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Side-by-Side Comparison|Updated March 2026

SBI Card PULSE 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 PULSE

7.2/10
Annual Fee₹1,499
Base Rewards0.5%
NetworkVisa
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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 PULSEHDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card
Annual Fee₹1,499₹1,000
Joining Fee₹1,499₹1,000
Fee Waiver Spend₹2,00,000₹1,00,000
Base Reward Rate0.5%1%
Reward CurrencySBI Reward PointsCashPoints
NetworkVisaVisa
Editor Rating7.2/108.5/10
Forex Markup3.5%3.5%

Accelerated Rewards

SBI Card PULSE

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

HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Card

  • 0% on Special Rate

Pros & Cons

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.

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 PULSE could be the better pick if its specific category strengths match your spending habits.

Choose SBI Card PULSE if

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

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

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