PayU vs Remitly (2026): Which Is Better for Receiving International Payments in India?
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Short answer
Neither PayU 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: PayU is best for card or PayPal checkout with INR settlement, and Remitly is best for uS or Canadian business clients already using Remitly.1234
| Use case | Better option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer of USD 5,000 | Cannot compare | Neither publishes full pricing for this case. |
| Bank transfer of USD 2,000 | Cannot compare | Neither publishes full pricing for this case. |
| Client paying USD 2,000 by card or link | Cannot compare | Neither publishes full pricing for this case. |
| PayU is best for | PayU | Card or PayPal checkout with INR settlement.1 |
| Remitly is best for | Remitly | US or Canadian business clients already using Remitly.234 |
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 route | Best for | Fee (+GST) | Markup | You receive | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karbon BusinessLowest estimated costBank transfer to a Karbon virtual USD account | US bank transfers and marketplace payouts | ₹942plus GST, rate not stated | 0% | ₹93,131 to ₹93,301 | 1.00 to 1.18% |
| 2 | RazorpayMoneySaver Export Account: bank transfer to virtual account details (Standard plan) | Local transfers from the US, UK and eurozone | ₹1,000plus GST, rate not stated | 0% | ₹93,063 to ₹93,243 | 1.06 to 1.25% |
| 3 | WinvestaGlobal Collections Account, standard plan (up to 2,000 a month per currency) | Local transfers with a published per-payment fee | ₹1,435 | 0% | ₹92,809 | 1.52% |
| 4 | SkydoPayment link (InstaLinks) paid by ACH debit | Local bank transfers from major markets | ₹1,885plus GST, rate not stated | 0% | ₹92,019 to ₹92,358 | 2.00 to 2.36% |
| 5 | PayoneerLocal bank transfer to Payoneer receiving account details | Marketplace payouts such as Amazon or Upwork | ₹0no GST stated | 1 to 4% | ₹90,473 to ₹93,301 | 1.00 to 4.00% |
| 6 | PayPalInternational commercial transaction received into a PayPal account (PayPal checkout or invoice) | Clients paying by card or PayPal balance | ₹4,175no GST stated | 3 to 4% | ₹86,465 to ₹87,366 | 7.30 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 PayU and Remitly compare at a glance?
PayU 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.567
| PayU | Remitly | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Card or PayPal checkout with INR settlement1 | US or Canadian business clients already using Remitly234 |
| Fees | 3% 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.5 | 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.67 |
| FX markup | Converted 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.18 | Remitly 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.97 |
| Settlement | Typically T+2 business days for international payments.18 | Remitly says business transfers to India are typically delivered within the hour, and that a delivery time is shown before the sender confirms.3 |
| FIRA | PayU says it provides a FIRC on request through the merchant's Key Account Manager. The cost is not published.8 | Not published. Remitly's pages do not mention a FIRA or FIRC for the Indian recipient. |
| Currencies | PayU says it accepts payments in 135+ currencies and can show local prices in 27 currencies.18 | Senders pay in the currency of the send country; Remitly Business sends from the US. Recipients in India receive INR.237 |
| KYC: who can sign up | 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.1011 | 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.92364 |
| RBI PA-CB status | 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 2026.12 | 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.139 |
| Support | Existing 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.1 | Remitly says business customers get 24/7 support by phone or help centre.3 |
| Limits | PayU does not publish a limit for export receipts. RBI rules set a limit of ₹25 lakh per export transaction for PA-CBs.114 | Not published as amounts. Remitly says limits vary by country, delivery method and verification, and are shown when the sender starts a transfer. |
| How clients pay | International 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.111 | The 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.93154 |
| Card payments | Yes. International card transactions fall under PayU's 3% Standard Plan slab, GST extra.5 | The sender can fund a transfer with a debit or credit card; the Indian recipient cannot accept card payments through Remitly.39 |
How much INR do you receive on $2,000, $5,000 and $10,000 with PayU vs Remitly?
The INR you receive with PayU 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 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.121
- 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 2026.12
- 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.1011
- Best for: Card or PayPal checkout with INR settlement.1
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.93
- 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.139
- 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.92364
- Best for: US or Canadian business clients already using Remitly.234
How do PayU and Remitly fees and FX markup compare?
PayU and Remitly charge in different ways, so compare the fee and the conversion markup together, not the headline fee alone.
What does PayU charge?
| Transaction type | Fee | FX markup | GST on fees | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International card or PayPal transaction at PayU checkout (Standard plan) | 3%58 | Not published | Not stated | Clients 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.67
How do PayU and Remitly compare on settlement speed?
PayU and Remitly publish these settlement times for money reaching an Indian bank account.
| Platform | Settlement time | Payout to India | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| PayU | Typically T+2 business days for international payments.18 | Settled 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.1115 | Card or PayPal checkout with INR settlement1 |
| Remitly | Remitly says business transfers to India are typically delivered within the hour, and that a delivery time is shown before the sender confirms.3 | Bank deposit, UPI, cash pickup or wallet in INR; the recipient does not need to withdraw anything.1536 | US or Canadian business clients already using Remitly234 |
Do PayU and Remitly provide FIRA and e-BRC, and are they RBI PA-CB authorised?
PayU 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.35
| Platform | FIRA | RBI PA-CB status | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| PayU | PayU says it provides a FIRC on request through the merchant's Key Account Manager. The cost is not published.8 | 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 2026.12 | Card or PayPal checkout with INR settlement1 |
| Remitly | Not 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.139 | US or Canadian business clients already using Remitly234 |
Which currencies, countries and payment methods do PayU and Remitly support?
PayU and Remitly accept the currencies and payment methods below, as each publishes them.
| Platform | Currencies | How clients pay | Card payments | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PayU | PayU says it accepts payments in 135+ currencies and can show local prices in 27 currencies.18 | International 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.111 | Yes. International card transactions fall under PayU's 3% Standard Plan slab, GST extra.5 | Card or PayPal checkout with INR settlement1 |
| Remitly | Senders pay in the currency of the send country; Remitly Business sends from the US. Recipients in India receive INR.237 | The 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.93154 | The sender can fund a transfer with a debit or credit card; the Indian recipient cannot accept card payments through Remitly.39 | US or Canadian business clients already using Remitly234 |
What are the strengths and limitations of PayU and Remitly?
PayU 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 PayU?
Strengths:
- Your foreign clients prefer to pay by international card or PayPal on a checkout page and you want INR settlement.1
- You want a provider listed by the RBI as a cross-border payment aggregator for inward transactions.12
- You already use PayU for domestic payments and want international payments enabled on the same integration.11
Limitations:
- No bank transfer collection route (local account details for foreign clients) is published; the international product is card and wallet based.111
- 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.118
- PA-CB export transactions are limited to ₹25 lakh each under RBI rules.14
- Priority settlement fees and the conditions behind the Standard Plan's terms and conditions note are not published.5
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.234
- Your client is an individual paying for a personal need, such as private tutoring, which Remitly's personal terms permit.9
Limitations:
- An Indian freelancer or company cannot open an account to receive or invoice through Remitly; the client must be the Remitly customer.923
- Remitly Business is offered to businesses in the US and Canada only, and Remitly's personal terms prohibit sending for business purposes.294
- 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.1336
Should you choose PayU or Remitly?
Choose between PayU and Remitly by how your clients pay and your usual invoice size.
Choose PayU if:
- Your foreign clients prefer to pay by international card or PayPal on a checkout page and you want INR settlement.1
- You want a provider listed by the RBI as a cross-border payment aggregator for inward transactions.12
- You already use PayU for domestic payments and want international payments enabled on the same integration.11
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.234
- Your client is an individual paying for a personal need, such as private tutoring, which Remitly's personal terms permit.9
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.1897
Which other platforms should you consider besides PayU and Remitly?
Other platforms to consider besides PayU and Remitly are the ones with the lowest estimated cost on a USD 5,000 receipt, listed in that order.1718192021222425272830323334
| Platform | Best for | Estimated cost on USD 5,000 | FIRA | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skydo | Local bank transfers from major markets16 | 0.68%171819202122 | Skydo says it issues a free FIRA on every payment received, and that its FIRA and FIRC are accepted for GST filing and by banks.2123 | Skydo review |
| Karbon Business | US bank transfers and marketplace payouts24 | 1.00 to 1.18%2425 | Karbon says it provides a FIRA for every transaction, issued by its licensed banking partner, which it does not name. Cost not published.24 | Karbon Business review |
| Razorpay | Local transfers from the US, UK and eurozone26 | 1.00 to 1.18%2728 | Razorpay 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.262928 | Razorpay review |
| Winvesta | Local transfers with a published per-payment fee3031 | 1.24%30323334 | Free 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.3332 | Winvesta 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]PayU India, International Payment Gateway (checked 2026-10-28)
- [2]Remitly Business Account Agreement (US), updated 1 August 2026, sections 3, 4 and 8 (checked 2026-10-28)
- [3]Remitly, Business payments from the United States to India (checked 2026-10-28)
- [4]Remitly Canada, Remitly Business page and FAQ (checked 2026-10-31)
- [5]PayU India, Pricing (checked 2026-10-28)
- [6]Remitly India, Receive money in India from family abroad (checked 2026-10-28)
- [7]Remitly, USD to INR rate and fees (checked 2026-10-28)
- [8]PayU Docs, FAQs: International Payments and Dynamic Currency Conversion (checked 2026-10-28)
- [9]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)
- [10]PayU Docs, Documents Checklist for Account Activation (checked 2026-10-28)
- [11]PayU Docs, PayU India International Payments (checked 2026-10-28)
- [12]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)
- [13]RBI: Payment system operators authorised under the PSS Act, 2007, list as on 16 October 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
- [14]RBI: Master Direction on Regulation of Payment Aggregators, 15 September 2025
- [15]Remitly, Send money to India from the United States (checked 2026-10-28)
- [16]Skydo FAQs, What countries can I get paid locally through Skydo? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [17]Skydo FAQ, How much does Skydo charge? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [18]Skydo, Home page (checked 2026-10-28)
- [19]Skydo FAQ, Who will bear the SWIFT charges? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [20]Skydo FAQ, Limitations and restrictions on receiving your foreign remittance via Skydo (checked 2026-10-28)
- [21]Skydo, Receive international payments in India as a freelancer (checked 2026-10-28)
- [22]Skydo, Terms of use (checked 2026-10-28)
- [23]Skydo FAQs, What is accepted for GST filings and banks between FIRA and FIRC? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [24]Karbon Business, Karbon for Freelancers (checked 2026-10-28)
- [25]Karbon, PayPal alternative (checked 2026-10-28)
- [26]Razorpay Docs, International Bank Transfer (MoneySaver Export Account) (checked 2026-10-28)
- [27]Razorpay, MoneySaver Export Account (international bank transfers) (checked 2026-10-28)
- [28]Razorpay, Pricing (checked 2026-10-28)
- [29]Razorpay Docs, FIRS Automated Process (checked 2026-10-28)
- [30]Winvesta FAQs, What are the charges for the global collections account? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [31]Winvesta FAQs, What currencies are available with local accounts? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [32]Winvesta, Multi-currency account (checked 2026-10-28)
- [33]Winvesta FAQ, When will I receive my e-FIRA certificate? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [34]Winvesta FAQ, Can I get priority processing for my withdrawal? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [35]DGFT: eBRC services (self-generation of e-BRC from bank inward remittance data)
- [36]GST Portal user guide: Furnishing of Letter of Undertaking (FORM GST RFD-11)
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper for Indian exporters, PayU or Remitly?+
There is no cost verdict for a USD 5,000 bank transfer: neither publishes full pricing for this case.1897 The answer can change with the currency, payment method and invoice size, so check your own numbers in the platform cost comparison.
Do PayU and Remitly give a FIRA to Indian exporters?+
PayU: PayU says it provides a FIRC on request through the merchant's Key Account Manager. The cost is not published.8 Remitly: Not published. Remitly's pages do not mention a FIRA or FIRC for the Indian recipient.
Can individual freelancers use PayU and Remitly?+
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.1011 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.92364
Are PayU and Remitly authorised by the RBI?+
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 2026.12 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.139
How fast do PayU and Remitly pay out to an Indian bank?+
PayU: Typically T+2 business days for international payments.18 Remitly: Remitly says business transfers to India are typically delivered within the hour, and that a delivery time is shown before the sender confirms.3
Do I still need an LUT if I am paid through PayU 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 PayU, Remitly or a bank wire.36
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.
Keep reading
PayU for Indian service exporters: how it works, costs and limits
How PayU's international payments product works for Indian service exporters: RBI PA-CB status, foreign cards and PayPal, 3% fee, INR settlement, FIRC and limits.
PlatformsRemitly for Indian service exporters: how it works, costs and limits
Can Indian freelancers get paid through Remitly? What its personal and US business terms allow, how money reaches India, fees, FIRA and the 2026 EDF rules.
CompareWhat Are the Best PayU Alternatives for Indian Exporters and Freelancers in 2026?
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CompareWhat Are the Best Remitly Alternatives for Indian Exporters and Freelancers in 2026?
Remitly alternatives for Indian freelancers and agencies, ordered by estimated cost: INR received on $2,000 to $10,000, fees, FX markup, FIRA and RBI status.