IRCTC SBI Card Premier vs SBI Card MILES PRIME 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 | IRCTC SBI Card PremierState Bank of India5 recent changes → | SBI Card MILES PRIMEState Bank of India4 recent changes → | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rewards by spend | |||
| Rewards | 0.8% base, up to 2.4% on dining; 8% only at partner merchants | 0.5% base, up to 1% on travel | |
| UPI payments (scan and pay)same | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Online shopping | 0.8% | 0.5% | |
| Dining and food delivery | 2.4% | 0.5% | |
| Groceries | 0.8% | 0.5% | |
| Travel: flights, hotels, trains | 0.8%; 8% only at IRCTC | 1% | |
| Fuelsame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Bills and recharges | 2.4% | Earns nothing | |
| Rentsame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Insurance premiums | 0.8% | Earns nothing | |
| School and college fees | 0.8% | Earns nothing | |
| Wallet top-upssame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Taxes and government payments | Earns nothing | Not stated | |
| Spend abroad or in a foreign currency | 0.8% | 0.5% | |
| Everything else | 0.8% | 0.5% | |
| Card identity | |||
| Card typesame | Travel | Travel | |
| Network | Visa | Mastercard | |
| Card tier | Mid | Premium | |
| Fees | |||
| Joining fee | ₹1,499 + GST | ₹2,999 + GST | |
| Annual fee | ₹1,499 + GST | ₹2,999 + GST | |
| Fee waived at | ₹2,00,000 | ₹10,00,000 | |
| Eligibility | |||
| Min age | - | 21 years | |
| Max age | - | 70 years | |
| Employment type | - | BOTH | |
| Rewards | |||
| Reward type | Reward points | Air miles | |
| Point valuesame | ₹1 | ₹1 | |
| Fuel surcharge | |||
| Fuel surcharge waiversame | Yes | Yes | |
| Fuel waiver capsame | ₹250 | ₹250 | |
| Lounge access | |||
| Domestic lounge visits | 0 | 8 | |
| International lounge visits | 0 | 4 | |
| Railway lounge visits | 8 | - | |
| Lounge programme | - | PRIORITY_PASS | |
| Priority Pass | No | Yes | |
| Lounge condition | 8 complimentary railway lounge visits a year (2 per quarter) at participating stations | 8 domestic airport lounge visits/year (max 2/quarter) plus Priority Pass with 4 international visits/year. 1 extra domestic visit per ₹1 lakh spend, capped at 12/year. Priority Pass free for first 2 years | |
| Forex and international | |||
| Forex markup | 3.5% | 2.5% | |
| Interest and charges | |||
| Interest rate (monthly) | - | 3.75% | |
| Interest rate (annual) | - | 45% | |
| Page content | |||
| Documents needed | - | 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
- ₹2,880
- Fee a year
- ₹0
- You keep
- ₹2,880
- Rewards a year
- ₹1,500
- Fee a year
- - ₹3,539
- You keep
- - ₹2,039
At this spend, IRCTC SBI Card Premier comes out ₹4,919 a year ahead of SBI Card MILES PRIME. 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
- Travel only at IRCTC: 8% back
- Dining: 2.4% back
- Spending ₹16,667 or more a month: the ₹1,769 fee is waived
- Flyers: some airport lounge visits a year
- Frequent flyers
- People who spend heavily on travel
- Travellers who want Priority Pass access
Watch-Outs
- Skip it if you spend less than ₹16,667 a month (₹2,00,000 a year, rent and wallet loads not counted): the ₹1,769 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 IRCTC: the 8% rate applies only there, everything else earns 0.8%
- Fee waiver needs Rs 10 lakh a year, which most people will not reach
- Base return of about 0.5% is low
- Credits are worth the most only when redeemed for travel
Card data sourced via CardAdvisor.in (IRCTC SBI Card Premier, SBI Card MILES PRIME), India Credit Card Facts, CC BY 4.0, adapted by SkyloFin.
Questions People Ask
Which has the lower annual fee, IRCTC SBI Card Premier or SBI Card MILES PRIME?
IRCTC SBI Card Premier. IRCTC SBI Card Premier: ₹1,499; SBI Card MILES PRIME: ₹2,999. Check whether a spend-based waiver applies before you decide.
Which is better for spending abroad?
SBI Card MILES PRIME has the lowest forex markup. SBI Card MILES PRIME: 2.5%; IRCTC SBI Card Premier: 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: IRCTC SBI Card Premier 0.8%, SBI Card MILES PRIME 0.5%. 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?
IRCTC SBI Card Premier: no complimentary lounge visits; SBI Card MILES PRIME: 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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