ICICI Bank Rubyx vs SBI Card ELITE
A field-by-field comparison of fees, reward rates, accelerated categories, caps, exclusions, lounge access and forex markup, using each issuer's own published terms. Affiliate payout never decides the verdict.
Short answer
ICICI Bank Rubyx and SBI Card ELITE differ first on recurring cost: ICICI Bank Rubyx has an annual fee of ₹2,000 + GST against ₹4,999 + GST for SBI Card ELITE, so ICICI Bank Rubyx is cheaper to hold. On rewards, ICICI Bank Rubyx earns 2 ICICI Bank Reward Points per ₹100 on eligible domestic retail spend while SBI Card ELITE earns 2 Reward Points per ₹100 on eligible spends. SBI Card ELITE has the lower forex markup at 1.99%. Neither card wins outright: the better choice depends on which accelerated categories match your spend, the monthly caps, the exclusions and issuer approval fit.
Source: CardMasters issuer-evidence catalogue, release 2026-08-01. Confirm final terms with the issuer.
| Feature | ICICI Bank Rubyx | SBI Card ELITE |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | ICICI Bank | SBI Card |
| Joining fee | ₹3,000 + GST | ₹4,999 + GST |
| Annual fee | ₹2,000 + GST | ₹4,999 + GST |
| Fee waiver | ₹3,00,000 annual eligible spend | ₹10,00,000 annual eligible spend |
| Base rewards | 2 ICICI Bank Reward Points per ₹100 on eligible domestic retail spend | 2 Reward Points per ₹100 on eligible spends |
| Accelerated routes | international spends · utility, insurance and government payments | 10 Reward Points per ₹100; 10,000 accelerated-point monthly cap, then 2 points per ₹100 |
| Reward exclusions | fuel, rent, wallet load, cash advance, fees | balance transfer, balance transfer emi, flexipay, cash advance, easy money, encash, dial a draft, atm withdrawal, fees, fuel, rent, wallet load, government |
| Forex markup | 3.5% | 1.99% |
| Domestic lounge | 2/quarter (₹75,000 spend in previous quarter) | 8 complimentary visits per year, maximum 2 per quarter |
| International lounge | none | 6 complimentary Priority Pass visits outside India per calendar year, maximum 2 per quarter; paid thereafter |
| Card networks | Visa, Mastercard, Amex, RuPay | Visa, Mastercard |
| Best suited to | mid spender, movies, dual card | movies, dining, low forex |
| Issuer evidence | Checked 2026-08-01 | Checked 2026-07-30 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the ICICI Bank Rubyx better than the SBI Card ELITE?
Neither is universally better. ICICI Bank Rubyx charges ₹2,000 + GST a year and earns 2 ICICI Bank Reward Points per ₹100 on eligible domestic retail spend; SBI Card ELITE charges ₹4,999 + GST and earns 2 Reward Points per ₹100 on eligible spends. The better card is the one whose accelerated categories, caps and exclusions match your actual spending, after subtracting the annual fee and GST.
Which of the two has the lower annual fee, ICICI Bank Rubyx or SBI Card ELITE?
ICICI Bank Rubyx has the lower recorded annual fee at ₹2,000 + GST. A spend-based waiver may reduce the effective cost of the other card, so check the waiver threshold before deciding.
Which is better for international spending, ICICI Bank Rubyx or SBI Card ELITE?
SBI Card ELITE publishes the lower forex markup at 1.99% versus 3.5%. Also confirm whether international transactions earn rewards, since some issuers exclude them.
Can I hold both cards together?
Yes, provided each is approved on its own merits and you can pay both statements in full. Holding both makes sense only when their accelerated categories do not overlap; otherwise the second card adds an annual fee without adding rewards.