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

Author:
Editorial team, serviceexportguide.com
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Editorial team
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15 min read

Short answer

Neither Stripe nor Airwallex 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: Stripe is best for card checkout and subscriptions, and Airwallex is best for registered businesses paid by bank transfer.1234

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.
Stripe is best forStripeCard checkout and subscriptions.12
Airwallex is best forAirwallexRegistered businesses paid by bank transfer.34

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 Stripe and Airwallex compare at a glance?

Stripe and Airwallex 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

StripeAirwallex
Best forCard checkout and subscriptions12Registered businesses paid by bank transfer34
Fees3% for Visa and Mastercard cards issued outside India, 3.5% for American Express cards issued outside India, and 4.3% for international cards with USD or other non-INR presentment, per successful charge.56Singapore 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.7
FX markupAdditional 2% if currency conversion is required. Stripe does not publish on these pages exactly which export charges need conversion.56Singapore 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.78
SettlementEach daily payout includes international card payments processed five business days earlier. No payouts on weekends or public holidays. Seven-day waiting period for the first payout, which can be longer for high-risk industries.9Airwallex'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.10
FIRAStripe does not issue a FIRC itself. Standard Chartered Bank emails a payment advice (payee advice) to the registered Stripe email on the day an export payout is processed; Stripe says to present it to your own bank to request a FIRC. Cost of the FIRC from your bank: not published by Stripe.111Airwallex 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
CurrenciesStripe says it supports presentment in 135+ currencies on Visa and Mastercard, and INR or USD on American Express.16Airwallex says Global Accounts collect in 20+ currencies. The list available to an India-registered business is not published.84
KYC: who can sign upBy invite only: Indian businesses cannot sign up through the website and must request an invite. International payments are open to sole proprietorships, LLPs and companies. Individuals can use Stripe India for domestic payments only. Non-profits, NGOs and simple partnerships are not supported.121314India-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.3
RBI PA-CB statusRBI lists Stripe India Private Limited as an authorised Payment Aggregator Online (PA-O, 'Stripe', dated 15.01.2024), not as a Payment Aggregator-Cross Border (PA-CB). RBI's application status list as on 16.10.2026 shows its new PA-CB application returned on 12.07.2024 and marks it as withdrawn by the entity. Stripe says it withdrew the PA-CB application based on RBI guidance and continues cross-border services for Indian businesses on an invite-only basis. Stripe names Standard Chartered Bank as the bank that issues payment advice for export payouts.151617111Airwallex'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.1871920
SupportNot published for Indian users on the pages checked; prospective users fill in a contact form to request an invite.Help 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.812
LimitsUp to ₹25 lakh per export transaction for sole proprietorships, LLPs and companies.21Airwallex's docs list no maximum transaction limit for local INR or SWIFT payouts to India. Limits for India-registered account holders are not published.10
How clients payForeign customers pay by card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), Apple Pay or Google Pay through a Stripe checkout, payment link, invoice or subscription. Cards must be issued outside India and the customer must give a non-Indian billing address. International card payments require 3D Secure authentication.13221Local 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.423
Card paymentsYes, card payments are the core method: 3% (Visa or Mastercard issued abroad, INR presentment), 3.5% (American Express issued abroad), 4.3% (non-INR presentment), plus 2% if conversion is required. GST at 18% is charged on Stripe fees.524Singapore 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.723

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

The INR you receive with Stripe and Airwallex 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: Stripe.

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 Stripe and who is it for?

Stripe is a US-headquartered online payments company whose India accounts, available by invite only, let registered Indian businesses accept card and wallet payments from customers abroad and receive payouts in INR.16

  • Regulated by: RBI lists Stripe India Private Limited as an authorised Payment Aggregator Online (PA-O, 'Stripe', dated 15.01.2024), not as a Payment Aggregator-Cross Border (PA-CB). RBI's application status list as on 16.10.2026 shows its new PA-CB application returned on 12.07.2024 and marks it as withdrawn by the entity. Stripe says it withdrew the PA-CB application based on RBI guidance and continues cross-border services for Indian businesses on an invite-only basis. Stripe names Standard Chartered Bank as the bank that issues payment advice for export payouts.151617111
  • Used by: By invite only: Indian businesses cannot sign up through the website and must request an invite. International payments are open to sole proprietorships, LLPs and companies. Individuals can use Stripe India for domestic payments only. Non-profits, NGOs and simple partnerships are not supported.121314
  • Best for: Card checkout and subscriptions.12

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.188

  • 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.1871920
  • 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.3
  • Best for: Registered businesses paid by bank transfer.34

How do Stripe and Airwallex fees and FX markup compare?

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

What does Stripe charge?

Transaction typeFeeFX markupGST on feesBest for
Visa or Mastercard issued outside India, charged in INR3%56240%18%Clients paying by card
American Express card issued outside India3.5%5242%18%Clients paying by card
International card with USD or other non-INR presentment4.3%56242%18%Clients paying by card

What does Airwallex charge?

Transaction typeFeeFX markupGST on feesBest for
Local transfer to Global Account details (Singapore fee schedule)0%718120.6%Not statedClients paying by local bank transfer
Card acceptance, international cards (Singapore fee schedule)3.6% + SGD 0.57120.6%Not statedClients paying by card

How do Stripe and Airwallex compare on settlement speed?

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

PlatformSettlement timePayout to IndiaBest for
StripeEach daily payout includes international card payments processed five business days earlier. No payouts on weekends or public holidays. Seven-day waiting period for the first payout, which can be longer for high-risk industries.9Automatic daily payouts in INR only to the Indian bank account. Export payouts are made separately from domestic payouts and are labelled International. Manual, weekly and monthly schedules are not available. No payout fee is stated.916Card checkout and subscriptions12
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.10Airwallex 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.107Registered businesses paid by bank transfer34

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

Stripe and Airwallex 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.44

PlatformFIRARBI PA-CB statusBest for
StripeStripe does not issue a FIRC itself. Standard Chartered Bank emails a payment advice (payee advice) to the registered Stripe email on the day an export payout is processed; Stripe says to present it to your own bank to request a FIRC. Cost of the FIRC from your bank: not published by Stripe.111RBI lists Stripe India Private Limited as an authorised Payment Aggregator Online (PA-O, 'Stripe', dated 15.01.2024), not as a Payment Aggregator-Cross Border (PA-CB). RBI's application status list as on 16.10.2026 shows its new PA-CB application returned on 12.07.2024 and marks it as withdrawn by the entity. Stripe says it withdrew the PA-CB application based on RBI guidance and continues cross-border services for Indian businesses on an invite-only basis. Stripe names Standard Chartered Bank as the bank that issues payment advice for export payouts.151617111Card checkout and subscriptions12
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.1871920Registered businesses paid by bank transfer34

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

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

PlatformCurrenciesHow clients payCard paymentsBest for
StripeStripe says it supports presentment in 135+ currencies on Visa and Mastercard, and INR or USD on American Express.16Foreign customers pay by card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), Apple Pay or Google Pay through a Stripe checkout, payment link, invoice or subscription. Cards must be issued outside India and the customer must give a non-Indian billing address. International card payments require 3D Secure authentication.13221Yes, card payments are the core method: 3% (Visa or Mastercard issued abroad, INR presentment), 3.5% (American Express issued abroad), 4.3% (non-INR presentment), plus 2% if conversion is required. GST at 18% is charged on Stripe fees.524Card checkout and subscriptions12
AirwallexAirwallex says Global Accounts collect in 20+ currencies. The list available to an India-registered business is not published.84Local 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.423Singapore 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.723Registered businesses paid by bank transfer34

What are the strengths and limitations of Stripe and Airwallex?

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

What are the strengths and limitations of Stripe?

Strengths:

  • You are a registered sole proprietorship, LLP or company and have been invited to Stripe India.12
  • Your foreign customers pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, for example on a website checkout or a subscription.13
  • You bill recurring international subscriptions or invoices and want Stripe Billing to collect them.1
  • Each payment is within ₹25 lakh.21

Limitations:

  • Available by invite only in India; new businesses cannot sign up through the website.114
  • Individuals (freelancers not registered as a business entity) cannot accept international payments.21321
  • Only card and wallet payments from abroad are listed; no local bank account details for clients to pay by bank transfer are listed for India accounts.13
  • Payouts are in INR only; a foreign currency balance cannot be held or withdrawn.61
  • Only one transaction purpose code per Stripe account.1
  • Stripe does not issue a FIRC; you take the Standard Chartered payment advice to your own bank.11
  • RBI lists Stripe India as a Payment Aggregator Online (PA-O), not a Payment Aggregator-Cross Border (PA-CB); its PA-CB application was withdrawn, per RBI's status list and Stripe's own support page.151617
  • Stripe charges ₹1,000 per dispute received and ₹1,000 per dispute countered, each returned if you win, and the original processing and conversion fees are not returned on refunds.5

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.34
  • You also pay overseas suppliers or contractors and want one account for collections and payouts in several currencies.87
  • 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 2026.1920
  • There is no India pricing page; India-registered businesses are onboarded by the Singapore entity, whose fee schedule does not mention India.187
  • The India document list requires a GST Registration Certificate for proprietorships and partnerships, and lists no route for unregistered individual freelancers.3
  • 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.45
  • SWIFT payouts cost $20 (SHA) or $35 (OUR) under the Singapore fee schedule.7

Should you choose Stripe or Airwallex?

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

Choose Stripe if:

  • You are a registered sole proprietorship, LLP or company and have been invited to Stripe India.12
  • Your foreign customers pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, for example on a website checkout or a subscription.13
  • You bill recurring international subscriptions or invoices and want Stripe Billing to collect them.1
  • Each payment is within ₹25 lakh.21

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.34
  • You also pay overseas suppliers or contractors and want one account for collections and payouts in several currencies.87
  • You are comfortable requesting an FIRC from support for each transaction rather than receiving one automatically.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.5678

Which other platforms should you consider besides Stripe and Airwallex?

Other platforms to consider besides Stripe and Airwallex are the ones with the lowest estimated cost on a USD 5,000 receipt, listed in that order.2627282930313334363739414243

PlatformBest forEstimated cost on USD 5,000FIRAReview
SkydoLocal bank transfers from major markets250.68%262728293031Skydo says it issues a free FIRA on every payment received, and that its FIRA and FIRC are accepted for GST filing and by banks.3032Skydo review
Karbon BusinessUS bank transfers and marketplace payouts331.00 to 1.18%3334Karbon says it provides a FIRA for every transaction, issued by its licensed banking partner, which it does not name. Cost not published.33Karbon Business review
RazorpayLocal transfers from the US, UK and eurozone351.00 to 1.18%3637Razorpay 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.353837Razorpay review
WinvestaLocal transfers with a published per-payment fee39401.24%39414243Free 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.4241Winvesta 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]Stripe Docs, Accept international payments from India (checked 2026-10-28)
  2. [2]Stripe Support, Accepting international payments from Stripe accounts in India (checked 2026-10-28)
  3. [3]Airwallex Help Centre, Documents required for companies in South East Asia (India section) (checked 2026-10-28)
  4. [4]Airwallex Help Centre, Which currencies can I get a Global Account in and what payments can I receive? (checked 2026-10-28)
  5. [5]Stripe India, Pricing (checked 2026-10-28)
  6. [6]Stripe Support, Additional pricing information for Indian cross-border sellers (checked 2026-10-28)
  7. [7]Airwallex Singapore, Fee schedule, last updated 10 October 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
  8. [8]Airwallex Singapore, Pricing (checked 2026-10-28)
  9. [9]Stripe Support, Payout schedule for Stripe accounts in India (checked 2026-10-28)
  10. [10]Airwallex Docs, Payout network: bank accounts, India (checked 2026-10-28)
  11. [11]Stripe Support, FIRC/payment advice for international transactions in 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]Stripe Support, Supported payment methods, currencies and businesses for Stripe accounts in India (checked 2026-10-28)
  14. [14]Stripe India, Contact sales (request an invite) (checked 2026-10-28)
  15. [15]RBI, Payment system operators authorised under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, list dated 16 October 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
  16. [16]RBI, Status of Applications received under Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, as on 16.10.2026, Table F (checked 2026-10-28)
  17. [17]Stripe Support, Cross-border payment services in India (checked 2026-10-28)
  18. [18]Airwallex Help Centre, Eligible Countries and Territories (checked 2026-10-28)
  19. [19]RBI: Payment System Operators authorised under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, list as on 16 October 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
  20. [20]RBI: Status of Applications received under Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, as on 16 October 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
  21. [21]Stripe Support, Export (international) transaction limits for Stripe accounts in India (checked 2026-10-28)
  22. [22]Stripe Support, Requirements for India export charges (checked 2026-10-28)
  23. [23]Airwallex Help Centre, Payments Eligibility (checked 2026-10-28)
  24. [24]Stripe Support, Taxes on Stripe fees for India-based businesses (checked 2026-10-28)
  25. [25]Skydo FAQs, What countries can I get paid locally through Skydo? (checked 2026-10-28)
  26. [26]Skydo FAQ, How much does Skydo charge? (checked 2026-10-28)
  27. [27]Skydo, Home page (checked 2026-10-28)
  28. [28]Skydo FAQ, Who will bear the SWIFT charges? (checked 2026-10-28)
  29. [29]Skydo FAQ, Limitations and restrictions on receiving your foreign remittance via Skydo (checked 2026-10-28)
  30. [30]Skydo, Receive international payments in India as a freelancer (checked 2026-10-28)
  31. [31]Skydo, Terms of use (checked 2026-10-28)
  32. [32]Skydo FAQs, What is accepted for GST filings and banks between FIRA and FIRC? (checked 2026-10-28)
  33. [33]Karbon Business, Karbon for Freelancers (checked 2026-10-28)
  34. [34]Karbon, PayPal alternative (checked 2026-10-28)
  35. [35]Razorpay Docs, International Bank Transfer (MoneySaver Export Account) (checked 2026-10-28)
  36. [36]Razorpay, MoneySaver Export Account (international bank transfers) (checked 2026-10-28)
  37. [37]Razorpay, Pricing (checked 2026-10-28)
  38. [38]Razorpay Docs, FIRS Automated Process (checked 2026-10-28)
  39. [39]Winvesta FAQs, What are the charges for the global collections account? (checked 2026-10-28)
  40. [40]Winvesta FAQs, What currencies are available with local accounts? (checked 2026-10-28)
  41. [41]Winvesta, Multi-currency account (checked 2026-10-28)
  42. [42]Winvesta FAQ, When will I receive my e-FIRA certificate? (checked 2026-10-28)
  43. [43]Winvesta FAQ, Can I get priority processing for my withdrawal? (checked 2026-10-28)
  44. [44]DGFT: eBRC services (self-generation of e-BRC from bank inward remittance data)
  45. [45]Airwallex Help Centre, How can I create a transfer/payout? (checked 2026-10-28)
  46. [46]GST Portal user guide: Furnishing of Letter of Undertaking (FORM GST RFD-11)

Frequently asked questions

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

There is no cost verdict for a USD 5,000 bank transfer: neither publishes full pricing for this case.5678 The answer can change with the currency, payment method and invoice size, so check your own numbers in the platform cost comparison.

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

Stripe: Stripe does not issue a FIRC itself. Standard Chartered Bank emails a payment advice (payee advice) to the registered Stripe email on the day an export payout is processed; Stripe says to present it to your own bank to request a FIRC. Cost of the FIRC from your bank: not published by Stripe.111 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

Can individual freelancers use Stripe and Airwallex?+

Stripe: By invite only: Indian businesses cannot sign up through the website and must request an invite. International payments are open to sole proprietorships, LLPs and companies. Individuals can use Stripe India for domestic payments only. Non-profits, NGOs and simple partnerships are not supported.121314 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.3

Are Stripe and Airwallex authorised by the RBI?+

Stripe: RBI lists Stripe India Private Limited as an authorised Payment Aggregator Online (PA-O, 'Stripe', dated 15.01.2024), not as a Payment Aggregator-Cross Border (PA-CB). RBI's application status list as on 16.10.2026 shows its new PA-CB application returned on 12.07.2024 and marks it as withdrawn by the entity. Stripe says it withdrew the PA-CB application based on RBI guidance and continues cross-border services for Indian businesses on an invite-only basis. Stripe names Standard Chartered Bank as the bank that issues payment advice for export payouts.151617111 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.1871920

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

Stripe: Each daily payout includes international card payments processed five business days earlier. No payouts on weekends or public holidays. Seven-day waiting period for the first payout, which can be longer for high-risk industries.9 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.10

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

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 Stripe, Airwallex or a bank wire.46

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

Platforms

Stripe for Indian service exporters: how it works, costs and limits

How Stripe India works for exporters of services: invite-only access, who can sign up, card fees, INR payouts, payment advice for FIRC, purpose codes and limits.

Platforms

Airwallex for Indian service exporters: how it works, costs and limits

How Indian businesses can use Airwallex to get paid from abroad: Singapore onboarding, who can sign up, fees, FIRC on request, purpose codes and the 2026 RBI rules.

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What Are the Best Stripe Alternatives for Indian Exporters and Freelancers in 2026?

Stripe 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.

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What Are the Best Airwallex Alternatives for Indian Exporters and Freelancers in 2026?

Airwallex 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.