Stripe vs Remitly (2026): Which Is Better for Receiving International Payments in India?

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.

Stripe is a global online payments platform. In India it is available by invite only, and registered Indian businesses can use it to accept international card payments declared as exports, with funds paid out in INR to an Indian bank account. Its India help pages list cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay for international payments and do not describe receiving bank transfers from foreign clients.

• Regulated by: Not confirmed
• Used by: Sole proprietorships, LLPs and companies in India can accept international card payments after opting in to exports, by invite only. An IEC is required for physical goods and for Amex international payments; optional for services otherwise.
• Best for: Registered Indian businesses selling online to foreign customers who pay by card

Remitly is a US-based money transfer service that lets senders in countries such as the US send money to recipients abroad, including India. Indian residents receive Remitly transfers as INR into their bank account, through UPI or via cash pickup, with the sender initiating and paying for the transfer. Its consumer service is restricted to personal, family or household purposes, so it is not designed for Indian freelancers or exporters invoicing foreign clients.

• Regulated by: Not confirmed. Remitly is not shown as an RBI PA-CB authorised entity on any page reviewed.
• Used by: Not supported for receiving. Remitly Business is for US-based companies sending payments abroad; no page reviewed offers Indian businesses a way to receive or collect payments.
• Best for: Family and personal remittances sent from the US to India

• Stripe: Daily automatic payouts in INR include international card payments processed five business days prior
• Remitly: Delivered to Indian bank accounts, UPI or cash pickup; Remitly shows a promised delivery time per transfer and refunds its fee if late. Specific timings Not confirmed.

• Choose Stripe if: you need registered Indian businesses selling online to foreign customers who pay by card.
• Choose Remitly if: you need family and personal remittances sent from the US to India.

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

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

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.

1. Stripe India pricing, International cards with USD/other currency presentment 4.3% + 2% if currency conversion is required; Mastercard and Visa cards issued outside India 3% + 2%; American Express outside India 3.5% + 2%; dispute received INR 1,000.00 (checked 7 Oct 2026)
2. Accept international payments from India (Stripe docs), Stripe is available by invite only in India; the Stripe account must be a registered Indian business (sole proprietorship, limited liability partnership, or company) and can't be an individual; Stripe pays out to you in INR (checked 7 Oct 2026)
3. Additional pricing information for Indian cross-border sellers, Mainly international: 4.3% per successful charge; currency conversion additional 2% if required (checked 7 Oct 2026)
4. How can I open a Stripe account in India (checked 6 Oct 2026)
5. Supported payment methods, currencies and businesses for Stripe accounts in India (checked 6 Oct 2026)
6. FIRC for international transactions in India (checked 6 Oct 2026)
7. Payout schedule for Stripe accounts in India (checked 6 Oct 2026)
8. Payout currency for Stripe accounts in India (checked 6 Oct 2026)
9. GST and TDS on Stripe invoices for India-based accounts (checked 6 Oct 2026)
10. Export transaction limits for Stripe accounts in India (checked 6 Oct 2026)
11. RBI regulations: context and FAQs (checked 6 Oct 2026)
12. Localise prices: exchange rate (Stripe docs), When Stripe provides currency conversion services for transactions, we generally apply the mid-market rate based on pricing data sourced from third-party service providers. Mid-market rate is the average between the buy and the sell price of a currency. In certain circumstances, Stripe might apply the rate at which we source the currency owed to you. (checked 7 Oct 2026)
13. Taxes on Stripe fees for India-based businesses, either a single 18% tax line item (IGST) or a sum of two 9% tax line items (CGST & SGST). GST is not charged on Stripe processing fees for any single Cards transaction with a value up to INR 2,000. (checked 7 Oct 2026)
14. Stripe Docs: Supported currencies (India selected), Stripe users in the selected country can process charges in the following list of currencies, with these exceptions: Domestic charges can only be in INR; You can charge American Express cards issued outside of India only in INR and USD (checked 8 Oct 2026)
15. Remitly: Send Money to India from the US (checked 6 Oct 2026)
16. Remitly USD to INR rates and fees, Fee $3.99 below $1,000, $0 at $1,000 or more; promotional rate on first $6,000 (checked 6 Oct 2026)
17. Remitly User Agreement, Consumer use for personal, family or household purposes; FX spread disclosure; US residency and age 18; delivery promise; Remitly may limit transfer amounts per transaction or in aggregate; cash pickup cancelled if not collected within 60 days (checked 6 Oct 2026)
18. Remitly Business, For US-based companies paying freelancers, contractors and vendors abroad (checked 6 Oct 2026)