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Side-by-Side Comparison|Updated March 2026

ICICI Bank NRI Coral 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.

ICICI Bank

ICICI Bank NRI Coral Credit Card

7/10
Annual Fee₹500
Base Rewards0.125%
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

FeatureICICI Bank NRI Coral Credit CardSBI Card PULSE
Annual Fee₹500₹1,499
Joining Fee₹1,000₹1,499
Fee Waiver Spend₹1,50,000₹2,00,000
Base Reward Rate0.125%0.5%
Reward CurrencyICICI Bank Reward PointsSBI Reward Points
NetworkVisaVisa
Editor Rating7/107.2/10
Forex Markup3.5%3.5%

Accelerated Rewards

ICICI Bank NRI Coral Credit Card

No accelerated rewards listed

SBI Card PULSE

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

Pros & Cons

ICICI Bank NRI Coral Credit Card

Pros

  • Earn 2 Reward Points for every ₹100 spent on retail transactions.
  • 1 complimentary domestic airport lounge visit per quarter on spending ₹75,000 in the previous quarter.
  • 25% discount up to ₹100 on movie tickets via BookMyShow and INOX twice monthly.
  • 15% savings on dining bills at over 2,500 partner restaurants via ICICI Culinary Treats.

Cons

  • High quarterly spend requirement of ₹75,000 for lounge access.
  • Low reward redemption value of ₹0.25 per point.
  • No international lounge access included.

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

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

Choose ICICI Bank NRI Coral Credit Card if

Ideal for NRIs who frequently visit India and want to earn rewards on local spends and enjoy dining/movie perks.

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: ICICI Bank NRI Coral Credit Card or SBI Card PULSE?
SBI Card PULSE edges ahead overall with a stronger combination of rewards and value. However, ICICI Bank NRI Coral 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 NRI Coral Credit Card and SBI Card PULSE?
ICICI Bank NRI Coral Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹500, while SBI Card PULSE has an annual fee of ₹1,499. ICICI Bank NRI Coral Credit Card offers a fee waiver on ₹1,50,000 annual spend. SBI Card PULSE offers a fee waiver on ₹2,00,000 annual spend.
Which card has better rewards: ICICI Bank NRI Coral Credit Card or SBI Card PULSE?
ICICI Bank NRI Coral Credit Card offers a base reward rate of 0.125%. 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 ICICI Bank NRI Coral Credit Card and SBI Card PULSE?
Yes, many users hold multiple credit cards to maximize rewards across different spending categories. ICICI Bank NRI Coral Credit Card and SBI Card PULSE can complement each other if they cover different reward categories.
Which card is better for beginners: ICICI Bank NRI Coral Credit Card or SBI Card PULSE?
For beginners, ICICI Bank NRI Coral Credit Card may be more approachable with a lower annual fee of ₹500. However, evaluate based on your expected spending pattern rather than fee alone.

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