Adyen vs Skydo (2026): Which Is Better for Receiving International Payments in India?
- Author:
- Manoj Sharma
- Verified by:
- Editorial team
- Published:
- Last modified:
Short answer
The better choice depends on how your clients pay and which documents you need. Adyen does not publish full pricing; Skydo does. Adyen is best for large enterprises accepting card and UPI payments from Indian shoppers. Skydo is best for Indian freelancers and exporters receiving mid to large B2B invoices by bank transfer.
| Use case | Better option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Invoices around $2,000 | Not comparable | Adyen does not publish full pricing; Skydo does. |
| Invoices around $5,000 | Not comparable | Adyen does not publish full pricing; Skydo does. |
| Invoices around $10,000 | Not comparable | Adyen does not publish full pricing; Skydo does. |
| Need: large enterprises accepting card and UPI payments from Indian shoppers | Adyen | Adyen is built for this. |
| Need: Indian freelancers and exporters receiving mid to large B2B invoices by bank transfer | Skydo | Skydo is built for this. |
CurrencyUSD
At the mid-market rate
₹4,73,113
Highest payout: Skydo
₹4,69,875
- 1.Skydo₹4,69,875cost 0.68%
1 USD = 94.62 INR, ECB reference rate for 4 Nov 2026. Payout = amount minus fees, converted at the reference rate minus each platform's markup, minus 18% GST on fees where charged. Platforms without published pricing are left out.
How do Adyen and Skydo compare at a glance?
| Attribute | Adyen | Skydo |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Large enterprises accepting card and UPI from Indian shoppers | Indian freelancers and exporters receiving mid to large B2B invoices |
| Fees | Indicative $0.13/txn + Interchange++ + 0.60% for cards; custom pricing | $19 up to $2,000, $29 to $10,000, 0.3% above + GST |
| FX markup | Not confirmed: reference rate + contract-set FX fee, not published | States zero FX margin at live rate |
| Settlement | INR local payout, up to two days; export timing unpublished | States under 24 hours; FAQ timelines vary by rail |
| FIRA | Not confirmed: no FIRA or FIRC provision published | States instant, free FIRA per payment |
| Currencies | Fees in USD; multi-currency bank accounts; accepts INR from Indian shoppers | Local USD, GBP, EUR, CAD, AUD, SGD, AED; 32 via SWIFT |
| RBI status | States PA-Online and PA-CB-Outward; not independently confirmed | RBI authorised PA-CB Inward and Outward; on RBI list |
| Indian individuals | Not confirmed: no offering for Indian individuals | Yes, freelancers and sole proprietors with PAN |
| Indian businesses | Domestic acquiring yes; export receipts not confirmed | Yes, companies, partnerships and HUFs |
| Limits | Not confirmed | Minimum USD 50 per payment; Skydo states there is no upper limit. Payments above USD 100,000 a month are priced on request. |
How much INR do you receive on $2,000, $5,000 and $10,000 with Adyen vs Skydo?
Each row applies the platform's published fee, FX markup and GST on the fee to the XE mid-market rate for 4 Nov 2026.
| Platform and invoice | Fee | FX markup | GST | INR received | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adyen, $2,000 | – | – | – | Not published | – | Large enterprises accepting card and UPI from Indian shoppers |
| Adyen, $5,000 | – | – | – | Not published | – | Large enterprises accepting card and UPI from Indian shoppers |
| Adyen, $10,000 | – | – | – | Not published | – | Large enterprises accepting card and UPI from Indian shoppers |
| Skydo, $2,000 | ₹1,798 | ₹0 | ₹324 | ₹1,87,124 | 1.12% | Indian freelancers and exporters receiving mid to large B2B invoices |
| Skydo, $5,000 | ₹2,744 | ₹0 | ₹494 | ₹4,69,875 | 0.68% | Indian freelancers and exporters receiving mid to large B2B invoices |
| Skydo, $10,000 | ₹2,744 | ₹0 | ₹494 | ₹9,42,987 | 0.34% | Indian freelancers and exporters receiving mid to large B2B invoices |
What is Adyen and who is it for?
Adyen is a Netherlands-headquartered payment platform for enterprise merchants. Its India page states it has operated in India since 2018 and holds RBI authorisations for domestic online payments and cross-border outward payments, which cover global brands collecting INR from Indian shoppers. It does not publish a product for Indian freelancers or exporters to receive foreign client payments into an Indian bank account.
- Regulated by: States it holds RBI authorisations for domestic (PA-Online) and cross-border outward (PA-CB-Outward) payments; not independently confirmed on an RBI list
- Used by: Indian businesses can use Adyen for domestic online acquiring (PA-Online, as stated by Adyen); use for receiving export payments from foreign clients is not confirmed
- Best for: Large enterprises accepting card and UPI payments from Indian shoppers
What is Skydo and who is it for?
Skydo is a Bengaluru-based cross-border collection platform run by Skydo Technologies Private Limited, founded in 2022. It gives Indian exporters and freelancers local account details in the US, UK, Europe, Canada, Australia, Singapore and the UAE, plus an International SWIFT account, so foreign clients can pay by bank transfer. Skydo converts the funds and settles INR to the user's Indian bank account, issuing a FIRA for each payment.
- Regulated by: RBI authorised Payment Aggregator: PA-O 'Skydo' (08.01.2026) and PA-CB Inward and Outward (RBI Certificates of Authorisation list dated 30 September 2026)
- Used by: Yes. Private limited companies, partnerships and HUFs sign up with the business PAN; partnerships also provide the partnership deed.
- Best for: Indian freelancers and exporters receiving mid to large B2B invoices by bank transfer
How do Adyen and Skydo fees and FX markup compare?
What does Adyen charge?
| Fee type | Amount | When it applies | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receiving: International card payments (Visa/Mastercard) via online checkout | $0.13 + Interchange++ + 0.60% (indicative, global pricing page) | Availability for an Indian exporter collecting from foreign cardholders is not confirmed | Large enterprises accepting card and UPI from Indian shoppers |
| Receiving: Local bank transfer account details for foreign clients | Not confirmed | Not offered as a published product for Indian recipients | Large enterprises accepting card and UPI from Indian shoppers |
| Currency conversion to INR | Not confirmed: Adyen converts at its FX reference rate plus an FX management fee (spread); how the spread is calculated is set in the merchant's contract and by default differs by currency category (USD category one, INR category two); no figure is published | When foreign currency is converted | Large enterprises accepting card and UPI from Indian shoppers |
| Payout to an Indian bank | Adyen's payout currency docs list INR as the settlement currency for its India acquiring connection, with funds held in India and paid out locally, and say INR can only be paid out to a local bank account in India (SWIFT payouts are not supported for INR). Payout fees and any route for export proceeds are not published. | When INR is sent to your account | Large enterprises accepting card and UPI from Indian shoppers |
| Setup or monthly fee | None, per pricing page | – | Large enterprises accepting card and UPI from Indian shoppers |
| Minimum invoice | Depends on industry or business model (not published) | – | Large enterprises accepting card and UPI from Indian shoppers |
| American Express | $0.13 + 3.95% global (indicative) | – | Large enterprises accepting card and UPI from Indian shoppers |
| UPI | $0.13 + defined by funding source used (India pricing page, indicative) | – | Large enterprises accepting card and UPI from Indian shoppers |
| RuPay | $0.13 + on request (India pricing page) | – | Large enterprises accepting card and UPI from Indian shoppers |
| GST on fees | Adyen's help centre lists Adyen India service invoices with GST: 'GST rate 18% if the merchant is in Maharashtra. Or CGST of 9% and SGST of 9% if the merchant is located outside Maharashtra', as worded on the page. Either way the total is 18% on Adyen's service fees. | Applies to the platform's fee | Large enterprises accepting card and UPI from Indian shoppers |
What does Skydo charge?
| Fee type | Amount | When it applies | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receiving: Local bank transfer to Skydo local account details (US, UK, Europe, Canada, Australia, Singapore, UAE) | $19 up to $2,000, $29 from $2,001 to $10,000, 0.3% above $10,000, plus GST | Skydo states SWIFT charges are not applicable for local transfers | Indian freelancers and exporters receiving mid to large B2B invoices |
| Receiving: SWIFT transfer to the International SWIFT account (32 currencies) | Same slab fee plus GST | SWIFT charges are borne by the sender or deducted in-line as the sender chooses; Skydo adds no further SWIFT fee for transfer to India | Indian freelancers and exporters receiving mid to large B2B invoices |
| Receiving: InstaLinks payment link (US ACH Debit) | 2% per transaction, minimum $9 | Typically settles within 6 business days; chargebacks possible | Indian freelancers and exporters receiving mid to large B2B invoices |
| Receiving: Amazon Global Selling withdrawals to Skydo accounts | 0.5% (min $2) for monthly payments under USD 10,000; 0.3% above USD 10,000 | Separate Amazon seller pricing | Indian freelancers and exporters receiving mid to large B2B invoices |
| Currency conversion to INR | Zero FX margin; Skydo states it converts at the live rate with no markup (its India payments page describes this as the live mid-market rate) | When foreign currency is converted | Indian freelancers and exporters receiving mid to large B2B invoices |
| Payout to an Indian bank | Skydo converts the received funds at the live rate with zero FX margin and settles INR to the user's registered Indian bank account; the only charge stated is the Skydo slab fee plus GST, with no extra SWIFT fee for the transfer to India. | When INR is sent to your account | Indian freelancers and exporters receiving mid to large B2B invoices |
| InstaLinks (ACH Debit payment link) | 2% per transaction, minimum $9 | – | Indian freelancers and exporters receiving mid to large B2B invoices |
| Refund or chargeback | User bears the original amount, processing fees and any bank transfer fees to return funds | – | Indian freelancers and exporters receiving mid to large B2B invoices |
| FIRA | Free (as stated by Skydo) | – | Indian freelancers and exporters receiving mid to large B2B invoices |
| Account opening or annual fee | Not confirmed | – | Indian freelancers and exporters receiving mid to large B2B invoices |
| GST on fees | GST at 18% is charged on the Skydo transaction fee, as shown in the homepage calculator and the FAQ ('+ GST'). | Applies to the platform's fee | Indian freelancers and exporters receiving mid to large B2B invoices |
How do Adyen and Skydo compare on settlement speed?
- Adyen: Adyen's docs list INR as the settlement currency for its India acquiring connection, paid out locally to a bank account in India, and say payouts can take up to two days to arrive depending on the currencies and banks involved; no timeline for export receipts is published
- Skydo: Skydo's FAQ gives standard timelines by local account: to the Skydo virtual account in 1 to 3 business days for USD ACH, EUR SEPA, CAD EFT and AUD, 1 business day for USD Fedwire and GBP FPS, and 1 to 5 business days for SWIFT; then to the Indian bank account in 1 business day for USD, GBP, EUR and SGD, 1 to 2 for CAD, and 1 to 3 for AUD and SWIFT. The homepage states payments are received in less than 24 hours. InstaLinks ACH Debit payments typically settle within 6 business days.
| Platform | Settlement to India | Payout route | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adyen | INR local payout, up to two days; export timing unpublished | INR to local Indian bank account only; payout fees not published | Large enterprises accepting card and UPI from Indian shoppers |
| Skydo | States under 24 hours; FAQ timelines vary by rail | INR to Indian bank at live rate; no extra SWIFT fee | Indian freelancers and exporters receiving mid to large B2B invoices |
Do Adyen and Skydo provide FIRA and e-BRC, and are they RBI PA-CB authorised?
| Platform | FIRA and e-BRC | RBI status | Checked | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adyen | Not confirmed: no FIRA or FIRC provision published | States PA-Online and PA-CB-Outward; not independently confirmed | 30 Sept 2026 | Large enterprises accepting card and UPI from Indian shoppers |
| Skydo | States instant, free FIRA per payment | RBI authorised PA-CB Inward and Outward; on RBI list | 30 Sept 2026 | Indian freelancers and exporters receiving mid to large B2B invoices |
Which currencies, countries and payment methods do Adyen and Skydo support?
| Platform | Currencies | Payment methods | Indian individuals | Indian businesses | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adyen | Fees in USD; multi-currency bank accounts; accepts INR from Indian shoppers | International card payments (Visa/Mastercard) via online checkout; Local bank transfer account details for foreign clients | Not confirmed: no offering for Indian individuals | Domestic acquiring yes; export receipts not confirmed | Large enterprises accepting card and UPI from Indian shoppers |
| Skydo | Local USD, GBP, EUR, CAD, AUD, SGD, AED; 32 via SWIFT | Local bank transfer to Skydo local account details (US, UK, Europe, Canada, Australia, Singapore, UAE); SWIFT transfer to the International SWIFT account (32 currencies); InstaLinks payment link (US ACH Debit); Amazon Global Selling withdrawals to Skydo accounts | Yes, freelancers and sole proprietors with PAN | Yes, companies, partnerships and HUFs | Indian freelancers and exporters receiving mid to large B2B invoices |
What are the strengths and limitations of Adyen and Skydo?
Adyen
- Pricing transparency: Interchange++ model with published indicative scheme markup
- India presence: States local operations since 2018 and its own RBI authorisations
- Payment methods: UPI, cards and local rails for Indian shoppers
- Scale: Built for enterprise merchants with high volumes
- Not for export receipts: Published RBI authorisation is PA-CB-Outward (Indian shoppers paying foreign merchants), not inward export collection
- Enterprise focus: Minimum invoice depends on industry or business model; onboarding through sales
- No individuals: No published route for Indian freelancers or individuals
- Opaque totals: interchange varies per card, published fees are labelled indicative, and the FX management spread is set in the contract rather than published
Skydo
- FX: Zero FX margin on conversion to INR, as stated on the homepage and pricing section
- Predictable fees: Flat $19 or $29 per payment up to $10,000, so the effective rate falls as invoice size rises
- Compliance paperwork: FIRA issued instantly and stated to be free; Skydo says its FIRA and FIRC are accepted for GST filing and by banks
- Regulation: Listed by RBI as an authorised Payment Aggregator with PA-CB Inward and Outward authorisation
- Small payments: Minimum payment of USD 50, and a $19 flat fee is a high share of small invoices
- Card payments: Skydo's published pricing and FAQs list bank transfers and ACH Debit payment links only; no card payment option is listed
- InstaLinks cost: Payment links cost 2% per transaction with a $9 minimum and typically settle within 6 business days
- Chargebacks: For InstaLinks, the user is liable for chargeback amounts and fees, which Skydo may debit from the account
Should you choose Adyen or Skydo?
- Choose Adyen if: you need large enterprises accepting card and UPI payments from Indian shoppers.
- Choose Skydo if: you need Indian freelancers and exporters receiving mid to large B2B invoices by bank transfer.
For example, an exporter billing $5,000 a month: Adyen does not publish full pricing; Skydo does.
Which other platforms should you consider besides Adyen and Skydo?
Other covered platforms ranked by the INR received on a $5,000 invoice.
| Platform | Fees | FX markup | FIRA | INR on $5,000 | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Razorpay | 1% per bank transfer (Rs 1,000 flat below Rs 1,00,000) + GST | States 0% markup on MoneySaver at live rate | FIRS within 24 hours of settlement; no charge listed | ₹4,67,530 | Indian businesses and freelancers on Razorpay invoicing foreign clients |
| Kotak Mahindra Bank | No inward, FIRC, SWIFT fee on current accounts; GST on conversion | Card rate, markup not published; 1.71% below mid-market on 7 Oct 2026 | Nil FIRC on current accounts; savings Rs 100 or nil | ₹4,64,515 | Service exporters wanting a current account without inward remittance fees |
| HDFC Bank | No inward charge; physical FIRC INR 200 + taxes; GST on conversion | Card rate ~1.79% below mid-market on 6 Oct 2026; markup unpublished | Physical FIRC INR 200; emailed advice free for trade | ₹4,64,137 | Existing HDFC customers wanting free SWIFT receipts or EEFC accounts |
| Wise Business | Calculator: 1.6% + $2 per payment + 18% GST | Mid-market rate; cost is the 1.6% conversion fee | eFIRC per transfer, 2 USD + 18% GST | ₹4,64,129 | Freelancers and small exporters wanting multi-currency local accounts and eFIRC |
How did we verify this?
Fees, FIRA terms and RBI status were checked on each platform's own pages and RBI sources on 30 Sept 2026. INR figures use the XE mid-market rate for 4 Nov 2026. The formula is on the methodology page.
- Adyen India, Established in India since 2018; RBI PA-Online and PA-CB-Outward authorisations (checked 7 Oct 2026)
- Adyen pricing (India), Indicative fees: $0.13 fixed; Visa/Mastercard Interchange++ + 0.60%; Amex 3.95%; UPI defined by funding source; RuPay on request; minimum invoice depends on industry or business model; the fees outlined above are indicative; no monthly, set-up, integration or closure fees (checked 7 Oct 2026)
- Adyen pricing (global), Fixed processing fee plus payment-method fee; no setup or monthly fees; minimum invoice depends on industry (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- India expansion made easy, Accept online payments in INR from Indian shoppers with Adyen's own RBI licences (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Adyen Visa payment method (India), Visa: $0.13 + Interchange+ + 0.60%; no monthly fees, set-up fees, integration fees or closure fees; INR not listed among settlement currencies (checked 7 Oct 2026)
- Adyen currency codes and FX management fee, Adyen applies a foreign currency exchange rate when a currency conversion takes place (FX reference rate) and charges an FX management fee, or spread, which by default differs based on the currency category; category one: AUD, CAD, DKK, EUR, GBP, HKD, JPY, NOK, NZD, PLN, SEK, USD, ZAR; category two: all other currencies; how this fee is calculated is included in your contract with Adyen (checked 7 Oct 2026)
- What kind of tax is applied to my invoice? (Adyen), Adyen India: GST rate 18% if the merchant is in Maharashtra. Or CGST of 9% and SGST of 9% if the merchant is located outside Maharashtra (checked 7 Oct 2026)
- Adyen Docs: Supported payout currencies, India (IN): settlement currency INR, funds held in India, local payout; certain currencies can only be paid out to a local bank account within a country or region where that currency is the official legal tender: BRL, INR, MYR, MXN, and AED; SWIFT payouts are not supported for these currencies (checked 7 Oct 2026)
- Adyen Docs: Getting paid, Depending on the currencies and banks involved, it may take up to two days for the payout funds to arrive in your account; like-for-like (no currency conversion) settlement if the currency is also supported as a settlement currency by the payment method (checked 7 Oct 2026)
- Skydo homepage (pricing and fee calculator), Know what you pay; calculator showing GST 18% of transaction fee (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Skydo FAQs: Fees & charges, How much does Skydo charge; Who will bear the SWIFT charges; Payment Links fees; Refund or chargeback fees (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Skydo FAQs: Payment queries, When will I receive money (timeline table); FIRA vs FIRC; Limitations and Restrictions (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Skydo FAQs: International accounts, Countries for local accounts; currencies via SWIFT account; unsupported countries (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Skydo FAQs: InstaLinks, Fees, settlement timeline, chargebacks (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Skydo: Receive International Payments in India, Skydo section: FIRA instant, automatic and free; settlement within 24 hours (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Skydo for Amazon Global Sellers, Know what you pay (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Skydo Terms of Use, About Skydo; Export transaction collection payments; KYC Process (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Skydo About Us (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Skydo blog: How to Sign Up on Skydo in 5 Minutes, What Do You Need Before You Sign Up on Skydo (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- RBI: Certificates of Authorisation issued under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 (dated 30 September 2026), Section A, Payment Aggregators, serial 56, and footnote # (checked 6 Oct 2026)
FAQs about Adyen vs Skydo
Is Adyen or Skydo cheaper for receiving USD in India?
Adyen does not publish full pricing; Skydo does. At $2,000: Adyen does not publish full pricing; Skydo does. At $10,000: Adyen does not publish full pricing; Skydo does. Figures use each platform's published pricing and today's reference rate, so check both pricing pages before you decide.
Which is faster, Adyen or Skydo?
Adyen states: Adyen's docs list INR as the settlement currency for its India acquiring connection, paid out locally to a bank account in India, and say payouts can take up to two days to arrive depending on the currencies and banks involved; no timeline for export receipts is published.
Do Adyen and Skydo both provide a FIRA?
Adyen: Not confirmed: no FIRA or FIRC provision is published. Skydo: FIRA issued instantly for each payment, emailed and downloadable from the dashboard; Skydo states it is free. A FIRA or FIRC is used as proof of export for GST refunds and income tax records, so confirm how each platform issues it before you invoice.
Are Adyen and Skydo authorised by RBI?
Adyen: States it holds RBI authorisations for domestic (PA-Online) and cross-border outward (PA-CB-Outward) payments; not independently confirmed on an RBI list. Skydo: RBI authorised Payment Aggregator: PA-O 'Skydo' (08.01.2026) and PA-CB Inward and Outward (RBI Certificates of Authorisation list dated 30 September 2026).
Can Indian freelancers use both Adyen and Skydo?
Adyen, individuals: Not confirmed: Adyen does not publish an offering for Indian resident individuals or freelancers Skydo, individuals: Yes. Skydo's sign-up guide states freelancers and sole proprietors can sign up with a personal PAN, Aadhaar verification via DigiLocker and a bank account in their own name. Payments must be for export of goods, services or software.
Should I switch from Adyen to Skydo?
Switch only if Skydo pays more on your usual invoice size or fits how your clients pay. Keep the Adyen account open until every invoice sent with its details is paid, and download your FIRA or FIRC records first. Check the platform's own pricing page before relying on these figures.