PhonePe SBI PURPLE stops paying on UPI outside PhonePe — 1 July 2026
SBI Card's PhonePe SBI PURPLE card no longer earns Reward Points on UPI transactions outside the PhonePe app, effective 1 July 2026. The change affects users who rely on other UPI apps, but heavy PhonePe users may not be significantly impacted.
SBI Card has changed the rewards structure for the PhonePe SBI PURPLE card. From 1 July 2026, only Scan & Pay transactions inside the PhonePe app will accrue Reward Points at 1% value back. Transactions outside the PhonePe app, including other UPI apps, will not earn any Reward Points. The card still earns 3 points per ₹100 on recharges, utilities, bills, insurance, and travel within PhonePe, 2 points per ₹100 on other online spend, and 1 point per ₹100 on all other transactions, with monthly caps applying to each tier.
The change affects users who rely heavily on UPI transactions outside the PhonePe app, as they will no longer earn Reward Points on these transactions. The PhonePe SBI PURPLE card, priced at ₹499, is targeted at users who frequently use the PhonePe app, and its rewards structure is designed to incentivize transactions within the app.
Our take: If you are a heavy PhonePe user, the change may not significantly impact your rewards earnings, as you can still earn points on transactions within the app. However, if you use other UPI apps frequently, you may want to consider alternative options or adjust your spending behaviour to maximize your rewards earnings on the PhonePe SBI PURPLE card. Since the known facts do not support naming a specific alternative, none can be named, and the fact remains that SBI Card has altered the rewards structure for the PhonePe SBI PURPLE card.