Wise Business vs Stripe (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 invoice size and how your clients pay. On a $5,000 invoice, Wise Business pays more at today's reference rate. Wise Business is best for freelancers and small exporters wanting local account details in several currencies with an eFIRC per payment. The table shows the better option by use case.
| Use case | Better option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Invoices around $2,000 | Wise Business | Wise Business pays about ₹10,343 more (1.97% cost vs 7.43% for Stripe). |
| Invoices around $5,000 | Wise Business | Wise Business pays about ₹26,185 more (1.90% cost vs 7.43% for Stripe). |
| Invoices around $10,000 | Wise Business | Wise Business pays about ₹52,589 more (1.88% cost vs 7.43% for Stripe). |
| Need: freelancers and small exporters wanting local account details in several currencies with an eFIRC per payment | Wise Business | Wise Business is built for this. |
| Need: registered Indian businesses selling online to foreign customers who pay by card | Stripe | Stripe is built for this. |
CurrencyUSD
At the mid-market rate
₹4,73,066
Highest payout: Wise Business
₹4,64,083
- 1.Wise Business₹4,64,083cost 1.90%
- 2.Stripe₹4,37,898cost 7.43%
1 USD = 94.61 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 Wise Business and Stripe compare at a glance?
| Attribute | Wise Business | Stripe |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Freelancers and small exporters wanting multi-currency local accounts and eFIRC | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
| Fees | Calculator: 1.6% + $2 per payment + 18% GST | 4.3% intl cards; 3% Visa/Mastercard, 3.5% Amex; + 2% if converted |
| FX markup | Mid-market rate; cost is the 1.6% conversion fee | 2% if converted; Stripe says rate is generally mid-market |
| Settlement | States under 90 minutes in business hours | Daily INR payouts; card funds after five business days |
| FIRA | eFIRC per transfer, 2 USD + 18% GST | Standard Chartered payment advice; FIRC cost not confirmed |
| Currencies | Receive USD, GBP, EUR, AUD, CAD, NZD, SGD, HUF; to INR | Cards in 135+ currencies; Amex INR or USD; INR payouts |
| RBI status | States in-principle PA-CB approval; not found on RBI page | Not confirmed |
| Indian individuals | Only via Wise Business as sole trader/freelancer | No; international payments need a registered entity |
| Indian businesses | Yes; other business types can join waitlist | Yes, by invite, after opting in to exports |
| Limits | Not confirmed | Up to INR 25 lakh per export transaction for sole proprietorships, LLPs and companies |
How much INR do you receive on $2,000, $5,000 and $10,000 with Wise Business vs Stripe?
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.
| Platform and invoice | Fee | FX markup | GST | INR received | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wise Business, $2,000 | ₹3,156 | ₹0 | ₹568 | ₹1,85,502 | 1.97% | Freelancers and small exporters wanting multi-currency local accounts and eFIRC |
| Wise Business, $5,000 | ₹7,613 | ₹0 | ₹1,370 | ₹4,64,083 | 1.90% | Freelancers and small exporters wanting multi-currency local accounts and eFIRC |
| Wise Business, $10,000 | ₹15,040 | ₹0 | ₹2,707 | ₹9,28,384 | 1.88% | Freelancers and small exporters wanting multi-currency local accounts and eFIRC |
| Stripe, $2,000 | ₹11,921 | ₹0 | ₹2,146 | ₹1,75,159 | 7.43% | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
| Stripe, $5,000 | ₹29,803 | ₹0 | ₹5,365 | ₹4,37,898 | 7.43% | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
| Stripe, $10,000 | ₹59,606 | ₹0 | ₹10,729 | ₹8,75,796 | 7.43% | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
What is Wise Business and who is it for?
Wise is a UK-headquartered money transfer company. In India, receiving money from abroad is offered only through Wise Business, which gives local account details in eight currencies, converts incoming payments to INR at the mid-market rate and pays them to the user's Indian bank account. Freelancers can sign up under the sole trader / freelancer business type.
- Regulated by: States that Wise Payments India Private Limited is an in-principle approved Payment Aggregator - Cross Border and that inward remittance runs through a local bank partner with RBI approval (platform's claim; not found on an RBI page)
- Used by: Yes. Wise onboards sole trader / freelancer, sole proprietorship, private limited company, limited liability partnership and general partnership; other business types can join a waitlist.
- Best for: Freelancers and small exporters wanting local account details in several currencies with an eFIRC per payment
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
How do Wise Business and Stripe fees and FX markup compare?
What does Wise Business charge?
| Fee type | Amount | When it applies | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receiving: US ACH to USD account details (routing and account number) | 1.6% conversion fee, 2 USD eFIRC fee and 18% GST on both in Wise's calculator (20.86 USD total on 1,000 USD on 2026-10-06) | – | Freelancers and small exporters wanting multi-currency local accounts and eFIRC |
| Receiving: International Swift or wire to USD account details | 27.93 USD total on 1,000 USD in Wise's calculator on 2026-10-06 | Wise's price data adds a 6.11 USD pay-in fee to the conversion fee for wire receipts; the page does not explain this in words | Freelancers and small exporters wanting multi-currency local accounts and eFIRC |
| Receiving: Payment from a client's Wise account | Not confirmed | Wise says the client can skip bank transfer or wire transfer fees and that the user saves 4.14 USD on USD wire fees if the client pays with Wise | Freelancers and small exporters wanting multi-currency local accounts and eFIRC |
| Receiving: GBP, EUR, AUD, CAD, NZD, SGD, HUF local details | Not confirmed | Wise states the conversion fee depends on the currency | Freelancers and small exporters wanting multi-currency local accounts and eFIRC |
| Currency conversion to INR | Converts at the mid-market rate; the cost is the 1.6% conversion fee | When foreign currency is converted | Freelancers and small exporters wanting multi-currency local accounts and eFIRC |
| Payout to an Indian bank | Funds are converted to INR at the mid-market rate and sent to the Indian bank account linked at signup; Wise's charges are the conversion fee, the eFIRC fee and GST on both. | When INR is sent to your account | Freelancers and small exporters wanting multi-currency local accounts and eFIRC |
| eFIRC | 2 USD per transfer plus GST, per Wise's calculator | – | Freelancers and small exporters wanting multi-currency local accounts and eFIRC |
| Receiving account details | Free per Wise's India business page ('Get international account details in India for free') | – | Freelancers and small exporters wanting multi-currency local accounts and eFIRC |
| GST on fees | Wise states it charges GST only on the Wise fees, at 18% of (conversion fee + eFIRC fee). | Applies to the platform's fee | Freelancers and small exporters wanting multi-currency local accounts and eFIRC |
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 |
How do Wise Business and Stripe compare on settlement speed?
- Wise Business: Wise states payments can arrive in under 90 minutes within business hours
- Stripe: Daily automatic payouts in INR include international card payments processed five business days prior
| Platform | Settlement to India | Payout route | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise Business | States under 90 minutes in business hours | INR at mid-market rate to linked Indian bank account | Freelancers and small exporters wanting multi-currency local accounts and eFIRC |
| 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 |
Do Wise Business and Stripe provide FIRA and e-BRC, and are they RBI PA-CB authorised?
| Platform | FIRA and e-BRC | RBI status | Checked | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wise Business | eFIRC per transfer, 2 USD + 18% GST | States in-principle PA-CB approval; not found on RBI page | 30 Sept 2026 | Freelancers and small exporters wanting multi-currency local accounts and eFIRC |
| Stripe | Standard Chartered payment advice; FIRC cost not confirmed | Not confirmed | 30 Sept 2026 | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
Which currencies, countries and payment methods do Wise Business and Stripe support?
| Platform | Currencies | Payment methods | Indian individuals | Indian businesses | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wise Business | Receive USD, GBP, EUR, AUD, CAD, NZD, SGD, HUF; to INR | US ACH to USD account details (routing and account number); International Swift or wire to USD account details; Payment from a client's Wise account; GBP, EUR, AUD, CAD, NZD, SGD, HUF local details | Only via Wise Business as sole trader/freelancer | Yes; other business types can join waitlist | Freelancers and small exporters wanting multi-currency local accounts and eFIRC |
| 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 |
What are the strengths and limitations of Wise Business and Stripe?
Wise Business
- Transparent calculator: Wise's India pricing page calculator shows the conversion fee, eFIRC fee and GST for a given amount
- Mid-market rate: no exchange rate markup; the cost sits in a stated conversion fee
- Speed: Wise states payouts can arrive in under 90 minutes within business hours
- Freelancer eligibility: sole traders and freelancers are an accepted business type
- Cost on USD: Wise's calculator showed a 1.6% conversion fee plus a 2 USD eFIRC fee, before 18% GST, on a 1,000 USD ACH receipt on 2026-10-06
- Per-payment paperwork: Wise says a payment request is needed for every payment, with payment information such as sender and invoice
- Business only: personal Wise accounts in India cannot receive money; users must register Wise Business
- Regulatory status: the PA-CB licence is in-principle per Wise's own statement
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
Should you choose Wise Business or Stripe?
- Choose Wise Business if: you need freelancers and small exporters wanting local account details in several currencies with an eFIRC per payment, or your invoices are around $2,000 or $5,000 or $10,000.
- Choose Stripe if: you need registered Indian businesses selling online to foreign customers who pay by card.
For example, an exporter billing $5,000 a month: Wise Business pays about ₹26,185 more (1.90% cost vs 7.43% for Stripe).
Which other platforms should you consider besides Wise Business and Stripe?
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 | ₹4,69,828 | 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 | ₹4,67,483 | 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 | ₹4,64,469 | 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 | ₹4,64,091 | 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 4 Nov 2026. The formula is on the methodology page.
- Wise India: Fees for receiving money (Business), Conversion fee depends on the currency; eFIRC for every transfer; GST 18% of (conversion fee + eFIRC fee); calculator (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Wise India: Fees for receiving money (Personal), Receiving money feature is currently available only for business customers (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Wise India: Receive money from abroad in India, Eight currencies, free account details, mid-market rate, eFIRC, under 90 minutes within business hours, eligible company types, 4.14 USD wire saving, regulatory footer (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Wise Help: How to verify your Indian business to receive payments, Eligible business types and documents (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Wise India: Pricing (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Wise price data behind the India receive calculator (USD to INR, business, India), RECEIVE_BANK_TRANSFER 1,000 USD: variableFee 15.68 (1.6%), flatFee 2.0, vat 3.18 (18%), total 20.86; RECEIVE_SWIFT: total 27.93 incl. 6.11 pay-in fee; 100,000 USD: total 1,770.52 after HAT_VOLUME_DISCOUNT -73.23 (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Wise calculator price data for an Indian business receiving USD (RECEIVE_BANK_TRANSFER to INR), $5,000: conversion fee 78.48 (1.6% of converted amount), flat fee 2.00, GST 14.49, total 94.97; also read at $500 to $100,000 (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- 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)
FAQs about Wise Business vs Stripe
Is Wise Business or Stripe cheaper for receiving USD in India?
Wise Business pays about ₹26,185 more (1.90% cost vs 7.43% for Stripe). At $2,000: Wise Business pays about ₹10,343 more (1.97% cost vs 7.43% for Stripe). At $10,000: Wise Business pays about ₹52,589 more (1.88% cost vs 7.43% for Stripe). Figures use each platform's published pricing and today's reference rate, so check both pricing pages before you decide.
Which is faster, Wise Business or Stripe?
Wise Business states: Wise states payments can arrive in under 90 minutes within business hours. Stripe states: Daily automatic payouts in INR include international card payments processed five business days prior. Actual timing also depends on the payment method your client uses, cut-off times and bank holidays, so allow extra time for the first payment on either platform.
Do Wise Business and Stripe both provide a FIRA?
Wise Business: eFIRC sent by email for every transfer; 2 USD each in Wise's calculator, plus 18% GST. 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.
Are Wise Business and Stripe authorised by RBI?
Wise Business: States that Wise Payments India Private Limited is an in-principle approved Payment Aggregator - Cross Border and that inward remittance runs through a local bank partner with RBI approval (platform's claim; not found on an RBI page). Stripe: Not confirmed.
Can Indian freelancers use both Wise Business and Stripe?
Wise Business, individuals: Not through Wise Personal: Wise's India receive pricing page says receiving is currently available only for business customers. Individual freelancers can register Wise Business as a 'sole trader / freelancer'. Stripe, individuals: Individuals can only accept domestic payments. Eligibility can change, so confirm on each platform's sign-up pages.
Should I switch from Wise Business to Stripe?
Switch only if Stripe pays more on your usual invoice size or fits how your clients pay. Keep the Wise Business account open until every invoice sent with its details is paid, and download your FIRA or FIRC records first.