SBI Card PRIME vs SimplySAVE SBI Card
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
SBI Card PRIME and SimplySAVE SBI Card differ first on recurring cost: SBI Card PRIME has an annual fee of ₹2,999 + GST against ₹499 + GST for SimplySAVE SBI Card, so SimplySAVE SBI Card is cheaper to hold. On rewards, SBI Card PRIME earns 0.5% in Reward Points while SimplySAVE SBI Card earns 1 Reward Point per ₹150 spent on all other categories. Both publish the same 3.5% forex markup. 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 2026-08-25. Confirm final terms with the issuer.
| Feature | SBI Card PRIME | SimplySAVE SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | SBI Card | SBI Card |
| Joining fee | ₹2,999 + GST | ₹499 + GST |
| Annual fee | ₹2,999 + GST | ₹499 + GST |
| Fee waiver | ₹3,00,000 annual eligible spend | ₹1,00,000 annual eligible spend |
| Base rewards | 0.5% in Reward Points | 1 Reward Point per ₹150 spent on all other categories |
| Accelerated routes | dining/grocery/departmental stores/movies · birthday spends | 10 Reward Points per ₹150 on dining, movies, departmental stores and grocery |
| Reward exclusions | fuel, rent, wallet load | fuel |
| Forex markup | 3.5% | 3.5% |
| Fuel surcharge waiver | 1% fuel surcharge waiver up to ₹250/mo | 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹500 and ₹3,000, capped at ₹100 per statement cycle |
| Domestic lounge | 8/yr (2 per quarter) | none |
| International lounge | 4/yr Priority Pass (2 per quarter) | none |
| Card networks | Visa, Mastercard, RuPay | Visa, Mastercard, RuPay |
| Best suited to | dining, grocery, milestone spender | dining, grocery, first credit card |
| Issuer evidence | Checked 2026-08-06 | Checked 2026-08-19 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the SBI Card PRIME better than the SimplySAVE SBI Card?
Neither is universally better. SBI Card PRIME charges ₹2,999 + GST a year and earns 0.5% in Reward Points; SimplySAVE SBI Card charges ₹499 + GST and earns 1 Reward Point per ₹150 spent on all other categories. 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, SBI Card PRIME or SimplySAVE SBI Card?
SimplySAVE SBI Card has the lower recorded annual fee at ₹499 + 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, SBI Card PRIME or SimplySAVE SBI Card?
Both publish a 3.5% forex markup, so compare international reward eligibility and lounge access instead.
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.