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

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Short answer

Neither Airwallex nor Remitly publishes enough pricing to estimate the cost of a USD 5,000 receipt, so there is no cost verdict. The better choice depends on how your client pays: Airwallex is best for registered businesses paid by bank transfer, and Remitly is best for uS or Canadian business clients already using Remitly.12345

Use caseBetter optionWhy
Bank transfer of USD 5,000Cannot compareNeither publishes full pricing for this case.
Bank transfer of USD 2,000Cannot compareNeither publishes full pricing for this case.
Client paying USD 2,000 by card or linkCannot compareNeither publishes full pricing for this case.
Airwallex is best forAirwallexRegistered businesses paid by bank transfer.12
Remitly is best forRemitlyUS or Canadian business clients already using Remitly.345

1,000 USD = ₹94,243 at the reference rate for 13 November 2026 (European Central Bank data).

Estimated rupees received, on published fees

Sorted by estimated rupees received, highest first. Only providers that publish both their fee and their conversion markup for this currency and method can be estimated.

#Provider and routeBest forFee (+GST)MarkupYou receiveCost
1Karbon BusinessLowest estimated costBank transfer to a Karbon virtual USD accountUS bank transfers and marketplace payouts₹942plus GST, rate not stated0%₹93,131 to ₹93,3011.00 to 1.18%
2RazorpayMoneySaver Export Account: bank transfer to virtual account details (Standard plan)Local transfers from the US, UK and eurozone₹1,000plus GST, rate not stated0%₹93,063 to ₹93,2431.06 to 1.25%
3WinvestaGlobal Collections Account, standard plan (up to 2,000 a month per currency)Local transfers with a published per-payment fee₹1,4350%₹92,8091.52%
4SkydoPayment link (InstaLinks) paid by ACH debitLocal bank transfers from major markets₹1,885plus GST, rate not stated0%₹92,019 to ₹92,3582.00 to 2.36%
5PayoneerLocal bank transfer to Payoneer receiving account detailsMarketplace payouts such as Amazon or Upwork₹0no GST stated1 to 4%₹90,473 to ₹93,3011.00 to 4.00%
6PayPalInternational commercial transaction received into a PayPal account (PayPal checkout or invoice)Clients paying by card or PayPal balance₹4,175no GST stated3 to 4%₹86,465 to ₹87,3667.30 to 8.25%

Not estimated because pricing is not fully published: Cashfree Payments, Dodo Payments, PingPong, Stripe, Tazapay, TransFi, Wise.

Where a provider says GST applies to its fee but not at what rate, the range runs from no GST to 18%, the rate Skydo, Stripe and Winvesta state on their pages. Estimates use each provider's published fee, conversion markup, GST on fees and FIRA charge, checked 2026-10-28, against the reference rate. They exclude charges taken by intermediary banks and your own bank, and the rate a provider actually applies at the time of conversion. Check the provider's pricing page before you choose. The order is calculated only from these published numbers; no provider can pay to change its position, and there are no affiliate links.

How do Airwallex and Remitly compare at a glance?

Airwallex and Remitly compare on the twelve points below, using each provider's published information as checked on 28 October 2026. Where a provider does not publish something, the table says so.678

AirwallexRemitly
Best forRegistered businesses paid by bank transfer12US or Canadian business clients already using Remitly345
FeesSingapore fee schedule: 0% for collections in most currencies; 0.60% for KRW, VND, BRL and MYR collections. A fee for incoming SWIFT payments is not listed.6Remitly says there are no fees for the receiver in India. The sender pays the transfer fee: on its USD to INR page, $3.99 below $1,000 and $0 at $1,000 or more for personal transfers, with no fee on a new customer's first transfer.78
FX markupSingapore fee schedule: 0.40% mark-up for major currencies (AUD, USD, HKD, CNY, JPY, EUR, GBP, CAD, CHF, NZD, SGD); 0.60% for a list that includes INR; a 1.00% Auto Conversion Fee is listed without a definition. How the margin applies to a USD to INR conversion is not published.69Remitly says it may earn from the difference between the rate at which it buys currency and the rate given to the sender. The rate is shown before the sender confirms; no markup percentage is published.108
SettlementAirwallex's docs give 0 to 2 business days for local INR payouts to India and 0 to 3 business days for SWIFT payouts to India.11Remitly says business transfers to India are typically delivered within the hour, and that a delivery time is shown before the sender confirms.4
FIRAAirwallex says an FIRC is issued by an authorised bank in India; you request it from Airwallex support through the chatbot in the web app, and Airwallex coordinates with its banking partner. Airwallex says there may be a fee, set by the banking partner. The amount is not published.12Not published. Remitly's pages do not mention a FIRA or FIRC for the Indian recipient.
CurrenciesAirwallex says Global Accounts collect in 20+ currencies. The list available to an India-registered business is not published.92Senders pay in the currency of the send country; Remitly Business sends from the US. Recipients in India receive INR.348
KYC: who can sign upIndia-registered companies and LLPs, proprietorships and partnerships, and MSMEs, per Airwallex's India document list. Proprietorships and partnerships need a GST Registration Certificate. No route for unregistered individual freelancers is listed.1Senders only. The personal service is for individuals sending for personal, family or household purposes, and business use is a breach. Remitly Business is for US-registered businesses with a US-resident account holder, and Remitly's Canada site says Remitly Business is also available to businesses in Canada. Recipients in India do not need a Remitly account to be paid; Remitly's India page offers recipients a free profile to request money.103475
RBI PA-CB statusAirwallex's help centre lists India as a supported registration location, with the business onboarded by the Airwallex Singapore entity. Airwallex (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. says it is licensed in Singapore as a Major Payment Institution. Airwallex does not appear under the name Airwallex in RBI's list of authorised payment system operators (including PA-CB) as on 16 October 2026, nor in RBI's status of PA applications as on the same date.1361415Remitly does not appear on the RBI list of authorised PA-CB entities as on 16 October 2026. Its US User Agreement says it processes transactions to India under the Rupee Drawing Arrangements established by the RBI.1610
SupportHelp centre and support request form; for FIRC requests Airwallex directs users to the chatbot in the logged-in web app. India-specific support channels are not published.912Remitly says business customers get 24/7 support by phone or help centre.4
LimitsAirwallex's docs list no maximum transaction limit for local INR or SWIFT payouts to India. Limits for India-registered account holders are not published.11Not published as amounts. Remitly says limits vary by country, delivery method and verification, and are shown when the sender starts a transfer.
How clients payLocal bank transfer or SWIFT to Global Account details (for example USD in the United States by ACH or Fedwire, GBP by Faster Payments, EUR by SEPA). Airwallex says restrictions apply by onboarding entity and does not publish which accounts an India-registered business receives. Card acceptance availability for India-registered businesses is not published.217The client sends from a Remitly account: a US or Canadian business through Remitly Business, or an individual through the personal service for personal purposes only. Money arrives in India by bank deposit, UPI, cash pickup or wallet.104185
Card paymentsSingapore pricing: 3.30% for domestic cards and 3.60% for international cards, plus a SG$0.50 gateway fee per transaction. Airwallex says the company must be registered in an eligible country for the payment method; whether India is eligible is not published on the pages checked.617The sender can fund a transfer with a debit or credit card; the Indian recipient cannot accept card payments through Remitly.410

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

The INR you receive with Airwallex and Remitly is the invoice at the reference rate, less each provider's fee, conversion markup, GST on fees and FIRA charge. The table works this out from published pricing at today's rate.

None of these providers publishes both a fee and a conversion markup for USD.

Ranked by INR received on USD 5,000. Reference rate: European Central Bank data for 13 November 2026. Fees, conversion markup, GST on fees and FIRA charges as published by each provider, checked 28 October 2026. Ranges appear where a provider publishes a range or does not state its GST rate. Intermediary bank charges are excluded. See the methodology.

What is Airwallex and who is it for?

Airwallex is a global business account and payments company; its help centre lists India as a registration location onboarded by its Singapore entity, and it publishes no India-specific pricing page.139

  • Regulated by: Airwallex's help centre lists India as a supported registration location, with the business onboarded by the Airwallex Singapore entity. Airwallex (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. says it is licensed in Singapore as a Major Payment Institution. Airwallex does not appear under the name Airwallex in RBI's list of authorised payment system operators (including PA-CB) as on 16 October 2026, nor in RBI's status of PA applications as on the same date.1361415
  • Used by: India-registered companies and LLPs, proprietorships and partnerships, and MSMEs, per Airwallex's India document list. Proprietorships and partnerships need a GST Registration Certificate. No route for unregistered individual freelancers is listed.1
  • Best for: Registered businesses paid by bank transfer.12

What is Remitly and who is it for?

Remitly is a money transfer service whose personal service is limited to individuals sending for personal, family or household purposes; its Remitly Business product lets US businesses pay contractors, freelancers and suppliers in India.104

  • Regulated by: Remitly does not appear on the RBI list of authorised PA-CB entities as on 16 October 2026. Its US User Agreement says it processes transactions to India under the Rupee Drawing Arrangements established by the RBI.1610
  • Used by: Senders only. The personal service is for individuals sending for personal, family or household purposes, and business use is a breach. Remitly Business is for US-registered businesses with a US-resident account holder, and Remitly's Canada site says Remitly Business is also available to businesses in Canada. Recipients in India do not need a Remitly account to be paid; Remitly's India page offers recipients a free profile to request money.103475
  • Best for: US or Canadian business clients already using Remitly.345

How do Airwallex and Remitly fees and FX markup compare?

Airwallex and Remitly charge in different ways, so compare the fee and the conversion markup together, not the headline fee alone.

What does Airwallex charge?

Transaction typeFeeFX markupGST on feesBest for
Local transfer to Global Account details (Singapore fee schedule)0%613120.6%Not statedClients paying by local bank transfer
Card acceptance, international cards (Singapore fee schedule)3.6% + SGD 0.56120.6%Not statedClients paying by card

What does Remitly charge?

  • Fees: Remitly says there are no fees for the receiver in India. The sender pays the transfer fee: on its USD to INR page, $3.99 below $1,000 and $0 at $1,000 or more for personal transfers, with no fee on a new customer's first transfer.78

How do Airwallex and Remitly compare on settlement speed?

Airwallex and Remitly publish these settlement times for money reaching an Indian bank account.

PlatformSettlement timePayout to IndiaBest for
AirwallexAirwallex's docs give 0 to 2 business days for local INR payouts to India and 0 to 3 business days for SWIFT payouts to India.11Airwallex pays out to Indian bank accounts in INR by NEFT, IMPS, RTGS or iACH, or by SWIFT in foreign currencies. The Singapore fee schedule lists local payouts at $0 and SWIFT payouts at $20 (SHA) or $35 (OUR). Whether payout to your own Indian account is automatic is not published.116Registered businesses paid by bank transfer12
RemitlyRemitly says business transfers to India are typically delivered within the hour, and that a delivery time is shown before the sender confirms.4Bank deposit, UPI, cash pickup or wallet in INR; the recipient does not need to withdraw anything.1847US or Canadian business clients already using Remitly345

Do Airwallex and Remitly provide FIRA and e-BRC, and are they RBI PA-CB authorised?

Airwallex and Remitly publish the FIRA position and RBI status below, checked on 28 October 2026. An e-BRC is generated by the exporter on the DGFT portal from bank remittance data, so it does not depend on the provider issuing one.38

PlatformFIRARBI PA-CB statusBest for
AirwallexAirwallex says an FIRC is issued by an authorised bank in India; you request it from Airwallex support through the chatbot in the web app, and Airwallex coordinates with its banking partner. Airwallex says there may be a fee, set by the banking partner. The amount is not published.12Airwallex's help centre lists India as a supported registration location, with the business onboarded by the Airwallex Singapore entity. Airwallex (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. says it is licensed in Singapore as a Major Payment Institution. Airwallex does not appear under the name Airwallex in RBI's list of authorised payment system operators (including PA-CB) as on 16 October 2026, nor in RBI's status of PA applications as on the same date.1361415Registered businesses paid by bank transfer12
RemitlyNot published. Remitly's pages do not mention a FIRA or FIRC for the Indian recipient.Remitly does not appear on the RBI list of authorised PA-CB entities as on 16 October 2026. Its US User Agreement says it processes transactions to India under the Rupee Drawing Arrangements established by the RBI.1610US or Canadian business clients already using Remitly345

Which currencies, countries and payment methods do Airwallex and Remitly support?

Airwallex and Remitly accept the currencies and payment methods below, as each publishes them.

PlatformCurrenciesHow clients payCard paymentsBest for
AirwallexAirwallex says Global Accounts collect in 20+ currencies. The list available to an India-registered business is not published.92Local bank transfer or SWIFT to Global Account details (for example USD in the United States by ACH or Fedwire, GBP by Faster Payments, EUR by SEPA). Airwallex says restrictions apply by onboarding entity and does not publish which accounts an India-registered business receives. Card acceptance availability for India-registered businesses is not published.217Singapore pricing: 3.30% for domestic cards and 3.60% for international cards, plus a SG$0.50 gateway fee per transaction. Airwallex says the company must be registered in an eligible country for the payment method; whether India is eligible is not published on the pages checked.617Registered businesses paid by bank transfer12
RemitlySenders pay in the currency of the send country; Remitly Business sends from the US. Recipients in India receive INR.348The client sends from a Remitly account: a US or Canadian business through Remitly Business, or an individual through the personal service for personal purposes only. Money arrives in India by bank deposit, UPI, cash pickup or wallet.104185The sender can fund a transfer with a debit or credit card; the Indian recipient cannot accept card payments through Remitly.410US or Canadian business clients already using Remitly345

What are the strengths and limitations of Airwallex and Remitly?

Airwallex and Remitly each suit some exporters better than others. These points come from each provider's own pages.

What are the strengths and limitations of Airwallex?

Strengths:

  • Your business is a registered Indian company, LLP, partnership or GST-registered proprietorship that wants local account details abroad for clients paying by bank transfer.12
  • You also pay overseas suppliers or contractors and want one account for collections and payouts in several currencies.96
  • You are comfortable requesting an FIRC from support for each transaction rather than receiving one automatically.12

Limitations:

  • Airwallex does not appear under the name Airwallex in RBI's list of authorised payment aggregators, including PA-CB, as on 16 October 2026.1415
  • There is no India pricing page; India-registered businesses are onboarded by the Singapore entity, whose fee schedule does not mention India.136
  • The India document list requires a GST Registration Certificate for proprietorships and partnerships, and lists no route for unregistered individual freelancers.1
  • The FIRC is issued on request through support, and its fee is set by a banking partner and not published.12
  • Purpose code handling for receipts into India is not published.39
  • SWIFT payouts cost $20 (SHA) or $35 (OUR) under the Singapore fee schedule.6

What are the strengths and limitations of Remitly?

Strengths:

  • Your client is a US or Canadian business that already uses, or is willing to open, a Remitly Business account to pay contractors in India.345
  • Your client is an individual paying for a personal need, such as private tutoring, which Remitly's personal terms permit.10

Limitations:

  • An Indian freelancer or company cannot open an account to receive or invoice through Remitly; the client must be the Remitly customer.1034
  • Remitly Business is offered to businesses in the US and Canada only, and Remitly's personal terms prohibit sending for business purposes.3105
  • Remitly is not on the RBI list of authorised PA-CB entities, and its pages do not mention a FIRA, FIRC or purpose code for the Indian recipient.1647

Should you choose Airwallex or Remitly?

Choose between Airwallex and Remitly by how your clients pay and your usual invoice size.

Choose Airwallex if:

  • Your business is a registered Indian company, LLP, partnership or GST-registered proprietorship that wants local account details abroad for clients paying by bank transfer.12
  • You also pay overseas suppliers or contractors and want one account for collections and payouts in several currencies.96
  • You are comfortable requesting an FIRC from support for each transaction rather than receiving one automatically.12

Choose Remitly if:

  • Your client is a US or Canadian business that already uses, or is willing to open, a Remitly Business account to pay contractors in India.345
  • Your client is an individual paying for a personal need, such as private tutoring, which Remitly's personal terms permit.10

For example, say a designer invoices a US client USD 2,000. Because neither provider does not publish full pricing for that case, ask for a quote in writing and compare it with the FIRA rate after the first payment.69108

Which other platforms should you consider besides Airwallex and Remitly?

Other platforms to consider besides Airwallex and Remitly are the ones with the lowest estimated cost on a USD 5,000 receipt, listed in that order.2021222324252728303133353637

PlatformBest forEstimated cost on USD 5,000FIRAReview
SkydoLocal bank transfers from major markets190.68%202122232425Skydo says it issues a free FIRA on every payment received, and that its FIRA and FIRC are accepted for GST filing and by banks.2426Skydo review
Karbon BusinessUS bank transfers and marketplace payouts271.00 to 1.18%2728Karbon says it provides a FIRA for every transaction, issued by its licensed banking partner, which it does not name. Cost not published.27Karbon Business review
RazorpayLocal transfers from the US, UK and eurozone291.00 to 1.18%3031Razorpay provides a Foreign Inward Remittance Statement (FIRS), sent to the contact email within 24 hours after settlement for bank transfers, and downloadable from the dashboard, which shows bank-provided certificates and Razorpay-generated statements. The pricing page lists FIRC or eFIRC as included and auto-generated for international cards. No separate charge is published.293231Razorpay review
WinvestaLocal transfers with a published per-payment fee33341.24%33353637Free e-FIRA, emailed within 24 hours of funds reaching the Indian bank account and downloadable from the dashboard; it shows the purpose code and exchange rate.3635Winvesta review

Compare every provider on your own invoice in the platform cost comparison.

How did we verify this?

We checked this page against the sources below on 28 October 2026. Provider fees, conversion markups and RBI payment aggregator (PA-CB) status were checked on 28 October 2026. Rupee amounts use European Central Bank reference rates for 13 November 2026. Read our methodology or report an error.

  1. [1]Airwallex Help Centre, Documents required for companies in South East Asia (India section) (checked 2026-10-28)
  2. [2]Airwallex Help Centre, Which currencies can I get a Global Account in and what payments can I receive? (checked 2026-10-28)
  3. [3]Remitly Business Account Agreement (US), updated 1 August 2026, sections 3, 4 and 8 (checked 2026-10-28)
  4. [4]Remitly, Business payments from the United States to India (checked 2026-10-28)
  5. [5]Remitly Canada, Remitly Business page and FAQ (checked 2026-10-31)
  6. [6]Airwallex Singapore, Fee schedule, last updated 10 October 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
  7. [7]Remitly India, Receive money in India from family abroad (checked 2026-10-28)
  8. [8]Remitly, USD to INR rate and fees (checked 2026-10-28)
  9. [9]Airwallex Singapore, Pricing (checked 2026-10-28)
  10. [10]Remitly User Agreement (US), effective 23 February 2026, sections on account use, foreign currency exchange, commercial transactions and transactions to India (checked 2026-10-28)
  11. [11]Airwallex Docs, Payout network: bank accounts, India (checked 2026-10-28)
  12. [12]Airwallex Help Centre, What is an FIRC and how do I get one? (checked 2026-10-28)
  13. [13]Airwallex Help Centre, Eligible Countries and Territories (checked 2026-10-28)
  14. [14]RBI: Payment System Operators authorised under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, list as on 16 October 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
  15. [15]RBI: Status of Applications received under Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, as on 16 October 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
  16. [16]RBI: Payment system operators authorised under the PSS Act, 2007, list as on 16 October 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
  17. [17]Airwallex Help Centre, Payments Eligibility (checked 2026-10-28)
  18. [18]Remitly, Send money to India from the United States (checked 2026-10-28)
  19. [19]Skydo FAQs, What countries can I get paid locally through Skydo? (checked 2026-10-28)
  20. [20]Skydo FAQ, How much does Skydo charge? (checked 2026-10-28)
  21. [21]Skydo, Home page (checked 2026-10-28)
  22. [22]Skydo FAQ, Who will bear the SWIFT charges? (checked 2026-10-28)
  23. [23]Skydo FAQ, Limitations and restrictions on receiving your foreign remittance via Skydo (checked 2026-10-28)
  24. [24]Skydo, Receive international payments in India as a freelancer (checked 2026-10-28)
  25. [25]Skydo, Terms of use (checked 2026-10-28)
  26. [26]Skydo FAQs, What is accepted for GST filings and banks between FIRA and FIRC? (checked 2026-10-28)
  27. [27]Karbon Business, Karbon for Freelancers (checked 2026-10-28)
  28. [28]Karbon, PayPal alternative (checked 2026-10-28)
  29. [29]Razorpay Docs, International Bank Transfer (MoneySaver Export Account) (checked 2026-10-28)
  30. [30]Razorpay, MoneySaver Export Account (international bank transfers) (checked 2026-10-28)
  31. [31]Razorpay, Pricing (checked 2026-10-28)
  32. [32]Razorpay Docs, FIRS Automated Process (checked 2026-10-28)
  33. [33]Winvesta FAQs, What are the charges for the global collections account? (checked 2026-10-28)
  34. [34]Winvesta FAQs, What currencies are available with local accounts? (checked 2026-10-28)
  35. [35]Winvesta, Multi-currency account (checked 2026-10-28)
  36. [36]Winvesta FAQ, When will I receive my e-FIRA certificate? (checked 2026-10-28)
  37. [37]Winvesta FAQ, Can I get priority processing for my withdrawal? (checked 2026-10-28)
  38. [38]DGFT: eBRC services (self-generation of e-BRC from bank inward remittance data)
  39. [39]Airwallex Help Centre, How can I create a transfer/payout? (checked 2026-10-28)
  40. [40]GST Portal user guide: Furnishing of Letter of Undertaking (FORM GST RFD-11)

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper for Indian exporters, Airwallex or Remitly?+

There is no cost verdict for a USD 5,000 bank transfer: neither publishes full pricing for this case.69108 The answer can change with the currency, payment method and invoice size, so check your own numbers in the platform cost comparison.

Do Airwallex and Remitly give a FIRA to Indian exporters?+

Airwallex: Airwallex says an FIRC is issued by an authorised bank in India; you request it from Airwallex support through the chatbot in the web app, and Airwallex coordinates with its banking partner. Airwallex says there may be a fee, set by the banking partner. The amount is not published.12 Remitly: Not published. Remitly's pages do not mention a FIRA or FIRC for the Indian recipient.

Can individual freelancers use Airwallex and Remitly?+

Airwallex: India-registered companies and LLPs, proprietorships and partnerships, and MSMEs, per Airwallex's India document list. Proprietorships and partnerships need a GST Registration Certificate. No route for unregistered individual freelancers is listed.1 Remitly: Senders only. The personal service is for individuals sending for personal, family or household purposes, and business use is a breach. Remitly Business is for US-registered businesses with a US-resident account holder, and Remitly's Canada site says Remitly Business is also available to businesses in Canada. Recipients in India do not need a Remitly account to be paid; Remitly's India page offers recipients a free profile to request money.103475

Are Airwallex and Remitly authorised by the RBI?+

Airwallex: Airwallex's help centre lists India as a supported registration location, with the business onboarded by the Airwallex Singapore entity. Airwallex (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. says it is licensed in Singapore as a Major Payment Institution. Airwallex does not appear under the name Airwallex in RBI's list of authorised payment system operators (including PA-CB) as on 16 October 2026, nor in RBI's status of PA applications as on the same date.1361415 Remitly: Remitly does not appear on the RBI list of authorised PA-CB entities as on 16 October 2026. Its US User Agreement says it processes transactions to India under the Rupee Drawing Arrangements established by the RBI.1610

How fast do Airwallex and Remitly pay out to an Indian bank?+

Airwallex: Airwallex's docs give 0 to 2 business days for local INR payouts to India and 0 to 3 business days for SWIFT payouts to India.11 Remitly: Remitly says business transfers to India are typically delivered within the hour, and that a delivery time is shown before the sender confirms.4

Do I still need an LUT if I am paid through Airwallex or Remitly?+

Yes, if you are registered under GST and want to invoice the export without IGST. The Letter of Undertaking is a GST filing for the financial year, and it does not depend on how the money reaches you, whether through Airwallex, Remitly or a bank wire.40

This page is general information for Indian service exporters, not tax or legal advice. Rules change and outcomes depend on your facts, so confirm with a chartered accountant before acting.