Head-to-head · 🇮🇳 India
Axis ACE vs SBI IRCTC Premier
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
IN
Axis Bank
Axis ACE
VISA
Wins 4 of 10
IN
SBI Card
SBI IRCTC Premier
VISA
Wins 3 of 10
Verdict
Axis ACE wins 4-3. Bill payments + utilities + fuel — set-and-forget cashback SBI IRCTC Premier is still the right call if heavy irctc train booking users..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Axis ACE | SBI IRCTC Premier |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹499 | · ₹1,499 |
| Joining fee | ₹499 | · ₹1,499 |
| Top reward rate | · 4% (fuel) | 10% (travel) |
| Base reward rate | 1.5% | · 1.25% |
| Forex markup | = 3.5% | = 3.5% |
| Welcome bonus | = Up to ₹2,000 cashback on first 60-day spends | = 1,500 reward points + waived first-year fee on ₹1L spend |
| Fee waiver threshold | = ₹200,000 / yr | = ₹200,000 / yr |
| Min income | · ₹360,000 | ₹300,000 |
| Min credit score | · 750 | 740 |
| Editorial rating | 4.5/5 | · 3.9/5 |
Benefits compared
Axis ACE
- 5% cashback on Google Pay bill payments (electricity, gas, broadband, mobile, DTH)
- 4% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato, Ola
- 2% cashback on every other transaction
- 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per year
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
SBI IRCTC Premier
- 10% IRCTC reward points on train ticket bookings
- 1.25% on other spends
- 4 IRCTC lounge visits/year
- 1% transaction fee waiver on IRCTC site
FAQ
›Axis ACE vs SBI IRCTC Premier: which is better?
Axis ACE wins on more dimensions (4 vs 3). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern — see the calculator below.
›Can I get both?
Yes — if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use Axis ACE for its best categories, SBI IRCTC Premier for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Axis ACE: Up to ₹2,000 cashback on first 60-day spends. SBI IRCTC Premier: 1,500 reward points + waived first-year fee on ₹1L spend.