AU Zenith Credit Card vs KrisFlyer SBI Card Apex 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 |  AU Zenith Credit CardAU Small Finance Bank7 recent changes → |  KrisFlyer SBI Card ApexState Bank of India2 recent changes → | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rewards by spend | |||
| Rewards | 0.75% base, up to 1.25% on dining | 1.5% base, up to 2% on foreign spends | |
| UPI payments (scan and pay)same | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Online shopping | 0.75% | 1.5% | |
| Dining and food delivery | 1.25% | 1.5% | |
| Groceries | 1.25% | 1.5% | |
| Travel: flights, hotels, trains | 0.75% | 1.5% | |
| Fuelsame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Bills and recharges | 0.25% | Earns nothing | |
| Rentsame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Insurance premiums | 0.25% | 1.5% | |
| School and college fees | Earns nothing | 1.5% | |
| Wallet top-ups | 0.75% | Earns nothing | |
| Taxes and government paymentssame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Spend abroad or in a foreign currency | 1.25% | 2% | |
| Everything else | 0.75% | 1.5% | |
| Card identity | |||
| Card type | Dining | International | |
| Network | Visa | Mastercard | |
| Card tier | Premium | Super premium | |
| Fees | |||
| Joining fee | ₹7,999 + GST | ₹9,999 + GST | |
| Annual fee | ₹7,999 + GST | ₹9,999 + GST | |
| Fee waived at | ₹5,00,000 | - | |
| Eligibility | |||
| Min age | 21 years | - | |
| Max age | 65 years | - | |
| Employment typesame | BOTH | BOTH | |
| Rewards | |||
| Reward type | Reward points | Air miles | |
| Point value | ₹0 | ₹1 | |
| Fuel surcharge | |||
| Fuel surcharge waiversame | Yes | Yes | |
| Fuel waiver cap | ₹100 | - | |
| Lounge access | |||
| Domestic lounge visitssame | 8 | 8 | |
| International lounge visitssame | 8 | 8 | |
| Railway lounge visits | 8 | - | |
| Lounge programmesame | PRIORITY_PASS | PRIORITY_PASS | |
| Priority Passsame | Yes | Yes | |
| Lounge condition | Spend Rs 50,000 in the previous quarter for domestic lounge access | 8 complimentary domestic lounge visits a year (2 per quarter) plus Priority Pass (worth $99) with 8 international visits a year (max 2 per quarter). Membership is primary-cardholder only and complimentary for 2 years; a $27 usage fee applies per visit bey | |
| Forex and international | |||
| Forex markup | 3.49% | 3.5% | |
| Interest and charges | |||
| Interest rate (monthly) | 3.75% | - | |
| Interest rate (annual) | 45% | - | |
| Page content | |||
| Documents needed | PAN card Aadhaar / valid address proof Latest 3 months bank statement Income proof, salary slips (salaried) or ITR (self-employed) Recent passport-size photograph | PAN card Aadhaar / address proof Income proof (salary slips or ITR) Recent passport-size photograph | |
| Apply | Apply Now | Apply Now | |
Worth in Rupees at ₹20,000 a Month
- Rewards a year
- ₹2,112
- Fee a year
- - ₹9,439
- You keep
- - ₹7,327
- Rewards a year
- ₹3,900
- Fee a year
- - ₹11,799
- You keep
- - ₹7,899
At this spend, AU Zenith Credit Card comes out ₹572 a year ahead of KrisFlyer SBI Card Apex. 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
- High spenders who can reach Rs 5 lakh a year
- Occasional international travellers
- People who want concierge service
- Foreign spends: 2% back
- Flyers: 16 airport lounge visits a year
Watch-Outs
- Reward rates were cut in January 2026
- No points on rent, fuel, education, government, EMI or BBPS bills
- Domestic lounges need Rs 50,000 spend in the previous quarter
- ₹7,999 fee is steep if you miss the waiver
- Skip it if you spend less than ₹66,000 a month: below that the ₹11,799 fee costs more than the rewards
- Skip it if most of your spending is fuel, utility bills, rent or wallet top-ups: 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 often pay in foreign currency: 3.5% is added to every foreign spend
Card data sourced via CardAdvisor.in (AU Zenith Credit Card, KrisFlyer SBI Card Apex), India Credit Card Facts, CC BY 4.0, adapted by SkyloFin.
Questions People Ask
Which has the lower annual fee, AU Zenith Credit Card or KrisFlyer SBI Card Apex?
AU Zenith Credit Card. AU Zenith Credit Card: ₹7,999; KrisFlyer SBI Card Apex: ₹9,999. Check whether a spend-based waiver applies before you decide.
Which is better for spending abroad?
AU Zenith Credit Card has the lowest forex markup. AU Zenith Credit Card: 3.49%; KrisFlyer SBI Card Apex: 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: KrisFlyer SBI Card Apex 1.5%, AU Zenith Credit Card 0.75%. Bonus categories, rates limited to named merchants and monthly caps change the picture, so compare the rewards by spend too.
Which gives airport lounge access?
AU Zenith Credit Card: 8 domestic lounge visits a year; KrisFlyer SBI Card Apex: 8 domestic lounge visits a year. Some cards need a minimum spend in the quarter before a visit counts, so check the lounge terms.
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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Guides in Plain Words
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