Export Services India

Razorpay vs PayU (2026): Which Is Better for Receiving International Payments in India?

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Short answer

The better choice depends on how your clients pay and which documents you need. PayU does not publish full pricing; Razorpay does. Razorpay is best for Indian businesses and freelancers already using Razorpay who invoice foreign clients. PayU is best for Indian businesses taking international card payments on a website or checkout.

CurrencyUSD

At the mid-market rate

₹4,73,002

Highest payout: Razorpay

₹4,67,421

  1. 1.Razorpay₹4,67,421cost 1.18%

1 USD = 94.60 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 Razorpay and PayU compare at a glance?

How much INR do you receive on $2,000, $5,000 and $10,000 with Razorpay vs PayU?

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.

What is Razorpay and who is it for?

Razorpay is an Indian payment gateway that also offers the MoneySaver Export Account (International Bank Transfer). Indian exporters and freelancers get virtual local bank details in the US, UK, Europe and other regions plus a SWIFT account, share them with foreign clients, and receive INR in their Indian bank account. Settlement needs an invoice and buyer address details for each transaction, except for some marketplace and freelancing platform payouts.

  • Regulated by: RBI authorised Payment Aggregator, PA-O (19.12.2023) and PA-CB Inward & Outward (Razorpay Payments Private Limited, RBI list of authorised payment system operators)
  • Used by: Yes, Indian sole proprietorships, partnerships, private and public limited companies and LLPs that fall under the listed export purpose codes
  • Best for: Indian businesses and freelancers already using Razorpay who invoice foreign clients

What is PayU and who is it for?

PayU is an Indian payment gateway that lets merchants accept online payments through cards, UPI, net banking and wallets. For overseas customers, it accepts international credit and debit cards and PayPal at checkout, converts the amount to INR and settles to the merchant's Indian bank account. It is a checkout tool. It does not give users foreign bank account details for receiving bank transfers.

  • Regulated by: Not confirmed. PA-CB status could not be verified on rbi.org.in, and PayU's pages make no PA-CB claim
  • Used by: Yes. New merchants sign up online, and existing merchants enable international payments through help.payu.in or care@payu.in. PayU's international card terms (clause 1.2(b)) say international card processing is provided at PayU's discretion, subject to additional due diligence by PayU, the acquiring banks and the nodal bank, and that approval can be withdrawn at any time
  • Best for: Indian businesses taking international card payments on a website or checkout

How do Razorpay and PayU fees and FX markup compare?

What does Razorpay charge?

What does PayU charge?

How do Razorpay and PayU compare on settlement speed?

  • Razorpay: Bank transfers: 'Settlement in 1 day' per the pricing page; docs state T+1 from the time the invoice or invoice details are shared against a payment. FlashLinks (US): settlement in 5 days
  • PayU: T+2 business days in INR, as PayU states; same-day and priority settlement offered to some business categories, possibly for a fee

Do Razorpay and PayU provide FIRA and e-BRC, and are they RBI PA-CB authorised?

Which currencies, countries and payment methods do Razorpay and PayU support?

What are the strengths and limitations of Razorpay and PayU?

Razorpay

  • FX: 0% markup on bank transfers, as stated on the pricing page
  • Speed: T+1 settlement for local bank transfers once invoice details are shared
  • Compliance: FIRS sent within 24 hours of settlement
  • Regulation: listed by RBI as an authorised PA-CB for inward and outward transactions
  • Small payments: flat INR 1,000 fee on transactions below INR 1,00,000, which is more than 1% on smaller invoices
  • Paperwork: an invoice and buyer address are required for every transaction before settlement (except some marketplace payouts)
  • No holding: funds cannot be kept in the foreign currency accounts
  • Eligibility: limited to listed export purpose codes and excludes certain merchant categories and NGOs

PayU

  • Published base rate: the standard plan lists 3% for international transactions, plus 18% GST
  • No fixed costs: no setup, onboarding or annual fees on the standard plan
  • Fast settlement: T+2 business days to an Indian bank account
  • One checkout: domestic and international payments run through the same gateway
  • FX markup not published: PayU's terms name an inter-bank rate set by banks or card associations but do not state its margin over mid-market
  • No bank transfer receiving: there are no local USD, GBP or EUR account details for clients who pay by wire or ACH
  • Pricing on request and approval needed: the international payments page sends merchants to an account manager for detailed rates, and PayU's international card terms say the service is provided at PayU's discretion, subject to extra due diligence by PayU and its acquiring and nodal banks
  • FIRA not documented: PayU's public pages say nothing about FIRA or FIRC for international receipts

Should you choose Razorpay or PayU?

  • Choose Razorpay if: you need Indian businesses and freelancers already using Razorpay who invoice foreign clients.
  • Choose PayU if: you need Indian businesses taking international card payments on a website or checkout.

For example, an exporter billing $5,000 a month: PayU does not publish full pricing; Razorpay does.

Which other platforms should you consider besides Razorpay and PayU?

Other covered platforms ranked by the INR received on a $5,000 invoice.

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.

  1. Razorpay MoneySaver Export Account (International Bank Transfers) pricing, Standard Plan: 0% FX markup, 1% fee, FlashLinks 2%, GST applicable, flat fee of INR 1,000 on transactions below INR 1,00,000, setup and AMC INR 0 (checked 6 Oct 2026)
  2. Razorpay pricing, International cards and wallets up to 3% plus taxes; MoneySaver bank transfers (SWIFT, ACH, SEPA, FPS) 1% with zero forex markup; 'RBI PA-CB licensed'; 18% GST listed for the payment gateway service (checked 6 Oct 2026)
  3. Razorpay Docs: International Bank Transfer (MoneySaver Export Account), Supported methods and SWIFT currency list, purpose codes, onboarding KYC, invoices not required for Amazon, Upwork and Freelancer transactions, FAQs on T+1 settlement, EEFC settlement, FIRS within 24 hours, no holding of funds, no refunds, 'Free FIRC' in savings example (checked 6 Oct 2026)
  4. Razorpay Docs: FIRS Automated Process (checked 6 Oct 2026)
  5. Razorpay Docs: International Payments FAQs, NGOs not supported for international payments (checked 6 Oct 2026)
  6. RBI: Authorised payment system operators, Entry 54: Razorpay Payments Private Limited (formerly Razorpay Software Private Limited), PA-O 'Razorpay' 19.12.2023, PA-P, PA-CB I & O (checked 6 Oct 2026)
  7. PayU Pricing, 3% for Diners, American Express, EMI, International transactions; 18% GST applicable on all transactions; No set-up fee; standard settlement T+2; custom pricing slabs for higher volumes or enterprise needs, based on payment mode, industry type, risk profile, transaction volume, value-added features and processing requirements; no setup, onboarding or annual fees (checked 7 Oct 2026)
  8. PayU International Payments, 135+ currencies; Visa, Mastercard, American Express and PayPal; INR conversion at transaction-date rate; T+2 business days; specific rates via account manager or care@payu.in; compliance with global standards (checked 7 Oct 2026)
  9. PayU terms for international card processing and multicurrency payments, 1.2(e): the exchange rate used by PayU for all Authorised Currencies will be the inter-bank rate as decided by the respective banks or card associations and as shared by PayU with the Merchant by issuing the merchant payment report on every Business Day; non-Business Day transactions use the rate of the immediately preceding Business Day; 1.2(b): the International Card Processing Payment Mechanism and the Multicurrency Payment Feature shall be provided solely at PayU's discretion, subject to additional due diligence and criteria specified by PayU and/or Acquiring Banks and the Nodal Bank, who may withdraw approval at any time; 1.2(g): PayU may charge Customers a Currency Calculator Fee at a rate specified at the time of payment, upon the Customer consenting (checked 7 Oct 2026)

FAQs about Razorpay vs PayU

Is Razorpay or PayU cheaper for receiving USD in India?

PayU does not publish full pricing; Razorpay does. At $2,000: PayU does not publish full pricing; Razorpay does. At $10,000: PayU does not publish full pricing; Razorpay does. Figures use each platform's published pricing and today's reference rate, so check both pricing pages before you decide.

Which is faster, Razorpay or PayU?

Razorpay states: Bank transfers: 'Settlement in 1 day' per the pricing page; docs state T+1 from the time the invoice or invoice details are shared against a payment. FlashLinks (US): settlement in 5 days. PayU states: T+2 business days in INR, as PayU states; same-day and priority settlement offered to some business categories, possibly for a fee.

Do Razorpay and PayU both provide a FIRA?

Razorpay: FIRS (foreign inward remittance statement / e-FIRC) sent within 24 hours of settlement and downloadable from the Dashboard; no separate charge listed. PayU: Not confirmed. PayU's public pages do not mention FIRA, FIRC or e-FIRC. Check the platform's own pricing page before relying on these figures.

Are Razorpay and PayU authorised by RBI?

Razorpay: RBI authorised Payment Aggregator, PA-O (19.12.2023) and PA-CB Inward & Outward (Razorpay Payments Private Limited, RBI list of authorised payment system operators). PayU: Not confirmed. PA-CB status could not be verified on rbi.org.in, and PayU's pages make no PA-CB claim.

Can Indian freelancers use both Razorpay and PayU?

Razorpay, individuals: Onboarding lists 'Individual' as a business type with personal PAN and video KYC using Aadhaar and PAN, and an export purpose code is required; the docs FAQ refers to settlement into a current account, so whether a savings account works is Not confirmed PayU, individuals: PayU's international payments page addresses freelancers such as designers, developers.

Should I switch from Razorpay to PayU?

Switch only if PayU pays more on your usual invoice size or fits how your clients pay. Keep the Razorpay 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.