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HSBC Live Plus vs IDFC FIRST Select 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.

HSBC Live Plus Credit Card versus IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card compared
FeatureHSBC Live Plus Credit CardHSBC Live Plus Credit CardHSBC4 recent changes →
IDFC FIRST Select Credit CardIDFC FIRST Select Credit CardIDFC First Bank7 recent changes →
Rewards by spend
Rewards1.5% base, up to 10% on dining0.38% base, up to 1.25% on dining
UPI payments (scan and pay)sameEarns nothingEarns nothing
Online shopping10%0.38%
Dining and food delivery10%1.25%
Groceries10%0.38%
Travel: flights, hotels, trains1.5%1.25%
FuelsameEarns nothingEarns nothing
Bills and recharges10%0.13%
RentEarns nothing0.38%
Insurance premiumsEarns nothing0.38%
School and college feesEarns nothing0.38%
Wallet top-upsEarns nothing0.38%
Taxes and government paymentsEarns nothingNot stated
Spend abroad or in a foreign currencysameEarns nothingEarns nothing
Everything else1.5%0.38%
Card identity
Card typesameDiningDining
NetworksameVisaVisa
Card tierMidPremium
Fees
Joining fee₹999 + GSTFree
Annual fee₹999 + GSTFree
Lifetime freeNoYes
Fee waived at₹2,00,000-
Eligibility
Min age18 years21 years
Max age65 years-
Employment typesameBOTHBOTH
Min monthly salary₹50,000₹1,00,000
Min credit score750-
Rewards
Reward typeCashbackReward points
Point value₹1₹0
Fuel surcharge
Fuel surcharge waiversameYesYes
Lounge access
Domestic lounge visits24
International lounge visits10
Railway lounge visits-16
Lounge condition2 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year (one per 6 months) plus 1 international lounge visit per year from 1 September 2026Spend Rs 20,000 in the previous month for domestic lounge access
Forex and international
Forex markup1.99%None
Interest and charges
Interest rate (monthly)3.75%-
Interest rate (annual)45%-
Redemption
Redemption fee-₹99
Page content
EligibilityAge: 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 neededID Proof: PAN Card/Form 60 Address Proof: Aadhaar, Passport, or utility bills Income Proof: Bank statements or Salary slips Photograph: Recent passport-sized photoPAN card Aadhaar / address proof Income proof (salary slips or ITR)
ApplyApply NowApply Now

Worth in Rupees at ₹20,000 a Month

HSBC Live Plus Credit Card
Rewards a year
₹8,700
Fee a year
₹0
You keep
₹8,700
IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card
Rewards a year
₹1,440
Fee a year
₹0
You keep
₹1,440

At this spend, HSBC Live Plus Credit Card comes out ₹7,260 a year ahead of IDFC FIRST Select 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

HSBC Live Plus Credit Card
  • Families with big food and grocery bills
  • Frequent Swiggy and Zomato users
  • People wanting simple cashback
IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card
  • Salaried people earning Rs 1 lakh a month or more
  • Occasional foreign travellers
  • People who want a strong free card

Watch-Outs

HSBC Live Plus Credit Card
  • 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
IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card
  • Low 0.38% on regular spends
  • Airport lounges need Rs 20,000 spend in the previous month
  • Needs a higher income than most free cards
  • Very low rewards on utility bills

Card data sourced via CardAdvisor.in (HSBC Live Plus Credit Card, IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card), India Credit Card Facts, CC BY 4.0, adapted by SkyloFin.

Questions People Ask

Which has the lower annual fee, HSBC Live Plus Credit Card or IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card?

IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card. IDFC FIRST Select 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?

IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card has the lowest forex markup. IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card: 0%; HSBC Live Plus Credit Card: 1.99%. 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%, IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card 0.38%. 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?

HSBC Live Plus Credit Card: 2 domestic lounge visits a year; IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card: 4 domestic lounge visits a year. Some cards need a minimum spend in the quarter before a visit counts, so check the lounge terms.

Which is easier to get?

By stated minimum monthly income: HSBC Live Plus Credit Card ₹50,000, IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card ₹1,00,000. Banks also weigh your credit score and existing relationship, so meeting the income is not a guarantee.

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

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