Vyaya
Side-by-Side Comparison|Updated March 2026

SBI Card ELITE vs Apollo SBI Card

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

SBI Card

SBI Card ELITE

7.2/10
Annual Fee₹4,999
Base Rewards0.5%
NetworkVisa
View Full Details

SBI Card

Apollo SBI Card

7.2/10
Annual Fee₹499
Base Rewards0.25%
NetworkMastercard
View Full Details

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureSBI Card ELITEApollo SBI Card
Annual Fee₹4,999₹499
Joining Fee₹4,999₹499
Fee Waiver Spend₹10,00,000₹1,00,000
Base Reward Rate0.5%0.25%
Reward CurrencySBI Reward PointsReward Points
NetworkVisaMastercard
Editor Rating7.2/107.2/10
Forex Markup3.5%3.5%

Accelerated Rewards

SBI Card ELITE

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

Apollo SBI Card

  • 0% on Apollo Services
  • 0% on Dining, Movies & Entertainment
  • 0% on Beauty & Wellness

Pros & Cons

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.

Apollo SBI Card

Pros

  • 3% value back (3X points) on all Apollo services including pharmacy and clinics
  • 1:1 redemption ratio where 1 Reward Point equals ₹1 at Apollo POS
  • Complimentary OneApollo Gold Tier membership for the first year
  • Low annual fee of ₹499 with a reachable waiver threshold of ₹1 Lakh

Cons

  • No airport lounge access (available only on the Select variant)
  • Low base reward rate of 0.5% on general spends
  • Rewards are primarily valuable only within the Apollo ecosystem

Our Verdict

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

Choose SBI Card ELITE if

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

Choose Apollo SBI Card if

Frequent users of Apollo Pharmacy and Apollo 24/7 app benefit from high reward rates and instant discounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: SBI Card ELITE or Apollo SBI Card?
Both SBI Card ELITE and Apollo SBI Card 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 SBI Card ELITE and Apollo SBI Card?
SBI Card ELITE has an annual fee of ₹4,999, while Apollo SBI Card has an annual fee of ₹499. SBI Card ELITE offers a fee waiver on ₹10,00,000 annual spend. Apollo SBI Card offers a fee waiver on ₹1,00,000 annual spend.
Which card has better rewards: SBI Card ELITE or Apollo SBI Card?
SBI Card ELITE offers a base reward rate of 0.5% with accelerated rewards on Dining and Departmental Stores. Apollo SBI Card offers 0.25% base rewards with bonuses on Apollo Services and Dining, Movies & Entertainment. The better choice depends on your primary spending categories.
Can I have both SBI Card ELITE and Apollo SBI Card?
Yes, many users hold multiple credit cards to maximize rewards across different spending categories. SBI Card ELITE and Apollo SBI Card can complement each other if they cover different reward categories.
Which card is better for beginners: SBI Card ELITE or Apollo SBI Card?
For beginners, Apollo SBI Card may be more approachable with a lower annual fee of ₹499. However, evaluate based on your expected spending pattern rather than fee alone.

Related Comparisons

SBI Card ELITE vs Axis Bank Aura Credit CardApollo SBI Card vs Axis Bank Aura Credit CardSBI Card ELITE vs SBI Card PULSEApollo SBI Card vs SBI Card PULSE

Explore More

SBI Card ELITE Full ReviewApollo SBI Card Full ReviewAll SBI Card CardsBrowse All Credit CardsCredit Card Guides & Tips