IDFC FIRST Digital RuPay 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 |  IDFC FIRST Digital RuPay Credit CardIDFC First Bank4 recent changes → |  HSBC Live Plus Credit CardHSBC4 recent changes → | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rewards by spend | |||
| Rewards | 0.13% on most spends; 0.38% only at partner merchants | 1.5% base, up to 10% on dining | |
| UPI payments (scan and pay) | 0.13% | Earns nothing | |
| Online shopping | 0.13%; 0.38% only at UPI transactions above ₹2,000 | 10% | |
| Dining and food delivery | 0.13% | 10% | |
| Groceries | 0.13% | 10% | |
| Travel: flights, hotels, trains | 0.13% | 1.5% | |
| Fuelsame | Earns nothing | Earns nothing | |
| Bills and recharges | 0.13% | 10% | |
| Rent | 0.13% | Earns nothing | |
| Insurance premiums | 0.13% | Earns nothing | |
| School and college fees | 0.13% | Earns nothing | |
| Wallet top-ups | 0.13% | Earns nothing | |
| Taxes and government payments | Not stated | Earns nothing | |
| Spend abroad or in a foreign currency | 0.13% | Earns nothing | |
| Everything else | 0.13% | 1.5% | |
| Card identity | |||
| Card type | Shopping | Dining | |
| Network | RuPay | Visa | |
| Card tier | Entry | Mid | |
| Fees | |||
| Joining fee | ₹199 + GST | ₹999 + GST | |
| Annual fee | ₹199 + GST | ₹999 + GST | |
| Fee waived at | - | ₹2,00,000 | |
| Eligibility | |||
| Min age | - | 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 waiver | No | Yes | |
| Lounge access | |||
| Domestic lounge visits | - | 2 | |
| International lounge visits | - | 1 | |
| Lounge condition | - | 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 | None | 1.99% | |
| UPI rewards | |||
| Works on UPI | Yes | No | |
| Interest and charges | |||
| Interest rate (monthly) | - | 3.75% | |
| Interest rate (annual) | - | 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 | Existing IDFC FIRST Bank credit card PAN card Aadhaar / valid address proof | 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
- ₹312
- Fee a year
- - ₹235
- You keep
- ₹77
- Rewards a year
- ₹8,700
- Fee a year
- ₹0
- You keep
- ₹8,700
At this spend, HSBC Live Plus Credit Card comes out ₹8,623 a year ahead of IDFC FIRST Digital RuPay 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
- Online shopping only at UPI transactions above ₹2,000: 0.38% back
- Spending abroad: 0% markup, most cards add 3.5%
- Families with big food and grocery bills
- Frequent Swiggy and Zomato users
- People wanting simple cashback
Watch-Outs
- Skip it if you spend less than ₹15,000 a month: below that the ₹235 fee costs more than the rewards
- Skip it if most of your spending is fuel: those earn nothing on this card
- Skip it if you spend a lot on government payments: the card's terms do not state a rate there, so we count nothing
- Skip it if you rarely spend on UPI transactions above ₹2,000: the 0.38% rate applies only there, everything else earns 0.13%
- 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 (IDFC FIRST Digital RuPay 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, IDFC FIRST Digital RuPay Credit Card or HSBC Live Plus Credit Card?
IDFC FIRST Digital RuPay Credit Card. IDFC FIRST Digital RuPay Credit Card: ₹199; HSBC Live Plus Credit Card: ₹999. Check whether a spend-based waiver applies before you decide.
Which is better for spending abroad?
IDFC FIRST Digital RuPay Credit Card has the lowest forex markup. IDFC FIRST Digital RuPay 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 Digital RuPay Credit Card 0.13%. Bonus categories, rates limited to named merchants and monthly caps change the picture, so compare the rewards by spend too.
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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