Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Aqua Card vs SBI Card
SBI Card
Aqua Card
Higher score in this comparison
Where Aqua Card and SBI Card differ
| Compare | Aqua CardReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | SBI CardReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0 | ₹499 |
| APR | 39.9%Lower | 45% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 5 monthsHigher | 2 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 3% | 2%Lower |
| Credit needed | Poor | Excellent |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 1.99% to 3.5% |
| Perks | 24/7 fraud protection, Free credit score checks in the Aqua app, Aqua Coach credit building tool, Instalment plans, Offers and discounts from well known brands in the Aqua app, Contactless Mastercard, Instant spend with Apple Pay and Google Pay, UK based call centre support, Credit limit increases for well managed accounts | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- Aqua Card scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.7.
- APR is lower at Aqua Card: 39.9% vs 45%.
- Balance transfer fee is lower at SBI Card: 2% vs 3%.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Aqua Card: 5 months vs 2 months.
- Support channels: only Aqua Card offers Chat, Help centre.
Our verdict on each
Aqua Card
Aqua Card suits people with poor credit who want a UK credit card and tools to build their credit file. Its annual fee is £0, so the real cost sits in the representative APR of 39.9% charged on any balance you carry.
SBI Card
SBI Card suits business users in India who want a Visa credit line and a balance transfer route, though the pricing runs high. The APR of 45% is the figure to weigh, and the annual fee of INR 499 sits on top of it every year.
Score breakdown
| Area | Aqua Card | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8Annual fee of £0 on the Aqua Classic and balance transfer cards, with a balance transfer fee of 3%. | 8.8Annual fee INR 499 and APR 45% against free annual fees on Wise, £0, and Chime Card, $0. |
| Offer | 9.2HigherPerks centre on credit building: score checks, the Aqua Coach tool. | 8.1The offer is the balance transfer option, fee 2% with an intro period of 2, on Visa network visa. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.0 |
How they place
| Ranking | Aqua Card | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 183 of 1020 | 35 of 1020 |
| Balance transfer cards | 15 of 35 | 1 of 35 |
What we checked
Aqua Card
- aquacard.co.uk: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
SBI Card
- sbicard.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- cuelinks.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Aqua Card | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | Not confirmed |
| Features | Not confirmed | Virtual card, Travel |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Legal entity | NewDay Ltd | SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | India |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1998 |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centreCovers more | Phone |
Debit cards
| Fact | Aqua Card | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | Not confirmed | ₹0 to ₹9,999 |
| Card network | Not confirmed | Visa |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Aqua Card | SBI Card | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 39.9%highest quarter | 45%highest quarter | 19.39% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 1.99% to 3.5%above the median | 1 |
| Balance transfer intro period | 5 monthslowest quarter | 2 monthslowest quarter | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 3%at the median | 2%below the median | 3% |
Median across 312 listed cards.
Pros and cons
Aqua Card
Pros
- Annual fee of £0 on the Aqua Classic and on the balance transfer card
- Contactless Mastercard with instant spend through Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Support runs on phone, chat and help centre plus a UK based call centre
Cons
- Interest is the main cost, at a representative APR of 39.9% on the Aqua Classic and the balance transfer card
- The balance transfer offer runs for 5 and each transfer costs 3%
- It is a credit card, so it suits people ready to clear a balance each month rather than spend beyond their means
SBI Card
Pros
- Balance transfers are available, with a fee of 2% over an intro period of 2.
- Runs on the Visa network, so the card is accepted wherever Visa is taken: visa.
- Virtual card and travel features are both listed, which suits spending abroad: virtual card and travel.
Cons
- The APR is 45%, which ranks 123 of 133 brands on rate.
- An annual fee of INR 499 applies, against £0 on Wise and $0 on Chime Card.
- Support runs on phone only, so there is no listed written channel for questions.
Who each suits
Aqua Card
Who it suits
- People with poor credit who want a credit card that accepts an application
- Borrowers who want a fee free way to start a credit file in the UK
- Anyone who wants to check a credit score and track limits inside the app
Who should look elsewhere
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card or Chime Card, if you would rather put a deposit behind the card than rely on a credit check
- Starling Personal Account Debit Card, if you want a debit account that spends only what you hold
SBI Card
Who it suits
- Business owners in India who want a revolving Visa line and a balance transfer route for existing borrowing.
- Travellers who want a business card with travel features from a long established Indian issuer.
- Applicants with an excellent credit history, excellent, who can carry a high APR without strain.
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise, if the annual charge decides it: the annual fee is £0 against INR 499 here.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, whose annual fee is $0, for applicants building a credit history from scratch.
- Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card), with an annual fee of $0, if the lowest annual charge matters most.
Current offers
Aqua Card
Current offer
First period offer
0% on balance transfers for up to 5 months on the Aqua balance transfer credit card: 0% interest for up to 5 months, 3% balance transfer fee (minimum GBP 3)
Transfers must be made within 60 days of account opening; offer period runs from date of account opening; minimum payment must be made in full and on time and the credit limit must not be exceeded or the promotional rate is withdrawn; 34.9% APR representative variable
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Aqua Card | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| India | No | Yes |
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Aqua Card
Is there an annual fee on the Aqua Card?+
The annual fee is £0 on the Aqua Classic, and the balance transfer version carries the same figure. The only regular cost is therefore the interest on a balance you carry, at a representative APR of 39.9%.
What APR does the Aqua Card charge?+
The representative APR is 39.9%, which is high for a UK credit card. It suits people who clear their balance each month rather than rolling one, since interest accrues on whatever you carry.
SBI Card
What does an SBI Card cost to hold and borrow on?+
The annual fee is INR 499 on the cards in the range that charge an annual fee, and the APR is 45%. Borrowing at that rate is the main cost, and it sits at 123 of 133 brands in this comparison. Monthly fees run INR 0 to INR 9,999 on top, so the price depends on the card you pick.
What does it cost to spend in another currency?+
Currency conversion fees run 1.99% to 3.5% across the range and apply whenever a purchase is made abroad. Spending in the local currency avoids the conversion charge. Travel features are listed, virtual card and travel, though the conversion rate still applies to foreign transactions on any card in the range.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
SBI Card
Aqua Card