SBI Cashback vs Axis Vistara Signature
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
SBI Cashback wins 5-0. Pure online cashback — 5% on any online merchant, no partner restrictions. Axis Vistara Signature is still the right call if domestic flyers (vistara was acquired by air india — points convert)..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | SBI Cashback | Axis Vistara Signature |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹999 | · ₹3,000 |
| Joining fee | ₹999 | · ₹3,000 |
| Top reward rate | = 5% (shopping) | = 5% (travel) |
| Base reward rate | = 1% | = 1% |
| Forex markup | = 3.5% | = 3.5% |
| Welcome bonus | = Cashback offsets joining fee on first ₹999+ spend | = Vistara Premium Economy ticket on joining |
| Fee waiver threshold | ₹200,000 / yr | · ₹750,000 / yr |
| Min income | ₹360,000 | · ₹600,000 |
| Min credit score | = 750 | = 750 |
| Editorial rating | 4.6/5 | · 4.2/5 |
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 Vistara Signature
- 5 CV points per ₹200 on travel
- Premium Economy class ticket on joining
- Premium Economy class ticket on ₹4.5L spend
- 8 domestic lounge visits/year
- Club Vistara Silver tier on joining
FAQ
›SBI Cashback vs Axis Vistara Signature: which is better?
SBI Cashback wins on more dimensions (5 vs 0). 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 Vistara Signature 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 Vistara Signature: Vistara Premium Economy ticket on joining.