IDFC FIRST Ashva vs SBI Card PRIME

Full side-by-side comparison based on verified card data. Updated April 2026.

Quick Verdict

IDFC FIRST Ashva Credit Card wins 4 of 8 dimensions with a CardTrail Score of 8.5/10 vs 8.6/10.

Feature IDFC FIRST Ashva SBI Card PRIME
CardTrail Score 8.5/10 8.6/10
Annual Fee ₹2,999 ₹2,999
Base Reward Rate 0.83% 0.5%
Max Reward Rate 5% 5%
Forex Markup 1% 3.5%
Domestic Lounges 16 8
International Lounges 8 4
Fuel Surcharge Waiver Yes Yes
Network Visa Signature Visa Signature

When to Choose IDFC FIRST Ashva

  • You travel internationally — saves ₹2,500/year on ₹1L forex spend
  • Airport lounge access matters — 16 domestic visits
  • Your primary spend is: travel, lounge, forex

When to Choose SBI Card PRIME

  • You can meet the fee waiver condition: Renewal fee waived on annual spends of Rs. 3 lakhs
  • Your primary spend is: travel, dining, entertainment

Forex Cost Comparison

On ₹1,00,000 annual international spending: IDFC FIRST Ashva costs ₹1,180 in forex fees vs SBI Card PRIME at ₹4,130. You save ₹2,950/year with IDFC FIRST Ashva.

Annual Fee Value Analysis

To break even on IDFC FIRST Ashva's ₹2,999 fee at 0.83% rewards, spend ₹30,110/month.

To break even on SBI Card PRIME's ₹2,999 fee at 0.5% rewards, spend ₹49,983/month.