SBI Card PULSE Review
★ 3.0 / 5
At a Glance
| Joining Fee | ₹1,499 + GST |
| Annual Fee | ₹1,499 + GST (waived on ₹2,00,000 annual spends) |
| Best Suited For | Households with regular pharmacy, dining and movie spends |
| Reward Type | SBI Reward Points (4 points = ₹1) |
SBI Card PULSE is a health-and-wellness card built around one idea: your chemist bill should earn you something. You get 10 Reward Points per ₹100 at chemists, pharmacies, sports stores, restaurants and cinemas, a 2.5% return, plus a Noise smartwatch, a FITPASS PRO gym membership and a Netmeds First membership in year one. The catch is everything outside those five categories, which earns 0.5%, and a lounge benefit that SBI has quietly halved. This review uses SBI Card’s own MITC and lounge terms, because several popular comparison sites are still publishing benefits this card no longer has.
Rewards & Benefits
Reward rate & earn structure
The card runs a two-tier structure with a small list of accelerated categories.
| Spend category | Reward points | Effective return |
|---|---|---|
| Chemist & pharmacy | 10 RP per ₹100 | 2.5% |
| Dining | 10 RP per ₹100 | 2.5% |
| Movies | 10 RP per ₹100 | 2.5% |
| Sports goods & stores | 10 RP per ₹100 | 2.5% |
| Everything else | 2 RP per ₹100 | 0.5% |
Accelerated points are capped at 7,500 bonus Reward Points per month, after which those categories drop to the base 2 points per ₹100. At 10 points per ₹100 that cap arrives at roughly ₹75,000 of accelerated spending in a month, high enough that most cardholders will never touch it.
The 0.5% base rate is the number to sit with. It is low. On a ₹50,000 monthly bill where only ₹10,000 falls in the bonus categories, you earn 1,000 accelerated points plus 800 base points, 1,800 points, or ₹450, on ₹50,000 of spending. That is 0.9% blended.
Several categories earn nothing at all: fuel, cash withdrawals, balance transfers, wallet loads and EMI conversions are all outside the rewards programme. Rent payments attract a ₹199 processing fee per transaction (merchant category code 6513) and generally earn no points.
Redemption options & point value
Four Reward Points equal ₹1. Points can be redeemed against your outstanding statement balance, which is the cleanest option and the one that gives you the honest 2.5% / 0.5% rates quoted above, or against merchandise and vouchers in the SBI Card rewards catalogue.
Two things eat into that value. A ₹99 redemption fee applies to statement credit, physical products and physically dispatched vouchers. And Reward Points expire 24 months after they are earned, so a slow earner who saves points for a rainy day will lose them.
Practically, redeem in blocks of at least 2,000 points (₹500) so the ₹99 fee stays under 20% of what you’re claiming.
Welcome benefit
On payment of the joining fee you receive an e-voucher for a Noise ColorFit Pulse 4 Pro smartwatch, marketed at ₹7,999. The voucher arrives by email or SMS within about 21 working days and can only be redeemed for that specific model on the Noise website or app, it is not a general credit.
Treat the ₹7,999 as a sticker price, not cash. The same watch routinely sells for far less online, so the real value of this benefit is whatever you would otherwise have paid for a budget fitness tracker. If you already own a smartwatch, this welcome gift is worth close to nothing to you, and that changes the first-year maths considerably.
You also get two 12-month memberships, both of which renew each year when you pay the renewal fee:
- FITPASS PRO, access to gyms, yoga and fitness studios on the FITPASS network, bookable through the FITPASS app.
- Netmeds First, benefits and discounts on the Netmeds online pharmacy.
Both are typically released on payment of the joining or renewal fee together with at least one transaction on the card within 12 months. FITPASS PRO is the more valuable of the two, but only if a participating gym is near you, check the network in your city before you count this as a benefit.
Milestone benefits
One milestone: an e-voucher worth ₹1,500 on annual retail spends of ₹4,00,000. That is ₹33,333 a month, every month, on a card whose base rate is 0.5%. If you are pushing ₹4 lakh a year through this card outside the bonus categories, you are earning ₹2,000 in base points and ₹1,500 in voucher, ₹3,500 on ₹4,00,000, or under 0.9%. A flat-rate cashback card would pay you more.
Dining benefits
Dining is one of the five accelerated categories at 10 Reward Points per ₹100 (2.5%). There is no separate restaurant discount programme, no complimentary memberships to dining platforms, and no buy-one-get-one movie offer attached to this card.
Travel benefits
Beyond lounge access, the travel proposition is thin. Foreign currency transactions carry a 3.5% markup, which is at the high end of the market and makes this a poor card to carry abroad. There are no complimentary hotel memberships, air miles transfers or travel vouchers.
Airport lounge access (domestic / international)
This is where the card has changed, and where most published reviews are out of date.
| Lounge type | Complimentary visits | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic | 4 per year, capped at 1 per quarter | No minimum spend condition |
| International | Nil | Priority Pass membership only |
SBI Card’s own lounge terms for PULSE now state four domestic accesses a year, capped at one per quarter, down from the eight visits a year the card launched with. Many comparison sites still show 8; SBI’s terms document does not.
The Priority Pass benefit needs plain language, because it is easy to misread. You get the membership free of cost, with zero complimentary visits. Every lounge visit, domestic Priority Pass lounges, international lounges inside India, and lounges outside India, is charged at USD 27 plus taxes per visit, and the same rate applies to each guest. The charge hits your statement 60 to 120 days after the visit. A Priority Pass with no free visits is a discount card, not a benefit.
Unused quarterly domestic visits do not roll forward. If you fly twice in December, the second visit is chargeable.
Insurance & protection covers
| Cover | Amount |
|---|---|
| Fraud liability cover | ₹1,00,000 |
| Air accident cover | Discontinued |
SBI Card withdrew the ₹50 lakh complimentary air accident insurance on PULSE with effect from 15 July 2025, and did not replace it with anything. This was part of a wider withdrawal that also hit SBI Card ELITE, PRIME, Miles ELITE and Miles PRIME. Any page still advertising a ₹50 lakh air accident cover on this card is describing a benefit that no longer exists.
The fraud liability cover of ₹1 lakh remains and protects you against unauthorised transactions once the card has been reported lost or stolen in time. Baggage and travel document covers, confirm current status directly with SBI Card, since these sat alongside the withdrawn air accident policy.
Fees & Charges
Joining & annual fee, and how to get it waived
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Joining fee | ₹1,499 + GST |
| Renewal fee (2nd year onwards) | ₹1,499 + GST |
| Renewal fee waiver | Spend ₹2,00,000 in the preceding year |
| Add-on card fee | Nil |
All fees are exclusive of GST; 18% is added on top. Your actual outgo is ₹1,769 per year, not ₹1,499.
The waiver threshold of ₹2,00,000 a year works out to ₹16,667 a month. That is achievable for a salaried household running most of its spending through one card, but it is not automatic, and this is exactly the card people stop using after the first year once the smartwatch has arrived, then get billed ₹1,769 in month 13 for a card sitting in a drawer.
The break-even you actually need: to cover ₹1,769 through rewards alone at the 2.5% accelerated rate, you need about ₹70,800 of chemist, dining, movie and sports spending a year, roughly ₹5,900 a month. At the 0.5% base rate, break-even is ₹3.54 lakh. Work out which of those describes you before applying.
Forex markup
3.5% on foreign currency transactions, plus GST on the markup. Dynamic currency conversion is also charged at 3.5% on transactions of ₹1,000 or more done in rupees at an international merchant. On a ₹1,00,000 overseas trip that is ₹3,500 before tax. Use a different card abroad.
Interest rate & finance charges
Finance charges run at up to 3.75% per month, which is 45% per annum, from the transaction date, on any balance you carry. The minimum finance charge is ₹25. The interest-free period is 20 to 50 days and applies only to retail purchases when the previous month’s balance was paid in full.
Late payment charges are slabbed: ₹100 for dues above ₹100 up to ₹500, rising to ₹1,300 for dues above ₹50,000. An additional ₹100 is levied if you miss the minimum amount due for two consecutive cycles. SBI Card allows a 3-day grace period after the due date on accounts with no previous overdue.
At 45% annualised, one month of revolving a ₹50,000 balance costs roughly ₹1,875, more than the card’s entire annual fee. No reward rate on any card survives contact with revolving credit.
Fuel surcharge waiver
1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹500 and ₹4,000, capped at ₹250 per statement cycle. That is a genuinely generous cap, ₹3,000 a year at full use, against a ₹1,769 fee, and among the better fuel waivers on any SBI card at this fee level. Note that fuel spends earn no Reward Points, so the waiver is the entire fuel benefit.
Cash advance & other charges
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Cash advance fee | 2.5% of amount, minimum ₹500 |
| Interest on cash advance | 3.75% p.m. from withdrawal date, no interest-free period |
| Overlimit fee | 2.5% of overlimit amount, minimum ₹600 |
| Payment dishonour | 2% of payment, minimum ₹500 |
| Rent payment processing fee | ₹199 per transaction |
| Utility payments fee | 1% if utility spends exceed ₹50,000 in a cycle |
| Wallet load fee | 1% on every wallet load above ₹1,000 |
| Education payment via third-party apps | 1% |
| Rewards redemption fee | ₹99 |
| Card replacement | ₹100 – ₹250 |
Eligibility & Documents Required
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Age | 21 to 70 years |
| Residency | Indian resident |
| Income | Approximately ₹2,00,000+ per annum, indicative |
| Credit score | No published minimum; a score of 750+ improves your odds |
Documents: PAN card, Aadhaar or other KYC-accepted identity proof, address proof, and income proof, salary slips for the last three months or Form 16 for salaried applicants, ITR for self-employed applicants.
SBI Card does not publish a fixed income cut-off for PULSE and assesses each application on income, bureau record and existing exposure. No card issuer, and no website, can promise you approval.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 2.5% back on chemist, pharmacy, dining, movies and sports | 0.5% base rate on everything else is poor |
| Welcome smartwatch plus FITPASS PRO and Netmeds First memberships | Domestic lounge visits cut to 4 a year, 1 per quarter |
| ₹250 monthly fuel surcharge waiver cap, better than most peers | Priority Pass carries zero free visits at USD 27 each |
| ₹2 lakh fee waiver threshold is realistic for a primary card | 3.5% forex markup rules the card out for travel |
| Memberships renew every year, not just year one | ₹50 lakh air accident cover withdrawn July 2025 |
| Points redeemable as statement credit, not locked to a brand | ₹99 redemption fee and 24-month point expiry |
SBI Card PULSE vs Competitors
| SBI Card PULSE | Apollo SBI Card SELECT | SBI Cashback Card | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹1,499 + GST | ₹1,499 + GST | ₹999 + GST |
| Fee waiver spend | ₹2,00,000 | ₹3,00,000 | ₹2,00,000 |
| Core earn rate | 2.5% on 5 lifestyle categories | 10 RP per ₹100 at Apollo | 5% on all online spends |
| Base rate | 0.5% | Varies by category | 1% offline |
| Reward cap | ~7,500 bonus RP/month | Category caps apply | ₹5,000 cashback per cycle |
| Domestic lounge | 4 per year | 4 per year | None |
| Health perks | FITPASS PRO, Netmeds First, smartwatch | Health check-up, Apollo vouchers, FITPASS PRO | None |
| Best for | Mixed pharmacy, dining and movie spending | Households loyal to Apollo | Anyone who mostly shops online |
Apollo SBI Card SELECT is the sharper choice if your medical spending concentrates at Apollo pharmacies and Apollo 24/7, since points convert to Apollo Health Credits 1:1. It is the weaker choice if you buy medicines wherever is nearest, because PULSE rewards chemist spending generically rather than at one chain.
SBI Cashback Card is the uncomfortable comparison. It costs ₹770 less a year, pays 5% on all online spending capped at ₹5,000 a cycle, and needs no category-matching at all. It has no lounge access and no health perks, but for most people, plain cashback beats a smartwatch they’ll wear for three months.
Axis Bank Aura sits below all three at ₹499 for cards issued after 28 August 2024, with Practo consultations and fitness sessions. It is the budget wellness option if the memberships, not the rewards, are what you’re after.
How to Apply
- Go to the SBI Card PULSE page on sbicard.com and select Apply Now.
- Enter your mobile number and verify it with the OTP.
- Fill in personal, employment and income details, and complete PAN and Aadhaar verification.
- Upload income and address documents where prompted.
- Complete video KYC if SBI Card requests it.
- Track your application using the reference number on SBI Card’s application tracking page.
Approval typically takes 7 to 21 days including delivery, though timelines vary by profile and city. Existing SBI Card customers may also see PULSE as a pre-approved upgrade option in the SBI Card app, which usually moves faster than a fresh application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the SBI Card PULSE annual fee waived? Yes, on annual spends of ₹2,00,000 or more in the preceding year. The fee is ₹1,499 plus 18% GST, so ₹1,769 in total. The waiver applies to the renewal fee only, the first-year joining fee is always payable, and it is what releases the welcome smartwatch.
How many lounge visits does SBI Card PULSE give? Four complimentary domestic lounge visits per year, capped at one per quarter, with no minimum spend requirement. International lounge visits are not complimentary. The card includes a free Priority Pass membership, but every visit through it costs USD 27 plus taxes.
What is the reward rate on SBI Card PULSE? 10 Reward Points per ₹100 on chemist, pharmacy, dining, movies and sports spends, and 2 Reward Points per ₹100 on everything else. At 4 points to the rupee, that is 2.5% and 0.5% respectively.
Does SBI Card PULSE still offer air accident insurance? No. SBI Card discontinued the ₹50 lakh complimentary air accident cover on PULSE with effect from 15 July 2025 and has not replaced it. The ₹1 lakh fraud liability cover continues.
What is the minimum salary for SBI Card PULSE? SBI Card does not publish a hard income floor for this card. An annual income of around ₹2,00,000 is commonly cited as indicative, but approval depends on your credit bureau record and existing borrowings as well as income.
Which smartwatch do you get with SBI Card PULSE? A Noise ColorFit Pulse 4 Pro, delivered as an e-voucher within about 21 working days of paying the joining fee. The voucher is model-specific and cannot be used for any other product on the Noise store.
Do SBI Card PULSE reward points expire? Yes, 24 months after they are earned. A ₹99 redemption fee applies to statement credit and physically dispatched items, so redeem in larger blocks rather than a few hundred points at a time.
Is SBI Card PULSE good for international spending? No. The foreign currency markup is 3.5% plus GST, and there are no complimentary international lounge visits. Carry a lower-markup card abroad.
Bottom Line
SBI Card PULSE earns its fee for one specific household: the one with a recurring chemist bill, a habit of eating out, and a nearby gym on the FITPASS network. Spend around ₹6,000 a month across pharmacy, dining, movies and sports and the rewards alone cover the ₹1,769; add the fuel waiver and the memberships and you are comfortably ahead. The wellness memberships renewing every year, rather than only in year one, is the quietly underrated part of this card.
Skip it if you were drawn in by the smartwatch, that is a one-time ₹7,999 sticker on a card that will bill you ₹1,769 every year afterwards. Skip it if lounge access was the draw, because four visits a year with a one-per-quarter cap is barely a travel benefit, and the Priority Pass gives you nothing free. Skip it if you travel abroad, because of the 3.5% markup. And skip it if most of your spending is online and general, the SBI Cashback Card costs less and pays five times more on exactly that spending.
The honest summary: a decent category card that has been getting worse. The lounge allowance has halved and the air accident cover is gone, with no compensating improvement to the rewards. It is still worth holding if your spending fits the five bonus categories. It is no longer worth holding out of habit.
Fees and features are as of 22 August 2026 and are subject to change at the issuer’s discretion. Reward structures, lounge allowances and insurance covers on Indian credit cards change frequently, please confirm current terms on SBI Card’s official website and MITC before applying.
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