midVisa

SBI PULSE Credit Card Review (2026)

SBI's health-focused mid-tier card. 5x on pharmacies, hospitals, and health apps — a unique niche card for those with regular medical expenses.

Last updated: 2026-04-05· By PointsWallah Editorial

₹1,499
Annual Fee
2x
Base Rate / ₹100
0.5%
Effective Return
4
Domestic Lounges

Fee Details

Annual Fee₹1,499
Joining Fee₹1,499
Fee WaiverSpend 2L in a year
Income Required5L/year
NetworkVisa
Fuel Surcharge WaiverYes

Reward Rates

Currency: SBI Reward Points

Health and wellness (pharmacies, hospitals, health apps)
5x
per ₹100
Dining
4x
per ₹100
All other spends
2x
per ₹100
Point value: 1 SBI point ≈ ₹0.25 (optimal). So 2x per ₹100 = 0.5% effective return on base spends. See all redemption values →

Milestone Benefits

Spend ₹2L (annual)Bonus

2,000 bonus reward points on spending 2L

Lounge Access

Domestic
4 visits/year
International
0 visits/year
Network: DreamFolks — 4 domestic lounge visits per year
How lounge access works →

Our Review

The PULSE card targets a genuinely underserved niche: people with regular health-related spending. If you're buying medicines regularly from PharmEasy or 1mg, paying hospital bills, or have ongoing health subscriptions, the 5x earn rate on these spends can add up significantly. India's healthcare costs are rising fast, and this is one of the few cards that actually rewards you for that spending. The complimentary accident insurance adds a safety net. But if your health spending is minimal, this card offers nothing special — the 2x base rate and 4x dining are both beaten by cheaper alternatives. This is a specialized card for a specific spending pattern.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • + 5x on health and wellness — unique category not offered by most cards
  • + Complimentary health insurance benefits (personal accident cover)
  • + 4x on dining adds value for food spenders
  • + Moderate 2L fee waiver threshold

Cons

  • - 2x base rate is average
  • - Health and wellness category is niche — not everyone spends heavily here
  • - Only 4 domestic lounge visits, no international
  • - 1,499 fee is expensive for the benefits if health isn't a major spend category

Best For

everyday spenddining

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the SBI PULSE Credit Card worth it in 2026?

It depends on your spending. The SBI PULSE Credit Card costs ₹1,499/year (waiver: Spend 2L in a year). With an effective base return of 0.5%, you'd need to spend approximately ₹3.0L per year just to break even on the fee. If your annual spend exceeds that, the card earns you money.

What is the SBI PULSE Credit Card annual fee?

The SBI PULSE Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹1,499. Joining fee is also ₹1,499. Fee waiver: Spend 2L in a year.

What is the minimum salary required for SBI PULSE Credit Card?

The minimum annual income required for the SBI PULSE Credit Card is ₹5L. However, if you have an existing banking relationship with SBI Card, you may get approved at a lower income level.

Disclaimer: This review is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Card features, fees, and reward structures may change without notice. Please verify all details on SBI Card's website before applying. We may earn a commission if you apply through our links — this does not affect our editorial assessment.