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Side-by-Side Comparison|Updated March 2026

HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card vs SBI Card PULSE

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

HDFC Bank

HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card

8.5/10
Annual Fee₹1,000
Base Rewards1%
NetworkVisa
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SBI Card

SBI Card PULSE

7.2/10
Annual Fee₹1,499
Base Rewards0.5%
NetworkVisa
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Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureHDFC Bank Millennia Credit CardSBI Card PULSE
Annual Fee₹1,000₹1,499
Joining Fee₹1,000₹1,499
Fee Waiver Spend₹1,00,000₹2,00,000
Base Reward Rate1%0.5%
Reward CurrencyCashPointsSBI Reward Points
NetworkVisaVisa
Editor Rating8.5/107.2/10
Forex Markup3.5%3.5%

Accelerated Rewards

HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card

  • 0% on Special Rate

SBI Card PULSE

  • 0.62% on Pharmacy & Chemists
  • 0.62% on Dining
  • 0.62% on Movies

Pros & Cons

HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card

Pros

  • 5% cashback on 10 major online merchants including Amazon, Flipkart, and Swiggy
  • 1:1 redemption ratio for CashPoints against statement credit
  • Achievable annual fee waiver at ₹1 Lakh annual spend
  • 1,000 CashPoints welcome benefit effectively offsets the joining fee

Cons

  • Monthly cashback capped at ₹1,000 for the 5% category
  • Lounge access is now spend-based (₹1 Lakh per quarter)
  • Excludes rent, fuel, and government transactions from rewards

SBI Card PULSE

Pros

  • Complimentary Noise ColorFit Pulse Smartwatch worth up to ₹7,999 as a welcome gift.
  • Annual FITPASS PRO and Netmeds First memberships worth over ₹4,000.
  • High 2.5% reward rate (10 RP per ₹100) on pharmacies, chemists, dining, and movies.
  • 8 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year (2 per quarter).

Cons

  • Low base reward rate of 0.5% on non-accelerated categories.
  • Priority Pass membership does not include any complimentary international visits.
  • Milestone voucher of ₹1,500 requires a high annual spend of ₹4 Lakhs.

Our Verdict

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

Choose HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card if

High 5% cashback on popular platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, and Zomato.

Choose SBI Card PULSE if

Offers dedicated memberships for gyms (FITPASS) and online medicine (Netmeds) along with high rewards on pharmacy spends.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card or SBI Card PULSE?
HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card edges ahead overall with a stronger combination of rewards and value. However, SBI Card PULSE could be the better pick if its specific category strengths match your spending habits.
What is the annual fee difference between HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card and SBI Card PULSE?
HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹1,000, while SBI Card PULSE has an annual fee of ₹1,499. HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card offers a fee waiver on ₹1,00,000 annual spend. SBI Card PULSE offers a fee waiver on ₹2,00,000 annual spend.
Which card has better rewards: HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card or SBI Card PULSE?
HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card offers a base reward rate of 1% with accelerated rewards on Special Rate. SBI Card PULSE offers 0.5% base rewards with bonuses on Pharmacy & Chemists and Dining. The better choice depends on your primary spending categories.
Can I have both HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card and SBI Card PULSE?
Yes, many users hold multiple credit cards to maximize rewards across different spending categories. HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card and SBI Card PULSE can complement each other if they cover different reward categories.
Which card is better for beginners: HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card or SBI Card PULSE?
For beginners, HDFC Bank Millennia 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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