SBI Card ELITE vs SBI Card PRIME
Side-by-side for the example profile – edit spend and travel needs to make it yours.
SBI Card ELITE vs SBI Card PRIME (Sept 2026): for the standard ₹32k/month profile SBI Card PRIME wins on score (50/100, ₹3,474 recurring net savings a year) vs SBI Card ELITE 34/100 (−₹117). Cheapest to hold: SBI Card PRIME (₹3,539 incl. GST). Edit the spend on this page to re-score for yours.
Recommendation for Typical Indian cardholder (₹32k/month)
SBI Card ELITE scores highest (34/100) with −₹117 recurring net savings a year. SBI Card PRIME saves more in pure rupees (₹3,474) but scores lower on redemption, lifestyle or fee safety.
Edit your spend and travel needs above – scores, savings and this verdict update instantly.
Standard profile
Scored for Typical Indian cardholder · ₹32k/monthBills paid in full · first-year offers shown separately · set up your profile to score cards for your own spend
| Card | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Personal score | 34/100 | 50/100 BEST |
| Recurring net savings | −₹117/yr | ₹3,474/yr BEST |
| Effective savings rate | -0.0% | 1.1% BEST |
| Annual fee incl. GST | You pay ₹5,899 | Waived |
| Usable lounge visits | ✈8 dom🌏6 intl you can use 2 | ✈8 dom🌏4 intl you can use 2 |
| Why it fits | ✓ 5X on dining, departmental stores, grocery earns you about ₹2,136 a… | ✓ 10 RP/₹100 on dining, grocery, departmental stores, movies earns you… |
| Main drawback | ! You pay the ₹5,899 annual fee (incl. GST) – waiver needs ₹10,00,000… | ! Points are worth only ₹0.25 each – 1 RP = ₹0.25 on vouchers/statement. |
| How the net figure adds up | ||
| + Reward value on your spend | ₹2,922 at ₹0.25/SBI Reward Points | ₹3,114 at ₹0.25/SBI Reward Points BEST |
| + Milestone bonuses you reach | ₹2,500 1 of 4 achieved BEST | ₹0 0 of 1 achieved |
| + Fuel surcharge waiver | ₹360 | ₹360 |
| + Lifestyle benefits you asked for | none matched | none matched |
| + Renewal bonus (only when the fee is charged) | — | — |
| − Annual fee incl. 18% GST | −₹5,899 | ₹0 waived at ₹3,00,000 spend BEST |
| − Forex markup on international spend | none | none |
| = Recurring net savings | −₹117/yr | ₹3,474/yr BEST |
| ÷ Card spend counted | ₹3,26,640 UPI-only rupees excluded on non-RuPay cards | ₹3,26,640 UPI-only rupees excluded on non-RuPay cards |
| = Effective savings rate | -0.0% | 1.1% BEST |
| Rewards on your spend | ||
| Groceries & quick-commerce (₹72,000/yr) | ₹1,080 1.5% | ₹1,080 1.5% |
| Dining & food delivery (₹48,000/yr) | ₹1,056 2.2% | ₹1,056 2.2% |
| Online shopping (₹72,000/yr) | ₹360 0.5% | ₹360 0.5% |
| Fuel (₹36,000/yr) | ₹0 0.0% | ₹0 0.0% |
| Cabs & commute (₹18,000/yr) | ₹54 0.3% | ₹54 0.3% |
| Bills & utilities (₹30,000/yr) | ₹0 0.0% | ₹0 0.0% |
| Flights (₹24,000/yr) | ₹120 0.5% | ₹120 0.5% |
| Hotels (₹12,000/yr) | ₹60 0.5% | ₹60 0.5% |
| Movies & OTT (₹9,600/yr) | ₹48 0.5% | ₹240 2.5% BEST |
| Insurance premiums (₹18,000/yr) | ₹0 0.0% | ₹0 0.0% |
| Everything else (₹48,000/yr) | ₹144 0.3% | ₹144 0.3% |
| Base earn rate | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Accelerated categories | 1 rule
| 1 rule
|
| Excluded categories | fuel, rent, utilities, insurance, education | fuel, rent, utilities, insurance, education |
| Caps hit for your spend | None | None |
| Milestones |
|
|
| UPI rewards (RuPay) | Not UPI-enabled | Not UPI-enabled |
| Fees & first year | ||
| Joining fee | ₹4,999 + GST | ₹2,999 + GST |
| Fee waiver | On ₹10,00,000 annual spend | On ₹3,00,000 annual spend |
| Renewal benefit | None | None |
| Welcome benefit (first year only) | ₹5,000 e-gift voucher on fee payment ≈ ₹4,500 | ₹3,000 e-gift voucher on fee payment ≈ ₹2,700 |
| First-year value (separate) | ₹4,383 BEST | ₹2,635 |
| Travel | ||
| Domestic lounge entitlement | 2 per quarter | 2 per quarter |
| International lounge entitlement | 6 per year | 4 per year |
| Lounge condition | None | None |
| Forex markup | 1.99% BEST | 3.5% |
| Redemption & simplicity | ||
| Reward currency | SBI Reward Points · ₹0.25/unit | SBI Reward Points · ₹0.25/unit |
| How to redeem | Details1 RP = ₹0.25 on vouchers/statement. | Details1 RP = ₹0.25 on vouchers/statement. |
| Redemption flexibility | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Simplicity | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ BEST |
| Lifestyle | ||
| Benefits you asked for | fuel waiver | fuel waiver |
| All lifestyle perks | movies, concierge, fuel waiver, insurance cover | dining program, concierge, fuel waiver, insurance cover |
| Eligibility | Income ₹12L+/yr | Income ₹6L+/yr |
| Score breakdown | ||
| Net savings rate | 0/100 × 55% = 0.0 | 22/100 × 55% = 11.9 |
| Usable lounge access | 100/100 × 15% = 15.0 | 100/100 × 15% = 15.0 |
| Redemption flexibility | 60/100 × 10% = 6.0 | 60/100 × 10% = 6.0 |
| Lifestyle fit | 100/100 × 10% = 10.0 | 100/100 × 10% = 10.0 |
| Simplicity | 40/100 × 5% = 2.0 | 60/100 × 5% = 3.0 |
| Fee safety | 20/100 × 5% = 1.0 | 85/100 × 5% = 4.3 |
| Sources | ||
| Official source | SBI Card – ELITE | SBI Card – PRIME |
| Last reviewed | 2026-09-12 | 2026-09-12 |
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: SBI Card ELITE or SBI Card PRIME?
For the example profile, SBI Card PRIME scores highest (50/100, ₹3,474 recurring net savings). The answer changes with your spend mix, lounge needs and fee comfort – edit the profile on this page.
Which has the lower annual fee?
SBI Card ELITE: ₹5,899 incl. GST; SBI Card PRIME: ₹3,539 incl. GST.