Club Vistara SBI Card Visa Credit Card vs ICICI Bank Sapphiro Visa Credit Card: Which is Better in 2026?
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In short: Club Vistara SBI has the lower annual fee (₹1,499 vs ₹3,500); Club Vistara SBI includes 4 airport lounge visits a year + Priority Pass, ICICI Sapphiro 4 airport lounge visits a quarter; both charge a 3.5% forex markup.
| Key facts | Club Vistara SBI | ICICI Sapphiro |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹1,499 | ₹3,500 |
| Joining fee | Not listed | ₹6,500 |
| Annual fee waived | Not listed | On ₹6 lakh annual spend |
| Lounge access | 4 airport lounge visits a year + Priority Pass | 4 airport lounge visits a quarter |
| Forex markup | 3.5% | 3.5% |
From issuer benefit data, checked 22 Oct 2026. Rewards, milestones and welcome benefits are in the full table below.
The Club Vistara SBI Card Visa Credit Card and the ICICI Bank Sapphiro Visa Credit Card both cater to premium travelers but differ in fee structure, rewards, and lounge access. Club Vistara focuses on travel rewards linked to Vistara flights with multiple ticket vouchers as milestones, while ICICI Sapphiro offers a broader reward points system with additional benefits like golf rounds and fuel surcharge waiver. Both cards provide complimentary lounge access domestically and internationally, though with different frequencies and networks.
Comparison notes and quick badges use AI, grounded in the benefit data shown in the table. Confirm details on each issuer’s site.
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| Feature | Club Vistara Sbi Card Visa Credit Card | ICICI Bank Sapphiro Visa Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Bank | SBI Cards | ICICI Bank |
| Network | Visa | Visa |
| Joining fee | — | Joining Fee of Rs.6500 |
| Annual / renewal fee | Annual Fees - Rs.1499 | Second Year Onwards Annual Fee of Rs.3500 |
| Annual fee waiver | — | Spend Rs.6 Lakh For Waiver of Annual Fee |
| Reward rate (headline) | Earn 3 CV Points For Every Rs. 200 | Earn 2 Reward Points per Rs.100 |
| Lounge — domestic | Enjoy 4 Complimentary Airport Lounge Access Per Year | 4 Complimentary Airport Lounge Access Per Quarter |
| Lounge — international | Complimentary Priority Pass Membership worth US $99 | 2 Complimentary International Airport Lounge Access |
| Welcome benefit | Welcome Benefit - Complimentary Economy Class Ticket Voucher | 20000 Reward Points Every Anniversary Year |
| Milestone benefit | Earn 1000 Bonus CV Points on Spend of Rs.50000 | — |
| Foreign currency markup | 3.5% - Foreign Currency Transactions | 3.50% - Foreign Currency Transactions |
Which is better for rewards?
For rewards, the Club Vistara SBI Card offers 3 CV points for every Rs. 200 spent, which is specifically tied to Vistara travel, plus bonus points and travel vouchers as milestones. ICICI Bank Sapphiro provides 2 reward points per Rs. 100 spent, with higher points on international spends and utilities, but no milestone bonuses. The Club Vistara card's rewards are more travel-centric and potentially more valuable for frequent Vistara flyers, while ICICI Sapphiro offers a more general rewards structure with some category bonuses.
Which is better for travel?
Both cards offer solid travel benefits including complimentary airport lounge access. Club Vistara provides 4 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year and a Priority Pass membership for international lounges, which is valuable for international travelers. ICICI Sapphiro offers 4 domestic lounge visits per quarter and 2 international lounge visits annually. The Club Vistara card’s travel benefits are more focused on Vistara flights with multiple ticket vouchers as welcome and milestone benefits, whereas ICICI Sapphiro’s travel perks are broader but without milestone travel vouchers.
Which has lower effective cost?
The Club Vistara SBI Card has an annual fee of Rs. 1499 with no explicit fee waiver mentioned, making it more affordable upfront. ICICI Bank Sapphiro has a high joining fee of Rs. 6500 and an annual fee of Rs. 3500 from the second year onwards, but the annual fee is waived if you spend Rs. 6 lakh annually. This makes Club Vistara more accessible for moderate spenders, while ICICI Sapphiro suits high spenders who can justify the fee waiver through their annual expenditure.
Milestone and Welcome Benefits
Club Vistara SBI Card offers multiple milestone benefits in the form of complimentary economy class ticket vouchers at various spend thresholds, plus a welcome complimentary economy class ticket voucher. ICICI Sapphiro provides 20,000 reward points every anniversary year but does not have milestone spend benefits. This makes Club Vistara more rewarding for travelers who meet the spend criteria.
Lounge Access Comparison
Club Vistara SBI Card provides 4 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year and a Priority Pass membership for international lounges, which is typically more valuable for frequent international travelers. ICICI Sapphiro offers 4 domestic lounge visits per quarter and 2 international lounge visits annually, providing more frequent domestic access but fewer international visits.
Fee Waiver Conditions
The ICICI Bank Sapphiro card offers an annual fee waiver if you spend Rs. 6 lakh in a year, which can significantly reduce the effective cost for high spenders. Club Vistara SBI Card does not specify any fee waiver conditions, so the Rs. 1499 annual fee applies regardless of spending.
Who should pick Club Vistara Sbi Card Visa Credit Card?
Consider Club Vistara SBI Card Visa Credit Card if you frequently fly with Vistara and want travel-focused rewards, including complimentary flight ticket vouchers and a Priority Pass membership. It is also a better choice if you prefer a lower annual fee and value domestic plus international lounge access. This card suits moderate spenders who want to maximize travel benefits linked to a specific airline.
Who should pick ICICI Bank Sapphiro Visa Credit Card?
Consider ICICI Bank Sapphiro Visa Credit Card if you are a high spender looking for a premium card with a broad rewards program that includes accelerated points on international spends and utilities. It is also suitable if you value additional lifestyle benefits like complimentary golf rounds and a fuel surcharge waiver. This card works well for those who can meet the high spending requirement to waive the substantial annual fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Club Vistara SBI Card has an annual fee of Rs. 1499 with no fee waiver mentioned. ICICI Bank Sapphiro has a joining fee of Rs. 6500 and an annual fee of Rs. 3500 from the second year onwards, which can be waived if you spend Rs. 6 lakh annually.
Club Vistara SBI Card offers 4 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year and a Priority Pass membership for international lounges. ICICI Bank Sapphiro offers 4 domestic lounge visits per quarter and 2 international lounge visits annually.
Club Vistara SBI Card provides a complimentary economy class ticket voucher as a welcome benefit. ICICI Bank Sapphiro offers 20,000 reward points every anniversary year but no specific welcome voucher.
Both cards charge a forex markup fee of 3.5% on foreign currency transactions.
ICICI Bank Sapphiro offers a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on all fuel transactions. Club Vistara SBI Card does not mention any fuel surcharge waiver.
Club Vistara SBI Card offers multiple milestone benefits such as bonus CV points and complimentary economy class ticket vouchers on reaching specific spend thresholds. ICICI Bank Sapphiro does not have milestone benefits.