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

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Editorial team, serviceexportguide.com
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15 min read

Short answer

Neither Stripe nor Cashfree Payments 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 Cashfree Payments is best for registered businesses paid by local 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
Cashfree Payments is best forCashfree PaymentsRegistered businesses paid by local 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 Cashfree Payments compare at a glance?

Stripe and Cashfree Payments 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.5678

StripeCashfree Payments
Best forCard checkout and subscriptions12Registered businesses paid by local 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.56Global 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.78
FX markupAdditional 2% if currency conversion is required. Stripe does not publish on these pages exactly which export charges need conversion.56Cashfree 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.983
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.10Global 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.811
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.121Cashfree'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.891311
CurrenciesStripe says it supports presentment in 135+ currencies on Visa and Mastercard, and INR or USD on American Express.16Global 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.4911
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.121415Businesses 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.73
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.161718112Cashfree 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.19913
SupportNot published for Indian users on the pages checked; prospective users fill in a contact form to request an invite.Support 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.1339
LimitsUp to ₹25 lakh per export transaction for sole proprietorships, LLPs and companies.20Global 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.13821
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.14221Global 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.41123
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.524Yes, 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.79

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

The INR you receive with Stripe and Cashfree Payments 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, 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.161718112
  • 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.121415
  • Best for: Card checkout and subscriptions.12

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.1934

  • 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.19913
  • 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.73
  • Best for: Registered businesses paid by local transfer.34

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

Stripe and Cashfree Payments 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 Cashfree Payments charge?

Transaction typeFeeFX markupGST on feesBest for
Global Collections: local account details or Global SWIFT AccountNot published870%Not statedClients paying by local bank transfer
International Payment Gateway: Visa or Mastercard international cards2.99%7Not publishedNot statedClients paying by card
International Payment Gateway: American Express2.95%7Not publishedNot statedClients paying by card

How do Stripe and Cashfree Payments compare on settlement speed?

Stripe and Cashfree Payments 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.10Automatic 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.1016Card checkout and subscriptions12
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.811Automatic. 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.38Registered businesses paid by local transfer34

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

Stripe and Cashfree Payments 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.121RBI 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.161718112Card checkout and subscriptions12
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.891311Cashfree 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.19913Registered businesses paid by local transfer34

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

Stripe and Cashfree Payments 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.14221Yes, 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
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.4911Global 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.41123Yes, 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.79Registered businesses paid by local transfer34

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

Stripe and Cashfree Payments 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.14
  • You bill recurring international subscriptions or invoices and want Stripe Billing to collect them.1
  • Each payment is within ₹25 lakh.20

Limitations:

  • Available by invite only in India; new businesses cannot sign up through the website.115
  • Individuals (freelancers not registered as a business entity) cannot accept international payments.21420
  • 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.14
  • 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.12
  • 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.161718
  • 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 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.34
  • Your invoices are each up to USD 10,000.13
  • You also want a card checkout for international clients, with a published platform fee.711

Limitations:

  • Global Collections pricing is not published; Cashfree quotes it on request.7
  • Cross-border payments are available only to businesses, so individuals without a registered business cannot use Global Collections per Cashfree.73
  • Invoice value is capped at USD 10,000 per transaction for Global Collections.13
  • Foreign currency balances cannot be held; all receipts settle in INR.8

Should you choose Stripe or Cashfree Payments?

Choose between Stripe and Cashfree Payments 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.14
  • You bill recurring international subscriptions or invoices and want Stripe Billing to collect them.1
  • Each payment is within ₹25 lakh.20

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.34
  • Your invoices are each up to USD 10,000.13
  • You also want a card checkout for international clients, with a published platform fee.711

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.56983

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

Other platforms to consider besides Stripe and Cashfree Payments 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]Cashfree Payments Docs, Global Collections overview (checked 2026-10-28)
  4. [4]Cashfree Payments Docs, Global Collections: Collection Accounts (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]Cashfree Payments, Payment Gateway Charges (India), International Cards, Global Collections and Cross Border FAQ (checked 2026-10-28)
  8. [8]Cashfree Payments, Global Collections: International wire transfer for Indian businesses (checked 2026-10-28)
  9. [9]Cashfree Payments, Cross Border Payment solutions: Accept international payments (checked 2026-10-28)
  10. [10]Stripe Support, Payout schedule for Stripe accounts in India (checked 2026-10-28)
  11. [11]Cashfree Payments Docs, International Payment Gateway (IPG) overview (checked 2026-10-28)
  12. [12]Stripe Support, FIRC/payment advice for international transactions in India (checked 2026-10-28)
  13. [13]Cashfree Payments Docs, Global Collections FAQs (checked 2026-10-28)
  14. [14]Stripe Support, Supported payment methods, currencies and businesses for Stripe accounts in India (checked 2026-10-28)
  15. [15]Stripe India, Contact sales (request an invite) (checked 2026-10-28)
  16. [16]RBI, Payment system operators authorised under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, list dated 16 October 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
  17. [17]RBI, Status of Applications received under Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, as on 16.10.2026, Table F (checked 2026-10-28)
  18. [18]Stripe Support, Cross-border payment services in India (checked 2026-10-28)
  19. [19]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)
  20. [20]Stripe Support, Export (international) transaction limits for Stripe accounts in India (checked 2026-10-28)
  21. [21]RBI, Master Direction on Regulation of Payment Aggregators, 15 September 2025
  22. [22]Stripe Support, Requirements for India export charges (checked 2026-10-28)
  23. [23]Cashfree Payments Docs, PayPal for International Payments (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]GST Portal user guide: Furnishing of Letter of Undertaking (FORM GST RFD-11)

Frequently asked questions

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

There is no cost verdict for a USD 5,000 bank transfer: neither publishes full pricing for this case.56983 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 Cashfree Payments 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.121 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.891311

Can individual freelancers use Stripe and Cashfree Payments?+

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.121415 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.73

Are Stripe and Cashfree Payments 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.161718112 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.19913

How fast do Stripe and Cashfree Payments 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.10 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.811

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

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, Cashfree Payments or a bank wire.45

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

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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

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

How Cashfree Payments Global Collections and its international card gateway work for Indian service exporters: RBI status, who can sign up, FIRA, limits and costs.

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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 Cashfree Payments Alternatives for Indian Exporters and Freelancers in 2026?

Cashfree Payments 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.