Lifetime free UPI card

HSBC RuPay Platinum Credit Card Review

A fee-free RuPay card built for UPI-linked everyday payments, with reward points that can still be converted across 15+ airline and hotel partners.

NilAnnual fee
3.8/5Editorial rating
Credit CardCard type
Check Eligibility & Apply
At a glance

Quick facts

NilJoining fee
Nil (lifetime free)Annual fee
People who want a free RuPay card for UPI QR payments with some reward and travel-transfer flexibilityBest for
3.5% currency conversion mark-upForex mark-up

Like the Visa Platinum, there is no joining or annual fee for as long as the account remains active and in good standing.

Cost & earn rate

Fees and reward rates

An Amazon gift voucher and complimentary EazyDiner membership on activation, plus limited-period co-branded offers with Swiggy, Tira, Paytm and Cleartrip.

Fees & charges
ChargeAmount
Joining feeNil
Annual/renewal feeNil (lifetime free)
Interest-free periodUp to 48 days
Forex mark-up3.5% of transaction value
Reward rate by category
Spend categoryReward rate
Most retail spends via card or UPIStandard reward points; excludes utilities, tax payments, jewellery, insurance, fuel, e-wallets, education and government transactions
Card benefits

What else you get

Link the card to HSBC Simply Pay or other eligible UPI apps for QR-code payments

Reward points transferable across 15+ airline and hotel partners including Air India, AirAsia, British Airways, Accor, Marriott and Shangri-La

Complimentary EazyDiner membership on activation

48-day interest-free period on purchases

Who can apply

Eligibility

Eligibility
CriteriaRequirement
Age18 to 65 years (salaried), 25 to 65 years (self-employed)
Income (salaried)₹6 lakh annual income and above
Income (self-employed)₹12 lakh annual income and above
Credit historyReasonable credit history; positioned as an accessible entry-level card
ResidencyResident of Chennai, Gurgaon, Delhi NCR, Pune, Noida, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Coimbatore, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Amritsar, Baroda, Indore, Lucknow or Nagpur

HSBC issues credit cards only to residents of its serviceable cities — mainly Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Kolkata and other large metros — confirm current city availability and exact fee terms on the official HSBC India website before applying.

Our take

Verdict

What works

  • Genuinely free for life while still earning transferable travel points
  • UPI linking makes it usable for everyday QR payments, unlike most credit cards
  • 15+ airline and hotel transfer partners is unusually generous for a free RuPay card
  • Useful starter card for building credit history with no ongoing cost

What to watch for

  • No rewards on fuel transactions
  • Long list of excluded categories including utilities, tax payments and insurance
  • 3.5% forex mark-up applies on the rare occasion you'd use a RuPay card internationally
  • No airport lounge access
Common questions

FAQs

Yes, add the card to HSBC Simply Pay or another eligible UPI app, after which you can make QR-code payments anywhere UPI is accepted, alongside normal card swipes.
Yes, there is no joining fee and no annual fee for as long as the account remains active and in good standing.
No, fuel transactions are explicitly excluded from rewards, along with utilities, tax payments, jewellery, insurance, e-wallet loads, education and government payments.
Yes, despite being a free card, points are transferable across 15+ airline and hotel partners including Air India, AirAsia, British Airways, Accor, Marriott and Shangri-La.

Compare more HSBC cards

See the full HSBC India lineup on SearchLocally.in.

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