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Cashfree Payments vs PayU (2026): Which Is Better for Receiving International Payments in India?

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Short answer

Neither Cashfree Payments nor PayU 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: Cashfree Payments is best for registered businesses paid by local transfer, and PayU is best for card or PayPal checkout with INR settlement.123

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.
Cashfree Payments is best forCashfree PaymentsRegistered businesses paid by local transfer.12
PayU is best forPayUCard or PayPal checkout with INR settlement.3

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 Cashfree Payments and PayU compare at a glance?

Cashfree Payments and PayU 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.456

Cashfree PaymentsPayU
Best forRegistered businesses paid by local transfer12Card or PayPal checkout with INR settlement3
FeesGlobal Collections: Not published. The pricing page shows 'Request Price' and describes a 'Low, processing fee; no hidden charges'. Cashfree says there is no setup cost.453% for international transactions under the Standard Plan, GST extra. No separate bank transfer receiving fee is published because PayU does not publish a bank transfer collection route.6
FX markupCashfree says Global Collections has no forex markup and that it handles conversion to INR in real time. The exchange rate used and any spread are not published.751Converted to INR at the rate on the transaction date; PayU says it applies exchange rate or margins on the card issuing currency for dynamic currency conversion. The margin is not published.38
SettlementGlobal Collections: Not published for the exporter. Cashfree says funds are swept to a NOSTRO account and repatriated to India no later than seven days after credit. International card gateway: T+2 per Cashfree's documentation.59Typically T+2 business days for international payments.38
FIRACashfree's Global Collections page says an e-FIRA is generated at no extra cost within 1 day. Its documentation says its AD-1 partner bank issues an eFIRS on a T+1 basis, obtained by request through the support form or account manager. For the card gateway, Cashfree mentions monthly FIRC reports and instant FIRS.57109PayU says it provides a FIRC on request through the merchant's Key Account Manager. The cost is not published.8
CurrenciesGlobal Collections local account details in USD, EUR, CAD and GBP, plus SWIFT. Cashfree's documentation lists 17 supported currencies; its marketing pages say 30+ currencies from 180+ countries. The card gateway is described as accepting 140+ currencies.279PayU says it accepts payments in 135+ currencies and can show local prices in 27 currencies.38
KYC: who can sign upBusinesses only, per Cashfree. Its pricing page says it currently enables cross-border payments only for businesses, and its Global Collections documentation says you must be a registered business in India. Cashfree does not publish which legal forms (sole proprietor, partnership, LLP, company) qualify.41PayU's account activation checklist covers individuals, sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLPs, private and public limited companies and other entity types. International payments must be enabled separately through a PayU Key Account Manager; PayU does not publish which entity types are eligible for them.1112
RBI PA-CB statusCashfree Payments India Private Limited appears on the RBI list of authorised payment system operators as a Payment Aggregator (online and physical) and as PA-CB I & O, which the RBI defines as a Payment Aggregator, Cross Border facilitating inward and outward transactions. Cashfree's own pages also say Global Collections operates under the RBI's OPGSP (Online Payment Gateway Service Provider) guideline.13710The RBI lists PayU Payments Private Limited as a Payment Aggregator (online and physical) and as PA-CB I & O, a cross-border payment aggregator facilitating inward and outward transactions, in its list dated 16 October 2026.14
SupportSupport form in the merchant dashboard and an account manager; Global Collections onboarding is through Contact Sales. Enterprise customers get a dedicated account manager and WhatsApp support.1017Existing merchants raise a ticket at help.payu.in or email care@payu.in; new merchants are directed to their account manager or care@payu.in for international rates.3
LimitsGlobal Collections: invoice value up to USD 10,000 per transaction, per Cashfree; no daily or monthly cap on the number of transactions. The RBI Master Direction sets ₹25 lakh per transaction for PA-CB export transactions.10515PayU does not publish a limit for export receipts. RBI rules set a limit of ₹25 lakh per export transaction for PA-CBs.315
How clients payGlobal Collections: local bank transfer to collection account details (ACH in the US, SEPA in Europe, EFT in Canada, Faster Payments in the UK) or SWIFT. International Payment Gateway: international cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) on a checkout, and PayPal through the merchant's own linked PayPal account.2916International credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) and PayPal at a PayU checkout. PayU does not publish local bank account details or virtual accounts for foreign clients to pay by bank transfer.312
Card paymentsYes, through the International Payment Gateway. Published platform fee: 2.99% for Visa and Mastercard international cards, 2.95% for American Express. PayPal is charged at PayPal's own rates; Cashfree says it adds no gateway charge for PayPal.47Yes. International card transactions fall under PayU's 3% Standard Plan slab, GST extra.6

How much INR do you receive on $2,000, $5,000 and $10,000 with Cashfree Payments vs PayU?

The INR you receive with Cashfree Payments and PayU 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.

Not estimated because pricing for USD is not fully published: Cashfree Payments.

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 Cashfree Payments and who is it for?

Cashfree Payments is a Bengaluru-based payment company, authorised by the RBI as a cross-border payment aggregator for inward and outward transactions, whose Global Collections product gives Indian businesses local collection account details abroad and settles receipts in INR.1312

  • Regulated by: Cashfree Payments India Private Limited appears on the RBI list of authorised payment system operators as a Payment Aggregator (online and physical) and as PA-CB I & O, which the RBI defines as a Payment Aggregator, Cross Border facilitating inward and outward transactions. Cashfree's own pages also say Global Collections operates under the RBI's OPGSP (Online Payment Gateway Service Provider) guideline.13710
  • Used by: Businesses only, per Cashfree. Its pricing page says it currently enables cross-border payments only for businesses, and its Global Collections documentation says you must be a registered business in India. Cashfree does not publish which legal forms (sole proprietor, partnership, LLP, company) qualify.41
  • Best for: Registered businesses paid by local transfer.12

What is PayU and who is it for?

PayU is an Indian payment gateway that the RBI lists as a cross-border payment aggregator for inward and outward transactions; its international payments product lets Indian merchants accept foreign cards and PayPal and settles in INR.143

  • Regulated by: The RBI lists PayU Payments Private Limited as a Payment Aggregator (online and physical) and as PA-CB I & O, a cross-border payment aggregator facilitating inward and outward transactions, in its list dated 16 October 2026.14
  • Used by: PayU's account activation checklist covers individuals, sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLPs, private and public limited companies and other entity types. International payments must be enabled separately through a PayU Key Account Manager; PayU does not publish which entity types are eligible for them.1112
  • Best for: Card or PayPal checkout with INR settlement.3

How do Cashfree Payments and PayU fees and FX markup compare?

Cashfree Payments and PayU charge in different ways, so compare the fee and the conversion markup together, not the headline fee alone.

What does Cashfree Payments charge?

Transaction typeFeeFX markupGST on feesBest for
Global Collections: local account details or Global SWIFT AccountNot published540%Not statedClients paying by local bank transfer
International Payment Gateway: Visa or Mastercard international cards2.99%4Not publishedNot statedClients paying by card
International Payment Gateway: American Express2.95%4Not publishedNot statedClients paying by card

What does PayU charge?

Transaction typeFeeFX markupGST on feesBest for
International card or PayPal transaction at PayU checkout (Standard plan)3%68Not publishedNot statedClients paying by card

How do Cashfree Payments and PayU compare on settlement speed?

Cashfree Payments and PayU publish these settlement times for money reaching an Indian bank account.

PlatformSettlement timePayout to IndiaBest for
Cashfree PaymentsGlobal Collections: Not published for the exporter. Cashfree says funds are swept to a NOSTRO account and repatriated to India no later than seven days after credit. International card gateway: T+2 per Cashfree's documentation.59Automatic. Receipts are converted to INR and settled to the exporter's Indian bank account; Cashfree says balances cannot be held in foreign currency or settled to a foreign currency account. No separate withdrawal fee is published.15Registered businesses paid by local transfer12
PayUTypically T+2 business days for international payments.38Settled automatically to the merchant's bank account in INR; PayU's documentation also mentions non-INR settlement. No separate payout fee is published for standard settlement; priority or same-day settlement may carry a nominal fee that is not published.3126Card or PayPal checkout with INR settlement3

Do Cashfree Payments and PayU provide FIRA and e-BRC, and are they RBI PA-CB authorised?

Cashfree Payments and PayU 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.36

PlatformFIRARBI PA-CB statusBest for
Cashfree PaymentsCashfree's Global Collections page says an e-FIRA is generated at no extra cost within 1 day. Its documentation says its AD-1 partner bank issues an eFIRS on a T+1 basis, obtained by request through the support form or account manager. For the card gateway, Cashfree mentions monthly FIRC reports and instant FIRS.57109Cashfree Payments India Private Limited appears on the RBI list of authorised payment system operators as a Payment Aggregator (online and physical) and as PA-CB I & O, which the RBI defines as a Payment Aggregator, Cross Border facilitating inward and outward transactions. Cashfree's own pages also say Global Collections operates under the RBI's OPGSP (Online Payment Gateway Service Provider) guideline.13710Registered businesses paid by local transfer12
PayUPayU says it provides a FIRC on request through the merchant's Key Account Manager. The cost is not published.8The RBI lists PayU Payments Private Limited as a Payment Aggregator (online and physical) and as PA-CB I & O, a cross-border payment aggregator facilitating inward and outward transactions, in its list dated 16 October 2026.14Card or PayPal checkout with INR settlement3

Which currencies, countries and payment methods do Cashfree Payments and PayU support?

Cashfree Payments and PayU accept the currencies and payment methods below, as each publishes them.

PlatformCurrenciesHow clients payCard paymentsBest for
Cashfree PaymentsGlobal Collections local account details in USD, EUR, CAD and GBP, plus SWIFT. Cashfree's documentation lists 17 supported currencies; its marketing pages say 30+ currencies from 180+ countries. The card gateway is described as accepting 140+ currencies.279Global Collections: local bank transfer to collection account details (ACH in the US, SEPA in Europe, EFT in Canada, Faster Payments in the UK) or SWIFT. International Payment Gateway: international cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) on a checkout, and PayPal through the merchant's own linked PayPal account.2916Yes, through the International Payment Gateway. Published platform fee: 2.99% for Visa and Mastercard international cards, 2.95% for American Express. PayPal is charged at PayPal's own rates; Cashfree says it adds no gateway charge for PayPal.47Registered businesses paid by local transfer12
PayUPayU says it accepts payments in 135+ currencies and can show local prices in 27 currencies.38International credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) and PayPal at a PayU checkout. PayU does not publish local bank account details or virtual accounts for foreign clients to pay by bank transfer.312Yes. International card transactions fall under PayU's 3% Standard Plan slab, GST extra.6Card or PayPal checkout with INR settlement3

What are the strengths and limitations of Cashfree Payments and PayU?

Cashfree Payments and PayU each suit some exporters better than others. These points come from each provider's own pages.

What are the strengths and limitations of Cashfree Payments?

Strengths:

  • You bill through a registered Indian business and want overseas clients to pay by local transfer in USD, EUR, CAD or GBP, with INR settled automatically.12
  • Your invoices are each up to USD 10,000.10
  • You also want a card checkout for international clients, with a published platform fee.49

Limitations:

  • Global Collections pricing is not published; Cashfree quotes it on request.4
  • Cross-border payments are available only to businesses, so individuals without a registered business cannot use Global Collections per Cashfree.41
  • Invoice value is capped at USD 10,000 per transaction for Global Collections.10
  • Foreign currency balances cannot be held; all receipts settle in INR.5

What are the strengths and limitations of PayU?

Strengths:

  • Your foreign clients prefer to pay by international card or PayPal on a checkout page and you want INR settlement.3
  • You want a provider listed by the RBI as a cross-border payment aggregator for inward transactions.14
  • You already use PayU for domestic payments and want international payments enabled on the same integration.12

Limitations:

  • No bank transfer collection route (local account details for foreign clients) is published; the international product is card and wallet based.312
  • The exchange margin on conversion to INR is not published.8
  • International payments must be enabled through a Key Account Manager, and the FIRC is also requested through the account manager.128
  • PA-CB export transactions are limited to ₹25 lakh each under RBI rules.15
  • Priority settlement fees and the conditions behind the Standard Plan's terms and conditions note are not published.6

Should you choose Cashfree Payments or PayU?

Choose between Cashfree Payments and PayU by how your clients pay and your usual invoice size.

Choose Cashfree Payments if:

  • You bill through a registered Indian business and want overseas clients to pay by local transfer in USD, EUR, CAD or GBP, with INR settled automatically.12
  • Your invoices are each up to USD 10,000.10
  • You also want a card checkout for international clients, with a published platform fee.49

Choose PayU if:

  • Your foreign clients prefer to pay by international card or PayPal on a checkout page and you want INR settlement.3
  • You want a provider listed by the RBI as a cross-border payment aggregator for inward transactions.14
  • You already use PayU for domestic payments and want international payments enabled on the same integration.12

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.75138

Which other platforms should you consider besides Cashfree Payments and PayU?

Other platforms to consider besides Cashfree Payments and PayU are the ones with the lowest estimated cost on a USD 5,000 receipt, listed in that order.1819202122232526282931333435

PlatformBest forEstimated cost on USD 5,000FIRAReview
SkydoLocal bank transfers from major markets170.68%181920212223Skydo says it issues a free FIRA on every payment received, and that its FIRA and FIRC are accepted for GST filing and by banks.2224Skydo review
Karbon BusinessUS bank transfers and marketplace payouts251.00 to 1.18%2526Karbon says it provides a FIRA for every transaction, issued by its licensed banking partner, which it does not name. Cost not published.25Karbon Business review
RazorpayLocal transfers from the US, UK and eurozone271.00 to 1.18%2829Razorpay 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.273029Razorpay review
WinvestaLocal transfers with a published per-payment fee31321.24%31333435Free 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.3433Winvesta 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]Cashfree Payments Docs, Global Collections overview (checked 2026-10-28)
  2. [2]Cashfree Payments Docs, Global Collections: Collection Accounts (checked 2026-10-28)
  3. [3]PayU India, International Payment Gateway (checked 2026-10-28)
  4. [4]Cashfree Payments, Payment Gateway Charges (India), International Cards, Global Collections and Cross Border FAQ (checked 2026-10-28)
  5. [5]Cashfree Payments, Global Collections: International wire transfer for Indian businesses (checked 2026-10-28)
  6. [6]PayU India, Pricing (checked 2026-10-28)
  7. [7]Cashfree Payments, Cross Border Payment solutions: Accept international payments (checked 2026-10-28)
  8. [8]PayU Docs, FAQs: International Payments and Dynamic Currency Conversion (checked 2026-10-28)
  9. [9]Cashfree Payments Docs, International Payment Gateway (IPG) overview (checked 2026-10-28)
  10. [10]Cashfree Payments Docs, Global Collections FAQs (checked 2026-10-28)
  11. [11]PayU Docs, Documents Checklist for Account Activation (checked 2026-10-28)
  12. [12]PayU Docs, PayU India International Payments (checked 2026-10-28)
  13. [13]RBI, Certificates of Authorisation issued under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 for setting up and operating payment systems in India, Payment Aggregators table (checked 2026-10-28)
  14. [14]RBI: Certificates of Authorisation issued under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, Payment Aggregators (PA-O, PA-P and PA-CB), list dated 16 October 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
  15. [15]RBI, Master Direction on Regulation of Payment Aggregators, 15 September 2025
  16. [16]Cashfree Payments Docs, PayPal for International Payments (checked 2026-10-28)
  17. [17]Skydo FAQs, What countries can I get paid locally through Skydo? (checked 2026-10-28)
  18. [18]Skydo FAQ, How much does Skydo charge? (checked 2026-10-28)
  19. [19]Skydo, Home page (checked 2026-10-28)
  20. [20]Skydo FAQ, Who will bear the SWIFT charges? (checked 2026-10-28)
  21. [21]Skydo FAQ, Limitations and restrictions on receiving your foreign remittance via Skydo (checked 2026-10-28)
  22. [22]Skydo, Receive international payments in India as a freelancer (checked 2026-10-28)
  23. [23]Skydo, Terms of use (checked 2026-10-28)
  24. [24]Skydo FAQs, What is accepted for GST filings and banks between FIRA and FIRC? (checked 2026-10-28)
  25. [25]Karbon Business, Karbon for Freelancers (checked 2026-10-28)
  26. [26]Karbon, PayPal alternative (checked 2026-10-28)
  27. [27]Razorpay Docs, International Bank Transfer (MoneySaver Export Account) (checked 2026-10-28)
  28. [28]Razorpay, MoneySaver Export Account (international bank transfers) (checked 2026-10-28)
  29. [29]Razorpay, Pricing (checked 2026-10-28)
  30. [30]Razorpay Docs, FIRS Automated Process (checked 2026-10-28)
  31. [31]Winvesta FAQs, What are the charges for the global collections account? (checked 2026-10-28)
  32. [32]Winvesta FAQs, What currencies are available with local accounts? (checked 2026-10-28)
  33. [33]Winvesta, Multi-currency account (checked 2026-10-28)
  34. [34]Winvesta FAQ, When will I receive my e-FIRA certificate? (checked 2026-10-28)
  35. [35]Winvesta FAQ, Can I get priority processing for my withdrawal? (checked 2026-10-28)
  36. [36]DGFT: eBRC services (self-generation of e-BRC from bank inward remittance data)
  37. [37]GST Portal user guide: Furnishing of Letter of Undertaking (FORM GST RFD-11)

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper for Indian exporters, Cashfree Payments or PayU?+

There is no cost verdict for a USD 5,000 bank transfer: neither publishes full pricing for this case.75138 The answer can change with the currency, payment method and invoice size, so check your own numbers in the platform cost comparison.

Do Cashfree Payments and PayU give a FIRA to Indian exporters?+

Cashfree Payments: Cashfree's Global Collections page says an e-FIRA is generated at no extra cost within 1 day. Its documentation says its AD-1 partner bank issues an eFIRS on a T+1 basis, obtained by request through the support form or account manager. For the card gateway, Cashfree mentions monthly FIRC reports and instant FIRS.57109 PayU: PayU says it provides a FIRC on request through the merchant's Key Account Manager. The cost is not published.8

Can individual freelancers use Cashfree Payments and PayU?+

Cashfree Payments: Businesses only, per Cashfree. Its pricing page says it currently enables cross-border payments only for businesses, and its Global Collections documentation says you must be a registered business in India. Cashfree does not publish which legal forms (sole proprietor, partnership, LLP, company) qualify.41 PayU: PayU's account activation checklist covers individuals, sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLPs, private and public limited companies and other entity types. International payments must be enabled separately through a PayU Key Account Manager; PayU does not publish which entity types are eligible for them.1112

Are Cashfree Payments and PayU authorised by the RBI?+

Cashfree Payments: Cashfree Payments India Private Limited appears on the RBI list of authorised payment system operators as a Payment Aggregator (online and physical) and as PA-CB I & O, which the RBI defines as a Payment Aggregator, Cross Border facilitating inward and outward transactions. Cashfree's own pages also say Global Collections operates under the RBI's OPGSP (Online Payment Gateway Service Provider) guideline.13710 PayU: The RBI lists PayU Payments Private Limited as a Payment Aggregator (online and physical) and as PA-CB I & O, a cross-border payment aggregator facilitating inward and outward transactions, in its list dated 16 October 2026.14

How fast do Cashfree Payments and PayU pay out to an Indian bank?+

Cashfree Payments: Global Collections: Not published for the exporter. Cashfree says funds are swept to a NOSTRO account and repatriated to India no later than seven days after credit. International card gateway: T+2 per Cashfree's documentation.59 PayU: Typically T+2 business days for international payments.38

Do I still need an LUT if I am paid through Cashfree Payments or PayU?+

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 Cashfree Payments, PayU or a bank wire.37

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.