Google Pay Flex SBI Card
SBI Card and Google announced the Google Pay Flex SBI Card on 28 July 2026, with the card going live for applications from 29 July.
It is a fully digital co-branded card you apply for, use and manage inside the Google Pay app, it earns “Stars” worth ₹1 each, and it carries a joining and annual fee of ₹499 + 18% GST, reversed on annual spends of ₹1,00,000.
At a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Announced | 28 July 2026 (Mumbai) |
| Applications open | 29 July 2026 |
| Joining fee | ₹499 + 18% GST (₹589 effective) |
| Annual renewal fee | ₹499 + 18% GST |
| Fee reversal | On ₹1,00,000 annual spends in the previous membership year |
| Networks | RuPay and Visa (your choice at application) |
| UPI linking | RuPay variant only |
| Tokenisation | Both variants, on Google Pay, for tap-to-pay |
| Reward currency | Stars 1 Star = ₹1 |
| Annual reward cap | 18,000 Stars |
What’s Changing
Flex by Google Pay launched in India in December 2025 with Axis Bank as the only issuer. SBI Card is now the second issuer on the platform, which matters because SBI Card is India’s largest pure-play card issuer this is the first time its underwriting is available through a UPI app’s own credit journey.
Reward rates as published:
| Tier | Condition | Stars per ₹500 spent | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | All eligible spends | 1 Star | 0.2% |
| Activation | First two reward cycles | 2 Stars | 0.4% |
| Accelerated | Minimum ₹100 spent in the previous statement cycle | 2 Stars | 0.4% |
| Milestone 1 | Spends above ₹15,000 in the current billing cycle | Up to 4 Stars | 0.8% |
| Milestone 2 | Spends above ₹30,000 in the current billing cycle | Up to 8 Stars | 1.6% |
Stars accrue on cumulative spends, not per transaction, and can be redeemed instantly against a UPI payment made with the card on Google Pay, or against vouchers in the app.
Welcome benefits total ₹1,000: ₹500 credited on your first payment via Google Pay, plus Stars worth ₹500 credited when the joining fee is paid.
Who Is Affected
This is a new card, so nobody’s existing product changes. It is aimed squarely at people who already live inside the Google Pay app and spend on groceries, utility and bill payments, travel bookings and shopping.
If you want credit on UPI, pick the RuPay variant the Visa variant cannot be linked to UPI and you lose the card’s single biggest reason to exist.
Existing SBI Card holders are not migrated to this card. It is a separate application.
What This Means for You
The headline “up to ₹18,000 a year” needs unpacking. At the top rate of 1.6%, hitting the 18,000-Star cap requires roughly ₹11,25,000 of annual spend, about ₹94,000 a month, every month. Almost nobody reading this will get there.
Here is what realistic spending returns, before the fee:
| Monthly spend | Applicable tier | Stars a year | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₹8,000 | Accelerated (0.4%) | ~384 | ₹384 |
| ₹16,000 | Milestone 1 (0.8%) | ~1,536 | ₹1,536 |
| ₹35,000 | Milestone 2 (1.6%) | ~6,720 | ₹6,720 |
Two things follow. First, the milestone thresholds are per billing cycle, not annual a month where you spend ₹14,000 drops you back to the base 0.2%, so the return is lumpy unless your spending is consistently above ₹30,000.
Second, the fee is effectively free for most users: ₹1,00,000 in annual spend is ₹8,334 per month, which anyone routing everyday UPI spends through the card will easily cover.
The genuine draw is not the rate it is redemption. Stars apply instantly to a UPI payment at ₹1 each, which is cleaner than SBI Card’s usual 4 Reward Points = ₹1 catalogue redemption. There is no waiting for a statement cycle and no vouchers you never use.
What to do now: if you spend above ₹30,000 a month on everyday categories and pay through Google Pay, this is worth an application. If you spend under ₹15,000 a month, a flat-rate cashback card will beat 0.2–0.4% comfortably.
Compare it against the SBI Cashback Card review before you decide, and see our best UPI-linked RuPay credit cards list for the full field.
FAQs
Is the Google Pay Flex SBI Card lifetime free? No. It costs ₹499 + GST to join and the same to renew, but the renewal fee is reversed if you spend ₹1,00,000 in the previous membership year.
Can I link it to UPI? Only if you choose the RuPay variant. The Visa variant supports tokenised tap-to-pay on Google Pay but not UPI.
What is a Star worth? 1 Star = ₹1, redeemable instantly against a UPI payment on Google Pay or against vouchers in the app.
Can I apply outside the Google Pay app? The card is designed as a digital journey inside Google Pay. It is also listed on the SBI Card website. [VERIFY]
Bottom Line
Take it if you spend ₹30,000 or more a month through Google Pay and value instant, no-friction redemption. Skip it if your monthly spend is under ₹15,000 you will sit at 0.2–0.4% and a plain cashback card will do better with less arithmetic.
Fees and features are as of 6 August 2026. Confirm current terms on SBI Card’s site before applying.