Comparing the Top 13 Payment Gateways in India and How to Choose the best

Are you trying to decide on the right payment gateway in India?

No worries, we got your back!

Making payments using digital payment gateways in India is on the rise, and with the introduction of the online shopping concept, online payment has become casual.

Over the past few years, the payment gateway industry has observed a remarkable change. Cashless payments have become a new trend and a substitute for millions of people in India.

It is estimated that the payment gateway market is expected to register a CAGR of 15% in the forecast period of 2018-2027. Approximately 250 million Indians use UPI for their day-to-day transactions, and UPI transaction volume increased by 35% in October 2022.

With the recent surge in online shopping, payment gateways play a key role in improving customer experience and making shopping faster & far better. But, with so many payment gateways available, which is the best?

To help you out, we have compiled a list of the 13 best Payment Gateways in India. We have covered all the features, cons, pros, and other insights so that you can decide the best.

Let’s dive into your questions about what is a payment gateway? Is it safe to make a transaction using a payment gateway? And which are the best payment gateways in India?

Let’s find the solution.

What is a Payment Gateway?

In simple terms, a tunnel connects a bank account with a platform to transfer your money. It authorizes you to conduct online payments using net banking, credit cards, debit cards, UPI, or money wallets.

A transaction processing technology acts as a bridge to capture, store, and transmit card information from the customer to the merchant. It protects customers’ sensitive information and payment details, approving the transaction process between merchant and customer.

A Payment gateway plays a key role as a middleman to securely transfer your money from your bank account to the merchant’s account.

How does a payment gateway in India work?

A payment gateway acts as a bridge in the payment processing system, whether you make a purchase online or in-store.

Here is how the payment gateway in India works-
Step 1: The customer places the order on your online store and proceeds to make online payments, or the customer uses credit/debit card details.
Step 2: Once the customer puts in details, the payment gateway shares encrypted details with the payment processor and then sends the transaction to the issuing bank via issue processors.
Step 3: The issuer approves or declines the transactions and sends the response to the gateway about verifying the details.
Step 4: Verified details are coded, and the merchant is notified whether transactions have been declined or approved.
Note: The payment gateways perform a process known as settlement. All your transactions are grouped, and the total amount is sent to your bank account at once. In addition, it records all your transactions and allows you to view them using the payment gateway report.

How to Choose the Best Payment Gateway in India?

Today, there are many numerous payment gateway options available in India. But which one is best for your business?

When choosing a payment gateway, there are a few things you need to consider, such as transaction fees, security, and ease of use. You’ll also want to make sure that the payment gateway you choose is compatible with the shopping cart or payment processor you’re using.

To help you make the best decision for your business, here are a few things to remember when choosing the best payment gateway.

Cost:Cost is the most important factor when choosing a payment gateway. The setup fees, transaction fees, and monthly fees. You need to check out the volume and value of your transactions when selecting the payment gateway.
Security:As the payment gateways store financial data, security is a major concern and should be a high priority. It should adhere to different security standards and make sure the provider is certified with PCI standards.
Integration Process and Support:Many payment gateways provide detailed information on integrating the gateway system with popular platforms like WooCommerce, Shopify, Big Commerce, and more. Select the gateway that makes it easy to integrate and beneficial for the customers to make the payment easily.
Easy Checkout on Multiple Devices:Almost 230 million users did online shopping in 2022, and these figures are estimated to increase by 2.5 times over the following decades. As an eCommerce owner, selecting a gateway platform that supports multiple devices and network types is important.
Multiple Features:Many payment gateways offer numerous functions and features depending on your business needs. For example, if your eCommerce offers services worldwide, the payment gateways should provide a global solution and accept several payment options in different countries.
Customer Support:Many payment gateways offer to limit their services to tickets or emails. In that case, you should follow the instructions provided by the support team to fix the problem if you feel more comfortable talking with the executive, so look for the option.

How to Get a Payment Gateway for my Website in India?

Here are a few things you need to know. First, you’ll need to choose a payment gateway provider. There are many different providers, so it’s important to research and find one that’s right for your business.

Once you’ve chosen a provider, you’ll need to set up an account and integrate the payment gateway onto your website. You can do this with just a few lines of code.

Once you’ve got everything set up, you’ll be able to start accepting payments via your website. And that’s it! These are the basics of how to get a payment gateway for your website in India.

Here are the steps-

Incorporate the business entity.
Open a business account with the proper legal documents and listings of your registered business.

Certificate of incorporation
PAN card of the business
Partnership deeds, in case of LLP
Memorandum of association & Articles of Association

Once your document gets opened, you can apply for the payment gateway service.

Best Payment Gateways in India

Here we are with the list of Best Payment Gateways in India-

Cashfree – Payment Gateway & Payout for IndiaCashfree is one of the popular payment gateways in India used by over 3 lakh merchants and the only online payment gateway with the fastest settlement cycle of T+2 days. The best thing is that it has direct integration with multiple banks, making it more reliable and fast.
It is the only payment gateway that provides many payment modes, such as Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, Rupay, Amex, and 70+ other net banking options. In addition, it supports UPI, NEFT, IMPS, BHIM, Google Pay, and more.
Transactional fees
- For Credit/Debit Cards, Net Banking- 1.90% per transaction
- For Debit card EMI (HDFC) – 1.5% per transaction
- For Credit card EMI (HDFC, Kotak, and more) – TDR + 0.25% per transaction
- For Cardless EMI – 1.90% per transaction
- For International Credit Cards – A flat fee of 3.5% + Rs.7 per transaction
Features:
- Zero setup fee or account maintenance fee for partners.
- Instant settlements that offer businesses access to funds within 15 minutes.
- Feature-rich dashboard to create orders and collect payments.
- Ready-to-use eCommerce gateway plugins like Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, Magento, and more.
- Pay later and EMI options.
- 100+ Currency support along with subscription management.
Pros:
- Best market rates compared to competitors
- Supports 120+ Payment options
- Mobile-optimized payment flow
- Build in fraud detection, and other risk management features
Cons:
- No Amex is activated for international transactions.
- It takes more time to verify and activate your account (in some cases).
Top brands like Zomato, Cred, Puma, Nykaa, Dream 11, and more use cashfree payment gateway.
Razorpay – Best payment gateway for online paymentsRazorpay is another popular platform in our payment gateway list that allows customers to conduct automated payments and is India’s first Multi-network Card tokenization solution. The product suite helps businesses to accept, process, and disburse payments using different modes.
It is one of India’s most popular payment gateways, with 50 million+ merchants powering it.

It supports 100+ payment methods and all the upcoming ones, including UPI, Bharat QR, 50+ net banking, credit & debit cards, International cards, EMIs, and 9 payment wallets.

The settlement cycle is T+2 days for domestic and T+7 days for international payments.

Transactional fees
- For Indian Credit/debit cards, UPI, and net banking – 2% fee + GST per transaction.
- For Diners and Amex cards, International cards, EMI, & corporate credit cards – 3% fee + GST per transaction.
Features:
- A powerful dashboard with complete control
- Easy to integrate using a few lines of javascript
- Support 92 currencies
- Zero annual maintenance charge and setup fees
- Email feature to know the status of the transactions
Pros:
- Easy to integrate.
- Wide range of payment solutions.
- Highly secured platform.
- Manage and track money movements.
- 24 X 7 Support using calls, chat, and emails.
Cons:
- Does not use SSL support
- No customer-friendly amenities like gift cards.
- No free trial option.
Top brands like Amazon pay, Vodafone, JioMoney, Freecharge, Ola money, and more use the Razor payment gateways.
PayU – Payment gateway for accepting online & offline paymentsPayU is another leading payment gateway solution that caters to the needs of businesses, freelancers, eCommerce merchants, small-scale businesses, and professionals. Trusted by more than 5 lakhs merchants is empowering the growth of businesses and is a reliable solution for many.
It offers 150+ payment modes across credit/debit cards, net banking, international cards, EMIs, BNPL, UPI, and more. It offers native OTP, disbursing refunds in 5 minutes, and automated recurring payments.

In 2015, PayU India rebranded its product PayU Enterprise and PayUmoney, where PayU Enterprise was named ‘PayUbiz’ for large enterprises and PayUmoney for regular customers and SMBs.

The settlement cycle is T+2 working days.

Transactional fees
- For domestic transactions using Visa, Mastercard, Net Banking, BNPL, and Wallets – 2% fee + GST per transaction.
- For International transactions using Diners, American Express, EMI – 3% fee + GST per transaction.
Features:
- Zero setup and annual maintenance fees.
- Highly customizable and integrable with any eCommerce CMS
- A dedicated account manager
- Supports 150+ Currencies
Pros:
- 24 X 7 customer support via chat.
- Customizable interface and intuitive dashboard.
- The customer interface is user-friendly.
Cons:
- Free trial not available.
- No mobile app support.
- Customer support needs a little improvement.
Top brands like BookMyShow, Jabong, Tally, ZOHO, and more use the PayU payment gateway.
Instamojo – Best payment gateway in India for easy online paymentsInstamojo is one of the most successful payment gateways trusted by more than 20 lakhs Indian businesses. The payment gateway is designed to facilitate online selling and expenses for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
The gateway is highly secured, allowing merchants to receive payments from 100+ payment modes via UPI, Dometic debit/credit cards, Netbanking, Wallets, International cards, payment links, and more.

In addition, it can be easily integrated with WooCommerce, Magento, WordPress, Magento, Meteors JS, CS-Cart, Drupal, and more. Further, it provides hassle-free settlement within T+3 business days.

Transactional fees
- For the Growth Plan there is a flat fee of 2% + 3 Rs. + GST per transaction.
- For the Starter Plan there is a flat fee of 5% + 3 Rs. + GST per transaction.
- For the Starter Plan there is a flat fee of 5% + 3 Rs. + GST per transaction.
Features:
- Accept payment via 100+ payment modes.
- Secured transactions with PCI-DSS certification.
- Easily embed a pay button on your website.
- Easily integrate with popular CMS systems.
Pros:
- A quick settlement with instant payout, same-day payout, and next-day payout options.
- User-friendly dashboard.
Cons:
- No mobile app is available for now.
- Multi-currency is not supported.
- Customer support is only available on weekdays.
- International credit cards are not supported.
Top brands like UrbanClap, Dunzo, Alt News, Shriram Properties, and more use the Instamojo payment gateway.
PayPalPaypal is one of the popular global payment gateway available in 200+ countries and provides services to 30 million+ merchants around the World.
In India, PayPal is mainly used by merchants and freelancers to receive International payments. You can collect payments using your bank accounts, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express Card, Pay Later, Credit Cards, and more.

It can take up to 3 – 5 business days and is automatically reflected in your local bank.

Transactional fees
- Receiving International transactions is charged 4.4% + fixed fee (depending upon the region).
- No fees for purchase and other commercial transactions (when no currency conversion is involved).
Features:
- Hassle-free transaction.
- Safe & Secure Payment Processing.
- Robust tools and an efficient payment management system.
- Integrate with any CMS platform.
- Zero setup cost.
Pros:
- Easy to integrate.
- Developer-friendly API.
- Multi-currency support.
- Received payment is auto-drawn to your local bank account.
Cons:
- Indian merchants can only receive payment.
- High transaction fees.
Top Brands like Udemy, MakeMyTrip, ALT Balaji, Gaana, and more are customers of Paypal.
Atom online payment gateway – accept online payments across IndiaAtom Payment gateway provides impeccable service promoted by FT group with 100+ payment options. It’s a powerful and seamless payment gateway with secured online transactions.
It currently has 150k+ customers making it one of the best payment gateway in India.

The Atom payment gateway is integrated with 50+ banks and 100+ payment options such as UPI, EMI, BNPL, NEFT/RTGS, IMPS credit/debit cards (Visa, Master, AMEX, Diners, JCB, Discover), Bharat QR, Links, Netbankings, 10+ wallets, and more.

The settlement period is T+2 days.

Transactional fees
- For Netbanking and Credit card: 1.99%
- For international/ MCC: 3.95%
- For debit cards: 0.90%
- For Amex: 3%
- For prepaid wallets and EMI: 2.20%
- For UPI and GPAY: NIL
Features:
- The setup cost is INR 15000 and zero annual fees.
- There are Zero withdrawal fees.
- Easy Retro options and invoice payment.
- Multibank EMI.
Pros:
- Support all CMS systems.
- Zero withdrawal fees.
Cons:
- Multi-currency is not supported.
- Customer support needs to be faster
- Only Android mobile app payment gateway Integration is available.
Top Brands like Big Bazaar, Brand Factory, Burger King, Pantaloons, Himalaya, Central, and more are the customers of the ATOM payment gateway.
CCAvenue payment gatewayCCAvenue is one of the top payment gateways offering a wide range of payment options for eCommerce to businesses in multiple industries. It provides 200+ multiple payment options and multiple currency processing delivering a localized buying experience.
The payment options include 6 Credit cards, 58+ net bankings, 97+ Debit cards, 13 prepaid instruments, and 15 bank EMI. It allows 27 major foreign currencies and easy customization options.

In addition, it has features that enhance your marketing efforts and strategies bank alliance to run BIN-based promotional campaigns. The settlement time is 2-3 working days.

Transactional fees
- For credit/debit cards, net banking: 2%
- Mastercard & Visa Card/ Debit cards (International): 4.99%
- Commercial credit cards (Domestic): 3%
- American Express/ Amex EMI & Diners Club: 4%
- Other options: 4.99%
Features:
- Zero setup fee, INR 1200 annual software upgradation fees.
- Allows 27 major foreign currencies.
- It allows designing the payment page as per your requirement.
- It provides 18 multilingual checkout pages.
Pros:
- The payment process is quick.
- Support all major CMS systems.
- Available in all mobile app integration.
- Customer support via voice, chat, and email.
Cons:
- There is an annual software upgrade charge.
- No built-in plug-and-use UI components.
- High charge for International payments.
- Merchant onboarding and activation depend upon the KYC process.
Top brands like Taj, ITC Hotels, Myntra, Vistara, IndiGo, and more are the CCAvenue payment gateway customers.
Paykun Payment Gateway – Online payment solutionsPaykun enables safe, secure, and easy transactions between merchants and customers. It provides the lowest transaction fee making it one of the popular payment gateway in India.
With 15k+ active merchants and a High success rate, it provides smooth integration with ready plugins for various platforms. The 120+ payment modes facilitate all payment options and fast settlements.

The payment options include NetBanking, Credit/debit cards, UPI, EMI, Mobile Wallets, QR codes, and many more. The settlement time is between T+1 and T+3, depending upon the mode of payment.

Transactional fees
- Flat 1.75% per transaction + GST for UPIs, Net Banking, Wallets, and Debit cards.
- Flat 2% + GST for Credit cards.
- For International Cards, 3% + GST.
Features:
- Smooth checkout
- Ready plugins and SDKs
- Fastest Settlement time
- Affordable transactional fees with zero setup fees.
- Powerful dashboard to track, analyze, and manage all your transactions.
Pros:
- Easy & Free Integration.
- Payment retry option & single click refund option.
- Paperless, easy & fast onboarding process.
Cons:
- No international payment support.
- No multi currency support.
- Customer support is not available on weekends.
Top brands like Giggles, TryItFirst, HRKatha, tinnka, Sparrowhost, and more are customers of the Paykun payment gateway.
Paytm – Best payment gateway in India to accept online payments for freePaytm is one of the most loved payment gateway apps in India, serving over 2 crore merchants in India itself. It has excellent security features allowing customers to pay from 100+ payment sources, including debit/credit cards, NetBanking, Paytm wallets, and more.
The payment gateway is highly preferred by businesses of all sizes and provides fast-speed transactions for all payment modes. The payment modes include NetBanking, UPI, Paytm Wallets, Debit/Credit cards, and many more.

It supports multiple CMS systems, including Magento, Opencart, Prestashop, Ubercart, CScart, and many more. The settlement time takes T+1 day.

Transactional fees
- For Paytm Wallet and Postpaid: 1.99%
- For debit cards (upto Rs. 2000): 0.40%
- For debit cards (greater than Rs. 2000): 0.90%
- For credit cards and NetBanking: 1.99%
- For International cards, Corporate credit cards, American Express, Diners, Prepaid): 2.99%
- For EMI: 2.99%
Features:
- Instant activation with paperless documentation
- Easy Integration
- Multi-currency support 72+
- Supports eCommerce CMS system
- 24/7 merchant customer support
Pros:
- Support all currencies
- Zero setup and annual fees
- Excellent security features
- Robust APIs and SDKs for quick integration
Cons:
- Extra charges are applicable from time to time.
- Initial setup fee Rs. 5000 and Annual maintenance fee Rs.5000.
- Only Android mobile app payment gateway Integration is available.
Top brands like Uber, Flipkart, Zomato, Swiggy, Jio, and many more are customers of Paytm.
Payubiz – Simplified payment solutionsWe already discussed the PayU payment gateway in the above section. PayUbiz is PayU Enterprises that large enterprises use. It has connected more than 5 lakh merchants.
It can easily integrate with the website and is the most trusted payment gateway with many payment options. It currently provides payment solutions to 5 lakhs businesses and accepts 150+ payment modes.

The payment modes include NetBanking, Credit/debit cards, EMI, Cash cards, international cards, EMIs, BNPL, UPI, and more. The settlement time is T+2 days.

Transactional Fees (depends upon the package):
For example, for the Economy pack:
- For credit cards: 4.9%
- For debit cards: 1.25%
- For NetBanking: 4.90%
- EMI: 3.5% for 3 months, 5.5% for 6 months
- Cash Cards: 4.90%
Features:
- Express mobile checkout
- Better security and secure payment.
- Well integrated with CS-Cart Multi-vendor.
- 150+ Payment modes.
Pros:
- Over 100+ foreign currencies.
- Highly customizable and integrable with any eCommerce CMS
- Mobile App Integration is available for Android, Windows, and IOS.
Cons:
- No Multi-currency available.
- International payments and credit cards are not supported.
- The transaction starts after 5-7 days.
- There is a setup fee and annual maintenance charges applicable.
Brands like Goibibo, BookMyShow, FreeCharge, Jabong, and much more use PayUbiz as their payment gateway.
EBS – Ecommerce payment gateway providerNext-Gen Payment Gateway (formerly known as EBS) is the first Indian merchant to provide Worldwide payment solutions for growth. It has helped 1.5 million+ businesses in India with payment gateway services.
With 100+ payment modes and 19+ eCommerce plugin kits, it is one of the best payment gateways in India, regardless of the size, market, and scope of the business.

You can customize invoices and payment links for your customers as per your requirement and send them via email and SMS. With the advanced reporting system, you can get the performance of your business.

The settlement time is T+2 days.

Transactional fees
- The charges are applicable depending on the packages. Contact the sales team to know more.
Features:
- WL Subscription payments.
- 150+ payment modes in 175+ countries.
- Simple and transparent pricing.
- Support 27+ foreign currencies.
Pros:
- Customer-friendly support to solve your issues faster.
- Easy integration with major CMS platforms.
- PCI DSS 3.0 complaint to provide secured payment.
- 19+ eCommerce plugin kits
Cons:
- Annual maintenance charges of Rs.1200 (applicable from the second year).
Brands like HDFC, Sarda Farms, and more are Next Gen payment gateway customers.
Billdesk Payment GatewayBill Desk has been one of the oldest payment gateways in India since 2006. It provides complete transaction and payment solutions to a range of businesses with multiple locations. 70% of billing transactions in India happen through the billdesk payment gateway.
With 170+ payment modes, including Credit/debit cards, UPI, NetBanking, NEFT/RTGS, Wallet, Pay with points, Affordability, and many more, it provides a seamless checkout experience to your customers.

The PCI DSS 3.2.1 provides a secured payment with advanced security ensuring optimal performance. The settlement time is between 3-5 days.

Transactional fees
Contact sales to know the information.

Features:
- 24/7 Support
- Automotive refund processing
- Smart routing and retry process.
- Offer responsive and seamless checkout.
- Flexible remittance payouts.
Pros:
- Flexible pricing across payment methods.
- Developer-friendly integration.
- A dedicated team of account managers, project lead, product, and engineering.
- Custom alert and dashboard.
Cons:
- Checkout pages are not compatible
- Needs physical verification for merchant onboarding.
- Only Android mobile app payment gateway Integration is available.
Top brands like HDFC bank, Kotak, Freecharge, Adani, and many more prefer Billdesk as their payment partner.
13. SBIePay – SBI Payment gatewaySBIepay provides comprehensive payment options to their merchants. It supports all major credit cards, debit cards, International cards, NetBanking, and UPIs.
You can easily integrate the payment gateway across multiple platforms like Websites, mobile apps, and more. It allows multi-currency payments, global settlements, currency exchange, and other needs.

The settlement time is T+2 days.

Transactional fees
- For Internat banking: Rs.5 per transaction (up to Rs. 500), Rs.10 per transaction (for Rs.500 and above).
- For credit cards (Master, Visa, AMEX): 1% per transaction
- For debit cards: Zero (up to Rs.2000), 1% per transaction (Rs.2000 and above).
- For IMPS: Rs.5 per transaction (upto Rs. 5000), Rs.7 per transaction (from Rs. 5000 to Rs.25000), Rs.8 per transaction ( From Rs. 25001 to Rs.50000), Rs.9 per transaction (from Rs. 500001 to Rs. 100000).
Features:
- Easy integration across different platforms.
- Highly secured with PCI- DSS V3.2 and SSL certification.
- Zeros setup and withdrawal charges.
Pros:
- The PSI-DSS complied with the highest standards of security in the industry.
- SBIePay offers the lowest MDR (Merchant Discount Rate) or charges among payment gateway aggregators.
- Onboarding process using digital paperless technology.
- Adds an extra layer of security by supporting 3DSecure payments.
- Major digital platforms support payment methods.
Cons:
- Supports a limited number of payment options. UPI and eWallets are not supported by SBIePay.
- International credit cards are not accepted.
- Activation time is more than other payment gateways.
- There is an annual maintenance charge of Rs.8000.
Banks like the Bank of India, HDFC bank, Kotak Bank, and many more have partnered with SBIePay.

Payment Gateways FAQ

What is a payment gateway & how it works?
A payment gateway is a service that helps businesses accept credit cards and other electronic payments. When a customer purchases your company, the payment gateway processes the payment and transfers the money to your company’s bank account.

The payment gateway is a bridge between the customer and the merchant in the payment processing system. When the payment is made, it sends a confirmation to both the merchant and the customer. You can check out the above section for the detailed process.
How much does the payment gateway cost?
The transactional fees of each payment gateway are different. It takes a certain amount of charges per transaction based on payment mode. There is a fixed transactional charge and tax involved with each transaction.
What are the different types of payment gateways?
A payment gateway is an eCommerce service that authorizes and processes online business payments. There are 4 types of payment gateways-
- Hosted.
- Self-hosted.
- API hosted.
- Local Bank integrated.
Which is the best payment gateway in India?

Here is a list of the Top 10 payment gateway in India-

Cashfree
Razorpay
Instamojo
Paytm
Billdesk
SBIePay
ATOM
Instamojo
CCAvenue
PayUbiz

Which is the cheapest payment gateway in India?
There are many payment gateway providers in India, and the pricing can vary greatly. Small businesses need to find a payment gateway that is affordable and reliable.

We have compiled a list of India’s best payment gateway providers, which can help you find the best one that suits your requirements.
Is there any best free payment gateway?
There are many best free payment gateway. However, here are some that stand out among the rest. Here are some best payment gateways we have figured out for you- Cashfree, Instamojo, Paytm, Razorpay, PayUbiz, Billdesk, and SBIePay.
These gateways are great choices for businesses of all sizes.
How to add a payment gateway to a website?
Adding a payment gateway to your website requires the help of your developer. It depends on the technology stack of the website. In most cases, you can add it to your website using a popular CMS. The other option is to use APIs to integrate it into your website.
What are payment gateway charges in India?
When a consumer purchases goods or services and makes an online payment, the merchant must pay charges for each transaction. The fee is calculated in percentage and varies depending on the payment gateways. They include-
- Initial setup fees-
  A one-time transaction fee is assessed to connect with the payment gateway. It depends upon the payment gateway you choose.
- Annual maintenance fees-
  A recurring fee is paid to the payment gateway provider annually to cover operating expenses, security, and maintenance charges.
- Transaction charges-
  Transaction charges are paid per transaction and calculated as a percentage of the transaction amount. Depending on the payment mode and payment gateway provider, it can be between 1% to 5%.

Devathon Team

Posts are written by the top management Team of Devathon - Modern & Affordable Software development for startups

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Devathon Team

Posts are written by the top management Team of Devathon - Modern & Affordable Software development for startups