Verdict
HSBC Live+ is a strong everyday cashback card if you regularly spend on eligible groceries, dining, food delivery, shopping and utilities. Its biggest limitation is the shared ₹1,200 cashback cap per billing cycle.
Use it for qualifying 10% purchases and switch to another card after reaching the cap.
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Get it if you naturally spend ₹6,000–₹12,000 monthly in eligible 10% categories and pay the bill in full.
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Skip it if you mostly shop on Amazon or Flipkart, want RuPay credit-card UPI, or often pay excluded categories.
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Optimise it by moving to a better-suited second card once the accelerated cap is used.
Cashback: what you actually earn
| Rate | Where it applies |
|---|---|
| 10% | Eligible groceries, food delivery, dining, shopping and utilitiesUp to ₹1,200 per billing cycle, shared across these categories |
| 1.5% | Most other eligible domestic purchasesNo general monthly cap |
| 0% | Excluded categoriesSee the exclusions below |
₹12,000 in eligible 10% purchases = ₹1,200 cashback. The cap is combined, not ₹1,200 for each category. Spending above the accelerated cap does not automatically earn 1.5%. Cashback is credited directly to the account within 45 days of the statement date.
Eligible MCCs and exclusions
Cashback depends on the transaction’s merchant category code (MCC) and HSBC’s exclusions. Key examples:
| Category | Example MCCs |
|---|---|
| Groceries | 541154225499 |
| Dining and food delivery | 58125814 |
| Shopping | 53115331539956515732 |
| Utilities and telecom | 49004814 |
Amazon and Flipkart do not get the standard 10% shopping rate; otherwise eligible purchases ordinarily earn 1.5%. Myntra earns a promotional 10% through 31 October 2026, subject to the same ₹1,200 cap.
0% cashback
Fuel, insurance, rent, government payments, many education payments, wallet loads, jewellery, hospital MCC 8062, advertising MCC 7311 and toll MCC 4784.
Blinkit, Zepto, bill payments and gift cards aren’t guaranteed 10% merely because of the merchant name. Check the posted MCC. The examples above are not a complete MCC list.
Fees and waiver
- Joining fee
- ₹999 + GST ₹1,178.82 including GST
- Annual fee
- ₹999 + GST ₹1,178.82 including GST
- Renewal waiver
- Spend more than ₹2,00,000 in eligible spends during the anniversary year; HSBC reverses the renewal fee including GST
The joining fee is separate.
Paying this card from another bank? HSBC’s official payment options are in the credit card bill payment guide, and its helplines and complaint contacts are in the bank support directory.
Airport lounge access
| Lounge | Visits |
|---|---|
| Domestic | 2 per calendar year: one in January–June, one in July–December |
| International | 1 per calendar year |
For international lounge access, validate and book via the Live+ partner portal (opens in a new tab) at least 23 hours in advance. Participating-lounge rules apply.
Forex and international purchases
Normal forex markup is 1.99% plus applicable taxes; international transactions no longer earn regular 1.5% cashback. A temporary zero-forex offer ends 31 October 2026 for qualifying purchases. Other fees and posting restrictions may still apply.
Questions
Is the ₹1,200 cap separate for groceries and dining?
No. All 10% categories share a single ₹1,200 cap each billing cycle.
Does Blinkit or Zepto get 10%?
Only when the transaction has an eligible MCC and no exclusion applies.
Can I use this as a RuPay card on UPI?
No, HSBC Live+ is on Visa.
Official sources
- HSBC Live+ product page (opens in a new tab)
- Cashback, MCC and fees service guidePDF (opens in a new tab)
- Myntra and lounge termsPDF (opens in a new tab)
- Zero-forex offer termsPDF (opens in a new tab)
Independent review updated 12 October 2026. Cashback and promotional benefits depend on HSBC’s latest terms, merchant MCC and exclusions.