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IDFC FIRST Select 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.

IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card versus HSBC Live Plus Credit Card compared
FeatureIDFC FIRST Select Credit CardIDFC FIRST Select Credit CardIDFC First Bank7 recent changes →
HSBC Live Plus Credit CardHSBC Live Plus Credit CardHSBC4 recent changes →
Rewards by spend
Rewards0.38% base, up to 1.25% on dining1.5% base, up to 10% on dining
UPI payments (scan and pay)sameEarns nothingEarns nothing
Online shopping0.38%10%
Dining and food delivery1.25%10%
Groceries0.38%10%
Travel: flights, hotels, trains1.25%1.5%
FuelsameEarns nothingEarns nothing
Bills and recharges0.13%10%
Rent0.38%Earns nothing
Insurance premiums0.38%Earns nothing
School and college fees0.38%Earns nothing
Wallet top-ups0.38%Earns nothing
Taxes and government paymentsNot statedEarns nothing
Spend abroad or in a foreign currencysameEarns nothingEarns nothing
Everything else0.38%1.5%
Card identity
Card typesameDiningDining
NetworksameVisaVisa
Card tierPremiumMid
Fees
Joining feeFree₹999 + GST
Annual feeFree₹999 + GST
Lifetime freeYesNo
Fee waived at-₹2,00,000
Eligibility
Min age21 years18 years
Max age-65 years
Employment typesameBOTHBOTH
Min monthly salary₹1,00,000₹50,000
Min credit score-750
Rewards
Reward typeReward pointsCashback
Point value₹0₹1
Fuel surcharge
Fuel surcharge waiversameYesYes
Lounge access
Domestic lounge visits42
International lounge visits01
Railway lounge visits16-
Lounge conditionSpend Rs 20,000 in the previous month for domestic lounge access2 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 markupNone1.99%
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 neededPAN card Aadhaar / address proof Income proof (salary slips or ITR)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
ApplyApply NowApply Now

Worth in Rupees at ₹20,000 a Month

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

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

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
HSBC Live Plus Credit Card
  • Families with big food and grocery bills
  • Frequent Swiggy and Zomato users
  • People wanting simple cashback

Watch-Outs

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
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

Card data sourced via CardAdvisor.in (IDFC FIRST Select 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 Select Credit Card or HSBC Live Plus 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?

IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card: 4 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.

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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