Head-to-head · 🇮🇳 India
SBI Pulse vs Axis Reserve
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
IN
SBI Card
SBI Pulse
Wins 5 of 10
IN
Premium
Axis Bank
Axis Reserve
VISA
Wins 4 of 10
Verdict
SBI Pulse wins 5-4. Health/fitness focused — smartwatch + wellness benefits. Axis Reserve is still the right call if invitation-only super-premium — for ₹25l+/year spenders..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | SBI Pulse | Axis Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹1,499 | · ₹50,000 |
| Joining fee | ₹1,499 | · ₹50,000 |
| Top reward rate | · 1% (general) | 5% (general) |
| Base reward rate | · 1% | 5% |
| Forex markup | · 3.5% | No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = Noise smartwatch on activation + 5,000 reward points | = 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 | 740 | · 820 |
| Editorial rating | · 3.9/5 | 4.7/5 |
Benefits compared
SBI Pulse
- Free Noise ColorFit Pulse 2 smartwatch
- 4 reward points per ₹100 on chemists, dining, movies
- 4 domestic lounge visits/year
- 1-year FITPASS PRO membership
- Cult.fit + 1mg discount partnerships
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 Pulse vs Axis Reserve: which is better?
SBI Pulse wins on more dimensions (5 vs 4). 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 Pulse 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 Pulse: Noise smartwatch on activation + 5,000 reward points. Axis Reserve: 50,000 EDGE points + Taj Epicure membership.