Apollo SBI Card vs SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card Compared
Which credit card suits you? Side by side on the numbers that decide it. A blank means the provider has not published that figure, not that it is zero. Data last verified: 11 October 2026.
| Feature |  Apollo SBI CardState Bank of India2 recent changes → |  SBI SimplySAVE Credit CardState Bank of India4 recent changes → | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rewards by spend | |||
| Rewards | 0.5% base, up to 2% on dining; 3% only at partner merchants | 0.17% base, up to 1.67% on dining | |
| UPI payments (scan and pay)same | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Online shopping | 0.5% | 0.17% | |
| Dining and food delivery | 2% | 1.67% | |
| Groceries | 0.5%; 3% only at Apollo 24|7, Apollo Pharmacy, Apollo Hospitals & Clinics | 1.67% | |
| Travel: flights, hotels, trains | 0.5% | 0.17% | |
| Fuelsame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Bills and recharges | 0.5% | 0.17% | |
| Rentsame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Insurance premiums | 0.5% | 0.17% | |
| School and college fees | 0.5% | 0.17% | |
| Wallet top-ups | Earns nothing | 0.17% | |
| Taxes and government paymentssame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Spend abroad or in a foreign currency | 0.5% | 0.17% | |
| Everything else | 0.5% | 0.17% | |
| Card identity | |||
| Card type | Grocery | Dining | |
| Network | Mastercard | Visa | |
| Card tiersame | Entry | Entry | |
| Fees | |||
| Joining feesame | ₹499 + GST | ₹499 + GST | |
| Annual feesame | ₹499 + GST | ₹499 + GST | |
| Fee waived atsame | ₹1,00,000 | ₹1,00,000 | |
| Eligibility | |||
| Employment typesame | BOTH | BOTH | |
| Rewards | |||
| Reward typesame | Reward points | Reward points | |
| Point value | ₹1 | ₹0 | |
| Fuel surcharge | |||
| Fuel surcharge waiversame | Yes | Yes | |
| Fuel waiver cap | - | ₹100 | |
| Forex and international | |||
| Forex markupsame | 3.5% | 3.5% | |
| Interest and charges | |||
| Interest rate (monthly)same | 3.75% | 3.75% | |
| Interest rate (annual)same | 45% | 45% | |
| Page content | |||
| Documents needed | PAN card Aadhaar / address proof Income proof (salary slips or ITR) Recent passport-size photograph | PAN card Aadhaar / valid address proof Latest 3 months bank statement Income proof, salary slips (salaried) or ITR (self-employed) Recent passport-size photograph | |
| Apply | Apply Now | Apply Now | |
Worth in Rupees at ₹20,000 a Month
- Rewards a year
- ₹2,100
- Fee a year
- ₹0
- You keep
- ₹2,100
- Rewards a year
- ₹1,320
- Fee a year
- ₹0
- You keep
- ₹1,320
At this spend, Apollo SBI Card comes out ₹780 a year ahead of SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card. Worked out from each card's published reward rate, caps and fee, on ₹20,000 a month. Your own spend changes the answer: try the rewards calculator.
Best For
- Groceries only at Apollo 24|7, Apollo Pharmacy, Apollo Hospitals & Clinics: 3% back
- Dining: 2% back
- Spending ₹8,333 or more a month: the ₹589 fee is waived
- First-time card users
- Families with regular grocery bills
- People who eat out often
Watch-Outs
- Skip it if you spend less than ₹8,333 a month (₹1,00,000 a year, rent and wallet loads not counted): the ₹589 fee is then charged
- Skip it if most of your spending is fuel, rent, wallet top-ups or government payments: those earn nothing on this card
- Skip it if you pay mostly by UPI: a Visa or Mastercard card cannot pay by UPI
- Skip it if you rarely spend on Apollo 24|7, Apollo Pharmacy, Apollo Hospitals & Clinics: the 3% rate applies only there, everything else earns 0.5%
- Very low rate outside 10X categories
- Accelerated points are capped monthly
- No lounge access
Card data sourced via CardAdvisor.in (Apollo SBI Card, SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card), India Credit Card Facts, CC BY 4.0, adapted by SkyloFin.
Questions People Ask
Which has the lower annual fee, Apollo SBI Card or SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card?
They charge the same annual fee. Apollo SBI Card: ₹499; SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card: ₹499.
Which is better for spending abroad?
Apollo SBI Card has the lowest forex markup. Apollo SBI Card: 3.5%; SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card: 3.5%. The markup is charged on every foreign-currency transaction, before GST.
Which earns more on everyday spending?
On spends outside any bonus category: Apollo SBI Card 0.5%, SBI SimplySAVE Credit Card 0.17%. Bonus categories, rates limited to named merchants and monthly caps change the picture, so compare the rewards by spend too.
Can I hold more than one of these cards?
Usually yes, if each bank approves you. Many people keep one card for everyday spending and another for a specific use such as travel. Each application is a separate credit check.
Work Out the Numbers
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