Stripe vs Revolut (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. Revolut does not publish full pricing; Stripe does. Stripe is best for registered Indian businesses selling online to foreign customers who pay by card. Revolut is best for Indian residents spending in INR and abroad with a prepaid wallet and forex card.
| Use case | Better option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Invoices around $2,000 | Not comparable | Revolut does not publish full pricing; Stripe does. |
| Invoices around $5,000 | Not comparable | Revolut does not publish full pricing; Stripe does. |
| Invoices around $10,000 | Not comparable | Revolut does not publish full pricing; Stripe does. |
| Need: registered Indian businesses selling online to foreign customers who pay by card | Stripe | Stripe is built for this. |
| Need: Indian residents spending in INR and abroad with a prepaid wallet and forex card | Revolut | Revolut is built for this. |
CurrencyUSD
At the mid-market rate
₹4,73,783
Highest payout: Stripe
₹4,38,562
- 1.Stripe₹4,38,562cost 7.43%
1 USD = 94.76 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 Stripe and Revolut compare at a glance?
| Attribute | Stripe | Revolut |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers | Indian residents using an INR wallet and forex card |
| Fees | 4.3% intl cards; 3% Visa/Mastercard, 3.5% Amex; + 2% if converted | Not confirmed; India terms bar business use |
| FX markup | 2% if converted; Stripe says rate is generally mid-market | Not confirmed for inward payments |
| Settlement | Daily INR payouts; card funds after five business days | Not confirmed |
| FIRA | Standard Chartered payment advice; FIRC cost not confirmed | Not confirmed; not mentioned on India pages |
| Currencies | Cards in 135+ currencies; Amex INR or USD; INR payouts | INR wallet; forex card in 30+ currencies, 130+ countries |
| RBI status | Not confirmed | States RBI PPI and AD Category-II licences; not PA-CB |
| Indian individuals | No; international payments need a registered entity | Personal account only; receiving payments not confirmed |
| Indian businesses | Yes, by invite, after opting in to exports | Not confirmed; terms bar business use |
| Limits | Up to INR 25 lakh per export transaction for sole proprietorships, LLPs and companies | Not confirmed. The personal terms say Revolut may set limits on UPI receipts and payments and that limits are shown in the app. |
How much INR do you receive on $2,000, $5,000 and $10,000 with Stripe vs Revolut?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe, $2,000 | ₹11,939 | ₹0 | ₹2,149 | ₹1,75,425 | 7.43% | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
| Stripe, $5,000 | ₹29,848 | ₹0 | ₹5,373 | ₹4,38,562 | 7.43% | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
| Stripe, $10,000 | ₹59,697 | ₹0 | ₹10,745 | ₹8,77,124 | 7.43% | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
| Revolut, $2,000 | – | – | – | Not published | – | Indian residents using an INR wallet and forex card |
| Revolut, $5,000 | – | – | – | Not published | – | Indian residents using an INR wallet and forex card |
| Revolut, $10,000 | – | – | – | Not published | – | Indian residents using an INR wallet and forex card |
What is Stripe and who is it for?
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
What is Revolut and who is it for?
Revolut operates in India through Revolut Payments India Private Limited, which issues a prepaid INR wallet, a domestic card and UPI, and Revolut Forex India Private Limited, which issues multi-currency forex cards. The India product is presented as a spending account for Indian residents aged 18 and over. The India site and terms do not describe a way for freelancers or exporters to receive payments from foreign clients.
- Regulated by: States it is RBI-authorised to issue PPIs (COA No. 224/2025) via Revolut Payments India, and that Revolut Forex India holds an AD Category-II licence (MUM-ADII-0963-2024); not a PA-CB
- Used by: Not confirmed. The India site lists no business account, and the personal terms bar business use.
- Best for: Indian residents spending in INR and abroad with a prepaid wallet and forex card
How do Stripe and Revolut fees and FX markup compare?
What does Stripe charge?
| Fee type | Amount | When it applies | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receiving: International card payment (Visa/Mastercard) with USD or other foreign currency presentment | 4.3% + 2% if currency conversion is required | – | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
| Receiving: International Visa/Mastercard card payment charged in INR | 3% (published as 3% for Mastercard and Visa cards issued outside India + 2% if currency conversion is required) | Stripe's cross-border pricing article lists 3% for INR presentment, with any conversion fee charged to the customer by their issuing bank. | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
| Receiving: International American Express card payment | 3.5% + 2% if currency conversion is required | American Express presentment is INR or USD. | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
| Receiving: Bank transfer (ACH, SEPA, SWIFT) from a foreign client | Not confirmed | Stripe's India help pages list cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay for international payments and state local payment methods are not supported; receiving bank transfers was not found. | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
| Currency conversion to INR | 2% currency conversion fee if conversion is required, on top of a rate Stripe says is generally the third-party-sourced mid-market rate; in certain circumstances Stripe may use the rate at which it sources the currency | When foreign currency is converted | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
| Payout to an Indian bank | Stripe pays out in INR to the business's Indian bank account on a daily automatic schedule; funds from international card payments are included five business days after processing, and the first payout has a seven day waiting period. No payout fee is listed on the India pricing page; a zero payout fee is not explicitly stated. | When INR is sent to your account | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
| Dispute received | INR 1,000 per dispute | – | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
| Dispute countered | INR 1,000 per dispute, refunded if won | – | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
| Billing | 0.7% of billing volume | – | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
| Invoicing | 0.4% per paid invoice | – | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
| Setup or monthly fee | None on standard pricing | – | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
| GST on fees | Stripe's monthly tax invoice adds GST on its fees: a single 18% IGST line or 9% CGST plus 9% SGST, depending on the state. GST is not charged on Stripe processing fees for any single card transaction up to INR 2,000. Stripe also pays an additional 2% of the monthly invoice amount if a valid TAN is provided on the Dashboard. | Applies to the platform's fee | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
What does Revolut charge?
| Fee type | Amount | When it applies | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receiving: Top up INR wallet from own Indian bank or card via UPI, net banking or external card | UPI 0%; Netbanking 1.28% + GST; Debit Card 0.30% + GST; Credit Card 1.63% + GST (Standard plan fee schedule) | Domestic top-up only. Funds to a currency account must come from the same bank account given during verification. | Indian residents using an INR wallet and forex card |
| Receiving: Receive money from other Revolut or non-Revolut wallets and bank accounts in India | Not confirmed | Described in the personal terms for the INR PPI wallet; not an international receiving method. | Indian residents using an INR wallet and forex card |
| Receiving: International bank transfer (SWIFT or local foreign account details) from a foreign client | Not confirmed | Not offered on the Revolut India site or terms as of 2026-10-06. | Indian residents using an INR wallet and forex card |
| Currency conversion to INR | Not confirmed for inward payments; the India site does not publish an inward conversion rate | When foreign currency is converted | Indian residents using an INR wallet and forex card |
| Payout to an Indian bank | Not confirmed. Revolut India does not describe converting foreign client payments to INR or paying them out to an Indian bank account. | When INR is sent to your account | Indian residents using an INR wallet and forex card |
| Plus plan | ₹499/year plus taxes | – | Indian residents using an INR wallet and forex card |
| Premium plan | ₹2,499/year plus taxes | – | Indian residents using an INR wallet and forex card |
| Metal plan | ₹9,999/year plus taxes | – | Indian residents using an INR wallet and forex card |
| Standard plan | Free | – | Indian residents using an INR wallet and forex card |
| First Revolut Card (Standard plan) | ₹199, plus applicable GST | – | Indian residents using an INR wallet and forex card |
| ATM withdrawal (Standard plan) | 2% of the withdrawal amount or ₹150, whichever is lower, plus GST as applicable | – | Indian residents using an INR wallet and forex card |
| GST on fees | Paid plan prices are shown plus taxes, and the Standard fee schedule lists wallet top-up and card fees plus GST. GST on any receiving fee is not confirmed because no receiving fee is published. | Applies to the platform's fee | Indian residents using an INR wallet and forex card |
How do Stripe and Revolut compare on settlement speed?
- Stripe: Daily automatic payouts in INR include international card payments processed five business days prior
- Revolut: Not confirmed. No inward international settlement to an Indian bank account is described on the India site
| Platform | Settlement to India | Payout route | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | Daily INR payouts; card funds after five business days | Daily INR payouts to Indian bank; no payout fee listed | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
| Revolut | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Indian residents using an INR wallet and forex card |
Do Stripe and Revolut provide FIRA and e-BRC, and are they RBI PA-CB authorised?
| Platform | FIRA and e-BRC | RBI status | Checked | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | Standard Chartered payment advice; FIRC cost not confirmed | Not confirmed | 30 Sept 2026 | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
| Revolut | Not confirmed; not mentioned on India pages | States RBI PPI and AD Category-II licences; not PA-CB | 30 Sept 2026 | Indian residents using an INR wallet and forex card |
Which currencies, countries and payment methods do Stripe and Revolut support?
| Platform | Currencies | Payment methods | Indian individuals | Indian businesses | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | Cards in 135+ currencies; Amex INR or USD; INR payouts | International card payment (Visa/Mastercard) with USD or other foreign currency presentment; International Visa/Mastercard card payment charged in INR; International American Express card payment; Bank transfer (ACH, SEPA, SWIFT) from a foreign client | No; international payments need a registered entity | Yes, by invite, after opting in to exports | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
| Revolut | INR wallet; forex card in 30+ currencies, 130+ countries | Top up INR wallet from own Indian bank or card via UPI, net banking or external card; Receive money from other Revolut or non-Revolut wallets and bank accounts in India; International bank transfer (SWIFT or local foreign account details) from a foreign client | Personal account only; receiving payments not confirmed | Not confirmed; terms bar business use | Indian residents using an INR wallet and forex card |
What are the strengths and limitations of Stripe and Revolut?
Stripe
- Checkout and API: Developer tools for websites, subscriptions and invoices
- Currency presentment: Customers can pay in their local currency on Visa and Mastercard
- Export documentation: Purpose code captured at onboarding and payment advice emailed for export payouts
- No fixed fees: No setup or monthly fees on standard pricing
- Invite only: Indian businesses cannot sign up on the website and must request an invite
- No individuals: International payments are not supported for individuals; a sole proprietorship, LLP or company is required
- Cards and wallets only: Bank transfers (ACH, SEPA, SWIFT) from foreign clients are not listed as a supported method for India accounts
- Cost: 4.3% on foreign currency card payments plus 2% if currency conversion is required, with 18% GST on fees (7.434% in total), except that GST is not charged on processing fees for single card transactions up to INR 2,000
Revolut
- Regulated Indian entities: the site states a PPI authorisation and an AD Category-II forex licence from the RBI
- Travel spending: a multi-currency card for spending abroad across 30+ currencies, as stated on the India site
- Domestic payments: UPI and a domestic card in one app
- Free entry plan: a Standard plan with no annual fee
- No inward remittance product: the India site and terms describe no way to receive a foreign client's payment and convert it to INR
- No business use: the personal terms state a Revolut Account cannot be used for business purposes
- INR only wallet: the terms state PPIs can only be used for payments in Indian Rupees
- No FIRA: no inward remittance documentation is mentioned
Should you choose Stripe or Revolut?
- Choose Stripe if: you need registered Indian businesses selling online to foreign customers who pay by card.
- Choose Revolut if: you need Indian residents spending in INR and abroad with a prepaid wallet and forex card.
For example, an exporter billing $5,000 a month: Revolut does not publish full pricing; Stripe does.
Which other platforms should you consider besides Stripe and Revolut?
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 | ₹4,70,540 | 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 | ₹4,68,192 | 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 | ₹4,65,174 | 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 | ₹4,64,795 | 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.
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- How can I open a Stripe account in India (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Supported payment methods, currencies and businesses for Stripe accounts in India (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- FIRC for international transactions in India (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Payout schedule for Stripe accounts in India (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Payout currency for Stripe accounts in India (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- GST and TDS on Stripe invoices for India-based accounts (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Export transaction limits for Stripe accounts in India (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- RBI regulations: context and FAQs (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- Revolut India home page, Eligibility (Indian residents aged 18+); plan prices; footer legal entity and RBI PPI and AD-II statements (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Revolut India spending account (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Revolut India personal terms, PPIs only for payments in Indian Rupees; foreign currency services via affiliates; no business use; KYC under RBI guidelines; UPI receipt and payment limits shown in the app; top-up methods (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Revolut India products legal index (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Revolut India Multi-Currency Cards Terms and Conditions, Eligibility: Indian citizen, resident in India, Indian passport, PAN and Aadhaar; loading funds by bank transfer (NEFT, IMPS, RTGS) (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Revolut India Help Centre: Add money with a bank transfer (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Revolut India Personal Fees (Standard), Add money fees, card fee, ATM fee; no inward international payment fee listed (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Revolut India fees index (checked 6 Oct 2026)
FAQs about Stripe vs Revolut
Is Stripe or Revolut cheaper for receiving USD in India?
Revolut does not publish full pricing; Stripe does. At $2,000: Revolut does not publish full pricing; Stripe does. At $10,000: Revolut does not publish full pricing; Stripe does. Figures use each platform's published pricing and today's reference rate, so check both pricing pages before you decide.
Which is faster, Stripe or Revolut?
Stripe states: Daily automatic payouts in INR include international card payments processed five business days prior. Revolut states: Not confirmed. No inward international settlement to an Indian bank account is described on the India site. Check the platform's own pricing page before relying on these figures.
Do Stripe and Revolut both provide a FIRA?
Stripe: Payment advice emailed by Standard Chartered Bank on the day each export payout is processed; Stripe says it can be used to obtain a FIRC. Cost of FIRC not confirmed. Revolut: Not confirmed. No FIRA or FIRC is mentioned on Revolut India pages.
Are Stripe and Revolut authorised by RBI?
Stripe: Not confirmed. Revolut: States it is RBI-authorised to issue PPIs (COA No. 224/2025) via Revolut Payments India, and that Revolut Forex India holds an AD Category-II licence (MUM-ADII-0963-2024); not a PA-CB. RBI publishes the list of authorised cross-border payment aggregators, so check the current list before relying on any platform's own statement about its status.
Can Indian freelancers use both Stripe and Revolut?
Stripe, individuals: Individuals can only accept domestic payments. Stripe states it cannot support international transactions for individuals, so freelancers need a sole proprietorship or other registered entity, and access is by invite only. Revolut, individuals: Indian residents aged 18 and over can open a personal spending account. Eligibility can change, so confirm on each platform's sign-up pages.
Should I switch from Stripe to Revolut?
Switch only if Revolut pays more on your usual invoice size or fits how your clients pay. Keep the Stripe 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.