The HSBC Live+ Credit Card is one of the strongest cashback cards for everyday lifestyle spending. It pays 10% back on dining, food delivery and groceries, up to ₹1,000 a month, and an unlimited 1.5% on almost everything else. Add four lounge visits, a year of Times Prime and a generous welcome bundle, and it is easy to recommend if you meet the income bar.
How the cashback works
| Where you spend | Cashback | Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Dining, food delivery, groceries | 10% | ₹1,000 a month |
| Other eligible spends | 1.5% | No cap |
What you would actually earn
Spend ₹10,000 a month on groceries, Swiggy or Zomato orders and restaurants, and you hit the cap at ₹1,000 cashback. Put another ₹20,000 of other spends on the card and you add ₹300. That is about ₹15,600 a year. Your ₹3.6 lakh of annual spending also clears the ₹2 lakh waiver, so the card costs nothing from year two.
Beyond ₹10,000 a month in the 10% categories, extra food and grocery spending earns 1.5%, which is still better than many cards’ base rate. Cashback is credited to your card account, so there are no points to track or convert.
Welcome and lifestyle benefits
- Welcome cashback: ₹1,000 when you download and log into the HSBC app and spend ₹20,000 in the first 30 days.
- Activation vouchers: Amazon Pay, Swiggy or Zomato vouchers worth up to ₹500 on a single ₹300+ transaction.
- Application bonus: a ₹250 Amazon eGift voucher for completing the online application and video KYC.
- Times Prime: a 12-month membership with access to Spotify Premium, Uber One, Discovery+, Moneycontrol Pro, Lenskart Gold and more.
- Lounges: 4 domestic airport lounge visits a year, one per quarter.
- Dining: up to 15% off at 200+ partner restaurants, and 10% off dining and movies of ₹3,500+ on the District app.
- Travel: free domestic flight seat selection twice a year on MakeMyTrip, and 15% cashback to your MakeMyTrip wallet on hotel stays in India with code VISASIGNATURE.
Fees and charges
| Joining fee | ₹999 + GST |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹999 + GST |
| Annual fee waiver | Spend ₹2,00,000 in the previous year |
Eligibility
| Age | 21 to 65 years |
|---|---|
| Employment | Salaried or self-employed |
| Income (salaried) | ₹50,000 a month |
| Income (self-employed) | ITR above ₹12,00,000 a year |
| Credit score | 750 or above |
Documents you will need
- Identity: PAN card (or Form 60)
- Address: Aadhaar, passport or a recent utility bill
- Income: latest salary slips or bank statements
- Photo: a recent passport-sized photograph
How to apply
- Tap Apply on HSBC site on this page to open HSBC India’s credit card application.
- Fill in the form in one session, using the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar.
- Complete video KYC when prompted. Finishing the online application and video KYC also earns a ₹250 Amazon eGift voucher.
- Once the card arrives, download the HSBC India Mobile Banking app, log in and activate the card.
Who should get it, and who shouldn’t
Get it if you spend ₹5,000–₹10,000 a month on food, dining and groceries and earn ₹50,000 or more a month. Few cards return more on this kind of spending.
Skip it if your income or credit score is below HSBC’s bar, or if most of your spending is on online shopping or travel, where other cards have higher category rates.
