HSBC Live+ Credit Card – One of the best cashback credit cards in India!
If you spend a lot on dining out, food delivery or groceries then the HSBC Live+ Credit Card is worth your attention. This long-form guide will walk you through how the card works, its benefits, its costs and whether it fits your spending habits.
1. What is the HSBC Live+ Credit Card?
This is a cashback-type credit card offered by HSBC Bank India in India. It is designed to reward your everyday spending with cash back rather than points or miles. According to HSBC, cardholders get 10% accelerated cashback on dining, grocery and food delivery spends (capped at ₹1,000/month) and 1.5% unlimited cashback on many other eligible purchases.
It is aimed at people who make regular spending in those key categories and want simple rewards.
Because the reward structure is clear, it’s easier to track your benefits.
2. Key cashback benefits
Here are the main reward rates and highlights:
10% cashback on dining out, food delivery, groceries (both online & offline).
That 10% rate is capped at ₹1,000 per billing cycle for those categories.
1.5% unlimited cashback on other eligible spends (excluding some major exclusions).
The cashback is credited within around 45 days of the statement date.
There are also perks such as 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per year.
These benefits make the card appealing if your spending pattern matches the bonus categories.
3. Fees and costs
To understand the value you must compare benefits with the cost of holding the card:
Joining fee: ₹999 + GST (approx) for first sign-up.
Annual fee: ₹999 + GST. However, this fee is waived if you spend more than ₹2,00,000 per year on the card.
Foreign currency mark-up / fees: For overseas spends and foreign currency purchases, there are extra charges (e.g., ~3.5%).
Other costs: When you don’t pay your dues or carry balances, interest rates are high—so like any credit card, use responsibly.
Thus if you spend enough to get the waiver, the net annual cost is zero. If you don’t, you’ll want to be sure the rewards outweigh the ₹999 fee.
4.Eligibility & key conditions
You’ll need to meet certain conditions to apply:
Age between 18 and 65 years.
For salaried individuals, minimum income (for example ~₹4,00,000/year) is required.
The offer is available in certain cities in India (such as Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Pune, Bengaluru, etc).
You must understand the exclusions for cashback: for example fuel spends, rent, utilities, insurance may not earn cashback.
Always check the latest terms before applying because eligibility and conditions can change.
5. How this card fits most users
To decide if it is a good fit, ask yourself:
Do you spend heavily on groceries, food delivery, and dining out each month?
Will your spending in those top categories let you hit anywhere near the ₹1,000/month cap on 10% cashback?
Will your total annual spends likely exceed ₹2,00,000 so you can get the annual fee waived?
Do you prefer simple cashback rather than collecting reward points or dealing with complex redemption rules?
If you answer “yes” to most of these, the HSBC Live+ Credit Card could be one of the better cashback cards for you. If you don’t spend much in those categories or your annual spend is low, the benefits might not outweigh the cost.
6. Pros – What you’ll like
Here are the key strengths:
A very strong 10% cashback in categories most people spend on (food/delivery/grocery).
Unlimited 1.5% cashback on other eligible spends—so you still earn value outside the bonus categories.
Simple reward structure: you don’t need to track points, convert them or wait for redemption.
Annual fee waiver achievable with moderate spending (₹2,00,000/year) so it can cost you nothing if you use it well.
Lounge access adds a lifestyle perk beyond simple cashback.
7. Cons – Where it falls short
No card is perfect. Some drawbacks:
Th 10% cashback cap (₹1,000/month) means you can only get max ~₹12,000/year from the bonus category. If you spend much more, benefit from plateaus.
Exclusions: Many types of spending like fuel, rent, utilities may not earn cashback.
Annual fee still applies if you don’t hit the waiver spend.
The strong bonus categories are limited to specific spending types; if you spend heavily on travel, books, education, etc you might find better cards elsewhere.
Foreign currency mark-up is relatively high (so for overseas spends or online foreign purchases you have extra cost).
8. Tips to get the best value
Here are some smart moves to max out benefits:
Prioritise using the card for your groceries, food delivery and dining out so you hit the 10% category.
Monitor your monthly spend so you try to hit close to the ₹1,000 cap each month in the bonus category.
Spread your spending so you also benefit from the 1.5% on other purchases.
Make sure you pay your bills in full each month to avoid interest and fees that would negate your cashback.
Keep a note of the exclusion list so you don’t assume a spend is earning when it isn’t (e.g., fuel, rent).
If you live in one of the eligible cities, apply online and submit required documents promptly.
9. How does it compare with other cards?
Compared with other cashback cards, HSBC Live+ stands out for the 10% bonus in multiple everyday categories (not just one brand). But if you compare:
Some cards may offer higher rewards in narrower categories (e.g., only one food app).
Some travel or premium cards may offer more benefits but higher fees.
If your spend pattern is outside its bonus categories, you might find a better fit with a card that matches your personal spending.
Thus always match the card to your spending habits, not the other way round.
10. Final verdict
If you spend a reasonable amount each month on groceries, food delivery and dining out, and you are comfortable with a ₹999 annual fee (that you can waive), the HSBC Live+ Credit Card is one of the best cashback choices in India.
If, however, your spending is skewed towards categories not covered by the 10% bonus, you might look at other cards.
Use the card smartly, pay on time, and you can make it work heavily in your favour.
FAQs
Q1: What exactly is the “10% cashback” category for the HSBC Live+ Credit Card?
A1: The 10% rate applies to spending on dining out, food delivery and groceries (online or offline) as eligible merchant categories.
Q2: Is there a limit to how much 10% cashback I can earn each month?
A2: Yes. The 10% bonus is capped at ₹1,000 per billing cycle in those bonus categories.
Q3: What about the 1.5% cashback – is that truly unlimited?
A3: For most eligible other retail spends there is no cap on the 1.5% rate. But certain categories are excluded from earning cashback.
Q4: How can I avoid paying the annual fee?
A4: The annual fee (₹999) is waived if you spend more than ₹2,00,000 in a membership year.
Q5: What happens if I carry a balance from one month to the next?
A5: Carrying a balance means you incur interest and fees, which can outweigh the cashback benefits. It’s best to pay in full each month.
A6: Yes the card works on foreign transactions, but a foreign currency markup fee (~3.5% or more) applies, which can reduce net benefit.
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