HSBC Live Plus

4.5 (1,250 reviews) Featured

Annual Fee

₹999

Welcome Bonus

₹1,000 cashback on spending ₹25,000 within 30 days of card issuance, after logging in to the HSBC India app (applications 26 Jul–31 Dec 2026)

Cashback

10% on dining, food delivery, grocery, shopping & utility bills (up to ₹1,200/month); 1.5% on other spends

Processing Time

7-10 working days

Apply Now

Quick Overview

Annual Fee

₹999

Joining Fee

₹999

Welcome Bonus

₹1,000 cashback on spending ₹25,000 within 30 days of card issuance, after logging in to the HSBC India app (applications 26 Jul–31 Dec 2026)

Reward Type

Cashback

Cashback Rate

10% on dining, food delivery, grocery, shopping & utility bills (up to ₹1,200/month); 1.5% on other spends

Credit Limit

As per HSBC approval

Min. Income

₹6,00,000 annually (salaried); ₹12,00,000 annually (self-employed)

Age Requirement

18 (salaried) / 25 (self-employed)

Network

Visa

Perks & Tradeoffs

Pros

10% cashback on dining, food delivery, grocery, shopping and utility bills (₹1,200/month cap)
1.5% unlimited cashback on other eligible spends
₹1,000 welcome cashback offsets the ₹999 joining fee
Visa Infinite benefits and 1 complimentary international lounge visit per year
Low forex markup of 1.99%
Annual fee waived on ₹2 lakh spend in the previous year

Cons

Domestic lounge visits cut from 4 to 2 per year
No cashback on international spends
No 1.5% cashback on hospital and local transit (bus/subway) spends
No fuel surcharge waiver; fuel earns only a limited contactless offer
Rent and wallet loads earn no rewards

About The Card

HSBC Live+ Credit Card – Hi friends, I hope you are enjoying the latest Credit Card Bill Payment Offers, Freebies and Loot Deals with Bigtricks. Today I have a detailed credit card review for you, and it’s about a card that actually got better this year. That almost never happens in India, where most card news is some version of “benefits reduced from next month.”

The HSBC Live+ Credit Card (the old HSBC Cashback card, renamed) gives 10% cashback on dining, food delivery, groceries, and since 26 July 2026 also shopping and utility bills. The cap went up from ₹1,000 to ₹1,200 per statement cycle and the card moved to Visa Infinite. Not everything improved though. Domestic lounge visits were cut in half and international spends no longer earn cashback. I’ll go through both sides so you can decide properly.

Last updated: 13 November 2026. Offers and partner benefits change often, so always check HSBC’s page before you apply.

The short version

Fee: ₹999 + GST joining and annual fee. Annual fee is reversed if you spend more than ₹2 lakh in the anniversary year.
Cashback: 10% on eligible dining, food delivery, grocery, shopping and utility spends (max ₹1,200 per statement cycle). 1.5% on most other eligible spends.
Welcome offer: ₹1,000 cashback after ₹25,000 spend in 30 days (applications till 31 December 2026).
Travel: 2 domestic + 1 international lounge visit a year, 1.99% forex markup.
Best for: households that spend ₹10,000 to ₹12,000 a month on groceries, eating out and bills.

Check HSBC Live+ offer

What’s in this review

HSBC Live+ at a glance
What changed from 26 July 2026
How the 10% cashback and the cap work
Cashback calculator
The 1.5% cashback on other spends
Welcome offers
Which spends earn 10%
Spends that earn nothing
Contactless fuel offer
Lounge, forex and travel
Live+ Reserve and Visa Infinite perks
Fees and charges
Eligibility
How I’d use this card
Is it right for you?
How to apply
FAQs
Final verdict

HSBC Live+ Credit Card at a glance

Feature	Details
Joining fee	₹999 + GST
Annual fee	₹999 + GST. Fully reversed when eligible spends on the primary and add-on cards cross ₹2,00,000 in the anniversary year
Card network	Visa Infinite
Welcome cashback	₹1,000 after app login and ₹25,000 spend within 30 days (apply between 26 July and 31 December 2026)
Online application bonus	₹250 Amazon eGift Voucher for online application with video KYC (offer window 1 January 2026 to 31 March 2027)
10% cashback	Eligible dining, food delivery, grocery, shopping and utility MCCs
10% cashback cap	₹1,200 per statement cycle (you hit it at ₹12,000 of eligible spend)
Other spends	1.5% unlimited cashback on most eligible spends. No cashback on international transactions
Domestic lounges	2 visits a year, one in every six calendar months
International lounge	1 visit a year from 1 September 2026
Forex markup	1.99% + GST (about 2.35% all in)
Cashback credit	Within 45 days from the statement date
Finance charge	3.75% per month (45% a year)
Add-on cards	Up to 3, no joining fee for add-ons

What changed from 26 July 2026

If you already hold this card, or you read an older review, this is the part that matters. HSBC changed quite a few things in one go.

What	Before	Now
10% categories	Dining, food delivery, groceries	Dining, food delivery, groceries, shopping, utilities
Cashback cap	₹1,000 per cycle	₹1,200 per cycle
Best spend level	₹10,000 per cycle	₹12,000 per cycle
Domestic lounge	4 visits a year	2 visits a year
International lounge	None	1 visit a year
Network	Visa Signature	Visa Infinite
Forex markup	3.5%	1.99%, but no cashback on international spends
Lifestyle perks	General dining and movie offers	Live+ Reserve plus Visa Infinite privileges

So it’s a better card for people who spend mostly in India on everyday things, and a slightly worse one for people who were using it mainly for the four free domestic lounge visits. If that’s you, read the lounge section before deciding.

How the 10% cashback and the cap work

The thing people get wrong most often: the ₹1,200 cap is per statement cycle, not per calendar month. Your cycle is whatever dates are printed on your statement. A statement dated 2 June, for example, would normally cover 3 May to 2 June. Purchases made right around the statement date can land in either cycle depending on when they post, so don’t plan to the last rupee.

At 10%, you reach the cap at ₹12,000 of eligible spend. After that, extra spends in those categories don’t earn the 10% rate anymore, so your effective return starts dropping.

Eligible 10% spend per cycle	Cashback	Effective rate	Per year (12 cycles)
₹3,000	₹300	10%	₹3,600
₹5,000	₹500	10%	₹6,000
₹8,000	₹800	10%	₹9,600
₹10,000	₹1,000	10%	₹12,000
₹12,000	₹1,200	10%	₹14,400
₹15,000	₹1,200	8%	₹14,400
₹20,000	₹1,200	6%	₹14,400
₹30,000	₹1,200	4%	₹14,400

The maximum from the 10% bucket is ₹14,400 a year, which is ₹2,400 more than the old ₹12,000 ceiling. That’s the ceiling over 12 full cycles though, not what you’d earn in the few months left in 2026.

Does the fee pay for itself?

Easily. ₹999 plus 18% GST is ₹1,178.82 a year. At 10%, you recover that with about ₹11,800 of eligible spends in the whole year, which is roughly ₹982 per cycle. Anyone buying groceries and ordering food regularly will cross that in the first week of the month.

Cashback calculator

Play with the sliders to see what you’d get. Use your own numbers per statement cycle.

Spend in 10% categories (groceries, dining, food delivery, shopping, utilities):

Other eligible spend (1.5% bucket):

Cashback per cycle–

Cashback per year–

Effective return–

Net, year 1 (after joining fee, with ₹1,000 welcome)–

Net, year 2 onwards–

Assumes all spends are eligible and no revolving interest. Year 1 assumes you meet the ₹25,000 welcome spend and the fee is charged at joining. Treat it as an estimate, not a promise.

The 1.5% cashback on other spends

Outside the 10% categories, you get 1.5% unlimited cashback on most eligible spends. Direct purchases on Amazon, Flipkart and Myntra sit in this bucket, so don’t expect 10% there. International transactions earn nothing now.

Here’s what a realistic household might see when ₹12,000 goes to the 10% bucket every cycle and some more goes to ordinary spends:

10% spend	Other spend	Total per cycle	Per year
₹12,000	₹5,000	₹1,275	₹15,300
₹12,000	₹10,000	₹1,350	₹16,200
₹12,000	₹15,000	₹1,425	₹17,100
₹12,000	₹20,000	₹1,500	₹18,000

Honestly, 1.5% is fine but not special. Plenty of cards give the same. The card’s real value is the 10% bucket, so build your usage around that.

Welcome offers

₹1,000 welcome cashback

New applicants between 26 July and 31 December 2026 get ₹1,000 cashback if they download the HSBC India Mobile Banking app, log in, and spend at least ₹25,000 in eligible transactions within 30 days of the card being issued. The cashback arrives within 60 days after that 30-day window.

Your KYC must be updated.
If you haven’t paid your minimum due within 30 days of the due date, you’re not eligible.
Cancelled and refunded transactions don’t count.
It can’t be combined with another welcome or introductory offer.
Add-on cardholders don’t get a separate welcome cashback.

It basically covers your joining fee, so year one costs you close to nothing if you were going to spend that much anyway.

₹250 Amazon eGift Voucher

If you apply online, complete video KYC and get the card during the offer window (1 January 2026 to 31 March 2027), HSBC also sends a ₹250 Amazon eGift Voucher. It’s a separate offer with its own conditions, so read them on the application page.

Offers that have already ended

You might still see these on older blogs and videos. The Visa ₹750 activation voucher campaign ended on 31 October 2026, and the 10% Myntra promotion also ended on 31 October 2026. Direct Myntra purchases now earn the normal 1.5%.

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Which spends earn 10%

HSBC decides this purely by the merchant category code (MCC) that the merchant sends with the transaction. The shop name or what you bought doesn’t matter. If the merchant is coded under a listed MCC, you get 10%. If not, you don’t. Tap each group below to see the codes.

Groceries

5411, 5422, 5441, 5451, 5462, 5499, 5921

Dining and food delivery

5811, 5812, 5813, 5814

Utilities

4814, 4900

Shopping (long list)

4812, 5261, 5309, 5310, 5311, 5331, 5399, 5611, 5621, 5631, 5641, 5651, 5655, 5661, 5681, 5691, 5697, 5698, 5699, 5732, 5735, 5931, 5933, 5941, 5945, 5948, 5950, 5964, 5965, 5969, 5977, 5992, 5993, 5997, 5998, 5999, 7251, 7296, 7622, 7631

Gift cards and voucher platforms

Don’t assume that buying a gift card gets you 10%. MCC 5947 (gift and card shops) isn’t on the 10% list. CRED, Gyftr and similar voucher platforms haven’t been confirmed as reliable 10% routes either, and quick commerce depends on how the merchant is coded. If you plan to buy something specifically for the cashback, do one small test purchase and check your statement first.

Spends that earn nothing

Spend type	What you get
Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra (direct)	1.5%, not 10%
Wire transfers, money orders, financial institutions (MCC 4829, 6010, 6011, 6012)	0%
Wallet loads and quasi-cash (MCC 6051, 6540)	0%
Rent and property management (MCC 6513)	0%, plus a 1% processing fee
Education and government	0%
Insurance, jewellery, antiques	0%
Fuel	0% (see the separate offer below)
Hospitals, wholesale clubs, local transport, tolls (MCC 8062, 5300, 4111, 4784)	0%
Charity, B2B and other excluded categories	0%. Check HSBC’s service guide for the full list
Instant EMI purchases	Excluded
International transactions	No cashback, plus forex markup

The first few cycles, glance at your statement and confirm cashback is showing up on the spends you expected. HSBC’s classification is final, so it’s better to catch surprises early.

Contactless fuel offer

Regular fuel spends earn 0% on this card. There is a separate limited offer though: ₹250 cashback when you spend at least ₹10,000 on eligible domestic contactless fuel transactions in a calendar quarter.

Each transaction must be between ₹1,000 and ₹5,000.
It has to be a contactless tap, domestic, at fuel merchants coded 5541, 5542 or 5983.
Spends on primary and add-on cards are added together.
The current published offer ends on 31 December 2026.

The July to September quarter is gone, so if you’re starting now you can target ₹250 from the October to December quarter. Don’t count on it continuing beyond December unless HSBC extends it.

Lounge, forex and travel

Airport lounges

You get 2 complimentary domestic lounge visits a year, limited to one visit in every six calendar months, and 1 international lounge visit a year that started on 1 September 2026. International lounge access works through HSBC’s designated portal, so check that your lounge is covered before you travel. Compared to the old four domestic visits, it’s a downgrade on the domestic side, and honestly that’s the one place this card got weaker.

Forex markup

The forex markup is down from 3.5% to 1.99% + GST. With 18% GST on the markup, you pay about 2.35% in total, which is roughly ₹234.82 on a ₹10,000 transaction. That’s a lot better than before, but this still isn’t a zero-forex card, and you earn no cashback on international spends. If you travel abroad often, a proper travel card will serve you better.

Global eSIM

HSBC also advertises a free 1GB global eSIM per calendar year, valid for 7 days across 98 countries, with 20% off top-ups. I couldn’t confirm the detailed terms for this one, so check with HSBC before you plan a trip around it.

Live+ Reserve and Visa Infinite perks

From 1 August 2026, HSBC added Live+ Reserve, a dining and lifestyle programme for activated Live+ cardholders. It highlights restaurants like Indian Accent, Tresind, Comorin and Olive with chef-curated menus and complimentary drinks and desserts, plus lifestyle partners like Toni & Guy, Sony LIV and TUMI.

Because the card is now Visa Infinite, there’s also a layer of Visa partner offers. They’re nice to have, but they come with conditions, dates and blackout periods, so I wouldn’t give them much weight when deciding whether to apply.

Perk	What’s offered	Published validity
ITC Hotels	Third night free after two consecutive paid nights, or 50% off the second night	31 March 2027
Avis car rental	Up to 35% off standard rates, President’s Club enrolment	31 December 2026
Airport Meet & Assist	For select cardholders with over US$1,000 international face-to-face spend in the last 12 months	31 March 2027
IHG Hotels	20% off best flexible rate, needs 7 days advance booking and a Thursday to Sunday night in the stay	31 December 2026
Agoda	Up to 7% off eligible hotels via Visa’s offer page	Book by 31 March 2029
Ajio Luxe	Extra discount (Visa’s page shows both 10% and 8%, so confirm at checkout)	31 December 2026
Tattva Spa	20% off selected treatments, Monday to Thursday	31 March 2027
District Play	50% off up to ₹300 on the first three eligible transactions	25 June 2027
Visa Concierge	24/7 recommendations and reservations	Ongoing

Fees and charges

Charge	Amount
Joining fee	₹999 + GST
Annual fee	₹999 + GST (reversed above ₹2,00,000 spend in the anniversary year, primary and add-on combined)
Add-on card	Nil joining fee, up to 3 cards
Interest-free period	Up to 45 days, only if the previous bill is paid in full
Finance charge	3.75% per month (45% a year)
Cash advance	2.5%, minimum ₹500
Forex markup	1.99% + GST
Rent payment processing	1% + taxes
Late payment	100% of minimum due, minimum ₹250, maximum ₹1,200
Overlimit	2.5% of the overlimit amount or ₹500, whichever is higher, plus GST
Cashback redemption fee	Nil

Please don’t carry a balance

At 3.75% a month, one month of interest on a ₹30,000 balance can wipe out more than a full cycle of maximum cashback. This card makes sense only if you pay the full statement amount every month.

Eligibility

Residency: Indian resident
Age: 18 to 65 years (salaried), 25 to 65 years (self-employed)
Income: at least ₹6,00,000 a year (salaried) or ₹12,00,000 a year (self-employed)
Cities: Chennai, Gurgaon, Delhi NCR, Pune, Noida, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Coimbatore, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Amritsar, Baroda, Indore, Lucknow, Nagpur, Surat and Trivandrum
Documents: PAN, Aadhaar and income proof such as recent salary slips and bank statements

Already have an HSBC credit card?

Live+ doesn’t earn reward points, and points from your old card can’t be carried over. If you’re migrating or upgrading, redeem your points first.

How I’d use this card

The simplest approach: send the first ₹12,000 of eligible spends in each cycle to Live+, and use something else after that. Here’s the cheat sheet.

Spend	What to do
First ₹12,000 of groceries, dining, food delivery, shopping, utilities per cycle	Use Live+ for the full ₹1,200
Eligible spends beyond ₹12,000	Switch to another card if it gives a better return
Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra	Expect 1.5% only
Gift cards and voucher platforms	Test with a small purchase first
Rent, wallets, education, insurance, jewellery	Don’t use this card for cashback
Fuel	Only for the ₹250 quarterly offer, with contactless taps of ₹1,000 to ₹5,000
Foreign spends	1.99% markup and no cashback. Use a travel card
Lounges	Plan one domestic visit in each six-month block

Also, if your family spends a lot, add-on cards help you cross the ₹2 lakh fee waiver faster since their spends count too. Just remember the 10% cap is per cycle on the account, so extra cards won’t give you another ₹1,200.

Is it right for you?

Good fit if you

spend ₹8,000 to ₹12,000 a cycle on groceries, eating out, food delivery and bills
pay your bill in full every month
want a simple cashback card with no points to track
spend mostly in India

Skip it if you

spend a lot more than ₹12,000 a cycle in these categories and want an uncapped return
mostly shop on Amazon or Flipkart
pay rent or school fees by card for rewards
need lots of lounge visits or zero forex

Quick check, tick whatever is true for you:

I pay my full credit card bill every month
I spend ₹6,000 or more a month on groceries, dining, food delivery, shopping or bills
Most of my spending happens in India
I’m fine with 2 domestic lounge visits a year
I don’t mind keeping an eye on a per-cycle cap

Tick the boxes above to see what I think.

How to apply

Open the HSBC Live+ application page and start the online application.
Enter your details and income information. Check that you’re in an eligible city.
Finish the video KYC. This is also what qualifies you for the ₹250 Amazon eGift Voucher.
Wait for approval and delivery of the card.
Download the HSBC India app and log in. You need this for the welcome cashback.
Complete ₹25,000 of eligible spends in the first 30 days.

Apply for HSBC Live+

HSBC Live+ Credit Card FAQs

Is the HSBC Live+ card lifetime free?

No. The joining fee and annual fee are both ₹999 + GST. The annual fee is reversed if your eligible spends cross ₹2,00,000 in the anniversary year.

Is the ₹1,200 cap monthly?

It’s per statement cycle, which follows the dates on your statement, not the calendar month.

Do I get 10% on Amazon and Flipkart?

No. Direct Amazon, Flipkart and Myntra purchases normally earn 1.5%. The special Myntra 10% promotion ended on 31 October 2026.

Do rent, wallet loads and fuel earn cashback?

No. Rent and wallet loads earn nothing, and rent payments carry a 1% fee. Fuel earns nothing under the regular programme, apart from the separate ₹250 quarterly contactless offer.

Can I use this card abroad?

Yes, but there’s a 1.99% + GST forex markup and you won’t get cashback on international transactions.

How many lounge visits do I get?

2 domestic visits a year (one every six calendar months) and 1 international visit a year.

When does the cashback show up?

Within 45 days from the statement date. There’s no fee for redeeming it.

Does Live+ give reward points?

No, it’s a pure cashback card. Points from an older HSBC card can’t be moved to it.

Can I add family members?

Yes. You can get up to 3 add-on cards with no add-on joining fee, and their eligible spends count towards the ₹2 lakh fee waiver.

Is the 10% cashback guaranteed on gift cards?

No. Gift card merchants aren’t on the 10% list and voucher platforms haven’t been confirmed. Test with a small purchase before relying on it.

Final verdict

I like where HSBC took this card. For ₹999 you get a clean 10% on the things most Indian households spend on every single month, a higher cap than before, a decent forex rate and a few lounge visits. Pay in full, keep your 10% spends near ₹12,000 a cycle, and you’re looking at close to ₹14,400 a year, with the fee waived once you cross ₹2 lakh.

The catches are simple. The cap limits big spenders, Amazon and Flipkart don’t get the 10%, international spends earn nothing, and the lounge benefit shrank. A lot of the Visa perks are time-limited extras, not reasons to apply on their own.

If your spending looks like the household I described, it’s a solid card to hold, especially next to one you use for online shopping and one for travel. If you’re mainly a travel or Amazon spender, look at cards built for that instead. You can also browse our other credit card reviews and check the latest refer and earn offers to see what else is worth your time.

Official sources

Disclaimer: Card benefits, offers and partner terms can change without notice. This review is for information only. Please confirm the latest terms with HSBC before applying.

If you love tracking the latest Refer & Earn Offers, Cashback Offers, and detailed Credit Card Reviews, keep visiting Bigtricks regularly.

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Best For

Online Shopping Utility bill Payments Dining & Grocery Daily Spends

Reward Program

Cashback Rewards

Conversion Rate: 1 Cashback = 1 Rupee (credited to statement)

Value: 1:1 (Full Value)

Default Reward Rate

10% on dining, food delivery, grocery, shopping & utility bills (up to ₹1,200/month); 1.5% on other spends

in Cashback

Welcome Bonus

₹1,000 cashback on spending ₹25,000 within 30 days of card issuance, after logging in to the HSBC India app (applications 26 Jul–31 Dec 2026)

Fees & Charges

Joining Fee

₹999

Annual Fee

₹999

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the welcome benefit for the HSBC Live+ Credit Card?

New applicants between 26 July and 31 December 2026 get ₹1,000 cashback after downloading and logging in to the HSBC India app and spending ₹25,000 within 30 days of card issuance. The cashback is paid within 60 days after the 30-day period and cannot be combined with other welcome offers.

What is the annual fee of the HSBC Live+ Credit Card?

The joining fee and annual fee are both ₹999 + GST. The annual fee is waived if you spend ₹2 lakh or more in the previous anniversary year.

What cashback does the HSBC Live+ Credit Card offer?

You earn 10% cashback on dining, food delivery, grocery, shopping and utility bill payments, capped at ₹1,200 per month, and 1.5% unlimited cashback on other eligible spends. Rent, wallet loads and international spends are excluded.

Does the HSBC Live+ Credit Card have airport lounge access?

Yes. You get 2 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year (maximum one every six months) and 1 international lounge visit per year.

What is the forex markup fee on this card?

The forex markup is 1.99% plus applicable taxes. It is not a zero-forex card.

What is the annual fee for HSBC Live Plus?

The annual fee for HSBC Live Plus is ₹999 with a joining fee of ₹999. Some cards may waive the annual fee based on spending criteria or for the first year.

What welcome bonus do I get with HSBC Live Plus?

New HSBC Live Plus cardholders can earn ₹1,000 cashback on spending ₹25,000 within 30 days of card issuance, after logging in to the HSBC India app (applications 26 Jul–31 Dec 2026). This welcome offer is typically available for a limited time and subject to meeting minimum spending requirements.

How does the Cashback system work with HSBC Live Plus?

HSBC Live Plus offers Cashback as rewards. The conversion rate is 1 Cashback = 1 Rupee (credited to statement). You can earn 10% on dining, food delivery, grocery, shopping & utility bills (up to ₹1,200/month); 1.5% on other spends on various categories.

What are the eligibility criteria for HSBC Live Plus?

To be eligible for HSBC Live Plus, you need a minimum income of ₹6,00,000 annually (salaried); ₹12,00,000 annually (self-employed). Additional criteria may include age requirements, credit score, and employment status. Contact for complete eligibility details.

How long does it take to get HSBC Live Plus approved?

The typical processing time for HSBC Live Plus is 7-10 working days. Processing times may vary based on document verification and credit assessment. You may receive instant approval for pre-approved applications.

How can I apply for HSBC Live Plus?

You can apply for HSBC Live Plus online through our secure application process. The application is quick and convenient, requiring basic personal and financial information.