5HIHSBC IndiaHSBC Live+₹999/yr · IN

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Cash Back · India

HSBC Live+ Credit Card

4.5 / 5 editorial score

Best for: everyday spenders who want 10% cashback on dining, groceries and shopping and 1.5% on most other spends.

#5 of 8 · Cash Back · India #10 of 34 · All India cards

Annual fee₹999/yr

IssuerHSBC India

NetworkVisa

Welcome offerSee issuer for the current offer

Interest rate3.75% a month (45% a year)

Foreign fee1.99% of foreign currency tran…

Who qualifiesSalaried: 18 to 65 years, ₹6 lakh an…

Why it ranks

High 10% rate across five everyday categories
Uncapped 1.5% on most other spends
Lower forex markup than most cashback cards

What holds it back

Offered only in select cities
The ₹1,200 monthly cap limits the 10% rate to ₹12,000 of spend
No cashback on fuel

Check current offer All India rankings

Advertiser disclosure: we may be paid if you apply through our links. Ratings are editorial. Confirm today's terms on the issuer's site — offers change.

Our verdict

Why the HSBC Live+ Credit Card ranks where it does

HSBC Live+ is one of the best everyday cashback cards in India for people living in the cities where HSBC offers it. It pays 10% on dining, food delivery, grocery, shopping and utility spends, up to ₹1,200 a month, and an uncapped 1.5% on most other spends. The fee is ₹999, waived when annual spend passes ₹2 lakh.

The cap is the main constraint: ₹1,200 a month is reached at ₹12,000 of spending in the 10% categories, so households above that earn the 10% rate only on the first ₹12,000. That still leaves a strong blended rate, because the five 10% categories cover most routine monthly spending. Fuel earns no cashback.

Two details make it better than most cashback rivals. The 1.99% forex markup is well below the 3.5% common on Indian cards, and two domestic and one international lounge visit a year are included. The eligibility bar is moderate, ₹6 lakh of annual income for salaried applicants and ₹12 lakh for the self-employed, but availability is limited to select cities, which is the first thing to check before applying.

Good fit if

Households spending about ₹12,000 a month on dining, groceries, delivery, shopping and bills
Occasional international travellers who want a 1.99% markup
Salaried applicants with ₹6 lakh or more of annual income in HSBC's cities

Skip it if

Anyone outside HSBC's select cities
People who want cashback on fuel

Worked example

Assume ₹12,000 a month across dining, grocery, delivery, shopping and utilities, and ₹15,000 on other spends. The first earns 10%, or ₹1,200, exactly the monthly cap; the second earns 1.5%, or ₹225. That is ₹1,425 a month, ₹17,100 a year. Annual spend of ₹3.24 lakh is above ₹2 lakh, so the ₹999 fee is waived. Cashback is counted at face value, and any spend in the 10% categories above ₹12,000 a month would add nothing at the 10% rate.

How it stacks up

The Axis ACE is available nationwide and pays 5% on Google Pay bills and 1.5% elsewhere, but its bonus categories share a ₹500 cap per statement. The Swiggy HDFC Bank card costs half as much and pays 10% on Swiggy up to ₹1,500 a cycle, which suits households whose food spending runs mostly through one app. Where HSBC offers it, Live+ usually earns more than either.

The HSBC Live+ Credit Card pays 10% cashback on dining, food delivery, grocery, shopping and utility spends up to ₹1,200 a month, and 1.5% on most other spends. The ₹999 fee is waived on annual spend above ₹2 lakh.