HSBC Live+ Credit Card Review
At a Glance
| Joining Fee | ₹999 + GST (₹1,179 all-in), charged after your first transaction |
| Annual Fee | ₹999 + GST, fully reversed if you spend more than ₹2,00,000 in the card year |
| Best Suited For | Salaried earners above ₹6 lakh a year who spend ₹12,000 a month on dining, food delivery, groceries and bills |
| Reward Type | Cashback credited straight to the card account, no points |
The HSBC Live+ is one of the most generous cashback cards in its price band. It pays 10% back on dining, food delivery, groceries, shopping and utility bills, up to ₹1,200 a month, and 1.5% with no cap on most other spends.
The fee is ₹999 a year and is reversed once you cross ₹2 lakh of spending. HSBC trimmed the card in 2026: Amazon and Flipkart now earn only 1.5%, international spends earn nothing, and lounge access is now three visits a year. Even after those cuts, the numbers still work for the right spender.
Rewards & Benefits
Reward rate and earn structure
| Spend | Cashback | Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Dining, food delivery, grocery, shopping, utilities | 10% | ₹1,200 a month across all five, reached at ₹12,000 of spends |
| Amazon and Flipkart | 1.5% | No cap |
| Most other domestic spends | 1.5% | No cap |
| International spends (since 26 July 2026) | None | Not applicable |
| Fuel, wallets, rent, insurance, education, government, tolls, jewellery, hospitals, cash | None | Not applicable |
Myntra earns 10% only until 31 October 2026 as a launch offer, then drops to 1.5%. HSBC decides the category from the merchant code the shop’s bank assigns, so a restaurant billed under an unusual code may earn 1.5% instead of 10%.
Redemption and real value
There is nothing to redeem. Cashback is credited to your card account within 45 days of the statement date, and one rupee of cashback is one rupee off your bill. HSBC runs no separate rewards programme on this card.
A household spending ₹12,000 a month in the 10% categories and ₹20,000 elsewhere earns ₹1,200 plus ₹300, so ₹1,500 a month or ₹18,000 a year, against a fee that is reversed at that level of spending.
Welcome benefits
| Benefit | How to get it |
|---|---|
| ₹1,000 cashback | Log in to the HSBC India app and spend ₹25,000 within 30 days of getting the card |
| ₹750 voucher (Amazon Pay, Zomato or Swiggy) | Activate the card with a single transaction of ₹300 or more |
| ₹250 Amazon voucher | Apply online and complete video KYC, offer valid until 31 October 2026 |
Travel, dining and lifestyle
| Benefit | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Domestic lounges | 2 visits a year, at most 1 every 6 calendar months |
| International lounges | 1 visit a calendar year, booked through Thriwe |
| Global eSIM | 1GB valid 7 days, once a calendar year, plus 20% off top-ups |
| The Live+ Reserve | Chef-curated menus with complimentary beverages and desserts at partner restaurants via DineWithTimesPrime |
| Movies | Buy-one-get-one tickets on District and BookMyShow |
| Fuel | ₹250 cashback on contactless fuel purchases when you spend ₹10,000 in a quarter |
The card also carries Visa Infinite privileges such as hotel offers at ITC Hotels and Visa concierge, which Visa can change at any time.
Fees & Charges
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Joining fee | ₹999 + GST, charged after the first transaction |
| Annual fee | ₹999 + GST, reversed in full above ₹2,00,000 of spends in the card year |
| Add-on card joining fee | Nil |
| Interest | 3.75% a month (45% a year) |
| Foreign currency transactions | 1.99% |
| Cash advance | 2.5%, minimum ₹500, plus interest from the day of withdrawal |
| Late payment | 100% of the minimum due, minimum ₹250, maximum ₹1,200 a month |
| Over-limit | 2.5% of the over-limit amount or ₹500, whichever is higher |
| Rent payments | 1% processing fee |
| Bounced cheque or failed auto-debit | ₹500 |
GST at 18% applies to every fee and to interest. The waiver threshold works out to about ₹16,700 a month, counting spends on the primary and add-on cards together, and it includes your 1.5% spends, so most people who use Live+ as their main card will clear it. HSBC reverses the fee including the GST.
The charge that catches people out is the joining fee. Unlike the renewal fee, it is not waived, so year one costs ₹1,179 whatever you spend. The welcome cashback and vouchers more than cover it, but only if you spend ₹25,000 in the first 30 days.
Eligibility & Documents Required
Salaried applicants must be 18 to 65 years old with an income of at least ₹6,00,000 a year. Self-employed applicants must be 25 to 65 with at least ₹12,00,000 a year.
You must be an Indian resident living in one of 21 cities, including Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Jaipur. Keep your latest salary slip, PAN, identity proof and address proof ready.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 10% on dining, food delivery, groceries and bills | 10% capped at ₹1,200 a month |
| 1.5% uncapped on most other spends | Amazon and Flipkart now earn only 1.5% |
| Cashback credited directly, no redemption fee | No cashback on international spends |
| 1.99% forex markup | Only 3 lounge visits a year |
HSBC Live+ vs Competitors
| Card | Annual fee | Fee waived at | Best rate and cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSBC Live+ | ₹999 + GST | ₹2 lakh | 10%, ₹1,200 a month |
| Cashback SBI Card | ₹999 + GST | ₹2 lakh | 5% online, ₹2,000 a cycle |
| Kotak Cashback+ | ₹750 + GST | ₹2 lakh | 5%, 750 points a cycle |
Cashback SBI suits people whose spending is spread across many online merchants, including Amazon and Flipkart, and can pay more in total for heavy online shoppers.
Kotak Cashback+ is cheaper but pays half the rate. Live+ is the stronger card when dining, food delivery and groceries are your biggest bills, and its 1.99% forex markup beats SBI’s 3.5%.
How to Apply
Apply online from the Live+ page on HSBC India’s website and complete video KYC, which also earns the ₹250 Amazon voucher while that offer runs.
You can track the application on HSBC’s site. Once the card arrives, make one transaction of ₹300 or more to activate it, then download the HSBC India app and spend ₹25,000 within 30 days for the ₹1,000 cashback.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the HSBC Live+ annual fee waived?
Yes, the ₹999 + GST annual fee is fully reversed, including GST, if total spends on the primary and add-on cards exceed ₹2,00,000 in the card year. The joining fee is not waived.
How many lounge visits does HSBC Live+ give?
Three a year: 2 domestic visits, limited to 1 every 6 calendar months, and 1 international visit a calendar year. This allowance applies from 1 September 2026.
Does HSBC Live+ give 10% cashback on Amazon and Flipkart?
No. Since 26 July 2026, Amazon and Flipkart shopping earns 1.5%. Myntra earns 10% until 31 October 2026 and 1.5% after that.
What is the minimum salary for HSBC Live+?
₹6,00,000 a year for salaried applicants and ₹12,00,000 a year for the self-employed. You must also live in one of the 21 cities HSBC serves.
When is HSBC Live+ cashback credited?
Within 45 days of the statement date, directly to your card account. There is no redemption step or redemption fee.
What is the forex markup on HSBC Live+?
1.99% plus GST on foreign currency transactions. International spends no longer earn any cashback.
Bottom Line
Get the HSBC Live+ if you earn at least ₹6 lakh a year, live in one of HSBC’s 21 cities, and spend around ₹12,000 a month on restaurants, Swiggy, Zomato, groceries and utility bills.
That alone returns ₹14,400 a year, and putting the rest of your spending on the card clears the ₹2 lakh fee waiver.
Skip it if most of your online shopping is on Amazon or Flipkart, where it pays only 1.5%. Skip it too if you want generous lounge access, or if you live outside HSBC’s cities, where you cannot apply at all.
