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HSBC Cashback (Now Live+) Credit Card Review 2026
10% cashback on dining, food delivery, and groceries (cap ₹1,000/month), 1.5% unlimited cashback on all other spends, 4 complimentary domestic lounge visits/year - at ₹999/year.
4.1
/5
Card24 Score
Rewards 4.5
Travel 3
Fees 4
Last reviewed July 2026 · Card24.ai editorial team
Annual Fee
₹999 + GST (joining & annual) | Waived on ₹2,00,000 annual spend
10% Cashback
10% cashback on dining, food delivery, and groceries*
1.5% Cashback
1.5% unlimited cashback on all other eligible spends*
Lounge
4 complimentary domestic lounge visits/year*
Welcome Benefit
₹750 voucher (Amazon Pay/Zomato/Swiggy) + ₹250 Amazon eGift*
Credit Card Verdict HSBC Cashback (Now Live+)
What we like
- 10% cashback on dining, food delivery, and groceries - the widest 10% cashback category bundle of any sub-₹1,000 fee card in India, covering Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, Zepto, supermarkets, and restaurants in a single shared cap.
- 1.5% unlimited cashback on all other eligible spends - no monthly cap, no category restrictions beyond standard exclusions. For cardholders with diverse non-food spending, this is one of the most competitive unlimited cashback rates in India at this fee bracket.
- Cashback credited automatically to your statement within 45 days - no points to track, no portal to visit, no redemption steps. The simplest cashback mechanism of any premium-category card.
- 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per year (1 per quarter) with no spend gate - including for supplementary cardholders via the HSBC India app. Exceptional value at a ₹999/year fee.
- Annual fee of ₹999 waived on ₹2 lakh annual spend (₹16,667/month) - a realistic threshold for anyone using this as a primary card for groceries, dining, and other everyday spends.
Watch out for
- 10% cashback is capped at ₹1,000 per billing cycle across all three categories (dining, food delivery, groceries) combined - equivalent to ₹10,000 in eligible spend. Beyond this, all food-category spends drop to the base 1.5% rate.
- Available only in 20 cities - city restriction limits the card's reach to urban India and excludes applicants from smaller towns, tier-2, and tier-3 cities regardless of income.
- Extensive cashback exclusion list: fuel, e-wallets, rent, insurance, utilities, education, government transactions, jewellery, cash withdrawals, forex transactions, and more. 1.5% unlimited cashback applies only to categories not on this exclusion list.
- No international lounge access - the card provides only domestic lounge visits (4/year). International travellers needing overseas lounge coverage will need a separate card.
Card24.ai's review covers the HSBC Cashback Credit Card, rebranded as HSBC Live+ from July 2026 with Visa Infinite upgrade. 10% cashback capped at ₹1,000/month combined across dining, food delivery, and groceries. 1.5% cashback subject to exclusions. Available in 20 cities only. Not financial advice - verify all terms at hsbc.co.in before applying.
Credit Card Achievers HSBC Cashback (Now Live+)
Is the HSBC Cashback (Live+) Credit Card Worth It in 2026?
The HSBC Cashback Credit Card - now rebranded as HSBC Live+ with a Visa Infinite upgrade in July 2026 - is the simplest and most rewarding cashback card for everyday urban spenders in India. At ₹999/year, it delivers 10% cashback on the three most common urban spend categories: dining out, food delivery (Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, Zepto), and groceries - all sharing a generous ₹1,000 monthly cap that equates to 10% back on ₹10,000 of food spend every single month.
The 1.5% unlimited cashback on all other eligible spends adds a second layer of value for cardholders with diverse spending - electronics, fashion, entertainment, travel - where even a flat 1.5% consistent return beats most loyalty programmes after accounting for redemption friction. Cashback is auto-credited to your statement within 45 days, with no points portal, no redemption request, and no expiry. Four complimentary domestic lounge visits per year (one per quarter, no spend gate) round out a package that is genuinely hard to beat at ₹999.
The card's limitations are its 20-city availability and the extensive cashback exclusion list for the 1.5% category. For cardholders who want wider cashback coverage across categories including online shopping without city restrictions, the BOBCARD Cashback card is worth comparing.
The 1.5% unlimited cashback on all other eligible spends adds a second layer of value for cardholders with diverse spending - electronics, fashion, entertainment, travel - where even a flat 1.5% consistent return beats most loyalty programmes after accounting for redemption friction. Cashback is auto-credited to your statement within 45 days, with no points portal, no redemption request, and no expiry. Four complimentary domestic lounge visits per year (one per quarter, no spend gate) round out a package that is genuinely hard to beat at ₹999.
The card's limitations are its 20-city availability and the extensive cashback exclusion list for the 1.5% category. For cardholders who want wider cashback coverage across categories including online shopping without city restrictions, the BOBCARD Cashback card is worth comparing.
Best For: Urban food spenders in 20 eligible cities who want automatic 10% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato, and groceries with zero redemption effort - at a near-zero annual fee.
HSBC Cashback (Live+) Credit Card Benefits
How to Maximize the HSBC Cashback (Live+) Credit Card
Keep 10% Food Spend at Exactly ₹10,000/Month - The 10% cashback cap of ₹1,000/month is triggered on ₹10,000 in dining, food delivery, and grocery spend combined. Spend exactly ₹10,000 across Swiggy, Zomato, and your supermarket each month - not more. Beyond ₹10,000, these categories earn only 1.5%, so route excess grocery spend to a different card.
Route All Non-Food Eligible Spend for 1.5% - Every eligible non-food purchase - electronics, fashion, online shopping, entertainment, travel bookings - earns 1.5% cashback with no cap. On ₹20,000/month in eligible non-food spend, that is ₹300 extra cashback per month (₹3,600/year) with zero effort and zero redemption friction.
Use Card First Transaction Within 30 Days for ₹750 Welcome Voucher - Make your first transaction of ₹300 or more within 30 days of card activation to trigger the ₹750 welcome voucher (your choice of Amazon Pay, Zomato, or Swiggy credit). Apply online with video KYC completion to also receive the additional ₹250 Amazon eGift voucher - together worth ₹1,000, more than your joining fee.
Use 1 Quarterly Lounge Visit Strategically - The 4 annual lounge visits (1 per quarter) require no spend threshold - just activate via the HSBC India app before your trip. Use each quarterly visit for the trip where you have the longest layover or earliest departure. The lounge access resets at the start of each calendar quarter (January, April, July, October), so time your visits accordingly.
Pair With BOBCARD Cashback for Excluded Categories - The HSBC Live+ excludes fuel, insurance, rent, utilities, and government payments from cashback. For these high-value categories that most households spend on monthly, the BOBCARD Cashback card fills the gap with direct cashback on categories this card misses.
Route All Non-Food Eligible Spend for 1.5% - Every eligible non-food purchase - electronics, fashion, online shopping, entertainment, travel bookings - earns 1.5% cashback with no cap. On ₹20,000/month in eligible non-food spend, that is ₹300 extra cashback per month (₹3,600/year) with zero effort and zero redemption friction.
Use Card First Transaction Within 30 Days for ₹750 Welcome Voucher - Make your first transaction of ₹300 or more within 30 days of card activation to trigger the ₹750 welcome voucher (your choice of Amazon Pay, Zomato, or Swiggy credit). Apply online with video KYC completion to also receive the additional ₹250 Amazon eGift voucher - together worth ₹1,000, more than your joining fee.
Use 1 Quarterly Lounge Visit Strategically - The 4 annual lounge visits (1 per quarter) require no spend threshold - just activate via the HSBC India app before your trip. Use each quarterly visit for the trip where you have the longest layover or earliest departure. The lounge access resets at the start of each calendar quarter (January, April, July, October), so time your visits accordingly.
Pair With BOBCARD Cashback for Excluded Categories - The HSBC Live+ excludes fuel, insurance, rent, utilities, and government payments from cashback. For these high-value categories that most households spend on monthly, the BOBCARD Cashback card fills the gap with direct cashback on categories this card misses.
HSBC Cashback (Live+) Credit Card Annual Fees
| Joining Fee | ₹999 + GST |
| Annual Renewal Fee | ₹999 + GST | Waived on ₹2,00,000 annual spend in previous year |
| 10% Cashback Cap | ₹1,000 per billing cycle (combined dining + food delivery + groceries) |
| 1.5% Cashback Exclusions | Excluded from cashback: fuel, e-wallets, rent, property management, insurance, education, government, jewellery & antiques, cash withdrawals, forex transactions, liquid assets, security broker services, collection agencies, charity, money transfers, wholesale clubs, utilities, B2B transactions. |
| Forex Markup | 3.5% on all foreign currency transactions |
| Finance Charge | 3.49% per month (41.88% p.a.) |
| Cash Advance Fee | 2.5% of amount, minimum ₹500 |
| Cashback Credit Timeline | Cashback credited within 45 days of statement date |
| Interest-Free Period | Up to 50 days from date of purchase (on full balance payment) |
| Add-On Card Fee | Nil (complimentary supplementary card) |
HSBC Cashback Credit Card Eligibility & Documents
Age 18–65 years
Minimum annual income ₹6,00,000 per annum (₹50,000/month net) - per HSBC India official website
Documents required PAN card · Aadhaar / Passport / Voter ID · Latest 3 months salary slips · 3-month bank statements · Address proof
Residency Must reside in one of 20 eligible cities: Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Kolkata, Noida, Gurgaon, Kochi, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Coimbatore, Amritsar, Baroda, Indore, Lucknow, Nagpur, Surat.
Applying when ineligible creates a hard credit inquiry that may lower your CIBIL score. Verify your eligibility before applying.
How to Apply for HSBC Cashback Credit Card
The application process is entirely online and takes about 5-7 minutes.
1
Visit hsbc.co.in/credit-cards/products/live-plus or search 'HSBC Live+ apply' - Confirm your city is in the 20 eligible cities list before proceeding - applications from unlisted cities are not accepted.
2
Click 'Apply Now', enter your mobile number and PAN for initial verification - Optionally complete video KYC during this step to qualify for the additional ₹250 Amazon eGift voucher welcome benefit.
3
Fill in personal and income details - Upload income documents: latest 3 salary slips (salaried) or latest 2 years ITR (self-employed). Submit address proof (Aadhaar/Utility bill/Passport).
4
HSBC processes your application within 5–7 working days - Approval communicated via email and SMS. Card dispatched within 7–10 working days.
5
Activate via HSBC India app - Make first transaction ≥₹300 within 30 days to receive ₹750 welcome voucher. Register supplementary cards on the HSBC India app to activate their lounge access benefit.
*T&C Apply
Frequently Asked Questions
10% cashback on dining, food delivery, and groceries combined (cap ₹1,000/month); 1.5% unlimited cashback on all other eligible spends; 4 complimentary domestic lounge visits/year (no spend gate); ₹750 welcome voucher + ₹250 eGift on online apply+video KYC; ₹999 annual fee waived at ₹2L spend; up to 15% off at 200+ restaurants via Live+ Dining; BookMyShow Buy 2 Get 1 Free on Saturdays.
10% cashback on dining, food delivery, and groceries - all sharing a combined cap of ₹1,000 per billing cycle (equivalent to 10% back on ₹10,000 of food spend). 1.5% unlimited cashback on all other eligible spends - no monthly cap. Cashback is credited automatically to your statement within 45 days, with no redemption required.
The 10% cashback on dining, food delivery, and groceries is capped at ₹1,000 per billing cycle across all three categories combined. This means you earn 10% on the first ₹10,000 spent across these categories in a month. Beyond ₹10,000, these categories earn the standard 1.5% cashback rate instead.
Yes. 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per year - 1 per calendar quarter - for both primary and supplementary cardholders. No spend gate required. Access must be activated via the HSBC India mobile app before your visit. No international lounge access is included.
Yes. The HSBC Cashback Credit Card has been rebranded as the HSBC Live+ Credit Card as of July 2026, with a Visa Infinite upgrade including enhanced hotel and concierge privileges. The core cashback structure - 10% on dining/food delivery/groceries and 1.5% on other spends - remains the same. Existing cardholders continue without interruption.
Salaried: Age 18–65 years, minimum annual income ₹6,00,000. Self-employed: Age 25–65 years, minimum annual income ₹12,00,000. Indian resident. Must reside in one of 20 eligible cities. CIBIL 700+ recommended. Standard KYC documents required (PAN, Aadhaar, salary slips or ITR, bank statements).