth ₹12,500.
  • Comprehensive lounge access with 8 domestic and 6 international visits per year.

Cons

  • High annual fee waiver threshold of ₹10 Lakhs.
  • Base reward rate is relatively low at 0.5% for a premium card.
  • Club Vistara and Trident memberships have been discontinued for new users.

Our Verdict

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

Choose Axis Bank Cashback Credit Card if

Best value for those spending over ₹40,000 monthly on online platforms to hit the 7% tier.

Choose SBI Card ELITE if

The monthly ₹500 movie ticket benefit effectively covers the annual fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: Axis Bank Cashback Credit Card or SBI Card ELITE?
Axis Bank Cashback Credit Card edges ahead overall with a stronger combination of rewards and value. However, SBI Card ELITE could be the better pick if its specific category strengths match your spending habits.
What is the annual fee difference between Axis Bank Cashback Credit Card and SBI Card ELITE?
Axis Bank Cashback Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹1,000, while SBI Card ELITE has an annual fee of ₹4,999. Axis Bank Cashback Credit Card offers a fee waiver on ₹4,00,000 annual spend. SBI Card ELITE offers a fee waiver on ₹10,00,000 annual spend.
Which card has better rewards: Axis Bank Cashback Credit Card or SBI Card ELITE?
Axis Bank Cashback Credit Card offers a base reward rate of 1% with accelerated rewards on Online Spends and Online Spends. SBI Card ELITE offers 0.5% base rewards with bonuses on Dining and Departmental Stores. The better choice depends on your primary spending categories.
Can I have both Axis Bank Cashback Credit Card and SBI Card ELITE?
Yes, many users hold multiple credit cards to maximize rewards across different spending categories. Axis Bank Cashback Credit Card and SBI Card ELITE can complement each other if they cover different reward categories.
Which card is better for beginners: Axis Bank Cashback Credit Card or SBI Card ELITE?
For beginners, Axis Bank Cashback Credit Card may be more approachable with a lower annual fee of ₹1,000. However, evaluate based on your expected spending pattern rather than fee alone.

Related Comparisons

Explore More