Club Vistara Sbi Card Visa Credit Card vs ICICI Bank Sapphiro Visa Credit Card: Which is Better in 2026?
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The Club Vistara SBI Card Visa Credit Card and the ICICI Bank Sapphiro Visa Credit Card cater to premium travelers with distinct reward structures and fee profiles. Club Vistara focuses on airline-specific rewards and travel vouchers, while ICICI Sapphiro offers versatile reward points and golf benefits. Both cards provide airport lounge access but differ in fee waivers and milestone rewards.
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?
The Club Vistara SBI Card Visa Credit Card offers 3 CV Points for every Rs. 200 spent, plus milestone bonuses in the form of bonus CV points and travel vouchers, making it highly rewarding for frequent Vistara flyers. In contrast, the ICICI Bank Sapphiro Visa Credit Card earns 2 reward points per Rs. 100 spent, with higher points on international spends and utilities, but lacks milestone rewards. Overall, Club Vistara's rewards are more travel-centric and potentially more valuable for airline loyalty.
Which is better for travel?
Both cards provide complimentary airport lounge access, but with different scopes. Club Vistara offers 4 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year and a Priority Pass membership for international lounges, while ICICI Sapphiro provides 4 domestic lounge accesses per quarter and 2 international lounge accesses annually. Club Vistara also includes welcome and milestone travel vouchers, enhancing its travel benefits. ICICI Sapphiro adds golf rounds as a unique travel-related perk. Travel benefits are closely matched but differ in focus and frequency.
Which has lower effective cost?
The Club Vistara SBI Card has a lower annual fee of Rs. 1499 with no explicit fee waiver conditions mentioned, making it more straightforward and cost-effective for moderate spenders. The ICICI Bank Sapphiro charges a higher joining fee of Rs. 6500 and an annual fee of Rs. 3500 from the second year onwards, which can be waived only after spending Rs. 6 lakh annually. This makes the ICICI card more suitable for high spenders who can offset fees through benefits, whereas Club Vistara is more beginner-friendly in terms of fees.
Co-brand and Airline Focus
Club Vistara SBI Card is co-branded with Vistara Airlines, offering CV points redeemable for flights and travel vouchers, making it ideal for loyal Vistara customers. ICICI Sapphiro is a more general Visa credit card with no airline tie-up but provides broad rewards on various spend categories.
Fee Waiver Complexity
The ICICI Bank Sapphiro Visa Credit Card requires an annual spend of Rs. 6 lakh to waive the Rs. 3500 renewal fee, which may be challenging for some users. Club Vistara SBI Card does not specify any fee waiver conditions, offering a simpler fee structure.
Foreign Exchange Markup
Both cards charge a forex markup fee of 3.5% on foreign currency transactions, so neither offers an advantage for international spenders in terms of forex charges.
Who should pick Club Vistara Sbi Card Visa Credit Card?
Consider Club Vistara SBI Card Visa Credit Card if you are a frequent Vistara flyer seeking airline-specific rewards, travel vouchers, and complimentary Priority Pass membership. Its lower annual fee and milestone benefits make it suitable for travelers who want tangible travel perks without very high spending requirements.
Who should pick ICICI Bank Sapphiro Visa Credit Card?
Consider ICICI Bank Sapphiro Visa Credit Card if you prefer a versatile rewards program with enhanced points on international and utility spends, plus additional lifestyle benefits like golf rounds. It suits high spenders who can leverage the fee waiver by meeting the Rs. 6 lakh annual spend and want premium concierge and travel lounge access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Club Vistara SBI Card has an annual fee of Rs. 1499, while ICICI Bank Sapphiro charges Rs. 6500 as joining fee and Rs. 3500 annually from the second year onwards.
ICICI Bank Sapphiro waives the annual fee if you spend Rs. 6 lakh in a year. Club Vistara SBI Card does not specify any fee waiver conditions.
Club Vistara SBI Card provides 4 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year plus Priority Pass membership for international lounges. ICICI Sapphiro offers 4 domestic lounge accesses per quarter and 2 international lounge accesses annually.
Club Vistara SBI Card offers milestone benefits including bonus CV points and multiple economy class ticket vouchers based on annual spend. ICICI Sapphiro does not have milestone rewards.
Both cards charge a forex markup fee of 3.5% on foreign currency transactions.
Club Vistara SBI Card offers a complimentary economy class ticket voucher as a welcome benefit. ICICI Sapphiro provides Rs. 3000 worth of Tata CliQ vouchers, Rs. 4000 worth of EaseMyTrip vouchers, Rs. 1000 worth of Uber vouchers, and Rs. 1500 worth of Croma vouchers upon joining.