SBI Card MILES vs SBI Card PULSE
Calculate exact net annual returns in ₹ after fee waivers, milestone rewards, categories, and caps. Card terms verified 2026-07.
Quick Key Takeaways & Fact Summary
- Overall Winner: SBI Card MILES earns higher net annual returns at standard spend tiers.
- Annual Fee: SBI Card MILES (₹1499/yr) vs SBI Card PULSE (₹1499/yr).
- Base Reward Rate: SBI Card MILES (0.5 pts/₹100) vs SBI Card PULSE (2 pts/₹100).
- Lounge Access: SBI Card MILES (4 dom) vs SBI Card PULSE (4 dom).
Interactive Net Returns Calculator
Adjust spend profiles to compare total net value, annual fee waivers, category earnings, and milestone bonuses.
Your Monthly Spend
₹50,000/moE-Commerce & Online
Daily Essentials
Most cards earn ₹0 rewards on fuel (surcharge waiver only).
Frequently excluded from rewards in India.
Lifestyle, Bills & Other
Almost always earns ₹0 and may carry a fee.
Often excluded or capped.
1SBI Card · fee waived
2SBI Card · fee waived
Smart verdict
Get the SBI Card MILES — it earns you +₹3,620/yr over the SBI Card PULSE, mostly from your rent spend.
It flips to the SBI Card PULSE if that drops to about ₹0/mo.
How Your Spends Convert to Rewards
Live calculation breakdown for SBI Card MILES
| Spend Category | Monthly Spend | Reward Rate | Points Earned | Monthly Value | Annual Value | Status / Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Other Online Shopping | ₹6,000/mo | 0.5 Pts / ₹100 | 30 pts360 pts/yr | ₹30 | ₹360/yr | Active Earn |
Amazon Spends | ₹3,500/mo | 0.5 Pts / ₹100 | 18 pts216 pts/yr | ₹18 | ₹210/yr | Active Earn |
Flipkart Spends | ₹2,000/mo | 0.5 Pts / ₹100 | 10 pts120 pts/yr | ₹10 | ₹120/yr | Active Earn |
Dining & Food Delivery | ₹5,000/mo | 0.5 Pts / ₹100 | 25 pts300 pts/yr | ₹25 | ₹300/yr | Active Earn |
Groceries | ₹7,000/mo | 0.5 Pts / ₹100 | 35 pts420 pts/yr | ₹35 | ₹420/yr | Active Earn |
Fuel | ₹4,000/mo | 0.5 Pts / ₹100 | 20 pts240 pts/yr | ₹60(incl. ₹40 waiver) | ₹720/yr | Fuel Waiver Stacked |
Utilities & Bills | ₹4,000/mo | 0.5 Pts / ₹100 | 20 pts240 pts/yr | ₹20 | ₹240/yr | Active Earn |
Travel (Flights/Hotels) | ₹4,000/mo | 1 Pts / ₹100 | 40 pts480 pts/yr | ₹40 | ₹480/yr | Active Earn |
Rent | ₹10,000/mo | 0.5 Pts / ₹100 | 50 pts600 pts/yr | ₹50 | ₹600/yr | Active Earn |
Insurance | ₹1,500/mo | 0.5 Pts / ₹100 | 8 pts96 pts/yr | ₹8 | ₹90/yr | Active Earn |
Other / Offline | ₹3,000/mo | 0.5 Pts / ₹100 | 15 pts180 pts/yr | ₹15 | ₹180/yr | Active Earn |
Net annual value across spend levels
All ₹ values exclude GST. Perks like lounge access are shown separately and not added into net value. Rewards use your selected redemption mode (cashback / statement credit).
Card features side by side
Use the table for product rules; use the calculator above for value based on your actual spending.
| Feature | SBI Card MILESSBI Card | SBI Card PULSESBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Joining fee | ₹1,499 | ₹1,499 |
| Annual fee | ₹1,499/yr | ₹1,499/yr |
| Fee waiver | Spend ₹6,00,000/yr | Spend ₹2,00,000/yr |
| Base reward | 0.5 pts / ₹100 | 2 pts / ₹100 |
| Top reward categories | 1x travel | 10x dining |
| Redemption friction | Easy | Moderate |
| Point expiry | 24 months | 24 months |
| Lounge access | 4 dom · 0 intl⚠ Priority Pass worth $99 (2 years) | 4 dom · 0 intl⚠ Max 1 domestic/quarter |
| Forex markup | 3% | 3.5% |
| Fuel surcharge | 1% waiver, up to ₹100/mo | None |
| Min income · salaried | Not stated | Not stated |
| Min income · self-employed | Not stated | Not stated |
| Eligibility (as stated) | Not published by bank | Not published by bank |
| Recent devaluations | None recorded |
|
| Verified against | Updated 2026-07Official SBI Card Credit Card Page | Updated 2026-07Official SBI Card Credit Card Page |
Verdict at a Glance
Choose SBI Card MILES if your monthly spending is focused on travel.
Choose SBI Card PULSE if you spend heavily on dining.
SBI Card MILES vs SBI Card PULSE Spend Tier Breakdown
Simulated net annual returns across typical Indian monthly spending profiles.
SBI Card PULSE
At ₹25,000/month, SBI Card PULSE nets ₹3,359/yr vs SBI Card MILES at ₹391/yr — a ₹2,968 edge.
SBI Card MILES
At ₹50,000/month, SBI Card MILES nets ₹10,219/yr vs SBI Card PULSE at ₹6,599/yr — a ₹3,620 edge.
SBI Card MILES
At ₹1,00,000/month, SBI Card MILES nets ₹13,819/yr vs SBI Card PULSE at ₹9,959/yr — a ₹3,860 edge.
* Spend tier verdicts use standard category splits (cashback redemption mode). Actual net value depends on your specific spending categories.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, SBI Card MILES or SBI Card PULSE?▼
At a typical ₹50,000/month spend (cashback redemption), SBI Card MILES comes out ahead by about ₹3,620 per year, driven mostly by rent spend. Your own split can change the answer — use the calculator above to plug in your numbers.
Which card is better for online shopping, SBI Card MILES or SBI Card PULSE?▼
SBI Card MILES earns 0.5 pts/₹100 as a base, while SBI Card PULSE earns 2 pts/₹100. Check the accelerated online/Amazon/Flipkart rates and monthly caps in the table above, since caps often decide the winner for heavy online spenders.
What are the annual fees for SBI Card MILES and SBI Card PULSE?▼
SBI Card MILES: ₹1,499 + GST per year, waived on ₹6,00,000 annual spend. SBI Card PULSE: ₹1,499 + GST per year, waived on ₹2,00,000 annual spend.
Do SBI Card MILES and SBI Card PULSE earn rewards on rent, fuel and utilities?▼
Like most Indian cards, several everyday categories are excluded. SBI Card MILES excludes none noted; SBI Card PULSE excludes rent. The calculator shows these as ₹0 earners so your net value stays honest.
Is SBI Card PULSE ever the better pick over SBI Card MILES?▼
Yes. Holding other spends constant, SBI Card PULSE overtakes once your rent spend falls to roughly ₹0/month. Below that point the fee and base-rate maths flip in its favour.