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Side-by-Side Comparison|Updated March 2026

Axis Bank Rewards 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 Rewards Credit Card

7.2/10
Annual Fee₹1,000
Base Rewards0.32%
NetworkVisa
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SBI Card

SBI Card ELITE

7.2/10
Annual Fee₹4,999
Base Rewards0.5%
NetworkVisa
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Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureAxis Bank Rewards Credit CardSBI Card ELITE
Annual Fee₹1,000₹4,999
Joining Fee₹1,000₹4,999
Fee Waiver Spend₹2,00,000₹10,00,000
Base Reward Rate0.32%0.5%
Reward CurrencyEDGE Reward PointsSBI Reward Points
NetworkVisaVisa
Editor Rating7.2/107.2/10
Forex Markup3.5%3.5%

Accelerated Rewards

Axis Bank Rewards Credit Card

  • 0% on Apparel & Departmental Stores — 1008 pts/month

SBI Card ELITE

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

Pros & Cons

Axis Bank Rewards Credit Card

Pros

  • 10X EDGE Reward points on apparel and departmental store spends up to ₹7,000 per month.
  • Monthly milestone benefit of 1,500 EDGE Reward points on spending ₹30,000.
  • Flat ₹150 off on Swiggy twice a month on orders above ₹500.
  • Annual fee waiver on relatively low spending of ₹2 Lakhs per year.

Cons

  • Lounge access is subject to a high spend requirement of ₹50,000 in the previous 3 months.
  • Low reward redemption value of ₹0.20 per point.
  • Accelerated rewards are capped at a low monthly spend threshold of ₹7,000.

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

Both Axis Bank Rewards Credit Card and SBI Card ELITE are strong options. Your choice should depend on your spending pattern and which card's rewards align better with your lifestyle.

Choose Axis Bank Rewards Credit Card if

Strong rewards on apparel and departmental stores make it ideal for regular mall shoppers.

Choose SBI Card ELITE if

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: Axis Bank Rewards Credit Card or SBI Card ELITE?
Both Axis Bank Rewards Credit Card and SBI Card ELITE are strong options. Your choice should depend on your spending pattern and which card's rewards align better with your lifestyle.
What is the annual fee difference between Axis Bank Rewards Credit Card and SBI Card ELITE?
Axis Bank Rewards Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹1,000, while SBI Card ELITE has an annual fee of ₹4,999. Axis Bank Rewards Credit Card offers a fee waiver on ₹2,00,000 annual spend. SBI Card ELITE offers a fee waiver on ₹10,00,000 annual spend.
Which card has better rewards: Axis Bank Rewards Credit Card or SBI Card ELITE?
Axis Bank Rewards Credit Card offers a base reward rate of 0.32% with accelerated rewards on Apparel & Departmental Stores. 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 Rewards Credit Card and SBI Card ELITE?
Yes, many users hold multiple credit cards to maximize rewards across different spending categories. Axis Bank Rewards Credit Card and SBI Card ELITE can complement each other if they cover different reward categories.
Which card is better for beginners: Axis Bank Rewards Credit Card or SBI Card ELITE?
For beginners, Axis Bank Rewards 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.

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