Credit Cards

Best SBI Credit Card in India (2026): 10 Picks Compared

12 October 2026

Best SBI Credit Card in India (2026): 10 Picks Compared

I have used credit cards for 20 years, and for the last 8 I have not paid for a flight, hotel, forex markup or any service fee because of how I use them. That is why I can tell you which card suits which person. If you are hunting for the best SBI credit card, here is my ranked list of 10, with a plain note on who should skip each one.

Quick answer: the best SBI credit card for most people

For most people, the Cashback SBI Card is the default pick. If you are new to cards or want a cheaper start, SimplyCLICK is easier. Not sure? You can take the 2-minute quiz and get one card matched to you.

RankCardBest forAnnual fee
1Cashback SBI CardOnline shoppers and bill payers₹999
2SimplyCLICK SBI CardBeginners shopping online₹499
3SBI Card ELITEHigh-income premium spenders₹4,999
4SBI Card PRIMESalaried people wanting dining and lounge perks₹2,999
5BPCL SBI CardBPCL fuel buyers₹499
6SimplySAVE SBI CardFirst-time salaried, offline spenders₹499
7Flipkart SBI CardFlipkart, Myntra, Cleartrip regulars₹500
8SBI Card MILESOccasional travellers₹1,499
9Tata Neu Infinity SBI CardTata brand shoppers, RuPay UPI users₹1,499
10SBI Card UnnatiThin-file beginners₹499 (no joining fee)
  • Cashback SBI Card: simple cashback on online spends, no brand lock-in.
  • SimplyCLICK: cheap, easy to get, strong on partner sites.
  • ELITE: the premium all-rounder if you spend heavily.
  • PRIME: a balanced mid-premium step up.
  • BPCL SBI: the fuel pick.
  • SimplySAVE: a gentle starter for everyday spends.
  • Flipkart SBI: for one-platform shoppers.
  • MILES: flexible travel rewards without a premium fee.
  • Tata Neu Infinity: for Tata households.
  • Unnati: for people with no credit history.

How I judged these SBI cards

I looked at net value after the fee, how much spend it takes to get the fee waived, how easy approval is, and whether you will actually use the card in daily life. A card with great rewards you never trigger is a bad card. Fees and rewards change often, so check SBI's website before you apply.

The 10 best SBI credit cards

1. Cashback SBI Card

This is the most consistent top pick for a reason. It gives 5% cashback on online spends and 1% offline, with no merchant restriction, so you do not need to track partner brands. The annual fee is ₹999, and it is waived at ₹2 lakh annual spend. Eligibility is estimated at ₹35,000+ monthly income and CIBIL 700+. See the full Cashback SBI Card page.

Who it suits: people who pay bills and shop online. Drawback: a monthly cashback cap and some exclusions apply (reported around ₹5,000 a month, and it has changed before), and the forex markup is 3.5%. Skip it if most of your spending is offline. Compare it with other best cashback credit cards in India.

2. SimplyCLICK SBI Card

The fee is ₹499 and it is waived at ₹1 lakh spend. You get 10X reward points on partners like Amazon, BookMyShow, Cleartrip, Myntra and Swiggy, and 5X on other online spends. There is a ₹500 Amazon gift card on joining, and a RuPay version for UPI. Income estimate is ₹15,000+ a month with CIBIL 650+. Details are on the SimplyCLICK page.

Who it suits: salaried beginners who shop online. Drawback: the rewards are points, not cash, and the partner list and voucher values change. Skip it if you rarely buy online.

3. SBI Card ELITE

This is the premium all-rounder. The fee is ₹4,999, waived at ₹10 lakh annual spend. It comes with lounge access, welcome e-vouchers, movie benefits and bonus points on milestone spends. Estimated eligibility is ₹90,000+ monthly income and CIBIL 760+. Look at the SBI Card ELITE page for the current details.

Who it suits: high earners who will actually hit the milestones. Drawback: ₹10 lakh is a steep waiver bar, and sources quote lounge counts and movie benefits differently, so verify. Skip it if you spend modestly.

4. SBI Card PRIME

PRIME is a lifestyle card with a ₹2,999 fee, waived at ₹3 lakh spend. You get 10 reward points per ₹100 on dining, groceries, movies and department stores, plus Priority Pass lounge access, Club Vistara Silver and Trident Privilege Red Tier memberships, a ₹3,000 welcome e-voucher and milestone vouchers. Estimated eligibility is ₹50,000+ income and CIBIL 750+. More on the PRIME page.

Who it suits: salaried people who eat out and buy groceries a lot. Drawback: the fee is real if you do not reach ₹3 lakh. Skip it if you want cashback simplicity.

5. BPCL SBI Card

The fee is ₹499 (joining and annual), waived at ₹1 lakh spend. It is built for BPCL fuel, with value back reported at about 4.25%, plus a fuel surcharge waiver and dining rewards. Estimated eligibility is ₹20,000+ income and CIBIL 650+. See the BPCL SBI Card page, or read the best fuel credit cards list.

Who it suits: car owners with a BPCL pump nearby. Drawback: it is only useful at BPCL, and caps and renewal fees vary across sources. The higher-end BPCL Octane variant is not covered here. Skip it if you fill up elsewhere.

6. SimplySAVE SBI Card

An entry card with a ₹499 fee, waived at ₹1 lakh spend. It gives accelerated points on dining, movies, groceries and department stores. Estimated eligibility is ₹20,000+ income and CIBIL 650+. Check the SimplySAVE page.

Who it suits: first-time salaried users with offline everyday spending. Drawback: reward rates are modest, and you should verify the exact rate on SBI's site. Skip it if you shop mostly online, where SimplyCLICK does better.

7. Flipkart SBI Card

The fee is ₹500, waived at ₹3.5 lakh spend. It gives boosted cashback on Flipkart-group platforms and a smaller flat rate elsewhere. Estimated eligibility is ₹20,000+ income and CIBIL 650+. See the Flipkart SBI Card page.

Who it suits: people whose online shopping is mostly Flipkart, Myntra and Cleartrip. Drawback: the waiver bar is high for an entry card, and percentages and caps change. Skip it if you split purchases across many sites.

8. SBI Card MILES

The fee is ₹1,499, waived at ₹6 lakh spend, with a 3% forex markup, the lowest in this list. Points can go to airline and hotel partners and travel bookings. Estimated eligibility is ₹35,000+ income and CIBIL 700+. The SBI Card MILES page has more.

Who it suits: occasional travellers. Drawback: transfer ratios and the MILES, PRIME and ELITE variants need checking. If lounges matter most, see the best cards for lounge access.

9. Tata Neu Infinity SBI Card

The fee is ₹1,499, waived at ₹3 lakh spend. It earns NeuCoins on Tata brand spends and works for UPI on RuPay. Estimated eligibility is ₹35,000+ income and CIBIL 700+. See the Tata Neu Infinity page.

Who it suits: households already buying from Tata Neu, BigBasket or Croma. Drawback: I have not verified NeuCoin rates or lounge benefits here, so confirm them with SBI. Skip it if you are not a Tata shopper.

10. SBI Card Unnati

Built for thin or no credit history, with a ₹499 annual fee and no joining fee. It is generally issued against a fixed deposit, which makes approval easier and helps build a credit record, but check the FD requirement and fees on SBI's site. Estimated income is ₹20,000+ with CIBIL 650+. See the SBI Card Unnati page and our guide to credit cards for students.

Who it suits: students, non-earners and beginners. Drawback: rewards are basic. Skip it once you qualify for a regular card.

Which SBI card fits you?

  • First-time or new to credit: SimplyCLICK or SimplySAVE, or Unnati if you have no history.
  • Student or non-earning: Unnati, backed by an FD.
  • Salaried, mid-income: Cashback SBI Card, or PRIME if you dine out a lot.
  • Online shopper: Cashback SBI Card, SimplyCLICK, or Flipkart SBI if you live on Flipkart.
  • Car owner: BPCL SBI Card.
  • Frequent traveller: MILES, PRIME or ELITE depending on budget.
  • High-income premium spender: ELITE.
  • Family grocery spender: PRIME or SimplySAVE; Tata Neu Infinity if you buy through Tata brands.

Still torn? Find the card made for you in a couple of minutes.

Signpost branching into paths with a different card for each type of spender

Fees, waivers and mistakes to avoid

Do the waiver maths first. A ₹999 fee waived at ₹2 lakh spend means about ₹16,700 a month. If you would not spend that anyway, do not chase it. Never spend extra only to hit a waiver.

  • Read the caps. Cashback and reward caps and exclusions (fuel, wallets, rent, insurance) can shrink your returns.
  • Pay in full. Interest wipes out any reward you earn.
  • Watch forex. Most of these cards charge 3.5%, MILES 3%.
  • Do not collect too many cards. Two or three that you use well beat ten you forget.

Want a second opinion? Compare cards side by side before you decide, or see what ICICI and HDFC offer in our best credit cards for every need list.

Balance scale weighing a credit card against a stack of coins to show fee versus rewards

Final verdict

My short version: Cashback SBI Card for most online spenders, SimplyCLICK for beginners, PRIME or ELITE if your income and spending justify the fee, BPCL for fuel, and Unnati to start from zero. Fees and benefits change, so confirm everything on SBI's website before applying.

FAQ

Which is the best SBI credit card overall?

For most people, the Cashback SBI Card. It pays 5% on online and 1% offline with no merchant restriction, and the ₹999 fee is waived at ₹2 lakh spend.

Which SBI credit card is best for beginners or first-time users?

SimplyCLICK has a ₹499 fee, a ₹1 lakh waiver and a low estimated income need of ₹15,000+. SimplySAVE suits offline spenders. Unnati is for those with no credit history.

Which SBI credit card is best for online shopping and cashback?

The Cashback SBI Card for general online spends, SimplyCLICK for partner sites like Amazon and Myntra, and Flipkart SBI if you buy mainly on Flipkart.

Which SBI credit card has the lowest annual fee or is free?

Unnati has no joining fee, though it has a ₹499 annual fee. SimplyCLICK, SimplySAVE and BPCL are also ₹499, all waivable at ₹1 lakh spend. Always check current fees on SBI's site.

Which SBI credit card is best for travel and airport lounge access?

ELITE and PRIME carry lounge perks, with PRIME offering Priority Pass access at a lower fee. MILES suits occasional travellers with a lower forex markup of 3%. Verify lounge counts with SBI.

The easiest way to land on the right one is to take the CardBuddy quiz and get a single recommendation instead of ten tabs.

Chitransh Saxena

Written by

Chitransh Saxena

20 years of credit card use, and 8 years without paying for a flight, hotel or forex fee. I write CardBuddy's guides.