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

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Editorial team, serviceexportguide.com
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Short answer

Neither PayU nor Revolut 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 Revolut is best for personal spending, not export receipts.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.
PayU is best forPayUCard or PayPal checkout with INR settlement.1
Revolut is best forRevolutPersonal spending, not export receipts.23

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 PayU and Revolut compare at a glance?

PayU and Revolut 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.45

PayURevolut
Best forCard or PayPal checkout with INR settlement1Personal spending, not export receipts23
Fees3% 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.4Revolut says it does not charge fees for receiving a bank transfer into the INR account by UPI.5
FX markupConverted 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.16Not applicable to receiving: the India wallet holds INR only. No inward conversion rate is published.2
SettlementTypically T+2 business days for international payments.16Revolut says UPI transfers to the INR account are usually instant.5
FIRAPayU says it provides a FIRC on request through the merchant's Key Account Manager. The cost is not published.6Not published. Revolut's India pages do not mention a FIRA or FIRC.
CurrenciesPayU says it accepts payments in 135+ currencies and can show local prices in 27 currencies.16INR only for the India wallet. Revolut's India terms say PPIs can only be used for payments in Indian rupees.25
KYC: who can sign upPayU'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.78Individuals, for personal use. Revolut's India terms say you cannot use a Revolut Account for business purposes. Revolut Business requires a company registered in the UK, the EEA or the US; India is listed only as a country where an applicant for such a company may reside.29
RBI PA-CB statusThe 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 2026.10Revolut Payments India Private Limited is listed by the RBI as a prepaid payment instrument (PPI) issuer, authorised on 4 April 2025. It does not appear on the RBI list of authorised PA-CB entities as on 16 October 2026.112
SupportExisting 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.1Revolut India publishes 24/7 in-app chat, support-india@revolut.com and a phone number.2
LimitsPayU does not publish a limit for export receipts. RBI rules set a limit of ₹25 lakh per export transaction for PA-CBs.112Up to 25 inbound UPI transfers or INR 4,00,000 a day, whichever comes first, and a total INR balance of no more than INR 2,00,000 at any time.5
How clients payInternational 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.18Revolut India says money can be received into the INR account by UPI only; NEFT, IMPS and RTGS are not supported. No route for a foreign client to pay a Revolut India account from abroad is published.52
Card paymentsYes. International card transactions fall under PayU's 3% Standard Plan slab, GST extra.4Not available for receiving. Revolut India does not publish a way to accept card payments from clients.25

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

The INR you receive with PayU and Revolut 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.101

  • 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 2026.10
  • 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.78
  • Best for: Card or PayPal checkout with INR settlement.1

What is Revolut and who is it for?

Revolut in India is a personal app run by Revolut Payments India Private Limited, an RBI-authorised prepaid payment instrument issuer whose INR wallet cannot be used for business purposes.211

  • Regulated by: Revolut Payments India Private Limited is listed by the RBI as a prepaid payment instrument (PPI) issuer, authorised on 4 April 2025. It does not appear on the RBI list of authorised PA-CB entities as on 16 October 2026.112
  • Used by: Individuals, for personal use. Revolut's India terms say you cannot use a Revolut Account for business purposes. Revolut Business requires a company registered in the UK, the EEA or the US; India is listed only as a country where an applicant for such a company may reside.29
  • Best for: Personal spending, not export receipts.23

How do PayU and Revolut fees and FX markup compare?

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

What does PayU charge?

Transaction typeFeeFX markupGST on feesBest for
International card or PayPal transaction at PayU checkout (Standard plan)3%46Not publishedNot statedClients paying by card

What does Revolut charge?

  • Fees: Revolut says it does not charge fees for receiving a bank transfer into the INR account by UPI.5

How do PayU and Revolut compare on settlement speed?

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

PlatformSettlement timePayout to IndiaBest for
PayUTypically T+2 business days for international payments.16Settled 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.184Card or PayPal checkout with INR settlement1
RevolutRevolut says UPI transfers to the INR account are usually instant.5Revolut says unloading the INR wallet is free on the Standard plan.3Personal spending, not export receipts23

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

PayU and Revolut 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.32

PlatformFIRARBI PA-CB statusBest for
PayUPayU says it provides a FIRC on request through the merchant's Key Account Manager. The cost is not published.6The 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 2026.10Card or PayPal checkout with INR settlement1
RevolutNot published. Revolut's India pages do not mention a FIRA or FIRC.Revolut Payments India Private Limited is listed by the RBI as a prepaid payment instrument (PPI) issuer, authorised on 4 April 2025. It does not appear on the RBI list of authorised PA-CB entities as on 16 October 2026.112Personal spending, not export receipts23

Which currencies, countries and payment methods do PayU and Revolut support?

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

PlatformCurrenciesHow clients payCard paymentsBest for
PayUPayU says it accepts payments in 135+ currencies and can show local prices in 27 currencies.16International 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.18Yes. International card transactions fall under PayU's 3% Standard Plan slab, GST extra.4Card or PayPal checkout with INR settlement1
RevolutINR only for the India wallet. Revolut's India terms say PPIs can only be used for payments in Indian rupees.25Revolut India says money can be received into the INR account by UPI only; NEFT, IMPS and RTGS are not supported. No route for a foreign client to pay a Revolut India account from abroad is published.52Not available for receiving. Revolut India does not publish a way to accept card payments from clients.25Personal spending, not export receipts23

What are the strengths and limitations of PayU and Revolut?

PayU and Revolut 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.10
  • You already use PayU for domestic payments and want international payments enabled on the same integration.8

Limitations:

  • No bank transfer collection route (local account details for foreign clients) is published; the international product is card and wallet based.18
  • The exchange margin on conversion to INR is not published.6
  • International payments must be enabled through a Key Account Manager, and the FIRC is also requested through the account manager.86
  • PA-CB export transactions are limited to ₹25 lakh each under RBI rules.12
  • Priority settlement fees and the conditions behind the Standard Plan's terms and conditions note are not published.4

What are the strengths and limitations of Revolut?

Strengths:

  • You want a personal INR wallet and card for your own spending, separate from how you get paid for exports.23

Limitations:

  • Revolut's India terms prohibit using a Revolut Account for business purposes.2
  • The India wallet holds INR only and receives money by UPI only, so a foreign client cannot pay into it from abroad by any published route.25
  • Revolut Business is not available to companies registered in India.9
  • Revolut India is not an RBI-authorised PA-CB and its pages do not mention a FIRA, FIRC or purpose code.112

Should you choose PayU or Revolut?

Choose between PayU and Revolut 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.10
  • You already use PayU for domestic payments and want international payments enabled on the same integration.8

Choose Revolut if:

  • You want a personal INR wallet and card for your own spending, separate from how you get paid for exports.23

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.162

Which other platforms should you consider besides PayU and Revolut?

Other platforms to consider besides PayU and Revolut are the ones with the lowest estimated cost on a USD 5,000 receipt, listed in that order.1415161718192122242527293031

PlatformBest forEstimated cost on USD 5,000FIRAReview
SkydoLocal bank transfers from major markets130.68%141516171819Skydo says it issues a free FIRA on every payment received, and that its FIRA and FIRC are accepted for GST filing and by banks.1820Skydo review
Karbon BusinessUS bank transfers and marketplace payouts211.00 to 1.18%2122Karbon says it provides a FIRA for every transaction, issued by its licensed banking partner, which it does not name. Cost not published.21Karbon Business review
RazorpayLocal transfers from the US, UK and eurozone231.00 to 1.18%2425Razorpay 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.232625Razorpay review
WinvestaLocal transfers with a published per-payment fee27281.24%27293031Free 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.3029Winvesta 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]PayU India, International Payment Gateway (checked 2026-10-28)
  2. [2]Revolut India, Personal terms, effective 19 November 2025, sections 1, 2, 4 and 20 (checked 2026-10-28)
  3. [3]Revolut India, Personal fees (Standard), from the week of 24 November 2025 (checked 2026-10-28)
  4. [4]PayU India, Pricing (checked 2026-10-28)
  5. [5]Revolut India Help, How to transfer funds to Revolut (checked 2026-10-28)
  6. [6]PayU Docs, FAQs: International Payments and Dynamic Currency Conversion (checked 2026-10-28)
  7. [7]PayU Docs, Documents Checklist for Account Activation (checked 2026-10-28)
  8. [8]PayU Docs, PayU India International Payments (checked 2026-10-28)
  9. [9]Revolut Business Help, Eligible countries and territories for Revolut Business (checked 2026-10-28)
  10. [10]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)
  11. [11]RBI: Payment system operators authorised under the PSS Act, 2007, list as on 16 October 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
  12. [12]RBI: Master Direction on Regulation of Payment Aggregators, 15 September 2025
  13. [13]Skydo FAQs, What countries can I get paid locally through Skydo? (checked 2026-10-28)
  14. [14]Skydo FAQ, How much does Skydo charge? (checked 2026-10-28)
  15. [15]Skydo, Home page (checked 2026-10-28)
  16. [16]Skydo FAQ, Who will bear the SWIFT charges? (checked 2026-10-28)
  17. [17]Skydo FAQ, Limitations and restrictions on receiving your foreign remittance via Skydo (checked 2026-10-28)
  18. [18]Skydo, Receive international payments in India as a freelancer (checked 2026-10-28)
  19. [19]Skydo, Terms of use (checked 2026-10-28)
  20. [20]Skydo FAQs, What is accepted for GST filings and banks between FIRA and FIRC? (checked 2026-10-28)
  21. [21]Karbon Business, Karbon for Freelancers (checked 2026-10-28)
  22. [22]Karbon, PayPal alternative (checked 2026-10-28)
  23. [23]Razorpay Docs, International Bank Transfer (MoneySaver Export Account) (checked 2026-10-28)
  24. [24]Razorpay, MoneySaver Export Account (international bank transfers) (checked 2026-10-28)
  25. [25]Razorpay, Pricing (checked 2026-10-28)
  26. [26]Razorpay Docs, FIRS Automated Process (checked 2026-10-28)
  27. [27]Winvesta FAQs, What are the charges for the global collections account? (checked 2026-10-28)
  28. [28]Winvesta FAQs, What currencies are available with local accounts? (checked 2026-10-28)
  29. [29]Winvesta, Multi-currency account (checked 2026-10-28)
  30. [30]Winvesta FAQ, When will I receive my e-FIRA certificate? (checked 2026-10-28)
  31. [31]Winvesta FAQ, Can I get priority processing for my withdrawal? (checked 2026-10-28)
  32. [32]DGFT: eBRC services (self-generation of e-BRC from bank inward remittance data)
  33. [33]GST Portal user guide: Furnishing of Letter of Undertaking (FORM GST RFD-11)

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper for Indian exporters, PayU or Revolut?+

There is no cost verdict for a USD 5,000 bank transfer: neither publishes full pricing for this case.162 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 Revolut 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.6 Revolut: Not published. Revolut's India pages do not mention a FIRA or FIRC.

Can individual freelancers use PayU and Revolut?+

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.78 Revolut: Individuals, for personal use. Revolut's India terms say you cannot use a Revolut Account for business purposes. Revolut Business requires a company registered in the UK, the EEA or the US; India is listed only as a country where an applicant for such a company may reside.29

Are PayU and Revolut 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 2026.10 Revolut: Revolut Payments India Private Limited is listed by the RBI as a prepaid payment instrument (PPI) issuer, authorised on 4 April 2025. It does not appear on the RBI list of authorised PA-CB entities as on 16 October 2026.112

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

PayU: Typically T+2 business days for international payments.16 Revolut: Revolut says UPI transfers to the INR account are usually instant.5

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

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, Revolut or a bank wire.33

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.

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