Stripe vs Tazapay (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. Tazapay does not publish full pricing; Stripe does. Stripe is best for registered Indian businesses selling online to foreign customers who pay by card. The table compares both by use case using published information.
| Use case | Better option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Invoices around $2,000 | Not comparable | Tazapay does not publish full pricing; Stripe does. |
| Invoices around $5,000 | Not comparable | Tazapay does not publish full pricing; Stripe does. |
| Invoices around $10,000 | Not comparable | Tazapay 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 businesses collecting B2B or e-commerce payments from many countries, including through cards and local payment methods | Tazapay | Tazapay is built for this. |
CurrencyUSD
At the mid-market rate
₹4,74,283
Highest payout: Stripe
₹4,39,025
- 1.Stripe₹4,39,025cost 7.43%
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 Stripe and Tazapay compare at a glance?
| Attribute | Stripe | Tazapay |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers | Indian businesses collecting B2B or e-commerce payments from many countries |
| Fees | 4.3% intl cards; 3% Visa/Mastercard, 3.5% Amex; + 2% if converted | Collection fee by contract; cards 3.8% + USD 0.5; + other fees |
| FX markup | 2% if converted; Stripe says rate is generally mid-market | Not published; rate shown before you confirm |
| Settlement | Daily INR payouts; card funds after five business days | Weekly default; local same day to T+1, SWIFT to T+5 |
| FIRA | Standard Chartered payment advice; FIRC cost not confirmed | USD 4 FIRC fee; NOC for AD1 bank FIRA |
| Currencies | Cards in 135+ currencies; Amex INR or USD; INR payouts | Collections in USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, AED and more; INR settlement |
| RBI status | Not confirmed | Not confirmed on RBI PA-CB list; cites Rupee Drawing Arrangement |
| Indian individuals | No; international payments need a registered entity | Not confirmed |
| Indian businesses | Yes, by invite, after opting in to exports | Yes, with India KYB documents |
| Limits | Up to INR 25 lakh per export transaction for sole proprietorships, LLPs and companies | No daily transaction limit; per-transaction limits vary by payment method and country (for example, cards up to USD 15,000 in many markets) |
How much INR do you receive on $2,000, $5,000 and $10,000 with Stripe vs Tazapay?
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 | ₹11,952 | ₹0 | ₹2,151 | ₹1,75,610 | 7.43% | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
| Stripe, $5,000 | ₹29,880 | ₹0 | ₹5,378 | ₹4,39,025 | 7.43% | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
| Stripe, $10,000 | ₹59,760 | ₹0 | ₹10,757 | ₹8,78,050 | 7.43% | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
| Tazapay, $2,000 | – | – | – | Not published | – | Indian businesses collecting B2B or e-commerce payments from many countries |
| Tazapay, $5,000 | – | – | – | Not published | – | Indian businesses collecting B2B or e-commerce payments from many countries |
| Tazapay, $10,000 | – | – | – | Not published | – | Indian businesses collecting B2B or e-commerce payments from many countries |
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 Tazapay and who is it for?
Tazapay is a Singapore-based cross-border payments company offering a payment gateway, Global Collection Accounts (virtual bank accounts and stablecoin wallets) and payouts. Indian businesses can collect from overseas buyers by card, local payment methods or bank transfer into a collection account, then settle the balance to an Indian bank account. Onboarding is business-focused, with India-specific KYB documents such as GST, IEC and Udyam registration.
- Regulated by: Not on an RBI PA-CB list that could be confirmed; Tazapay states Tazapay Canada Corp. operates as an overseas principal under the RBI Rupee Drawing Arrangement, which its About page describes as an arrangement for NRI remittances
- Used by: Yes. Tazapay lists India-specific KYB documents (GST, Certificate of Incorporation, IEC, Udyam, MGT 7, MOA, AOA). It states it cannot support domestic India transactions.
- Best for: Indian businesses collecting B2B or e-commerce payments from many countries, including through cards and local payment methods
How do Stripe and Tazapay 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 Tazapay charge?
| Fee type | Amount | When it applies | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receiving: Global Collection Account (local bank transfer or SWIFT into a virtual account) | Not confirmed (Contact sales) | Virtual accounts must be requested and approved; review can take a few business days | Indian businesses collecting B2B or e-commerce payments from many countries |
| Receiving: International card payment via payment gateway or payment link | 3.8% + USD 0.5 for non-high-risk industries | Authentication fee USD 0.2, waived for successful transactions | Indian businesses collecting B2B or e-commerce payments from many countries |
| Receiving: Alternative payment methods (local wallets and bank transfer methods abroad) | 0.8% to 2.5% | – | Indian businesses collecting B2B or e-commerce payments from many countries |
| Receiving: Stablecoin wallet (USDC or USDT) | Not confirmed | – | Indian businesses collecting B2B or e-commerce payments from many countries |
| Currency conversion to INR | Not published; Tazapay states it sources rates from multiple partners and shows the exact rate before you confirm; its pricing page lists customized FX, volume-based discounts and payment-method-specific rates under a Custom tier for high-volume businesses, with no thresholds published | When foreign currency is converted | Indian businesses collecting B2B or e-commerce payments from many countries |
| Payout to an Indian bank | Funds in the Tazapay balance are settled to the business's bank account. Tazapay's Schedule A (1 May 2026) lists local currency settlement at USD 5 below USD 1,000 and free above, and wire transfer settlement at USD 35 below USD 10,000 and free above; its settlement fees article gives the wire threshold as USD 100,000 instead. A signed Pricing Addendum can override these fees. The FX rate for INR conversion is shown before confirmation; markup not published. | When INR is sent to your account | Indian businesses collecting B2B or e-commerce payments from many countries |
| Account opening or closing | Free | – | Indian businesses collecting B2B or e-commerce payments from many countries |
| FIRC (India) | USD 4 (FIRC for Indian Customers, Schedule A and pricing page) | – | Indian businesses collecting B2B or e-commerce payments from many countries |
| Local currency settlement under USD 1,000 | USD 5 (free above USD 1,000, per Schedule A) | – | Indian businesses collecting B2B or e-commerce payments from many countries |
| SWIFT/wire settlement | USD 35 below USD 10,000, free above (Schedule A, 1 May 2026); the settlement fees help article says below USD 100,000 | – | Indian businesses collecting B2B or e-commerce payments from many countries |
| Refunds | USD 1 (APMs), USD 2 (cards) | – | Indian businesses collecting B2B or e-commerce payments from many countries |
| Card dispute | USD 15 (up to EUR 25 by network) | – | Indian businesses collecting B2B or e-commerce payments from many countries |
| Pre-dispute alerts | USD 15 | – | Indian businesses collecting B2B or e-commerce payments from many countries |
| Arbitration | USD 500 / EUR 600, refunded if resolved in the merchant's favour | – | Indian businesses collecting B2B or e-commerce payments from many countries |
| Authentication fee | USD 0.2, waived for successful transactions | – | Indian businesses collecting B2B or e-commerce payments from many countries |
| Payouts to third parties | Local payouts USD 2 to 5; SWIFT USD 5 to 35 (pricing page) | – | Indian businesses collecting B2B or e-commerce payments from many countries |
| GST on fees | Not confirmed. Tazapay does not state on its pricing or fee pages whether GST applies to its fees for Indian customers. | Applies to the platform's fee | Indian businesses collecting B2B or e-commerce payments from many countries |
How do Stripe and Tazapay compare on settlement speed?
- Stripe: Daily automatic payouts in INR include international card payments processed five business days prior
- Tazapay: Weekly by default on your signup weekday (daily or biweekly on request); local currency settlement same day to T+1, SWIFT T+1 to T+5; Tazapay notes your bank may take up to T+1 business day after the payout day
| 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 |
| Tazapay | Weekly default; local same day to T+1, SWIFT to T+5 | Local USD 5 under USD 1,000; wire USD 35, threshold conflicting | Indian businesses collecting B2B or e-commerce payments from many countries |
Do Stripe and Tazapay 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 |
| Tazapay | USD 4 FIRC fee; NOC for AD1 bank FIRA | Not confirmed on RBI PA-CB list; cites Rupee Drawing Arrangement | 30 Sept 2026 | Indian businesses collecting B2B or e-commerce payments from many countries |
Which currencies, countries and payment methods do Stripe and Tazapay 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 |
| Tazapay | Collections in USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, AED and more; INR settlement | Global Collection Account (local bank transfer or SWIFT into a virtual account); International card payment via payment gateway or payment link; Alternative payment methods (local wallets and bank transfer methods abroad); Stablecoin wallet (USDC or USDT) | Not confirmed | Yes, with India KYB documents | Indian businesses collecting B2B or e-commerce payments from many countries |
What are the strengths and limitations of Stripe and Tazapay?
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
Tazapay
- Payment method coverage: cards and local payment methods in many countries alongside bank transfer collections
- Published settlement fees: Schedule A lists local currency settlement free above USD 1,000 and USD 5 below
- India documentation: lists a USD 4 FIRC fee in its pricing page and Schedule A, and issues an NOC to support FIRA/FIRC requests
- Licensing elsewhere: MAS Major Payment Institution licence in Singapore, plus FinCEN MSB registration and money transmitter licences in five US states, FINTRAC MSB registration in Canada, AUSTRAC registration in Australia and an MSO licence in Hong Kong
- Collection account pricing: not published; set in a signed Pricing Addendum
- FX markup: not published; conflicting wire settlement threshold (USD 10,000 in Schedule A, USD 100,000 in a help article)
- Settlement cadence: weekly by default unless a custom cycle is agreed
- Individuals: onboarding is built around business KYB; eligibility of Indian freelancers without a registered business is not confirmed
Should you choose Stripe or Tazapay?
- Choose Stripe if: you need registered Indian businesses selling online to foreign customers who pay by card.
- Choose Tazapay if: you need Indian businesses collecting B2B or e-commerce payments from many countries, including through cards and local payment methods.
For example, an exporter billing $5,000 a month: Tazapay does not publish full pricing; Stripe does.
Which other platforms should you consider besides Stripe and Tazapay?
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.
- 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)
- Tazapay Pricing, Global Collection Accounts: *Contact sales; Global Cards 3.8% + USD 0.5; APMs 0.8%-2.5%; FIRC (India) USD 4; Custom tier: Volume-Based Discounts, Payment Method-Specific Rates, Customized FX (checked 7 Oct 2026)
- Tazapay Schedule A - Fees and Assessments (last updated 1 May 2026), Global Collection Accounts Collection Fee: Subject to Pricing Addendum; Local Currency Settlement (< USD 1,000) USD 5; Wire Transfer Settlement (< USD 10,000) USD 35, (> USD 10,000) Free; FIRC for Indian Customers USD 4 (checked 7 Oct 2026)
- Tazapay Licences, India - Reserve Bank of India (RBI) (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Tazapay Global Collection Accounts (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- About Tazapay (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- What is the fee for Tazapay's service? (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- How much will it cost me to settle funds?, For wire transfers (USD/Foreign Currency), it's 35 USD per settlement if it's less than 100,000 USD; local currency 5 USD if less than 1,000 USD (checked 7 Oct 2026)
- What FX rate is charged?, The exact FX rate will be transparently displayed before you confirm your transaction (checked 7 Oct 2026)
- When will I receive my settlement? (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Payout options when receiving payment (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- How long does it take to transfer into my bank account? (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- How do I get an FIRA? (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Who issues the FIRA/FIRC? (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Is Tazapay licensed? (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- KYB documents by country (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- KYC/KYB documents required (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- What currencies does Tazapay support? (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Is there a daily transaction limit? (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Is there a per transaction limit? (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- What is a collection account on Tazapay? (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- How long does it take to get a virtual account approved? (checked 6 Oct 2026)
FAQs about Stripe vs Tazapay
Is Stripe or Tazapay cheaper for receiving USD in India?
Tazapay does not publish full pricing; Stripe does. At $2,000: Tazapay does not publish full pricing; Stripe does. At $10,000: Tazapay 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 Tazapay?
Stripe states: Daily automatic payouts in INR include international card payments processed five business days prior. Tazapay states: Weekly by default on your signup weekday (daily or biweekly on request); local currency settlement same day to T+1, SWIFT T+1 to T+5; Tazapay notes your bank may take up to T+1 business day after the payout day.
Do Stripe and Tazapay 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. Timing not confirmed. Check the platform's own pricing page before relying on these figures.
Are Stripe and Tazapay authorised by RBI?
Stripe: Not confirmed. Tazapay: Not on an RBI PA-CB list that could be confirmed; Tazapay states Tazapay Canada Corp. operates as an overseas principal under the RBI Rupee Drawing Arrangement, which its About page describes as an arrangement for NRI remittances.
Can Indian freelancers use both Stripe and Tazapay?
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. Tazapay, individuals: Not confirmed. Tazapay's KYC page lists documents for sole proprietorships, but no official page confirms that Indian individual freelancers can open an account.
Should I switch from Stripe to Tazapay?
Switch only if Tazapay 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.