Head-to-head · 🇮🇳 India
SBI Prime vs Axis Reserve
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
IN
SBI Card
SBI Prime
Wins 5 of 10
IN
Premium
Axis Bank
Axis Reserve
VISA
Wins 3 of 10
Verdict
SBI Prime wins 5-3. Step up from SimplyClick with lounge access. Axis Reserve is still the right call if invitation-only super-premium — for ₹25l+/year spenders..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | SBI Prime | Axis Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹2,999 | · ₹50,000 |
| Joining fee | ₹2,999 | · ₹50,000 |
| Top reward rate | = 5% (shopping) | = 5% (general) |
| Base reward rate | · 1.25% | 5% |
| Forex markup | · 3.5% | No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = ₹3,000 e-gift voucher (Aditya Birla / Bata / Pantaloons / Yatra) | = 50,000 EDGE points + Taj Epicure membership |
| Fee waiver threshold | ₹300,000 / yr | · ₹2,500,000 / yr |
| Min income | ₹480,000 | · ₹5,000,000 |
| Min credit score | 750 | · 820 |
| Editorial rating | · 4.2/5 | 4.7/5 |
Benefits compared
SBI Prime
- 10x reward points on dining + grocery + departmental + movies
- 5x on utility bill payments
- 8 domestic + 4 international lounge visits/year
- Club Vistara Silver + Trident Privilege Red
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 Prime vs Axis Reserve: which is better?
SBI Prime 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 Prime for its best categories, Axis Reserve for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
SBI Prime: ₹3,000 e-gift voucher (Aditya Birla / Bata / Pantaloons / Yatra). Axis Reserve: 50,000 EDGE points + Taj Epicure membership.