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Side-by-Side Comparison|Updated March 2026

ICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro Credit 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.

ICICI Bank

ICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro Credit Card

7.2/10
Annual Fee₹5,000
Base Rewards0.75%
NetworkVisa
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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

FeatureICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro Credit CardAxis Bank Magnus Credit Card
Annual Fee₹5,000₹12,500
Joining Fee₹5,000₹12,500
Fee Waiver SpendN/A₹25,00,000
Base Reward Rate0.75%0.2%
Reward CurrencySkywards MilesEDGE Reward Points
NetworkVisaVisa
Editor Rating7.2/108/10
Forex Markup3.5%3.5%

Pros & Cons

ICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro Credit Card

Pros

  • Complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver Tier Membership for the first year.
  • Earn up to 2 Skywards Miles per ₹100 spent on all categories except exclusions.
  • Welcome bonus of 5,000 Skywards Miles upon payment of joining fee.
  • Buy One Get One offer on BookMyShow (up to ₹500 off) twice a month.

Cons

  • No annual fee waiver regardless of annual spend.
  • Domestic lounge access requires a minimum spend of ₹75,000 in the preceding quarter.
  • High foreign currency markup fee of 3.5%.

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, ICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro Credit Card could be the better pick if its specific category strengths match your spending habits.

Choose ICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro Credit Card if

Direct earning of Skywards Miles and Silver Tier status benefits like priority check-in and extra baggage.

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: ICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro Credit Card or Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card?
Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card edges ahead overall with a stronger combination of rewards and value. However, ICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro Credit Card could be the better pick if its specific category strengths match your spending habits.
What is the annual fee difference between ICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro Credit Card and Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card?
ICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹5,000, while Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹12,500. Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card offers a fee waiver on ₹25,00,000 annual spend.
Which card has better rewards: ICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro Credit Card or Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card?
ICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro Credit Card offers a base reward rate of 0.75%. Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card offers 0.2% base rewards. The better choice depends on your primary spending categories.
Can I have both ICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro Credit Card and Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card?
Yes, many users hold multiple credit cards to maximize rewards across different spending categories. ICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro Credit Card and Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card can complement each other if they cover different reward categories.
Which card is better for beginners: ICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro Credit Card or Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card?
For beginners, ICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro Credit Card may be more approachable with a lower annual fee of ₹5,000. However, evaluate based on your expected spending pattern rather than fee alone.

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