PayPal vs PingPong (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. PingPong does not publish full pricing; PayPal does. PayPal is best for receiving card and PayPal-wallet payments from overseas buyers who already use PayPal. PingPong is best for Indian marketplace sellers (Amazon and similar) collecting in multiple currencies.
| Use case | Better option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Invoices around $2,000 | Not comparable | PingPong does not publish full pricing; PayPal does. |
| Invoices around $5,000 | Not comparable | PingPong does not publish full pricing; PayPal does. |
| Invoices around $10,000 | Not comparable | PingPong does not publish full pricing; PayPal does. |
| Need: receiving card and PayPal-wallet payments from overseas buyers who already use PayPal | PayPal | PayPal is built for this. |
| Need: Indian marketplace sellers (Amazon and similar) collecting in multiple currencies | PingPong | PingPong is built for this. |
CurrencyUSD
At the mid-market rate
₹4,74,283
Highest payout: PayPal
₹4,36,023
- 1.PayPal₹4,36,023cost 8.07%
1 USD = 94.86 INR, ECB reference rate for 3 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 PayPal and PingPong compare at a glance?
| Attribute | PayPal | PingPong |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Card and PayPal-wallet payments from overseas PayPal buyers | Indian marketplace sellers collecting in multiple currencies |
| Fees | 4.40% + USD 0.30 per international payment; fixed fee varies | Free receiving; 1% withdrawal, may vary by region |
| FX markup | 3.0% above PayPal's base rate on conversion | Not confirmed; Amazon page states all-inclusive up to 1% |
| Settlement | Not confirmed | Conflicting: T+0 before 2:30 pm cut-off, or 1-2 days |
| FIRA | Free weekly FIRA; custom Rs 100 + 18% GST each | Free digital FIRC per transaction, 3-5 business days |
| Currencies | Receives USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, others; states 130+ currencies | Receives USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, JPY and more; INR or EEFC |
| RBI status | PA-CB in-principle authorisation granted; final not confirmed | States OPGSP via RBI-approved liaison office; PA-CB not confirmed |
| Indian individuals | Yes, Indian residents 18+, PAN and video KYC | Not confirmed without business registration |
| Indian businesses | Yes, proprietors, partnerships, LLPs and companies | Yes, sellers, exporters and service businesses |
| Limits | Export payments above USD 10,000 per transaction are a restricted activity under the PayPal India user agreement. Other limits not confirmed. | PingPong's Terms and Conditions (India section) allow receipts for exports of goods or services of value not exceeding the equivalent of INR 25,00,000 (about USD 30,000) per transaction. Receiving accounts also have a virtual account limit that can be raised by applying in the dashboard; specific amounts Not confirmed. |
How much INR do you receive on $2,000, $5,000 and $10,000 with PayPal vs PingPong?
Each row applies the platform's published fee, FX markup and GST on the fee to the XE mid-market rate for 3 Nov 2026.
| Platform and invoice | Fee | FX markup | GST | INR received | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PayPal, $2,000 | ₹8,376 | ₹5,440 | ₹1,508 | ₹1,74,390 | 8.08% | Card and PayPal-wallet payments from overseas PayPal buyers |
| PayPal, $5,000 | ₹20,897 | ₹13,602 | ₹3,761 | ₹4,36,023 | 8.07% | Card and PayPal-wallet payments from overseas PayPal buyers |
| PayPal, $10,000 | ₹41,765 | ₹27,204 | ₹7,518 | ₹8,72,079 | 8.06% | Card and PayPal-wallet payments from overseas PayPal buyers |
| PingPong, $2,000 | – | – | – | Not published | – | Indian marketplace sellers collecting in multiple currencies |
| PingPong, $5,000 | – | – | – | Not published | – | Indian marketplace sellers collecting in multiple currencies |
| PingPong, $10,000 | – | – | – | Not published | – | Indian marketplace sellers collecting in multiple currencies |
What is PayPal and who is it for?
PayPal is a global digital wallet and checkout provider. In India it operates through PayPal Payments Private Limited, which offers Export Payment Services that let India-resident individuals and businesses receive payments from buyers outside India for the export of goods and services. Received funds are converted and credited to the user's linked Indian bank account through an authorised dealer bank.
- Regulated by: PA-CB in-principle authorisation granted to PayPal Payments Private Limited (RBI application status list, as on 01.10.2026)
- Used by: Yes. Businesses organised in, operating in or resident in India can open a business account (sole proprietors, partnerships/LLPs, companies).
- Best for: Receiving card and PayPal-wallet payments from overseas buyers who already use PayPal
What is PingPong and who is it for?
PingPong is a cross-border payments company founded in New York in 2015 and headquartered in Hangzhou, China, which has operated in India since July 2019 from a Bengaluru office. Indian e-commerce sellers, exporters and freelancers open virtual receiving accounts in foreign currencies, link them to marketplaces or share them with clients, and withdraw to an Indian bank account in INR or, through an EEFC account, in foreign currency.
- Regulated by: States its India Liaison Office is RBI-approved (UIN BGLO19008226) and that it acts as an OPGSP; RBI PA-CB authorisation Not confirmed
- Used by: Yes. India pages target e-commerce sellers, exporters and service businesses; KYC includes business information.
- Best for: Indian marketplace sellers (Amazon and similar) collecting in multiple currencies
How do PayPal and PingPong fees and FX markup compare?
What does PayPal charge?
| Fee type | Amount | When it applies | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receiving: PayPal payment (balance, card or linked method) from a buyer outside India | 4.40% + fixed fee by currency (USD 0.30) | Fixed fee examples: EUR 0.35, GBP 0.20, CAD 0.30, AUD 0.30 | Card and PayPal-wallet payments from overseas PayPal buyers |
| Receiving: Local bank account details (ACH, SEPA etc.) for Indian users | Not confirmed | No such option found on PayPal India's official pages | Card and PayPal-wallet payments from overseas PayPal buyers |
| Currency conversion to INR | 3.0% above PayPal's base exchange rate when converting payments received into another currency | When foreign currency is converted | Card and PayPal-wallet payments from overseas PayPal buyers |
| Payout to an Indian bank | Funds are credited to the linked Indian bank account via the authorised dealer bank. Standard withdrawal to a bank account is free when no currency conversion is involved; conversion of received foreign-currency payments costs 3.0% above the base rate. A failed withdrawal due to incorrect bank details costs 250.00 (currency as shown on the fees page). Timing is not confirmed. | When INR is sent to your account | Card and PayPal-wallet payments from overseas PayPal buyers |
| Standard dispute fee | USD 8.00 (INR 580.00 for INR transactions) | – | Card and PayPal-wallet payments from overseas PayPal buyers |
| High volume dispute fee | USD 16.00 (INR 1,160.00) | – | Card and PayPal-wallet payments from overseas PayPal buyers |
| Bank return on failed withdrawal | 250.00 (currency as shown on fees page) | – | Card and PayPal-wallet payments from overseas PayPal buyers |
| Refunds | No fee to refund, but the original receiving fees are not returned | – | Card and PayPal-wallet payments from overseas PayPal buyers |
| Custom FIRA | INR 100 + 18% GST per transaction (up to 20), or INR 2,000 + 18% GST for more than 20 transactions | – | Card and PayPal-wallet payments from overseas PayPal buyers |
| GST on fees | PayPal's India user agreement states its fees are exclusive of taxes and that GST-registered merchants receive a PayPal tax invoice and can claim input tax credit via GSTR 2B. Custom FIRA charges carry 18% GST. | Applies to the platform's fee | Card and PayPal-wallet payments from overseas PayPal buyers |
What does PingPong charge?
| Fee type | Amount | When it applies | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receiving: Local virtual receiving accounts (e.g. USD routing and account number) linked to marketplaces | Free to receive per help centre; 1% on withdrawal | Help centre lists Amazon, AliExpress, eBay, TikTok, Shopee and others, developer platforms such as Google and App Store, and platforms paying via PayPal or Stripe | Indian marketplace sellers collecting in multiple currencies |
| Receiving: Direct bank or wire transfer from overseas buyers | Free to receive per help centre; 1% on withdrawal | Requires invoice or contract for inbound approval; some accounts reject funds from individual payers | Indian marketplace sellers collecting in multiple currencies |
| Receiving: Payment request or invoice | Not confirmed | India pages say bank transfers and US debit card payments are accepted | Indian marketplace sellers collecting in multiple currencies |
| Currency conversion to INR | Not confirmed: the terms say conversion is at the rate PingPong determines at transaction time; the Amazon seller page describes pricing as 'all-inclusive up to 1%'; no separate FX markup is published | When foreign currency is converted | Indian marketplace sellers collecting in multiple currencies |
| Payout to an Indian bank | Funds are withdrawn automatically to a linked Indian bank account in INR (T+0 before the 2:30 pm cut-off, else T+1) or to an EEFC account in foreign currency (1-3 days); the help centre states a 1% withdrawal fee that may vary by region. | When INR is sent to your account | Indian marketplace sellers collecting in multiple currencies |
| Account opening | Free | – | Indian marketplace sellers collecting in multiple currencies |
| Receiving account | 'Most accounts are free to use' | – | Indian marketplace sellers collecting in multiple currencies |
| Withdrawal to own bank account or supplier payment | 1% per transaction (may vary by region) | – | Indian marketplace sellers collecting in multiple currencies |
| Digital FIRC | Free | – | Indian marketplace sellers collecting in multiple currencies |
| VAT and global tax payments | No additional fee, per India pages | – | Indian marketplace sellers collecting in multiple currencies |
| Transfers within the PingPong network | No charge, per the India B2B page (listed under supplier payments for businesses with US/UK/EU entities) | – | Indian marketplace sellers collecting in multiple currencies |
| GST on fees | Not confirmed: PingPong's India pages and terms do not state whether GST is charged on its fees. The India home page's 'Pay VAT/GST and other taxes with no additional costs' refers to paying taxes from the balance, not to GST on PingPong's fees. | Applies to the platform's fee | Indian marketplace sellers collecting in multiple currencies |
How do PayPal and PingPong compare on settlement speed?
- PayPal: Not confirmed
- PingPong: Help centre: INR withdrawals succeed the same day (T+0) if submitted before the 2:30 pm cut-off, otherwise the next day (T+1); non-INR withdrawals within 1-3 days. The freelancer page separately says INR withdrawals take 1-2 working days
| Platform | Settlement to India | Payout route | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| PayPal | Not confirmed | Free to Indian bank without conversion; 3.0% if converting; timing not confirmed | Card and PayPal-wallet payments from overseas PayPal buyers |
| PingPong | Conflicting: T+0 before 2:30 pm cut-off, or 1-2 days | Auto INR, T+0 before 2:30 pm else T+1; 1% fee, may vary | Indian marketplace sellers collecting in multiple currencies |
Do PayPal and PingPong provide FIRA and e-BRC, and are they RBI PA-CB authorised?
| Platform | FIRA and e-BRC | RBI status | Checked | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PayPal | Free weekly FIRA; custom Rs 100 + 18% GST each | PA-CB in-principle authorisation granted; final not confirmed | 30 Sept 2026 | Card and PayPal-wallet payments from overseas PayPal buyers |
| PingPong | Free digital FIRC per transaction, 3-5 business days | States OPGSP via RBI-approved liaison office; PA-CB not confirmed | 30 Sept 2026 | Indian marketplace sellers collecting in multiple currencies |
Which currencies, countries and payment methods do PayPal and PingPong support?
| Platform | Currencies | Payment methods | Indian individuals | Indian businesses | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PayPal | Receives USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, others; states 130+ currencies | PayPal payment (balance, card or linked method) from a buyer outside India; Local bank account details (ACH, SEPA etc.) for Indian users | Yes, Indian residents 18+, PAN and video KYC | Yes, proprietors, partnerships, LLPs and companies | Card and PayPal-wallet payments from overseas PayPal buyers |
| PingPong | Receives USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, JPY and more; INR or EEFC | Local virtual receiving accounts (e.g. USD routing and account number) linked to marketplaces; Direct bank or wire transfer from overseas buyers; Payment request or invoice | Not confirmed without business registration | Yes, sellers, exporters and service businesses | Indian marketplace sellers collecting in multiple currencies |
What are the strengths and limitations of PayPal and PingPong?
PayPal
- Buyer reach: PayPal states access to up to 400 million active accounts globally
- Free FIRA: Weekly Digital FIRA is free to download since Feb 2026
- Regulatory status: listed by RBI with in-principle PA-CB authorisation
- Card acceptance: the user agreement covers payments made through PayPal guest checkout and card chargebacks, so buyers need not hold a PayPal balance
- Cost: 4.40% + fixed fee plus a 3.0% conversion markup is high for large invoices
- Transaction cap: export payments above USD 10,000 per transaction are a restricted activity under the India user agreement
- Disputes: dispute fees of USD 8 (standard) or USD 16 (high volume) can apply, and fees are not returned on refunds
- Holds: PayPal may hold funds for up to 180 days in risk or policy cases
PingPong
- Marketplace focus: India pages list Amazon US, UK, EU, Japan, Canada and Australia, plus other marketplaces and PayPal or Stripe payouts
- Fast INR payout: help centre says same day for INR withdrawals submitted before 2:30 pm (the freelancer page says 1-2 working days)
- Free FIRC: digital FIRC per transaction at no charge
- Free receiving: help centre says opening an account and receiving payments is free
- Pricing opacity: the 1% figure 'may vary from region to region' and no FX markup or GST treatment is published
- Regulatory status in India: platform describes itself as an OPGSP with an RBI-approved liaison office; PA-CB authorisation not confirmed on an RBI page
- Inbound checks: wire transfers need order information (invoice or contract) for approval, and rejected payments take around 15-20 working days to return
- Personal payers: some receiving accounts do not accept funds from individual accounts
Should you choose PayPal or PingPong?
- Choose PayPal if: you need receiving card and PayPal-wallet payments from overseas buyers who already use PayPal.
- Choose PingPong if: you need Indian marketplace sellers (Amazon and similar) collecting in multiple currencies.
For example, an exporter billing $5,000 a month: PingPong does not publish full pricing; PayPal does.
Which other platforms should you consider besides PayPal and PingPong?
Other covered platforms ranked by the INR received on a $5,000 invoice.
| Platform | Fees | FX markup | FIRA | INR on $5,000 | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skydo | $19 up to $2,000, $29 to $10,000, 0.3% above + GST | States zero FX margin at live rate | States instant, free FIRA per payment | ₹4,71,037 | Indian freelancers and exporters receiving mid to large B2B invoices |
| 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 | ₹4,68,686 | 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 | ₹4,65,665 | 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 | ₹4,65,286 | Existing HDFC customers wanting free SWIFT receipts or EEFC accounts |
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 3 Nov 2026. The formula is on the methodology page.
- PayPal India Merchant Fees, Receiving international transactions; Currency Conversions (3.0% converting balance and payments received; 4.00% all other cases); Withdrawals Out of PayPal; Dispute Fees; Other Fees (Last Updated 28 March 2024) (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- PayPal India User Agreement, About our main business (Export Payment Services); Opening an Account; Restricted Activities (USD 10,000); Holds (180 days); Dispute Fee (guest checkout); Taxes and Information Reporting (GST) (last updated 13 January 2025) (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- PayPal India Foreign Inward Remittance Advise (FIRA) (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- PayPal India Know Your Customer (KYC) (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- PayPal India Business (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- RBI: Status of Applications received under Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 (as on 01.10.2026), Table D: Existing PAs-CB which can operate as Payment Aggregator- Cross Border (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- PingPong India home, Digital FIRCs in your PingPong dashboard. Free of cost; All fee charges are shown on the account dashboard (checked 7 Oct 2026)
- PingPong India: For Amazon Sellers, All-inclusive transaction fee up to 1%; FIRC for each transaction (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- PingPong India: Freelancers and service providers (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- PingPong India: E-commerce sellers (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- PingPong India: B2B payments, OPGSP with partner Citibank; no charge for transfers within network (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- PingPong India: Value added services (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- PingPong India: Licensing and regulation, RBI-approved liaison office BGLO19008226; OPGSP (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- PingPong India: About us (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Help centre: What is the charging standard?, Creating a PingPong account and receiving payment is free of charge. Withdraw balance ... will be charged 1% per transaction. However, fee standard may vary from region to region (checked 7 Oct 2026)
- Help centre: What does KYC mean? (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Help centre: What does sole proprietorship mean? (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Help centre: How long does the verification process take? (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Help centre: How does your virtual account charge? (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Help centre: Which currencies are supported? (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Help centre: Which platforms can I receive payments from? (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Help centre: Can I receive funds through wire transfer? (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Help centre: Transfer conditions (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Help centre: Increase virtual account limit (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Help centre: How can I withdraw funds?, INR T+0 before 2:30 pm cut-off; non-INR 1-3 days (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Help centre: How can I get a FIRC?, 3-5 business days (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- PingPong Terms and Conditions (incl. Exhibit A, Customer Location in India), value not exceeding the equivalent of ₹25,00,000 (approximately US$30,000) per transaction; conversion at the foreign exchange rate at the applicable transaction time as determined by PingPong; Export Collection Account with an AD Bank in India (checked 7 Oct 2026)
FAQs about PayPal vs PingPong
Is PayPal or PingPong cheaper for receiving USD in India?
PingPong does not publish full pricing; PayPal does. At $2,000: PingPong does not publish full pricing; PayPal does. At $10,000: PingPong does not publish full pricing; PayPal does. Figures use each platform's published pricing and today's reference rate, so check both pricing pages before you decide.
Which is faster, PayPal or PingPong?
PayPal states: Not confirmed. PingPong states: Help centre: INR withdrawals succeed the same day (T+0) if submitted before the 2:30 pm cut-off, otherwise the next day (T+1); non-INR withdrawals within 1-3 days. The freelancer page separately says INR withdrawals take 1-2 working days.
Do PayPal and PingPong both provide a FIRA?
PayPal: Weekly Digital FIRA free to download from the PayPal business account since Feb 2026; Custom FIRA via Citibank at INR 100 + 18% GST per transaction (up to 20 transactions) or INR 2,000 + 18% GST for more than 20 transactions.
Are PayPal and PingPong authorised by RBI?
PayPal: PA-CB in-principle authorisation granted to PayPal Payments Private Limited (RBI application status list, as on 01.10.2026). PingPong: States its India Liaison Office is RBI-approved (UIN BGLO19008226) and that it acts as an OPGSP; RBI PA-CB authorisation Not confirmed. Check the platform's own pricing page before relying on these figures.
Can Indian freelancers use both PayPal and PingPong?
PayPal, individuals: Yes. Individuals must be resident in India and at least 18; a personal account can receive payments for goods and services, though PayPal recommends a business account for those who primarily sell. KYC includes the original PAN card and video KYC. PingPong, individuals: Not confirmed. Eligibility can change, so confirm on each platform's sign-up pages.
Should I switch from PayPal to PingPong?
Switch only if PingPong pays more on your usual invoice size or fits how your clients pay. Keep the PayPal 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.