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Side-by-Side Comparison|Updated March 2026

SBI Card MILES ELITE vs HDFC Bank Millennia 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 MILES ELITE

8.2/10
Annual Fee₹4,999
Base Rewards1%
NetworkMastercard
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HDFC Bank

HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card

8.5/10
Annual Fee₹1,000
Base Rewards1%
NetworkVisa
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Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureSBI Card MILES ELITEHDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card
Annual Fee₹4,999₹1,000
Joining Fee₹4,999₹1,000
Fee Waiver Spend₹15,00,000₹1,00,000
Base Reward Rate1%1%
Reward CurrencyTravel CreditsCashPoints
NetworkMastercardVisa
Editor Rating8.2/108.5/10
Forex Markup3.5%3.5%

Accelerated Rewards

SBI Card MILES ELITE

No accelerated rewards listed

HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card

  • 0% on Special Rate

Pros & Cons

SBI Card MILES ELITE

Pros

  • High 3% reward rate on travel spends (6 Travel Credits per ₹200).
  • 1:1 conversion ratio for Travel Credits to Air Miles and Hotel Points with major partners.
  • Unique spend-linked domestic lounge access (1 extra visit per ₹1 Lakh spend).
  • Low foreign currency markup of 1.99%, ideal for international travelers.

Cons

  • High annual fee of ₹4,999 with a steep waiver threshold of ₹15 Lakhs.
  • Lounge access is capped per quarter (2 visits), which may be restrictive for frequent flyers.
  • Air Accident insurance coverage was discontinued as of July 2025.

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

Our Verdict

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

Choose SBI Card MILES ELITE if

High reward rates on flights and hotels with 1:1 mile conversion across multiple airlines.

Choose HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card if

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: SBI Card MILES ELITE or HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card?
HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card edges ahead overall with a stronger combination of rewards and value. However, SBI Card MILES ELITE could be the better pick if its specific category strengths match your spending habits.
What is the annual fee difference between SBI Card MILES ELITE and HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card?
SBI Card MILES ELITE has an annual fee of ₹4,999, while HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹1,000. SBI Card MILES ELITE offers a fee waiver on ₹15,00,000 annual spend. HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card offers a fee waiver on ₹1,00,000 annual spend.
Which card has better rewards: SBI Card MILES ELITE or HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card?
SBI Card MILES ELITE offers a base reward rate of 1%. HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card offers 1% base rewards with bonuses on Special Rate. The better choice depends on your primary spending categories.
Can I have both SBI Card MILES ELITE and HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card?
Yes, many users hold multiple credit cards to maximize rewards across different spending categories. SBI Card MILES ELITE and HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card can complement each other if they cover different reward categories.
Which card is better for beginners: SBI Card MILES ELITE or HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card?
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.

Explore More

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