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Wise vs Stripe (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

Neither Wise nor 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: Wise is best for bank transfers to local account details, and Stripe is best for card checkout and subscriptions.123

Use caseBetter optionWhy
Bank transfer of USD 5,000Cannot compareNeither publishes full pricing for this case.
Bank transfer of USD 2,000Cannot compareNeither publishes full pricing for this case.
Client paying USD 2,000 by card or linkCannot compareNeither publishes full pricing for this case.
Wise is best forWiseBank transfers to local account details.1
Stripe is best forStripeCard checkout and subscriptions.23

1,000 USD = ₹94,243 at the reference rate for 13 November 2026 (European Central Bank data).

Estimated rupees received, on published fees

Sorted by estimated rupees received, highest first. Only providers that publish both their fee and their conversion markup for this currency and method can be estimated.

#Provider and routeBest forFee (+GST)MarkupYou receiveCost
1Karbon BusinessLowest estimated costBank transfer to a Karbon virtual USD accountUS bank transfers and marketplace payouts₹942plus GST, rate not stated0%₹93,131 to ₹93,3011.00 to 1.18%
2RazorpayMoneySaver Export Account: bank transfer to virtual account details (Standard plan)Local transfers from the US, UK and eurozone₹1,000plus GST, rate not stated0%₹93,063 to ₹93,2431.06 to 1.25%
3WinvestaGlobal Collections Account, standard plan (up to 2,000 a month per currency)Local transfers with a published per-payment fee₹1,4350%₹92,8091.52%
4SkydoPayment link (InstaLinks) paid by ACH debitLocal bank transfers from major markets₹1,885plus GST, rate not stated0%₹92,019 to ₹92,3582.00 to 2.36%
5PayoneerLocal bank transfer to Payoneer receiving account detailsMarketplace payouts such as Amazon or Upwork₹0no GST stated1 to 4%₹90,473 to ₹93,3011.00 to 4.00%
6PayPalInternational commercial transaction received into a PayPal account (PayPal checkout or invoice)Clients paying by card or PayPal balance₹4,175no GST stated3 to 4%₹86,465 to ₹87,3667.30 to 8.25%

Not estimated because pricing is not fully published: Cashfree Payments, Dodo Payments, PingPong, Stripe, Tazapay, TransFi, Wise.

Where a provider says GST applies to its fee but not at what rate, the range runs from no GST to 18%, the rate Skydo, Stripe and Winvesta state on their pages. Estimates use each provider's published fee, conversion markup, GST on fees and FIRA charge, checked 2026-10-28, against the reference rate. They exclude charges taken by intermediary banks and your own bank, and the rate a provider actually applies at the time of conversion. Check the provider's pricing page before you choose. The order is calculated only from these published numbers; no provider can pay to change its position, and there are no affiliate links.

How do Wise and Stripe compare at a glance?

Wise and Stripe 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.14567

WiseStripe
Best forBank transfers to local account details1Card checkout and subscriptions23
FeesWise's India help article says it charges an equivalent of 2 USD in the received currency for the transfer to the INR bank account that issues the e-FIRC. Wise's India receive pricing page describes a free eFIRC for every transfer. The general Wise Business fee table on Wise's India site lists 6.11 USD per USD wire or Swift payment, 2.16 GBP per GBP Swift payment and 2.39 EUR per EUR Swift payment, with domestic (non-Swift, non-wire) payments free; Wise's India-specific receive pages do not repeat these Swift fees. 18% GST applies to Wise fees.1453% 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.67
FX markupMid-market exchange rate plus a conversion fee that Wise says depends on the currency. No percentage is published for conversion to INR; the amount is shown in Wise's calculator.48Additional 2% if currency conversion is required. Stripe does not publish on these pages exactly which export charges need conversion.67
SettlementWise says the INR payment reaches the Indian bank account within 1 to 2 days and that more than 50% of transfers settle within 2 hours of pay-in. The client's payment takes 0 to 3 working days to reach Wise by local methods and 2 to 6 working days by SWIFT.1Each daily payout includes international card payments processed five business days earlier. No payouts on weekends or public holidays. Seven-day waiting period for the first payout, which can be longer for high-risk industries.9
FIRAAn e-FIRC for each transfer, emailed to the registered address within 3 working days and downloadable from the transfer page. The help article links it to the 2 USD equivalent fee; the pricing page calls it free.14Stripe 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.102
Currencies24 currencies: local account details in 11 currencies and international account details in 13 more, from 140+ countries, according to Wise.1Stripe says it supports presentment in 135+ currencies on Visa and Mastercard, and INR or USD on American Express.27
KYC: who can sign upWise Business only: sole traders or freelancers (personal PAN and an INR bank account in their own name), sole proprietorships, private limited companies, LLPs and general partnerships. Other business types are not currently onboarded. Wise personal accounts in India cannot receive money.1112By 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.231314
RBI PA-CB statusRBI's list of authorised payment aggregators dated 16 October 2026 includes Wise Payments India Private Limited as a Payment Aggregator, Cross Border, facilitating inward transactions (PA-CB-I), authorised on 12 March 2026. Wise's India receiving pages do not name the Wise entity that handles inward payments.151RBI 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.151617210
SupportNot published on the India receiving pages checked.Not published for Indian users on the pages checked; prospective users fill in a contact form to request an invite.
LimitsMinimum 5 USD or equivalent and maximum 2.5 million INR (₹25 lakh) or equivalent per transaction; payments outside these limits are returned to the sender. RBI caps each PA-CB inward or outward transaction at ₹25 lakh.118Up to ₹25 lakh per export transaction for sole proprietorships, LLPs and companies.19
How clients payThe client pays to the business's Wise account details from their own bank (local transfer, wire or SWIFT) or from a Wise account.18Foreign 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.13202
Card paymentsNot available for India-based businesses: Wise lists card acceptance only for Wise Business accounts in the EEA, UK, Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada and the US.21Yes, 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.622

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

The INR you receive with Wise and Stripe is the invoice at the reference rate, less each provider's fee, conversion markup, GST on fees and FIRA charge. The table works this out from published pricing at today's rate.

None of these providers publishes both a fee and a conversion markup for USD.

Not estimated because pricing for USD is not fully published: Stripe, Wise.

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 Wise and who is it for?

Wise is a money transfer company whose Wise Business account gives Indian businesses and freelancers account details in other currencies, converts what they receive to INR and sends it to their Indian bank account.18

  • Regulated by: RBI's list of authorised payment aggregators dated 16 October 2026 includes Wise Payments India Private Limited as a Payment Aggregator, Cross Border, facilitating inward transactions (PA-CB-I), authorised on 12 March 2026. Wise's India receiving pages do not name the Wise entity that handles inward payments.151
  • Used by: Wise Business only: sole traders or freelancers (personal PAN and an INR bank account in their own name), sole proprietorships, private limited companies, LLPs and general partnerships. Other business types are not currently onboarded. Wise personal accounts in India cannot receive money.1112
  • Best for: Bank transfers to local account details.1

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.27

  • 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.151617210
  • 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.231314
  • Best for: Card checkout and subscriptions.23

How do Wise and Stripe fees and FX markup compare?

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

What does Wise charge?

Transaction typeFeeFX markupGST on feesBest for
Local (domestic, non-Swift, non-wire) transfer to Wise local account detailsUSD 2415Not published18%Clients paying by local bank transfer
Wire or Swift payment to Wise account detailsUSD 2 + plus a fixed fee by currency415Not published18%Clients paying by international wire

What does Stripe charge?

Transaction typeFeeFX markupGST on feesBest for
Visa or Mastercard issued outside India, charged in INR3%67220%18%Clients paying by card
American Express card issued outside India3.5%6222%18%Clients paying by card
International card with USD or other non-INR presentment4.3%67222%18%Clients paying by card

How do Wise and Stripe compare on settlement speed?

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

PlatformSettlement timePayout to IndiaBest for
WiseWise says the INR payment reaches the Indian bank account within 1 to 2 days and that more than 50% of transfers settle within 2 hours of pay-in. The client's payment takes 0 to 3 working days to reach Wise by local methods and 2 to 6 working days by SWIFT.1Automatic: Wise converts each payment to INR and sends it to the verified Indian bank account given during verification. Indian users cannot hold the foreign currency, and the account details cannot be used to send money. No separate withdrawal fee is published beyond the e-FIRC transfer fee.1Bank transfers to local account details1
StripeEach daily payout includes international card payments processed five business days earlier. No payouts on weekends or public holidays. Seven-day waiting period for the first payout, which can be longer for high-risk industries.9Automatic daily payouts in INR only to the Indian bank account. Export payouts are made separately from domestic payouts and are labelled International. Manual, weekly and monthly schedules are not available. No payout fee is stated.927Card checkout and subscriptions23

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

Wise and Stripe 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

PlatformFIRARBI PA-CB statusBest for
WiseAn e-FIRC for each transfer, emailed to the registered address within 3 working days and downloadable from the transfer page. The help article links it to the 2 USD equivalent fee; the pricing page calls it free.14RBI's list of authorised payment aggregators dated 16 October 2026 includes Wise Payments India Private Limited as a Payment Aggregator, Cross Border, facilitating inward transactions (PA-CB-I), authorised on 12 March 2026. Wise's India receiving pages do not name the Wise entity that handles inward payments.151Bank transfers to local account details1
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.102RBI 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.151617210Card checkout and subscriptions23

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

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

PlatformCurrenciesHow clients payCard paymentsBest for
Wise24 currencies: local account details in 11 currencies and international account details in 13 more, from 140+ countries, according to Wise.1The client pays to the business's Wise account details from their own bank (local transfer, wire or SWIFT) or from a Wise account.18Not available for India-based businesses: Wise lists card acceptance only for Wise Business accounts in the EEA, UK, Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada and the US.21Bank transfers to local account details1
StripeStripe says it supports presentment in 135+ currencies on Visa and Mastercard, and INR or USD on American Express.27Foreign 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.13202Yes, 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.622Card checkout and subscriptions23

What are the strengths and limitations of Wise and Stripe?

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

What are the strengths and limitations of Wise?

Strengths:

  • Your clients are willing to pay by bank transfer to local account details in USD, GBP, EUR or another supported currency.1
  • You want an e-FIRC issued for each payment received.1
  • You are a freelancer without a registered business, since Wise Business accepts sole traders verified with a personal PAN.11
  • Individual payments are between 5 USD and ₹25 lakh equivalent.1

Limitations:

  • Indian businesses cannot accept card payments through Wise.21
  • Money cannot be held in foreign currency; every receipt is converted to INR.1
  • No conversion fee percentage is published for INR, so the cost of a receipt can only be seen in Wise's calculator.4
  • Single payments above ₹25 lakh equivalent are returned to the sender.1
  • Wise's own pages differ on whether the e-FIRC is free or covered by a 2 USD equivalent fee.14
  • Business types other than sole traders, sole proprietorships, private limited companies, LLPs and general partnerships are not currently onboarded.11

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.23
  • Your foreign customers pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, for example on a website checkout or a subscription.13
  • You bill recurring international subscriptions or invoices and want Stripe Billing to collect them.2
  • Each payment is within ₹25 lakh.19

Limitations:

  • Available by invite only in India; new businesses cannot sign up through the website.214
  • Individuals (freelancers not registered as a business entity) cannot accept international payments.31319
  • Only card and wallet payments from abroad are listed; no local bank account details for clients to pay by bank transfer are listed for India accounts.13
  • Payouts are in INR only; a foreign currency balance cannot be held or withdrawn.72
  • Only one transaction purpose code per Stripe account.2
  • Stripe does not issue a FIRC; you take the Standard Chartered payment advice to your own bank.10
  • RBI lists Stripe India as a Payment Aggregator Online (PA-O), not a Payment Aggregator-Cross Border (PA-CB); its PA-CB application was withdrawn, per RBI's status list and Stripe's own support page.151617
  • Stripe charges ₹1,000 per dispute received and ₹1,000 per dispute countered, each returned if you win, and the original processing and conversion fees are not returned on refunds.6

Should you choose Wise or Stripe?

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

Choose Wise if:

  • Your clients are willing to pay by bank transfer to local account details in USD, GBP, EUR or another supported currency.1
  • You want an e-FIRC issued for each payment received.1
  • You are a freelancer without a registered business, since Wise Business accepts sole traders verified with a personal PAN.11
  • Individual payments are between 5 USD and ₹25 lakh equivalent.1

Choose Stripe if:

  • You are a registered sole proprietorship, LLP or company and have been invited to Stripe India.23
  • Your foreign customers pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, for example on a website checkout or a subscription.13
  • You bill recurring international subscriptions or invoices and want Stripe Billing to collect them.2
  • Each payment is within ₹25 lakh.19

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.4867

Which other platforms should you consider besides Wise and Stripe?

Other platforms to consider besides Wise and Stripe are the ones with the lowest estimated cost on a USD 5,000 receipt, listed in that order.2425262728293132343537394041

PlatformBest forEstimated cost on USD 5,000FIRAReview
SkydoLocal bank transfers from major markets230.68%242526272829Skydo says it issues a free FIRA on every payment received, and that its FIRA and FIRC are accepted for GST filing and by banks.2830Skydo review
Karbon BusinessUS bank transfers and marketplace payouts311.00 to 1.18%3132Karbon says it provides a FIRA for every transaction, issued by its licensed banking partner, which it does not name. Cost not published.31Karbon Business review
RazorpayLocal transfers from the US, UK and eurozone331.00 to 1.18%3435Razorpay 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.333635Razorpay review
WinvestaLocal transfers with a published per-payment fee37381.24%37394041Free 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.4039Winvesta 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]Wise Help Centre, Receiving payments for Indian businesses (checked 2026-10-28)
  2. [2]Stripe Docs, Accept international payments from India (checked 2026-10-28)
  3. [3]Stripe Support, Accepting international payments from Stripe accounts in India (checked 2026-10-28)
  4. [4]Wise India, Fees for getting paid (Wise Business receive pricing) (checked 2026-10-28)
  5. [5]Wise India site, Wise Business pricing, fees at a glance (checked 2026-10-28)
  6. [6]Stripe India, Pricing (checked 2026-10-28)
  7. [7]Stripe Support, Additional pricing information for Indian cross-border sellers (checked 2026-10-28)
  8. [8]Wise India, Receive international payments (checked 2026-10-28)
  9. [9]Stripe Support, Payout schedule for Stripe accounts in India (checked 2026-10-28)
  10. [10]Stripe Support, FIRC/payment advice for international transactions in India (checked 2026-10-28)
  11. [11]Wise Help Centre, How to verify your Indian business to receive payments (checked 2026-10-28)
  12. [12]Wise India, Receive pricing (personal accounts) (checked 2026-10-28)
  13. [13]Stripe Support, Supported payment methods, currencies and businesses for Stripe accounts in India (checked 2026-10-28)
  14. [14]Stripe India, Contact sales (request an invite) (checked 2026-10-28)
  15. [15]RBI: Certificates of Authorisation issued under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, Payment Aggregators list dated 16 October 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
  16. [16]RBI, Status of Applications received under Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, as on 16.10.2026, Table F (checked 2026-10-28)
  17. [17]Stripe Support, Cross-border payment services in India (checked 2026-10-28)
  18. [18]RBI: Master Direction on Regulation of Payment Aggregators, 15 September 2025, paragraph 11(d)
  19. [19]Stripe Support, Export (international) transaction limits for Stripe accounts in India (checked 2026-10-28)
  20. [20]Stripe Support, Requirements for India export charges (checked 2026-10-28)
  21. [21]Wise Help Centre, Getting paid to your Wise Business by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay (checked 2026-10-28)
  22. [22]Stripe Support, Taxes on Stripe fees for India-based businesses (checked 2026-10-28)
  23. [23]Skydo FAQs, What countries can I get paid locally through Skydo? (checked 2026-10-28)
  24. [24]Skydo FAQ, How much does Skydo charge? (checked 2026-10-28)
  25. [25]Skydo, Home page (checked 2026-10-28)
  26. [26]Skydo FAQ, Who will bear the SWIFT charges? (checked 2026-10-28)
  27. [27]Skydo FAQ, Limitations and restrictions on receiving your foreign remittance via Skydo (checked 2026-10-28)
  28. [28]Skydo, Receive international payments in India as a freelancer (checked 2026-10-28)
  29. [29]Skydo, Terms of use (checked 2026-10-28)
  30. [30]Skydo FAQs, What is accepted for GST filings and banks between FIRA and FIRC? (checked 2026-10-28)
  31. [31]Karbon Business, Karbon for Freelancers (checked 2026-10-28)
  32. [32]Karbon, PayPal alternative (checked 2026-10-28)
  33. [33]Razorpay Docs, International Bank Transfer (MoneySaver Export Account) (checked 2026-10-28)
  34. [34]Razorpay, MoneySaver Export Account (international bank transfers) (checked 2026-10-28)
  35. [35]Razorpay, Pricing (checked 2026-10-28)
  36. [36]Razorpay Docs, FIRS Automated Process (checked 2026-10-28)
  37. [37]Winvesta FAQs, What are the charges for the global collections account? (checked 2026-10-28)
  38. [38]Winvesta FAQs, What currencies are available with local accounts? (checked 2026-10-28)
  39. [39]Winvesta, Multi-currency account (checked 2026-10-28)
  40. [40]Winvesta FAQ, When will I receive my e-FIRA certificate? (checked 2026-10-28)
  41. [41]Winvesta FAQ, Can I get priority processing for my withdrawal? (checked 2026-10-28)
  42. [42]DGFT: eBRC services (self-generation of e-BRC from bank inward remittance data)
  43. [43]GST Portal user guide: Furnishing of Letter of Undertaking (FORM GST RFD-11)

Frequently asked questions

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

There is no cost verdict for a USD 5,000 bank transfer: neither publishes full pricing for this case.4867 The answer can change with the currency, payment method and invoice size, so check your own numbers in the platform cost comparison.

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

Wise: An e-FIRC for each transfer, emailed to the registered address within 3 working days and downloadable from the transfer page. The help article links it to the 2 USD equivalent fee; the pricing page calls it free.14 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.102

Can individual freelancers use Wise and Stripe?+

Wise: Wise Business only: sole traders or freelancers (personal PAN and an INR bank account in their own name), sole proprietorships, private limited companies, LLPs and general partnerships. Other business types are not currently onboarded. Wise personal accounts in India cannot receive money.1112 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.231314

Are Wise and Stripe authorised by the RBI?+

Wise: RBI's list of authorised payment aggregators dated 16 October 2026 includes Wise Payments India Private Limited as a Payment Aggregator, Cross Border, facilitating inward transactions (PA-CB-I), authorised on 12 March 2026. Wise's India receiving pages do not name the Wise entity that handles inward payments.151 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.151617210

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

Wise: Wise says the INR payment reaches the Indian bank account within 1 to 2 days and that more than 50% of transfers settle within 2 hours of pay-in. The client's payment takes 0 to 3 working days to reach Wise by local methods and 2 to 6 working days by SWIFT.1 Stripe: Each daily payout includes international card payments processed five business days earlier. No payouts on weekends or public holidays. Seven-day waiting period for the first payout, which can be longer for high-risk industries.9

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

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 Wise, Stripe 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

Platforms

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

How Wise Business works for Indian freelancers and companies: RBI status, who can sign up, how clients pay, costs, e-FIRC, purpose code, limits and EDF points.

Platforms

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

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

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