Comparison

CBD vs HSBC UAE

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

CBD

Manage your finances on the go with a secure and fast mobile banking app. Open accounts, apply for credit cards and loans, and make instant transfers and payments. Enjoy exclusive lifestyle offers with your debit or credit card.

Highlights
  • Instant account opening
  • Credit card and loan applications
  • Instant money transfers
  • Utility bill payments
  • 1,000+ lifestyle offers
  • Secure mobile banking
Features
Read full description

Wherever you happen to be, our new mobile banking App is easy, fast, and secure. And now managing your money is easier than ever before. Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD) is a leading banking and financial services institution in the UAE, backing ambitions since 1969. With over 55 years in the UAE and award-winning banking services, you can rest assured that all your banking needs are taken care of by a trusted financial partner. 120+ services Experience a feature-rich design with 120+ services for your everyday banking, most of which are processed instantly. Instant banking in minutes Sign up in minutes with just your Emirates ID and get a Current Account, Credit Card, Quick Loan, Home Loan Pre-Approval and more in the UAE’s highest rated Mobile Banking App. Transfers & payments in seconds Make instant transfers to Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and the Philippines as well as instant local transfers all with just a few taps. You can also make over 20 utility payments include Du, Etisalat, Dewa and so much more. 1,000+ lifestyle offers Enjoy over a thousand offers and discounts across dining, entertainment, lifestyle and so much more with the CBD App using your CBD Credit or Debit Card. This application is exclusively available to residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Non-residents are not permitted to log in or apply for financial services, including loans. Residency verification is mandatory prior to accessing any functionality.

About

HSBC UAE

Manage your finances on the go with this banking app. Open accounts, view transactions, make transfers, and manage cards securely. Access global accounts, investments, and installment plans with ease.

Highlights
  • Instant account opening and digital registration
  • View local and global account balances and transactions
  • Multi-currency Global Money Account and Debit Card
  • Domestic and international transfers
  • Open Term Deposits and manage investments
  • Add cards to Apple Pay and manage spending
  • Convert credit card limit to cash or consolidate balances
Features
Read full description

The HSBC UAE app has been specially built for our customers, with reliability at the heart of its design Enjoy convenience and security with these great features: • 'Instant account management' - open a bank account within minutes and enjoy instant digital registration. In-app Account opening is only available in English • ‘View account balances & transaction details’ - view the balances of your local and global HSBC accounts, credit cards and loans • ‘Global Money Account and Debit Card’ - hold, transfer and spend like a local in up to 21 currencies from single account. Enjoy fee free instant transfers to other HSBC accounts in participating countries • ‘Pay and Transfer’ – Add new payees and make domestic and international transfers. Instant transfers to HSBC international accounts without any fee • Open Term Deposit in AED, USD and GBP at competitive interest rates instantly. You can also access our promotional rates without visiting the branch or contacting your RM. • ‘Manage Cards’ - add your cards to Apple Pay directly through the app, control your spending and block or unblock your card • 'Instalment Plans' - Convert your available Credit Card limit into cash, convert your card transactions, consolidate your outstanding balance from other bank cards into your HSBC card and conveniently repay in monthly instalments • Credit Card application – Apply for a credit card in just few minutes • ‘Wealth Solutions’ - Access up to 25 markets and 77 exchanges, diversify with equities, ETFs, bonds and funds, and stay ahead with real-time data and insights • Mobile Chat and Contact Us – fast and secure way to get help with your banking needs 24/7 Download the HSBC UAE app to enjoy banking on the go! Already a customer? Log on with your existing banking details. If you are not yet registered, please visit hsbc.ae/register *Important note: This App is provided by HSBC Bank Middle East Limited ('HSBC UAE') and designed for use in the United Arab Emirates. The products and services represented within this App are intended for UAE customers*. HSBC UAE is authorised and regulated in United Arab Emirates by the Central Bank of the U.A.E and lead regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority. If you are outside of UAE, we may not be authorised to offer or provide you with the products and services available through this App in the country or region you are located or resident in. This App is not intended for distribution, download or use by any person in any jurisdiction, country or region where the distribution, download or use of this material is restricted and would not be permitted by law or regulation. Additional assistance through our branches and Call Centre are available for People of Determination. Our mobile app is compatible with a number of accessible technologies to support customers with different needs to access our services. For any assistance, please visit hsbc.ae/help/contact © Copyright HSBC Bank Middle East Limited (UAE) 2026 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, on any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of HSBC Bank Middle East Limited. HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, UAE Branch, registered address at Level 4, Gate Precinct Building 2, DIFC, P.O. Box 30444, Dubai, UAE, acting through its Dubai branch at HSBC Tower, Downtown, P.O. Box 66, Dubai, UAE (HBME) regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE for the purpose of this promotion and lead regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority. In respect of certain financial services and activities offered by HBME, it is regulated by the Securities and Commodities Authority in the UAE under license number 602004. By downloading this app, you agree to and accept the HSBC Personal Banking General Terms and Conditions (UAE) and the HSBC Online Banking Terms and conditions, each available through hsbc.ae/terms.

Screenshots

CBD4 screens
HSBC UAE4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: HSBC UAE at none against CBD's shown. On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for CBD against 4.7 for HSBC UAE. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.8K and 3.2K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 39% of CBD's written reviews are positive against 36% of HSBC UAE's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CBD ships an update every 2 weeks, HSBC UAE every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
CBD versus HSBC UAE: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCBDHSBC UAE
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (1.8K ratings) — better4.7 (3.2K ratings)
Positive reviews39.2% of reviews — better35.9% of reviews
Number of ratings1.8K3.2K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size419 MB647 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCommercial Bank of DubaiHSBC Global Services (UK) Limited

Customer experience

CBD

All ratings1,824 ratings
Positive95.0%
Neutral1.7%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews51 reviews
Positive39.2%
Neutral5.9%
Negative54.9%

HSBC UAE

All ratings3,226 ratings
Positive93.8%
Neutral1.9%
Negative4.2%
Written reviews323 reviews
Positive35.9%
Neutral8.0%
Negative56.0%

User reviews

CBD

From 1.8K App Store ratings

What we love

  • ⭐ Excellent services
  • ⭐ Fast and easy
  • ⭐ Wonderful experience
  • ⭐ Very good bank
  • ⭐ Convenient and easy to use

Room to improve

  • 🚫 Hungry for money
  • 🚫 Worst customer service
  • 🚫 Slow and unhelpful chatbots
  • 🚫 Difficult to transfer money
  • 🚫 App not working after update

HSBC UAE

From 3.2K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and efficient
  • 🔒 Secure banking
  • 👍 User-friendly interface
  • 💡 Innovative features
  • ✨ Significant improvements

Room to improve

  • 💰 Unfair exchange rates
  • 🔍 Limited functionality
  • 🐛 Frequent crashes
  • 🤖 Poor customer service
  • 🕰️ Slow transaction updates

Bugs and requests

CBD

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes and login issues
  • Incompatibility with newer iOS versions
  • Transferring money not working

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improve app performance and stability
  • Enhance security features
  • Introduce advanced budgeting and money management tools
  • Provide better customer support

HSBC UAE

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Login issues and app freezes
  • Inability to upload documents
  • Inconsistent transaction display
  • Face recognition not working
  • App quitting during use

Requested features

5 requests
  • Global transfer capability
  • Landscape mode support
  • Ability to download statements
  • Option to pay full credit card balance
  • Improved in-app notification system

In-app purchases

None

CBD

No in-app purchases

None

HSBC UAE

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CBD free?
CBD is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is HSBC UAE free?
HSBC UAE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, CBD or HSBC UAE?
CBD is rated higher. CBD averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while HSBC UAE averages 4.7 from 3.2K ratings.
Do CBD or HSBC UAE have ads?
CBD shows ads; HSBC UAE does not.
Which is updated more often, CBD or HSBC UAE?
CBD ships an update every 2 weeks, and HSBC UAE every 3 weeks. Most recently, CBD was updated on November 6, 2026 and HSBC UAE on November 8, 2026.

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