Federal Bank Imperio vs HSBC Live Plus Credit Card Compared
Which credit card suits you? Side by side on the numbers that decide it. A blank means the provider has not published that figure, not that it is zero. Data last verified: 11 October 2026.
| Feature |  Federal Bank Imperio Credit CardFederal Bank3 recent changes → |  HSBC Live Plus Credit CardHSBC4 recent changes → | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rewards by spend | |||
| Rewards | 0.17% base, up to 0.5% on groceries | 1.5% base, up to 10% on dining | |
| UPI payments (scan and pay)same | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Online shopping | 0.17% | 10% | |
| Dining and food delivery | 0.17% | 10% | |
| Groceries | 0.5% | 10% | |
| Travel: flights, hotels, trains | 0.17% | 1.5% | |
| Fuelsame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Bills and recharges | 0.33% | 10% | |
| Rentsame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Insurance premiums | 0.17% | Earns nothing | |
| School and college fees | 0.17% | Earns nothing | |
| Wallet top-upssame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Taxes and government paymentssame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Spend abroad or in a foreign currency | 0.17% | Earns nothing | |
| Everything else | 0.17% | 1.5% | |
| Card identity | |||
| Card type | Grocery | Dining | |
| Networksame | Visa | Visa | |
| Card tiersame | Mid | Mid | |
| Fees | |||
| Joining fee | Free | ₹999 + GST | |
| Annual fee | Free | ₹999 + GST | |
| Lifetime free | Yes | No | |
| Fee waived at | ₹0 | ₹2,00,000 | |
| Eligibility | |||
| Min age | 21 years | 18 years | |
| Max age | - | 65 years | |
| Employment typesame | BOTH | BOTH | |
| Min monthly salary | - | ₹50,000 | |
| Min credit score | - | 750 | |
| Rewards | |||
| Reward type | Reward points | Cashback | |
| Point value | ₹0 | ₹1 | |
| Fuel surcharge | |||
| Fuel surcharge waiversame | Yes | Yes | |
| Fuel waiver cap | ₹150 | - | |
| Lounge access | |||
| Domestic lounge visits | 8 | 2 | |
| International lounge visits | 0 | 1 | |
| Lounge condition | Spend Rs 40,000 in the qualifying billing cycle for domestic lounge access | 2 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year (one per 6 months) plus 1 international lounge visit per year from 1 September 2026 | |
| Forex and international | |||
| Forex markup | 3.5% | 1.99% | |
| Interest and charges | |||
| Interest rate (monthly)same | 3.75% | 3.75% | |
| Interest rate (annual)same | 45% | 45% | |
| Redemption | |||
| Redemption fee | ₹99 | - | |
| Page content | |||
| Eligibility | - | Age: 21 to 65 years Employment: Salaried and Self Employed Salaried Income: Rs 50000/monthly Self Employed: ITR > Rs 12,00,000/annually Credit Score: 750+ | |
| Documents needed | PAN card Aadhaar / valid address proof Latest 3 months bank statement Income proof, salary slips (salaried) or ITR (self-employed) Recent passport-size photograph | ID Proof: PAN Card/Form 60 Address Proof: Aadhaar, Passport, or utility bills Income Proof: Bank statements or Salary slips Photograph: Recent passport-sized photo | |
| Apply | Apply Now | Apply Now | |
Worth in Rupees at ₹20,000 a Month
- Rewards a year
- ₹612
- Fee a year
- ₹0
- You keep
- ₹612
- Rewards a year
- ₹8,700
- Fee a year
- ₹0
- You keep
- ₹8,700
At this spend, HSBC Live Plus Credit Card comes out ₹8,088 a year ahead of Federal Bank Imperio Credit Card. Worked out from each card's published reward rate, caps and fee, on ₹20,000 a month. Your own spend changes the answer: try the rewards calculator.
Best For
- Groceries: 0.5% back
- Utility bills: 0.33% back
- Anyone who wants no annual fee, ever
- Flyers: 8 airport lounge visits a year
- Families with big food and grocery bills
- Frequent Swiggy and Zomato users
- People wanting simple cashback
Watch-Outs
- Skip it if most of your spending is fuel, rent, wallet top-ups or government payments: those earn nothing on this card
- Skip it if you pay mostly by UPI: a Visa or Mastercard card cannot pay by UPI
- Skip it if you rarely spend on groceries: the 0.5% rate applies only there, everything else earns 0.17%
- Skip it if you often pay in foreign currency: 3.5% is added to every foreign spend
- 10% categories share one Rs 1,200 monthly cap
- No cashback on fuel, rent, insurance, education, wallets or EMIs
- No cashback on international spends
- Lounge visits cut to just 2 domestic a year
Card data sourced via CardAdvisor.in (Federal Bank Imperio Credit Card, HSBC Live Plus Credit Card), India Credit Card Facts, CC BY 4.0, adapted by SkyloFin.
Questions People Ask
Which has the lower annual fee, Federal Bank Imperio Credit Card or HSBC Live Plus Credit Card?
Federal Bank Imperio Credit Card. Federal Bank Imperio Credit Card: no annual fee; HSBC Live Plus Credit Card: ₹999. Check whether a spend-based waiver applies before you decide.
Which is better for spending abroad?
HSBC Live Plus Credit Card has the lowest forex markup. HSBC Live Plus Credit Card: 1.99%; Federal Bank Imperio Credit Card: 3.5%. The markup is charged on every foreign-currency transaction, before GST.
Which earns more on everyday spending?
On spends outside any bonus category: HSBC Live Plus Credit Card 1.5%, Federal Bank Imperio Credit Card 0.17%. Bonus categories, rates limited to named merchants and monthly caps change the picture, so compare the rewards by spend too.
Which gives airport lounge access?
Federal Bank Imperio Credit Card: 8 domestic lounge visits a year; HSBC Live Plus Credit Card: 2 domestic lounge visits a year. Some cards need a minimum spend in the quarter before a visit counts, so check the lounge terms.
Can I hold more than one of these cards?
Usually yes, if each bank approves you. Many people keep one card for everyday spending and another for a specific use such as travel. Each application is a separate credit check.
Work Out the Numbers
Other Comparisons
- Federal Bank Imperio Credit Card vs SBI BPCL Credit CardSide by side →
- Federal Bank Imperio Credit Card vs SBI SimplySAVE Credit CardSide by side →
- Federal Bank Imperio Credit Card vs SBI BPCL Octane Credit CardSide by side →
- HSBC Live Plus Credit Card vs SBI BPCL Credit CardSide by side →
- HSBC Live Plus Credit Card vs SBI SimplySAVE Credit CardSide by side →
- HSBC Live Plus Credit Card vs SBI BPCL Octane Credit CardSide by side →
We earn a commission if you are approved, and you pay nothing extra. How we make money.
Guides in Plain Words
Short reads that explain how it works before you decide.
- GuidesBest Credit Cards Under ₹1,000 a Year in India (2026)Credit cards with an annual fee of ₹1,000 or less (before GST) in 2026, ranked by the reward rate each bank states, with fee waivers.Read the guide →
Credit CardsTata Neu HDFC Credit Card: Claim Your NeuCoins from 25 November 2026From 25 November 2026, NeuCoins earned on a Tata Neu HDFC Bank credit card no longer reach your Tata Neu account by themselves. You claim them in the Tata Neu App within 12 months, or they expire. Here is what changes, how to claim, and the dates that matter.Read the guide →- GuidesBest Credit Cards Under ₹500 a Year in India (2026)Credit cards with an annual fee of ₹500 or less (before GST) in 2026, ranked by the reward rate each bank states, with fee waivers.Read the guide →
