Stripe vs Karbon Business (2026): Which Is Better for Receiving International Payments in India?
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Short answer
Stripe 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 Karbon Business is best for uS bank transfers and marketplace payouts.341
| Use case | Better option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer of USD 5,000 | Cannot compare | Karbon Business costs about 1.00 to 1.18%; Stripe does not publish full pricing.12 |
| Bank transfer of USD 2,000 | Cannot compare | Karbon Business costs about 1.00 to 1.18%; Stripe does not publish full pricing.12 |
| Client paying USD 2,000 by card or link | Cannot compare | Neither publishes full pricing for this case. |
| Stripe is best for | Stripe | Card checkout and subscriptions.34 |
| Karbon Business is best for | Karbon Business | US bank transfers and marketplace payouts.1 |
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 costThis pageBank 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 Stripe and Karbon Business compare at a glance?
Stripe and Karbon Business 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.5621
| Stripe | Karbon Business | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Card checkout and subscriptions34 | US bank transfers and marketplace payouts1 |
| Fees | 3% 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.56 | Karbon's PayPal alternative page lists a 1% transaction fee in its feature list; its freelancer page gives no fee amount.21 |
| FX markup | Additional 2% if currency conversion is required. Stripe does not publish on these pages exactly which export charges need conversion.56 | Karbon's freelancer page says 0% markup on inward remittance; its PayPal comparison page gives a forex markup of 0.5% to 1.0%. The home page says displayed amounts are indicative and depend on the rate booking date.127 |
| Settlement | 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.8 | Karbon says international payments reach India within 24 to 48 hours.1 |
| FIRA | 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.93 | Karbon says it provides a FIRA for every transaction, issued by its licensed banking partner, which it does not name. Cost not published.1 |
| Currencies | Stripe says it supports presentment in 135+ currencies on Visa and Mastercard, and INR or USD on American Express.36 | Karbon names USD, EUR and GBP; the virtual account it describes is in USD.1 |
| KYC: who can sign up | 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.341011 | Karbon markets the service to freelancers, exporters and small businesses. Its forex terms require the user to be duly incorporated under the laws of India. Karbon does not publish whether an unregistered individual can sign up.112 |
| RBI PA-CB status | 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.13141539 | Karbon does not appear in the RBI's list of authorised payment aggregators. Its forex terms, issued by Interropac Private Limited, say export receipts are processed subject to the connected user terms of a payment partner that the RBI lists as PA-CB I & O. Karbon says it works only with PA-CB licensed players and regulated banks.12167 |
| Support | Not published for Indian users on the pages checked; prospective users fill in a contact form to request an invite. | WhatsApp +91 74117 02726, sales@karboncard.com, support@karboncard.com and 1-800-309-8470.1 |
| Limits | Up to ₹25 lakh per export transaction for sole proprietorships, LLPs and companies.17 | Not published by Karbon. RBI rules set a limit of ₹25 lakh per export transaction for PA-CBs. |
| How clients pay | Foreign 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.10183 | Bank transfer to a virtual USD account (US account details in the user's name), payment requests or invoices sent by email or WhatsApp, and as a payout method on Upwork, Fiverr and Toptal.1 |
| Card payments | Yes, 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.519 | Not published. |
How much INR do you receive on $2,000, $5,000 and $10,000 with Stripe vs Karbon Business?
The INR you receive with Stripe and Karbon Business 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.
| Platform | Best for | INR on USD 2,000 | INR on USD 5,000 | INR on USD 10,000 | Cost on USD 5,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karbon BusinessMost INRBank transfer to a Karbon virtual USD account | US bank transfers and marketplace payouts | ₹1,86,262 to ₹1,86,601 | ₹4,65,655 to ₹4,66,503 | ₹9,31,311 to ₹9,33,007 | 1.00 to 1.18% |
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.36
- 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.13141539
- 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.341011
- Best for: Card checkout and subscriptions.34
What is Karbon Business and who is it for?
Karbon Business is a Bengaluru fintech that markets a virtual USD account, payment requests and inward remittances in INR to Indian freelancers and exporters; its forex terms say export receipts are processed under a payment partner's connected user terms.112
- Regulated by: Karbon does not appear in the RBI's list of authorised payment aggregators. Its forex terms, issued by Interropac Private Limited, say export receipts are processed subject to the connected user terms of a payment partner that the RBI lists as PA-CB I & O. Karbon says it works only with PA-CB licensed players and regulated banks.12167
- Used by: Karbon markets the service to freelancers, exporters and small businesses. Its forex terms require the user to be duly incorporated under the laws of India. Karbon does not publish whether an unregistered individual can sign up.112
- Best for: US bank transfers and marketplace payouts.1
How do Stripe and Karbon Business fees and FX markup compare?
Stripe and Karbon Business charge in different ways, so compare the fee and the conversion markup together, not the headline fee alone.
What does Stripe charge?
| Transaction type | Fee | FX markup | GST on fees | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visa or Mastercard issued outside India, charged in INR | 3%5619 | 0% | 18% | Clients paying by card |
| American Express card issued outside India | 3.5%519 | 2% | 18% | Clients paying by card |
| International card with USD or other non-INR presentment | 4.3%5619 | 2% | 18% | Clients paying by card |
What does Karbon Business charge?
| Transaction type | Fee | FX markup | GST on fees | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer to a Karbon virtual USD account | 1%12 | 0% | Not stated | Clients paying by local bank transfer |
How do Stripe and Karbon Business compare on settlement speed?
Stripe and Karbon Business publish these settlement times for money reaching an Indian bank account.
| Platform | Settlement time | Payout to India | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.8 | Automatic 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.836 | Card checkout and subscriptions34 |
| Karbon Business | Karbon says international payments reach India within 24 to 48 hours.1 | Paid in INR to the user's Indian bank account. Payout fee not published.12 | US bank transfers and marketplace payouts1 |
Do Stripe and Karbon Business provide FIRA and e-BRC, and are they RBI PA-CB authorised?
Stripe and Karbon Business 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.42
| Platform | FIRA | RBI PA-CB status | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.93 | 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.13141539 | Card checkout and subscriptions34 |
| Karbon Business | Karbon says it provides a FIRA for every transaction, issued by its licensed banking partner, which it does not name. Cost not published.1 | Karbon does not appear in the RBI's list of authorised payment aggregators. Its forex terms, issued by Interropac Private Limited, say export receipts are processed subject to the connected user terms of a payment partner that the RBI lists as PA-CB I & O. Karbon says it works only with PA-CB licensed players and regulated banks.12167 | US bank transfers and marketplace payouts1 |
Which currencies, countries and payment methods do Stripe and Karbon Business support?
Stripe and Karbon Business accept the currencies and payment methods below, as each publishes them.
| Platform | Currencies | How clients pay | Card payments | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | Stripe says it supports presentment in 135+ currencies on Visa and Mastercard, and INR or USD on American Express.36 | Foreign 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.10183 | Yes, 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.519 | Card checkout and subscriptions34 |
| Karbon Business | Karbon names USD, EUR and GBP; the virtual account it describes is in USD.1 | Bank transfer to a virtual USD account (US account details in the user's name), payment requests or invoices sent by email or WhatsApp, and as a payout method on Upwork, Fiverr and Toptal.1 | Not published. | US bank transfers and marketplace payouts1 |
What are the strengths and limitations of Stripe and Karbon Business?
Stripe and Karbon Business 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.34
- Your foreign customers pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, for example on a website checkout or a subscription.10
- You bill recurring international subscriptions or invoices and want Stripe Billing to collect them.3
- Each payment is within ₹25 lakh.17
Limitations:
- Available by invite only in India; new businesses cannot sign up through the website.311
- Individuals (freelancers not registered as a business entity) cannot accept international payments.41017
- 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.10
- Payouts are in INR only; a foreign currency balance cannot be held or withdrawn.63
- Only one transaction purpose code per Stripe account.3
- Stripe does not issue a FIRC; you take the Standard Chartered payment advice to your own bank.9
- 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.131415
- 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 Karbon Business?
Strengths:
- Your clients can pay by US bank transfer to a USD account, or you are paid out by Upwork, Fiverr or Toptal.1
- You want INR in your Indian bank and a FIRA for each receipt.1
Limitations:
- No receiving fee, payout fee or FIRA cost is published.17
- Karbon itself is not an RBI-authorised payment aggregator; export receipts run through a third party under separate terms.1612
- The forex terms address incorporated users, while marketing pages address freelancers; eligibility for unregistered individuals is not published.121
- Purpose code handling and card payment options are not published.1
Should you choose Stripe or Karbon Business?
Choose between Stripe and Karbon Business 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.34
- Your foreign customers pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, for example on a website checkout or a subscription.10
- You bill recurring international subscriptions or invoices and want Stripe Billing to collect them.3
- Each payment is within ₹25 lakh.17
Choose Karbon Business if:
- Your clients can pay by US bank transfer to a USD account, or you are paid out by Upwork, Fiverr or Toptal.1
- You want INR in your Indian bank and a FIRA for each receipt.1
For example, say a designer invoices a US client USD 2,000. Because Stripe 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.56127
Which other platforms should you consider besides Stripe and Karbon Business?
Other platforms to consider besides Stripe and Karbon Business are the ones with the lowest estimated cost on a USD 5,000 receipt, listed in that order.212223242526293032343536383940
| Platform | Best for | Estimated cost on USD 5,000 | FIRA | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skydo | Local bank transfers from major markets20 | 0.68%212223242526 | 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.2527 | Skydo review |
| Razorpay | Local transfers from the US, UK and eurozone28 | 1.00 to 1.18%2930 | 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.283130 | Razorpay review |
| Winvesta | Local transfers with a published per-payment fee3233 | 1.24%32343536 | 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.3534 | Winvesta review |
| Payoneer | Marketplace payouts such as Amazon or Upwork37 | 1.00 to 4.00%383940 | Free digital FIRA PDF for each transaction, issued by Payoneer's partner AD bank and available in the account under Manage, Reports and statements, within 24 to 72 hours (the same help article also says 1 to 3 business days). The e-FIRA/IRM in EDPMS is issued by the exporter's own bank, which may need the FIRA plus export documents.4041 | Payoneer 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]Karbon, Karbon for freelancers (checked 2026-10-28)
- [2]Karbon, PayPal alternative (checked 2026-10-28)
- [3]Stripe Docs, Accept international payments from India (checked 2026-10-28)
- [4]Stripe Support, Accepting international payments from Stripe accounts in India (checked 2026-10-28)
- [5]Stripe India, Pricing (checked 2026-10-28)
- [6]Stripe Support, Additional pricing information for Indian cross-border sellers (checked 2026-10-28)
- [7]Karbon, Karbon FX Remittances, home page (checked 2026-10-28)
- [8]Stripe Support, Payout schedule for Stripe accounts in India (checked 2026-10-28)
- [9]Stripe Support, FIRC/payment advice for international transactions in India (checked 2026-10-28)
- [10]Stripe Support, Supported payment methods, currencies and businesses for Stripe accounts in India (checked 2026-10-28)
- [11]Stripe India, Contact sales (request an invite) (checked 2026-10-28)
- [12]Karbon Forex Terms and Conditions, Interropac Private Limited (checked 2026-10-28)
- [13]RBI, Payment system operators authorised under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, list dated 16 October 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
- [14]RBI, Status of Applications received under Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, as on 16.10.2026, Table F (checked 2026-10-28)
- [15]Stripe Support, Cross-border payment services in India (checked 2026-10-28)
- [16]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)
- [17]Stripe Support, Export (international) transaction limits for Stripe accounts in India (checked 2026-10-28)
- [18]Stripe Support, Requirements for India export charges (checked 2026-10-28)
- [19]Stripe Support, Taxes on Stripe fees for India-based businesses (checked 2026-10-28)
- [20]Skydo FAQs, What countries can I get paid locally through Skydo? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [21]Skydo FAQ, How much does Skydo charge? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [22]Skydo, Home page (checked 2026-10-28)
- [23]Skydo FAQ, Who will bear the SWIFT charges? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [24]Skydo FAQ, Limitations and restrictions on receiving your foreign remittance via Skydo (checked 2026-10-28)
- [25]Skydo, Receive international payments in India as a freelancer (checked 2026-10-28)
- [26]Skydo, Terms of use (checked 2026-10-28)
- [27]Skydo FAQs, What is accepted for GST filings and banks between FIRA and FIRC? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [28]Razorpay Docs, International Bank Transfer (MoneySaver Export Account) (checked 2026-10-28)
- [29]Razorpay, MoneySaver Export Account (international bank transfers) (checked 2026-10-28)
- [30]Razorpay, Pricing (checked 2026-10-28)
- [31]Razorpay Docs, FIRS Automated Process (checked 2026-10-28)
- [32]Winvesta FAQs, What are the charges for the global collections account? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [33]Winvesta FAQs, What currencies are available with local accounts? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [34]Winvesta, Multi-currency account (checked 2026-10-28)
- [35]Winvesta FAQ, When will I receive my e-FIRA certificate? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [36]Winvesta FAQ, Can I get priority processing for my withdrawal? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [37]Payoneer, How to use Payoneer in India (last modified 18 September 2026, checked 2026-10-28)
- [38]Payoneer India, Payoneer Fees (checked 2026-10-28)
- [39]Payoneer India, Multi-currency account page and FAQs (checked 2026-10-28)
- [40]Payoneer Help Center, Digital FIRA FAQ (checked 2026-10-28)
- [41]Payoneer India, Digital FIRC page (checked 2026-10-28)
- [42]DGFT: eBRC services (self-generation of e-BRC from bank inward remittance data)
- [43]GST Portal user guide: Furnishing of Letter of Undertaking (FORM GST RFD-11)
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper for Indian exporters, Stripe or Karbon Business?+
There is no cost verdict for a USD 5,000 bank transfer: karbon Business costs about 1.00 to 1.18%; Stripe does not publish full pricing.12 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 Karbon Business 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.93 Karbon Business: Karbon says it provides a FIRA for every transaction, issued by its licensed banking partner, which it does not name. Cost not published.1
Can individual freelancers use Stripe and Karbon Business?+
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.341011 Karbon Business: Karbon markets the service to freelancers, exporters and small businesses. Its forex terms require the user to be duly incorporated under the laws of India. Karbon does not publish whether an unregistered individual can sign up.112
Are Stripe and Karbon Business 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.13141539 Karbon Business: Karbon does not appear in the RBI's list of authorised payment aggregators. Its forex terms, issued by Interropac Private Limited, say export receipts are processed subject to the connected user terms of a payment partner that the RBI lists as PA-CB I & O. Karbon says it works only with PA-CB licensed players and regulated banks.12167
How fast do Stripe and Karbon Business 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.8 Karbon Business: Karbon says international payments reach India within 24 to 48 hours.1
Do I still need an LUT if I am paid through Stripe or Karbon Business?+
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, Karbon Business or a bank wire.43
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
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.
PlatformsKarbon Business for Indian service exporters: how it works, costs and limits
How Karbon Business works for Indian freelancers and exporters receiving foreign payments: virtual USD account, payment partner, FIRA, markup claims, fees and limits.
CompareWhat Are the Best Stripe Alternatives for Indian Exporters and Freelancers in 2026?
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CompareWhat Are the Best Karbon Business Alternatives for Indian Exporters and Freelancers in 2026?
Karbon Business 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.