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Side-by-Side Comparison|Updated March 2026

SBI Card ELITE vs ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit 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
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ICICI Bank

ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card

8/10
Annual Fee₹3,500
Base Rewards0.25%
NetworkVisa
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Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureSBI Card ELITEICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card
Annual Fee₹4,999₹3,500
Joining Fee₹4,999₹6,500
Fee Waiver Spend₹10,00,000₹6,00,000
Base Reward Rate0.5%0.25%
Reward CurrencySBI Reward PointsICICI Bank Rewards
NetworkVisaVisa
Editor Rating7.2/108/10
Forex Markup3.5%3.5%

Accelerated Rewards

SBI Card ELITE

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

ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card

  • 0% on International Spends

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.

ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card

Pros

  • High-value welcome vouchers worth over ₹9,000 covering travel, shopping, and dining.
  • Dual-card advantage (Amex + Mastercard/Visa) allows for broader acceptance and network-specific offers.
  • Generous movie benefits with Buy 1 Get 1 up to ₹500 twice a month on BookMyShow.
  • Complimentary golf rounds (up to 4 per month) based on spending milestones.

Cons

  • High annual fee of ₹3,500 which is only waived on a relatively high spend of ₹6 lakhs.
  • Domestic lounge access is contingent on a high quarterly spend of ₹75,000.
  • Reward rate on utilities and insurance is low at 1 point per ₹100.

Our Verdict

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

Choose SBI Card ELITE if

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

Choose ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card if

Offers both domestic and international lounge access along with travel-specific welcome vouchers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: SBI Card ELITE or ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card?
ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card edges ahead overall with a stronger combination of rewards and value. However, SBI Card ELITE could be the better pick if its specific category strengths match your spending habits.
What is the annual fee difference between SBI Card ELITE and ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card?
SBI Card ELITE has an annual fee of ₹4,999, while ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹3,500. SBI Card ELITE offers a fee waiver on ₹10,00,000 annual spend. ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card offers a fee waiver on ₹6,00,000 annual spend.
Which card has better rewards: SBI Card ELITE or ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card?
SBI Card ELITE offers a base reward rate of 0.5% with accelerated rewards on Dining and Departmental Stores. ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card offers 0.25% base rewards with bonuses on International Spends. The better choice depends on your primary spending categories.
Can I have both SBI Card ELITE and ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card?
Yes, many users hold multiple credit cards to maximize rewards across different spending categories. SBI Card ELITE and ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card can complement each other if they cover different reward categories.
Which card is better for beginners: SBI Card ELITE or ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card?
For beginners, ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card may be more approachable with a lower annual fee of ₹3,500. However, evaluate based on your expected spending pattern rather than fee alone.

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