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Side-by-Side Comparison|Updated March 2026

ICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro 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.

ICICI Bank

ICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro Credit Card

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

FeatureICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro Credit CardSBI Card ELITE
Annual Fee₹5,000₹4,999
Joining Fee₹5,000₹4,999
Fee Waiver SpendN/A₹10,00,000
Base Reward Rate0.75%0.5%
Reward CurrencySkywards MilesSBI Reward Points
NetworkVisaVisa
Editor Rating7.2/107.2/10
Forex Markup3.5%3.5%

Accelerated Rewards

ICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro Credit Card

No accelerated rewards listed

SBI Card ELITE

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

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%.

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 ICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro 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 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 SBI Card ELITE if

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: ICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro Credit Card or SBI Card ELITE?
Both ICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro 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 ICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro Credit Card and SBI Card ELITE?
ICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹5,000, while SBI Card ELITE has an annual fee of ₹4,999. SBI Card ELITE offers a fee waiver on ₹10,00,000 annual spend.
Which card has better rewards: ICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro Credit Card or SBI Card ELITE?
ICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro Credit Card offers a base reward rate of 0.75%. 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 ICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro Credit Card and SBI Card ELITE?
Yes, many users hold multiple credit cards to maximize rewards across different spending categories. ICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro Credit Card and SBI Card ELITE can complement each other if they cover different reward categories.
Which card is better for beginners: ICICI Bank Emirates Skywards Sapphiro Credit Card or SBI Card ELITE?
For beginners, SBI Card ELITE may be more approachable with a lower annual fee of ₹4,999. However, evaluate based on your expected spending pattern rather than fee alone.

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