Head-to-head · 🇮🇳 India
SBI Cashback vs Axis Reserve
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
IN
SBI Card
SBI Cashback
VISA
Wins 5 of 10
IN
Premium
Axis Bank
Axis Reserve
VISA
Wins 3 of 10
Verdict
SBI Cashback wins 5-3. Pure online cashback — 5% on any online merchant, no partner restrictions. Axis Reserve is still the right call if invitation-only super-premium — for ₹25l+/year spenders..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | SBI Cashback | Axis Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹999 | · ₹50,000 |
| Joining fee | ₹999 | · ₹50,000 |
| Top reward rate | = 5% (shopping) | = 5% (general) |
| Base reward rate | · 1% | 5% |
| Forex markup | · 3.5% | No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = Cashback offsets joining fee on first ₹999+ spend | = 50,000 EDGE points + Taj Epicure membership |
| Fee waiver threshold | ₹200,000 / yr | · ₹2,500,000 / yr |
| Min income | ₹360,000 | · ₹5,000,000 |
| Min credit score | 750 | · 820 |
| Editorial rating | · 4.6/5 | 4.7/5 |
Benefits compared
SBI Cashback
- 5% cashback on ALL online spends (not just listed merchants) — capped ₹5,000/month
- 1% cashback on offline spends
- Auto-credited within 2 days of statement
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
Axis Reserve
- 5 EDGE points per ₹100 (effectively 5%)
- Unlimited international + domestic lounge visits
- Taj Epicure + ITC Culinaire memberships
- Concierge 24x7 globally
- 0% forex markup on first ₹15L of FX/year
- Annual ₹25K vouchers at milestones
FAQ
›SBI Cashback vs Axis Reserve: which is better?
SBI Cashback wins on more dimensions (5 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 SBI Cashback for online shopping, Axis Reserve for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
SBI Cashback: Cashback offsets joining fee on first ₹999+ spend. Axis Reserve: 50,000 EDGE points + Taj Epicure membership.