Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Sainsbury's vs SBI Card
SBI Card
Sainsbury's
Higher score in this comparison
Sainsbury's vs SBI Card: the differences
| Compare | Sainsbury'sReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | SBI CardReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0 | ₹499 |
| APR | 20.95%Lower | 45% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 34 monthsHigher | 2 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 2.88% to 3.88% | 2%Lower |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 1.99% to 3.5% |
| Rewards type | Points | Not confirmed |
| Rewards rate | 2 points per GBP1 at Sainsbury's, 1 point per GBP5 elsewhere | Not confirmed |
| Credit needed | Not confirmed | Excellent |
| Perks | Nectar points | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- Sainsbury's scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.7.
- Founded is lower at Sainsbury's: 1996 vs 1998.
- APR is lower at Sainsbury's: 20.95% vs 45%.
- Balance transfer fee is lower at SBI Card: 2% vs 2.88% to 3.88%.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Sainsbury's: 34 months vs 2 months.
- Features: only Sainsbury's offers Rewards.
- Features: only SBI Card offers Virtual card, Travel.
Our verdict on each
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's is a points credit card for shoppers who already spend with the supermarket and want no annual charge, paying 20.95% on borrowing. The balance transfer offer, with a fee of 2.88% to 3.88% across a 34 intro period, is the reason to look past the everyday card when old balances need clearing.
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 | Sainsbury's | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2HigherAnnual fee of £0 helps, but 20.95% interest and a 2.88% to 3.88% transfer fee keep costs mid-range. | 8.8Annual fee INR 499 and APR 45% against free annual fees on Wise, £0, and Chime Card, $0. |
| Offer | 9.0HigherPoints as the points reward plus a 34 balance transfer window cover everyday spend and old debt. | 8.1The offer is the balance transfer option, fee 2% with an intro period of 2, on Visa network visa. |
| Trust | 9.0 | 9.0 |
Moving a 3,000 balance
Sainsbury's
86.4 to 116.4
2.88% to 3.88% of 3,000
SBI Card
60
2% of 3,000
SBI Card comes out 26.4 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.
Also worth a look
HSBC UK has balance transfer intro period at 17 to 36 months, against 34 months for Sainsbury's and 2 months for SBI Card.
HSBC UK reviewWhere these facts come from
Sainsbury's
- clearscore.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- wp.estoaresearch.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- goodmoneyguide.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- lovemoney.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
SBI Card
- sbicard.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- cuelinks.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Sainsbury's | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 171 of 1020 | 35 of 1020 |
| Balance transfer cards | 13 of 35 | 1 of 35 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Sainsbury's | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | Not confirmed |
| Features | Rewards | Virtual card, Travel |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Legal entity | Sainsbury's Bank plc | SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | India |
| Founded | 1996Lower | 1998 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Phone |
Debit cards
| Fact | Sainsbury's | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | Not confirmed | ₹0 to ₹9,999 |
| Card network | Not confirmed | Visa |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Sainsbury's | SBI Card | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 20.95%above the median | 45%highest quarter | 19.39% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 1.99% to 3.5%above the median | 1 |
| Balance transfer intro period | 34 monthshighest quarter | 2 monthslowest quarter | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 2.88% to 3.88%below the median | 2%below the median | 3 |
Median across 312 listed cards.
Pros and cons
Sainsbury's
Pros
- Spending in the supermarket earns the stronger rate set out in 2 points per GBP1 at Sainsbury's, 1 point per GBP5 elsewhere, so card spend in a single place is worth more.
- Clearing an old balance is possible: the transfer window runs 34 and the charge for moving the balance is 2.88% to 3.88%.
- The card is issued by Sainsbury's Bank plc, trading since 1996, rather than by a newer entrant.
Cons
- Borrowing is not cheap: 20.95% applies to anything carried from one statement to the next, so the card only pays when balances are cleared.
- The balance transfer is a paid deal rather than a free one, with 2.88% to 3.88% for the balance moved and 20.95% charged outside the 34 window.
- The reward is points tied to a single supermarket chain, and the thinner part of 2 points per GBP1 at Sainsbury's, 1 point per GBP5 elsewhere covers everything else.
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
Sainsbury's
Who it suits
- Shoppers who put most of their card spend through the supermarket and already collect Nectar points.
- Borrowers clearing a balance on another card who can use the 34 window and pay the 2.88% to 3.88% fee.
- People who pay their statement in full each month and want a credit card carrying an annual fee of £0.
Who should look elsewhere
- Starling Personal Account Debit Card, where everyday spending comes straight from the account balance instead of accruing 20.95% on a credit card.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card or Chime Card, which also charge an annual fee and suit anyone focused on secured credit building rather than points at 2 points per GBP1 at Sainsbury's, 1 point per GBP5 elsewhere.
- Anyone who spends little in the supermarket, since the thinner rate in 2 points per GBP1 at Sainsbury's, 1 point per GBP5 elsewhere then covers most of the card use.
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.
Country by country
| Country | Sainsbury's | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| India | No | Yes |
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Sainsbury's
What does it cost to keep the card open?+
The annual fee is £0 on the main card, so there is no charge for holding it year on year. That applies to the card as issued; the balance transfer deal is the only other fee the terms set out, at 2.88% to 3.88% for the balance moved. Borrowing, not holding, is what costs money here.
What rate is charged if I carry a balance?+
Purchases that are not cleared each month are charged at 20.95%. That rate is the card's real cost, and it applies whatever the rewards are doing, so the card suits someone who pays in full each statement rather than revolving a balance month to month.
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
SBI Card
Sainsbury's