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Stripe vs Winvesta (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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14 min read

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 Winvesta is best for local transfers with a published per-payment fee.5617

Use caseBetter optionWhy
Bank transfer of USD 5,000Cannot compareWinvesta costs about 1.24%; Stripe does not publish full pricing.1234
Bank transfer of USD 2,000Cannot compareWinvesta costs about 1.35%; Stripe does not publish full pricing.1234
Client paying USD 2,000 by card or linkCannot compareNeither publishes full pricing for this case.
Stripe is best forStripeCard checkout and subscriptions.56
Winvesta is best forWinvestaLocal transfers with a published per-payment fee.17

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%
3WinvestaThis pageGlobal 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 Winvesta compare at a glance?

Stripe and Winvesta 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.891

StripeWinvesta
Best forCard checkout and subscriptions56Local transfers with a published per-payment fee17
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.89Up to 2,000 a month per currency: 0.99% plus a fixed fee per transaction ($3 for USD, EUR 5, GBP 5, AUD 10, SGD 10, other currencies the equivalent of $5). 2,000 to 100,000 a month: custom pricing. Above 100,000 a month: 0.2% per transaction with no fixed fee. Winvesta says 18% GST is levied on its fees for every non-JPMC account.1
FX markupAdditional 2% if currency conversion is required. Stripe does not publish on these pages exactly which export charges need conversion.89Winvesta advertises 0% forex markup and zero FX on USD, and shows the exact FX rate applied and its booking time after each withdrawal. The reference rate is not published.210
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.11USD withdrawals reach the bank 1 business day after processing, EUR and GBP 2 business days, with a 1:00 PM IST cut-off. Card collections settle T+1 working day per the FAQ and T+2 days per the payment links page.121314
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.155Free 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.32
CurrenciesStripe says it supports presentment in 135+ currencies on Visa and Mastercard, and INR or USD on American Express.59Local account details in USD, EUR, GBP and CAD, plus SWIFT details for 30+ other currencies. Winvesta's pages give different totals (30+, 33 and 37+ currencies).7161
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.561718Freelancers (PAN, Aadhaar, a marketing channel link and bank details) and businesses (the same plus business registration details). Winvesta publishes a list of restricted business types.1920
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.212223515Winvesta says Winvesta India Technologies Private Limited is an online payment gateway service provider that facilitates cross-border collections under the RBI's regulations. It does not appear in the RBI's list of authorised payment aggregators dated 16 October 2026 or in the RBI's PA-CB application status tables as on that date.242526
SupportNot published for Indian users on the pages checked; prospective users fill in a contact form to request an invite.Email support@winvesta.in; phone +91-(0)20-7117 8885, Monday to Friday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm IST.2
LimitsUp to ₹25 lakh per export transaction for sole proprietorships, LLPs and companies.27Winvesta says there are no limits on incoming transactions in USD and 30 other currencies. Its FAQs give different maximum holding periods (30 days in one answer, 9 months in another).281629
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.17305Local bank transfer to account details in USD (ACH, Fedwire, RTP), EUR, GBP and CAD; SWIFT for other currencies; and card payments through payment links.7311614
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.832Yes, through payment links. The card fee (MDR) is not published; Winvesta's FAQ uses 3% only as an example, with GST charged on the MDR.1433

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

The INR you receive with Stripe and Winvesta 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.

PlatformBest forINR on USD 2,000INR on USD 5,000INR on USD 10,000Cost on USD 5,000
WinvestaMost INRGlobal Collections Account, standard plan (up to 2,000 a month per currency)Local transfers with a published per-payment fee₹1,85,951₹4,65,377₹9,31,0881.24%

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.59

  • 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.212223515
  • 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.561718
  • Best for: Card checkout and subscriptions.56

What is Winvesta and who is it for?

Winvesta is a Mumbai-based company whose Global Collections Account gives Indian businesses and freelancers local USD, EUR, GBP and CAD account details, with withdrawal to INR and a free e-FIRA.2163

  • Regulated by: Winvesta says Winvesta India Technologies Private Limited is an online payment gateway service provider that facilitates cross-border collections under the RBI's regulations. It does not appear in the RBI's list of authorised payment aggregators dated 16 October 2026 or in the RBI's PA-CB application status tables as on that date.242526
  • Used by: Freelancers (PAN, Aadhaar, a marketing channel link and bank details) and businesses (the same plus business registration details). Winvesta publishes a list of restricted business types.1920
  • Best for: Local transfers with a published per-payment fee.17

How do Stripe and Winvesta fees and FX markup compare?

Stripe and Winvesta 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%89320%18%Clients paying by card
American Express card issued outside India3.5%8322%18%Clients paying by card
International card with USD or other non-INR presentment4.3%89322%18%Clients paying by card

What does Winvesta charge?

Transaction typeFeeFX markupGST on feesBest for
Global Collections Account, standard plan (up to 2,000 a month per currency)0.99% + plus a fixed fee by currency12340%18%Clients paying by local bank transfer
Card payment through Winvesta payment linksNot published140%Not statedClients paying by card

How do Stripe and Winvesta compare on settlement speed?

Stripe and Winvesta 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.11Automatic 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.1159Card checkout and subscriptions56
WinvestaUSD withdrawals reach the bank 1 business day after processing, EUR and GBP 2 business days, with a 1:00 PM IST cut-off. Card collections settle T+1 working day per the FAQ and T+2 days per the payment links page.121314The user withdraws to an Indian bank account in INR after providing an invoice for the receipt. Priority withdrawal is available on request, typically for a $15 to $25 additional fee on USD.16534Local transfers with a published per-payment fee17

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

Stripe and Winvesta 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.54

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.155RBI 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.212223515Card checkout and subscriptions56
WinvestaFree 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.32Winvesta says Winvesta India Technologies Private Limited is an online payment gateway service provider that facilitates cross-border collections under the RBI's regulations. It does not appear in the RBI's list of authorised payment aggregators dated 16 October 2026 or in the RBI's PA-CB application status tables as on that date.242526Local transfers with a published per-payment fee17

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

Stripe and Winvesta 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.59Foreign 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.17305Yes, 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.832Card checkout and subscriptions56
WinvestaLocal account details in USD, EUR, GBP and CAD, plus SWIFT details for 30+ other currencies. Winvesta's pages give different totals (30+, 33 and 37+ currencies).7161Local bank transfer to account details in USD (ACH, Fedwire, RTP), EUR, GBP and CAD; SWIFT for other currencies; and card payments through payment links.7311614Yes, through payment links. The card fee (MDR) is not published; Winvesta's FAQ uses 3% only as an example, with GST charged on the MDR.1433Local transfers with a published per-payment fee17

What are the strengths and limitations of Stripe and Winvesta?

Stripe and Winvesta 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.56
  • Your foreign customers pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, for example on a website checkout or a subscription.17
  • You bill recurring international subscriptions or invoices and want Stripe Billing to collect them.5
  • Each payment is within ₹25 lakh.27

Limitations:

  • Available by invite only in India; new businesses cannot sign up through the website.518
  • Individuals (freelancers not registered as a business entity) cannot accept international payments.61727
  • 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.17
  • Payouts are in INR only; a foreign currency balance cannot be held or withdrawn.95
  • Only one transaction purpose code per Stripe account.5
  • Stripe does not issue a FIRC; you take the Standard Chartered payment advice to your own bank.15
  • 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.212223
  • 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.8

What are the strengths and limitations of Winvesta?

Strengths:

  • Your clients pay by local transfer in USD, EUR, GBP or CAD and you want a published per-transaction fee.71
  • You are a freelancer without a registered business who has a PAN and Aadhaar.19
  • You want an e-FIRA showing the purpose code for each receipt at no charge.3

Limitations:

  • Winvesta is not on the RBI's list of authorised payment aggregators and does not name its banking partner on its pages.2524
  • Each withdrawal needs an invoice with the purpose code and other mandatory fields.53
  • The fixed fee per transaction ($3 on USD) weighs more on small receipts.1
  • Card collection fees are not published.3314
  • Winvesta's own pages disagree on the number of currencies, the maximum holding period and card settlement time.161291314

Should you choose Stripe or Winvesta?

Choose between Stripe and Winvesta 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.56
  • Your foreign customers pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, for example on a website checkout or a subscription.17
  • You bill recurring international subscriptions or invoices and want Stripe Billing to collect them.5
  • Each payment is within ₹25 lakh.27

Choose Winvesta if:

  • Your clients pay by local transfer in USD, EUR, GBP or CAD and you want a published per-transaction fee.71
  • You are a freelancer without a registered business who has a PAN and Aadhaar.19
  • You want an e-FIRA showing the purpose code for each receipt at no charge.3

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.89210

Which other platforms should you consider besides Stripe and Winvesta?

Other platforms to consider besides Stripe and Winvesta are the ones with the lowest estimated cost on a USD 5,000 receipt, listed in that order.35363738394042434546495051

PlatformBest forEstimated cost on USD 5,000FIRAReview
SkydoLocal bank transfers from major markets340.68%353637383940Skydo says it issues a free FIRA on every payment received, and that its FIRA and FIRC are accepted for GST filing and by banks.3941Skydo review
Karbon BusinessUS bank transfers and marketplace payouts421.00 to 1.18%4243Karbon says it provides a FIRA for every transaction, issued by its licensed banking partner, which it does not name. Cost not published.42Karbon Business review
RazorpayLocal transfers from the US, UK and eurozone441.00 to 1.18%4546Razorpay 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.444746Razorpay review
PayoneerMarketplace payouts such as Amazon or Upwork481.00 to 4.00%495051Free 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.5152Payoneer 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]Winvesta FAQ, What are the charges for the Global Collections Account? (checked 2026-10-28)
  2. [2]Winvesta, Multi-currency account (checked 2026-10-28)
  3. [3]Winvesta FAQ, When will I receive my e-FIRA certificate? (checked 2026-10-28)
  4. [4]Winvesta FAQ, Can I get priority processing for my withdrawal? (checked 2026-10-28)
  5. [5]Stripe Docs, Accept international payments from India (checked 2026-10-28)
  6. [6]Stripe Support, Accepting international payments from Stripe accounts in India (checked 2026-10-28)
  7. [7]Winvesta FAQs, What currencies are available with local accounts? (checked 2026-10-28)
  8. [8]Stripe India, Pricing (checked 2026-10-28)
  9. [9]Stripe Support, Additional pricing information for Indian cross-border sellers (checked 2026-10-28)
  10. [10]Winvesta FAQs, How can I view the FX rate for the conversion of my funds? (checked 2026-10-28)
  11. [11]Stripe Support, Payout schedule for Stripe accounts in India (checked 2026-10-28)
  12. [12]Winvesta FAQs, How long does it take for funds to reach my Indian bank account? (checked 2026-10-28)
  13. [13]Winvesta FAQs, How does settlement work? Do I need to submit an invoice to withdraw funds? (checked 2026-10-28)
  14. [14]Winvesta, Card Collections via Payment Links (checked 2026-10-28)
  15. [15]Stripe Support, FIRC/payment advice for international transactions in India (checked 2026-10-28)
  16. [16]Winvesta FAQs, What is a global collections account and how does it work? (checked 2026-10-28)
  17. [17]Stripe Support, Supported payment methods, currencies and businesses for Stripe accounts in India (checked 2026-10-28)
  18. [18]Stripe India, Contact sales (request an invite) (checked 2026-10-28)
  19. [19]Winvesta FAQs, What documents do I need to open a global collection account as a freelancer? (checked 2026-10-28)
  20. [20]Winvesta FAQs, What documents do I need to open a global collections account as a business owner? (checked 2026-10-28)
  21. [21]RBI, Payment system operators authorised under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, list dated 16 October 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
  22. [22]RBI, Status of Applications received under Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, as on 16.10.2026, Table F (checked 2026-10-28)
  23. [23]Stripe Support, Cross-border payment services in India (checked 2026-10-28)
  24. [24]Winvesta FAQs, How is Winvesta regulated? (checked 2026-10-28)
  25. [25]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)
  26. [26]RBI: Status of Applications received under Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, as on 16 October 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
  27. [27]Stripe Support, Export (international) transaction limits for Stripe accounts in India (checked 2026-10-28)
  28. [28]Winvesta FAQs, What are the transaction limits on my account? (checked 2026-10-28)
  29. [29]Winvesta FAQs, What is the maximum time I can keep funds in my GCA? (checked 2026-10-28)
  30. [30]Stripe Support, Requirements for India export charges (checked 2026-10-28)
  31. [31]Winvesta FAQs, How do I receive USD? (checked 2026-10-28)
  32. [32]Stripe Support, Taxes on Stripe fees for India-based businesses (checked 2026-10-28)
  33. [33]Winvesta FAQs, My client paid ₹1,000, and their bank charged them a 2% fee. How does that affect me? (checked 2026-10-28)
  34. [34]Skydo FAQs, What countries can I get paid locally through Skydo? (checked 2026-10-28)
  35. [35]Skydo FAQ, How much does Skydo charge? (checked 2026-10-28)
  36. [36]Skydo, Home page (checked 2026-10-28)
  37. [37]Skydo FAQ, Who will bear the SWIFT charges? (checked 2026-10-28)
  38. [38]Skydo FAQ, Limitations and restrictions on receiving your foreign remittance via Skydo (checked 2026-10-28)
  39. [39]Skydo, Receive international payments in India as a freelancer (checked 2026-10-28)
  40. [40]Skydo, Terms of use (checked 2026-10-28)
  41. [41]Skydo FAQs, What is accepted for GST filings and banks between FIRA and FIRC? (checked 2026-10-28)
  42. [42]Karbon Business, Karbon for Freelancers (checked 2026-10-28)
  43. [43]Karbon, PayPal alternative (checked 2026-10-28)
  44. [44]Razorpay Docs, International Bank Transfer (MoneySaver Export Account) (checked 2026-10-28)
  45. [45]Razorpay, MoneySaver Export Account (international bank transfers) (checked 2026-10-28)
  46. [46]Razorpay, Pricing (checked 2026-10-28)
  47. [47]Razorpay Docs, FIRS Automated Process (checked 2026-10-28)
  48. [48]Payoneer, How to use Payoneer in India (last modified 18 September 2026, checked 2026-10-28)
  49. [49]Payoneer India, Payoneer Fees (checked 2026-10-28)
  50. [50]Payoneer India, Multi-currency account page and FAQs (checked 2026-10-28)
  51. [51]Payoneer Help Center, Digital FIRA FAQ (checked 2026-10-28)
  52. [52]Payoneer India, Digital FIRC page (checked 2026-10-28)
  53. [53]Winvesta FAQs, What GST invoice do I need to withdraw funds? (checked 2026-10-28)
  54. [54]DGFT: eBRC services (self-generation of e-BRC from bank inward remittance data)
  55. [55]GST Portal user guide: Furnishing of Letter of Undertaking (FORM GST RFD-11)

Frequently asked questions

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

There is no cost verdict for a USD 5,000 bank transfer: winvesta costs about 1.24%; Stripe does not publish full pricing.1234 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 Winvesta 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.155 Winvesta: 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.32

Can individual freelancers use Stripe and Winvesta?+

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.561718 Winvesta: Freelancers (PAN, Aadhaar, a marketing channel link and bank details) and businesses (the same plus business registration details). Winvesta publishes a list of restricted business types.1920

Are Stripe and Winvesta 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.212223515 Winvesta: Winvesta says Winvesta India Technologies Private Limited is an online payment gateway service provider that facilitates cross-border collections under the RBI's regulations. It does not appear in the RBI's list of authorised payment aggregators dated 16 October 2026 or in the RBI's PA-CB application status tables as on that date.242526

How fast do Stripe and Winvesta 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.11 Winvesta: USD withdrawals reach the bank 1 business day after processing, EUR and GBP 2 business days, with a 1:00 PM IST cut-off. Card collections settle T+1 working day per the FAQ and T+2 days per the payment links page.121314

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

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, Winvesta or a bank wire.55

This page is general information for Indian service exporters, not tax or legal advice. Rules change and outcomes depend on your facts, so confirm with a chartered accountant before acting.

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