Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Discover vs SBI Card
SBI Card
Discover
Higher score in this comparison
What sets them apart
| Compare | DiscoverReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | SBI CardReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | ₹499 |
| APR | 18.49% to 28.49%Lower | 45% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 15 monthsHigher | 2 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 3% | 2%Lower |
| Credit needed | Good | Excellent |
| Rewards type | Cashback | Not confirmed |
| Rewards rate | 1% cash back on all other purchases; 5% cash back in rotating categories, plus dollar-for-dollar match in first year | Not confirmed |
| Perks | $0 fraud liability on unauthorized purchases, Unlimited Cashback Match: dollar for dollar match of cash back earned in the first 365 days, Free CreditWise credit monitoring and FICO Score 8 access, Pre approval tool that does not impact your credit score, Card Lock in the mobile app, 99% nationwide acceptance (Nilson Report, Feb 2026), Virtual card available before the physical card arrives, if eligible | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Card kind (Credit).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.
Key differences
- Discover scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 8.7.
- Founded is lower at Discover: 1985 vs 1998.
- APR is lower at Discover: 18.49% to 28.49% vs 45%.
- Balance transfer fee is lower at SBI Card: 2% vs 3%.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Discover: 15 months vs 2 months.
- Support channels: only Discover offers Chat, Help centre.
Our verdict on each
Discover
Discover suits people with a good credit history who want plain cash back and an annual fee of $0. The trade off is a balance transfer charge of 3% and an APR of 18.49% to 28.49%, so the savings depend on clearing balances and paying in full each month.
SBI Card
SBI Card is a credit card for Indian applicants with excellent credit, and the balance transfer option is the reason to look past its steep borrowing cost. It charges an APR of 45% and an annual fee of INR 499, with help on phone.
Score breakdown
| Area | Discover | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2HigherFee free to hold with an annual fee of $0; borrow rates are the weak spot at 18.49% to 28.49%. | 8.8Annual fee INR 499 and APR 45% push costs up, with a balance transfer fee of 2% the only relief. |
| Offer | 9.4HigherCash back on all spend, a match in the opening year, a transfer window of 15 and phone support via phone, chat and help centre. | 8.1A 2 month balance transfer window is the whole offer, and phone support adds little. |
| Trust | 9.2Higher | 8.9 |
Moving a 3,000 balance
Discover
90
3% of 3,000
SBI Card
60
2% of 3,000
SBI Card comes out 30 lower in this example.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Discover | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Credit and debit cards | 306 of 1594 | 52 of 1594 |
| Credit cards | 102 of 421 | 19 of 421 |
| Balance transfer cards | 10 of 32 | 2 of 32 |
Where these facts come from
Discover
- discover.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- capitalone.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
SBI Card
- sbicard.com: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- cuelinks.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Discover | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | Not confirmed |
| Features | Rewards | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Discover by Capital One, N.A. | SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited |
| Headquarters | United States | India |
| Founded | 1985Lower | 1998 |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centreCovers more | Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Discover | SBI Card | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 18.49% to 28.49%above the median | 45%highest quarter | 11.635 |
| Balance transfer intro period | 15 monthsabove the median | 2 monthslowest quarter | 12 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 3%at the median | 2%below the median | 3% |
Median across 486 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Discover
Pros
- An annual fee of $0, and Discover ranks 1 of 312 brands on that measure.
- Cash back on all purchases plus a matching amount added in the opening year, on a card that costs $0 to hold.
- A balance transfer offer of 15 at 3%, against a group median of 2.72% on headline rate.
Cons
- The APR of 18.49% to 28.49% runs well above the credit card median of 16%, so carrying a balance month to month is expensive.
- The balance transfer charge of 3% lands on top of an offer of 15, which cuts into what the transfer saves.
- The higher cash back rate sits in rotating categories, so the rate earned on a given purchase can move from month to month.
SBI Card
Pros
- A balance transfer charges 2% and runs for 2 months, the one lower interest route on the card.
- Card type is credit, and the issuer has been issuing cards since 1998.
- Support runs on phone for anyone who wants to talk a balance down with the issuer.
Cons
- An APR of 45% makes any carried balance costly, and the annual fee of INR 499 ranks 223 out of 312.
- Support runs on phone only, so no written or online help route is listed.
- The credit bar is excellent, and only 5.6% of cards in the credit card comparison ask for as much.
Who each suits
Discover
Who it suits
- People with a good credit history who spend across many merchants and want cash back rather than points.
- Anyone clearing an old balance and happy to pay 3% to move it inside 15.
- Cardholders who would rather call than email, since the listed routes are phone, chat and help centre.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for anyone who needs no interest at all on what they owe: Varo Believe Secured Credit Card lists an APR of 0%.
- Not for readers who judge on the annual fee alone: bunq and Wise both sit at €0 and £0, so the deciding facts here are 15 of transfers at 3% and the cash back match.
SBI Card
Who it suits
- Indian applicants with excellent credit who want to shift an existing card balance onto a lower interest option.
- Borrowers who plan to clear the moved balance inside the 2 month low interest window.
- Cardholders who would rather call phone than work through online self service.
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise and bunq, which show annual fees of £0 and €0, suit spending that carries no borrowing cost.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, with an annual fee of $0, suits applicants building a credit record rather than moving a balance.
- bunq, with an annual fee of €0, suits anyone who wants a card without paying for a balance transfer option.
Current offers
Discover
Current offer
Bonus
Discover it Cash Back $200 welcome bonus: $200 statement credit after spending $500 on purchases within 3 months of account opening
One-time, new cardholders only, available by clicking Apply Now on the page; may not be available if you navigate away or close the page
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Unlimited Cashback Match on Discover it Cash Back: Dollar-for-dollar match of all cash back earned in the first 365 days, no limit
For new cardholders; no purchase minimums; offered from account approval through first 365 days; promotional offer may not be available in the future
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
0% intro APR on Discover it Cash Back: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
Eligible customers only; 18.49% to 28.49% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Discover | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| India | No | Yes |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Discover
What does Discover cost to hold the card?+
The annual fee is $0, and on that measure Discover sits at 1 of 312 brands on the site, so holding the card costs nothing at the front door. What you do pay is interest on a carried balance, which runs at 18.49% to 28.49%. Card offers are judged on both numbers.
What are the balance transfer terms?+
The transfer offer runs for 15 and the charge is 3% on the balance you move. Read the two together: the window sets how long you have to clear the old balance, and the charge sets what the move costs. It is a one off cost attached to the transfer rather than a running fee.
SBI Card
What does SBI Card charge each year?+
The annual fee is INR 499, on a card that is a credit product rather than a charge card. Interest builds only if a balance is carried, so clearing the statement in full avoids the rate. The balance transfer route adds 2% on top, and that fee is the figure to weigh against the annual cost.
What is the APR on an SBI Card?+
The APR is 45%, which is high against the wider credit card set, where the card ranks 128 out of 138. Paying in full each month means the rate is never charged. Anyone planning to carry a balance should treat 45% as the true cost of this card.
Other options to compare
SBI Card
Discover