Choosing a payment gateway is not only about finding the lowest transaction fee. A gateway that works well for an Indian business may not be available to a business in Germany, while another gateway may allow merchants in the UK or US to sell globally but offer completely different local payment methods.
The right choice depends on where your business is registered, where your customers are located, which currencies you need, whether you need domestic or international payments, and what payment methods your customers prefer.
Below is a practical comparison of major payment gateways used across India and international markets.
Pricing note: Payment gateway pricing changes by country, payment method, merchant category, transaction volume, currency conversion and negotiated plans. The rates below are indicative of publicly listed pricing and should be checked with the provider before integration.
1. Stripe
Best suited for: International businesses, SaaS companies, eCommerce, subscriptions and technology businesses.
| Detail | Stripe |
|---|---|
| Main markets | US, UK, Europe, Australia, Canada, India and other supported markets |
| Customer reach | Global |
| Domestic payments | Yes |
| International payments | Yes |
| Currencies | Large multi-currency support |
| Payment methods | Cards, wallets, bank payments and numerous local payment methods |
| Pricing model | Pay-as-you-go |
| Setup fee | No standard setup fee |
| Subscription payments | Yes |
| Recurring billing | Yes |
| Payment links | Yes |
| APIs/SDKs | Yes |
| Fraud protection | Yes |
| Best for | Global websites, SaaS, subscriptions and eCommerce |
Stripe’s standard global pricing in many markets is transaction-based. Its US pricing, for example, lists 2.9% + $0.30 for successful domestic card transactions, with additional charges for international cards and currency conversion.
For Indian businesses, Stripe’s published pricing includes 3% for international Visa/Mastercard cards issued outside India, with an additional 2% where currency conversion is required. International American Express cards are listed at 3.5% plus a possible 2% conversion charge.
Important: Stripe availability depends on the country where the merchant business is established. Customer location and merchant location are two different things.
2. PayPal
Best suited for: International businesses, freelancers, digital services, online stores and businesses whose customers already use PayPal.
| Detail | PayPal |
|---|---|
| Main markets | Many countries worldwide |
| Customer reach | International |
| Domestic payments | Depends on merchant country |
| International payments | Yes |
| Payment method | PayPal balance, cards and supported local funding methods |
| Currency support | Multiple currencies |
| Subscription payments | Yes |
| Invoicing | Yes |
| Payment links | Yes |
| Recurring payments | Yes |
| Best for | International customers and cross-border sales |
PayPal uses different pricing structures depending on the merchant’s market. PayPal defines an international transaction as one where the sender and receiver are registered or identified as residents of different markets.
For Indian merchants, PayPal states that only international payments are supported.
This makes PayPal particularly useful when an Indian business wants to receive payments from overseas customers, but it should not automatically be treated as a replacement for an India-focused gateway such as Razorpay, Cashfree, PayU or PhonePe.
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3. Razorpay
Best suited for: Indian businesses that need UPI, cards, net banking, wallets and international card acceptance.
| Detail | Razorpay |
|---|---|
| Primary market | India |
| Customer reach | India + international customers |
| Domestic payments | Yes |
| International payments | Yes |
| UPI | Yes |
| Cards | Yes |
| Net banking | Yes |
| Wallets | Yes |
| Recurring payments | Yes |
| Payment links | Yes |
| APIs/SDKs | Yes |
| International cards | Yes |
| Standard international pricing | Around 3% + applicable GST |
| Setup fee | No standard setup fee |
| AMC | No standard AMC |
Razorpay’s current international payments page lists a 3% platform fee for international credit cards and payment methods, with GST applicable and PayPal charges/taxes excluded. It also states that there are no setup or maintenance fees.
Razorpay’s published 2026 pricing explanation states that standard domestic payments are generally around 2% + GST, while international cards are 3% + GST and international bank transfers can have different pricing.
Key advantage
For an Indian website, Razorpay is particularly useful when you want to combine:
UPI + Indian cards + net banking + wallets + international cards
in one integration.
4. Cashfree Payments
Best suited for: Indian businesses, eCommerce stores, SaaS businesses and companies receiving international payments.
| Detail | Cashfree |
|---|---|
| Primary market | India |
| Customer reach | India + international |
| Domestic payments | Yes |
| International payments | Yes |
| International currencies | 140+ foreign currencies advertised |
| UPI | Yes |
| Cards | Yes |
| Net banking | Yes |
| Wallets | Yes |
| EMI | Yes |
| Pay Later | Yes |
| PayPal | Supported |
| Refunds | Yes |
| Instant settlements | Available |
| Payment links/pages | Yes |
| API/SDK integration | Yes |
Cashfree states that its international payment gateway supports payments from customers in 180+ countries and 30+ currencies, while its broader payment gateway supports INR and 140+ foreign currencies.
Its current published pricing lists standard domestic payment gateway pricing around 1.95%–2%, while international Visa/Mastercard transactions are listed at 2.99% standard. American Express international transactions are listed at 2.95%.
Cashfree also offers enterprise pricing based on transaction volume, business category and selected payment products.
5. PayU
Best suited for: Indian eCommerce companies, online businesses and enterprises.
| Detail | PayU |
|---|---|
| Primary market | India |
| Customer reach | India + international |
| Domestic payments | Yes |
| International payments | Yes |
| Payment modes | 150+ |
| UPI | Yes |
| Cards | Yes |
| Net banking | Yes |
| Wallets | Yes |
| EMI | Yes |
| BNPL | Yes |
| Payment links | Yes |
| APIs/SDKs | Yes |
| Fraud/risk tools | Yes |
| Setup fee | No |
| Pricing model | Pay-as-you-use |
PayU currently lists 2% for several domestic payment methods and 3% for EMI, American Express, Diners Club and international transactions, with 18% GST applicable to the listed fees.
PayU also advertises more than 150 payment modes, including cards, UPI, net banking, EMI and wallets.
6. PhonePe Payment Gateway
Best suited for: Indian businesses that want strong UPI and domestic payment support.
| Detail | PhonePe PG |
|---|---|
| Primary market | India |
| Domestic payments | Yes |
| International focus | More limited than global gateways |
| UPI | Yes |
| Cards | Yes |
| Net banking | Yes |
| Dynamic QR | Yes |
| Shopify integration | Yes |
| WooCommerce integration | Yes |
| Dashboard | Yes |
| Analytics | Yes |
| Setup fee | No |
| AMC | No |
PhonePe’s payment gateway is strongly focused on the Indian market and supports UPI, cards and net banking. Its current pricing page advertises a standard plan with zero payment gateway fees under the stated offer/terms, while enterprise customers can receive customised pricing.
For a business whose customers are primarily in India, PhonePe can be an attractive option, particularly when UPI is an important part of the checkout.
7. CCAvenue
Best suited for: Indian businesses needing a wide range of domestic and international payment options.
| Detail | CCAvenue |
|---|---|
| Primary market | India |
| Domestic payments | Yes |
| International payments | Yes |
| Multi-currency | Yes |
| Cards | Yes |
| UPI | Yes |
| Net banking | Yes |
| Wallets | Yes |
| EMI | Yes |
| International cards | Yes |
| Payment reports | Yes |
| Tokenization | Yes |
| Shopify integration | Yes |
CCAvenue currently lists 2% platform fees for its standard online payment plan, with 18% GST applicable. International credit/debit cards are listed at 3%, while multi-currency processing is listed at 3.5% on its standard pricing page.
CCAvenue also provides enterprise/custom pricing for businesses with larger transaction volumes.
8. Adyen
Best suited for: Large international companies, marketplaces, enterprise eCommerce and businesses operating across multiple countries.
| Detail | Adyen |
|---|---|
| Main markets | Global |
| Merchant reach | Multiple international markets |
| Domestic payments | Yes |
| International payments | Yes |
| Local payment methods | Yes |
| Cards | Yes |
| Wallets | Yes |
| Bank payments | Yes |
| Recurring payments | Yes |
| Marketplace payments | Yes |
| Multi-currency settlement | Yes |
| Fraud tools | Yes |
| Enterprise features | Strong |
Adyen uses a fixed processing fee plus a payment-method fee. Its current pricing page states that there is no setup fee or monthly fee, and merchants pay per transaction.
For example, its published card pricing can use a structure such as a fixed processing fee plus interchange and an additional percentage, depending on the payment method and market.
Adyen is generally more suitable for businesses with international scale than for a small local website simply looking for UPI payments.
9. 2Checkout / Verifone
Best suited for: Digital products, SaaS, subscriptions and businesses selling internationally.
| Detail | 2Checkout |
|---|---|
| International payments | Yes |
| Markets | 200+ countries/territories |
| Currencies | 87 |
| Languages | 15 |
| Domestic payments | Depends on market |
| Cards | Yes |
| Recurring billing | Yes |
| Subscription management | Yes |
| Global checkout | Yes |
| PCI compliance | PCI Level 1 |
| Setup fee | No standard upfront fee |
| Standard pricing | 3.5% + $0.35 per successful sale |
2Checkout currently advertises acceptance in 200 countries/territories, with localized checkout in 15 languages and 87 currencies. Its 2Sell plan is listed at 3.5% + $0.35 per successful sale, while the subscription-focused 2Subscribe plan is listed at 4.5% + $0.45.
This makes it particularly interesting for software companies and subscription-based businesses selling internationally.
10. Authorize.Net
Best suited for: Businesses operating in the United States and Canada, particularly traditional online businesses and eCommerce.
| Detail | Authorize.Net |
|---|---|
| Main market | United States |
| Canada | Supported through appropriate merchant arrangements |
| International customer payments | Possible depending on merchant setup |
| Credit cards | Yes |
| Debit cards | Yes |
| eCheck | Yes |
| Recurring billing | Yes |
| Invoicing | Yes |
| Fraud tools | Yes |
| Payment gateway | Yes |
Authorize.Net currently lists a plan at $25/month, with separate processing rates. Its published pricing includes eCheck processing at 0.75% and credit-card processing at 10¢ per transaction plus a 10¢ daily batch fee for that gateway-plus-eCheck offering.
Its eCheck service is specifically noted as being available for businesses based in the United States.
11. Mollie
Best suited for: European businesses and online stores selling across Europe.
| Detail | Mollie |
|---|---|
| Primary markets | Europe + UK + Switzerland |
| Domestic payments | Yes |
| International payments | Yes |
| Cards | Yes |
| Local European payment methods | Yes |
| Recurring payments | Yes |
| Payment links | Yes |
| Invoicing | Yes |
| Checkout | Yes |
| Setup fee | No standard setup fee |
| Monthly minimum | No standard minimum |
| Pricing | Pay per successful transaction |
Mollie currently offers its services to companies based in the EEA, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, with specific country eligibility requirements.
Its pricing model is transaction-based, with no minimum costs or lock-in contracts under standard pricing. Volume pricing is available for larger merchants.
Mollie supports major card networks and distinguishes pricing between domestic, intra-zone and inter-zone transactions.
12. Square
Best suited for: Small businesses, retailers, restaurants and businesses combining online and physical payments.
| Detail | Square |
|---|---|
| Main markets | Selected countries |
| Online payments | Yes |
| In-person payments | Yes |
| Cards | Yes |
| Digital wallets | Yes |
| Bank payments | Available in selected markets |
| POS | Yes |
| Online store | Yes |
| Invoicing | Yes |
| Payment links | Yes |
| Best feature | Online + physical payment ecosystem |
Square’s payment-method availability varies according to the country where the seller is based. Its documentation specifically lists support by country for card payments, digital wallets, ACH and other methods.
Square is therefore particularly useful for businesses that want one payment ecosystem for both a website and physical stores.
Quick Payment Gateway Comparison
| Payment Gateway | Main Merchant Market | International Payments | Domestic Payments | Pricing Style | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | Global | ✅ | ✅ | Transaction-based | SaaS, eCommerce, global businesses |
| PayPal | Global | ✅ | Country dependent | Transaction-based | International sales |
| Razorpay | India | ✅ | ✅ | Transaction-based | Indian businesses |
| Cashfree | India | ✅ | ✅ | Transaction-based | India + global payments |
| PayU | India | ✅ | ✅ | Transaction-based | Indian eCommerce |
| PhonePe PG | India | Limited/market dependent | ✅ | Offer/custom | UPI-heavy Indian businesses |
| CCAvenue | India | ✅ | ✅ | Transaction-based | Domestic + international India |
| Adyen | Global | ✅ | ✅ | Fixed fee + method fee | Enterprise |
| 2Checkout | Global | ✅ | Market dependent | 3.5% + $0.35* | Digital products/subscriptions |
| Authorize.Net | US-focused | ✅ | ✅ | Monthly + transaction fees | US businesses |
| Mollie | Europe/UK/Switzerland | ✅ | ✅ | Transaction-based | European eCommerce |
| Square | Selected markets | Market dependent | ✅ | Transaction-based | Retail + online |
*2Checkout pricing varies by plan and market. The 3.5% + $0.35 figure refers to its currently published 2Sell plan.
Indian Payment Gateways vs International Payment Gateways
The biggest difference is not simply the country in which the gateway company operates.
It is the payment ecosystem supported by the gateway.
Indian-focused gateways
Razorpay, Cashfree, PayU, PhonePe and CCAvenue are particularly relevant when the business needs:
- UPI
- RuPay
- Indian debit cards
- Indian credit cards
- Net banking
- Indian wallets
- EMI
- BNPL
- Domestic settlements in INR
For an Indian eCommerce website where most customers are in India, these options can be more practical than choosing a purely international gateway.
International-focused gateways
Stripe, PayPal, Adyen and 2Checkout are commonly considered when the business needs:
- International cards
- Multiple currencies
- Global checkout
- International subscriptions
- Recurring billing
- Local payment methods
- International fraud management
- Cross-border payments
Domestic Payment vs International Payment
A domestic payment generally means the merchant and payment instrument are operating within the same country or payment region.
For example:
Indian customer → Indian business → INR → Indian card/UPI
This is a domestic transaction.
An international transaction could look like:
US customer → Indian business → USD/card issued outside India
This is a cross-border transaction.
The important point is that a gateway being capable of international payments does not mean every transaction will be charged at its domestic rate.
International cards can attract additional fees, and currency conversion can create another charge.
Stripe, for example, separately lists additional pricing for international cards and currency conversion in India.
How Payment Gateway Pricing Usually Works
Most gateways use one or more of these pricing models.
1. Percentage per transaction
Example:
2% of transaction value
For a ₹10,000 payment:
₹10,000 × 2% = ₹200
GST or other applicable taxes may then be added to the gateway fee.
2. Percentage + fixed fee
Some international processors use:
2.9% + $0.30
This means the merchant pays both a percentage and a fixed amount.
3. Monthly fee + transaction fee
Some providers can charge a monthly platform/gateway fee in addition to processing charges.
Authorize.Net, for example, currently lists plans containing a monthly fee alongside processing charges.
4. Custom enterprise pricing
Large companies can negotiate rates according to:
- Monthly transaction volume
- Average transaction value
- Industry
- Countries served
- Payment methods
- Risk profile
- Settlement requirements
Adyen and several Indian gateways offer enterprise/custom pricing structures.
Important Features to Compare Before Choosing a Payment Gateway
Price should not be the only factor.
A business should compare the following:
Payment Methods
Does the gateway support the methods your customers actually use?
For India:
UPI + Cards + Net Banking + Wallets + EMI
For international customers:
Cards + PayPal + Apple Pay/Google Pay + bank payments + local payment methods
Currency Support
If you sell internationally, check:
- Which currencies customers can pay in
- Which currencies the gateway can process
- Which currency you receive during settlement
- Currency conversion charges
International Cards
A gateway may support cards but charge a different rate for cards issued outside the merchant’s country.
Refunds
Check:
- Full refunds
- Partial refunds
- Refund processing time
- Refund fees
Recurring Payments
This is particularly important for:
- SaaS
- Membership websites
- Subscription boxes
- Online courses
- Software licences
Payment Links
Useful for businesses that want to send customers a payment URL without building a complete checkout flow.
APIs and SDKs
Developers should check whether the gateway provides:
- REST APIs
- PHP SDK
- Node.js SDK
- Python SDK
- Java SDK
- Mobile SDKs
- Webhooks
Fraud Protection
International transactions can carry greater fraud and chargeback risks. Look for:
- Risk scoring
- 3D Secure
- Tokenization
- Velocity checks
- Chargeback management
- Fraud monitoring
Settlement
Check:
- Settlement currency
- Settlement cycle
- Bank settlement options
- Instant settlement availability
- International settlement requirements
Which Payment Gateway Should You Choose?
There is no single payment gateway that is best for every website.
If your customers are mainly in India
Consider:
Razorpay, Cashfree, PayU, PhonePe PG or CCAvenue
These platforms are particularly useful for UPI, Indian cards, net banking and other domestic payment methods.
If you sell internationally from India
Consider:
Razorpay, Cashfree, PayU, Stripe or CCAvenue
Your final choice should depend on the countries you sell to, currencies required, payment methods and settlement requirements.
If you run a global SaaS business
Consider:
Stripe, Adyen or 2Checkout
Recurring billing, international cards, subscriptions and developer APIs become more important in this situation.
If your business operates mainly in Europe
Consider:
Mollie, Adyen or Stripe
Local European payment methods and country-specific payment behaviour can be more important than simply finding the lowest card-processing rate.
If you operate a US-focused business
Consider:
Stripe, PayPal, Square or Authorize.Net
The best choice depends on whether you need online payments, physical POS, subscriptions, invoicing or a combination of these.
Final Comparison: What Matters Most?
Before integrating a payment gateway into your website, compare these 10 things:
- Merchant country availability
- Customer country support
- Domestic transaction fees
- International transaction fees
- Currency conversion charges
- Supported payment methods
- Settlement currency
- Recurring payment support
- Refund and chargeback handling
- API and website integration options
The cheapest gateway is not necessarily the cheapest solution for your business. A gateway charging 1.9% but producing failed payments or lacking the payment method your customers prefer can cost more in lost sales than a gateway charging slightly more.
For an Indian business, the decision is usually between a domestic-first gateway with international capabilities and a global payment processor. For a business selling worldwide, currency support, local payment methods, fraud prevention and settlement options become just as important as the headline transaction fee.
If you are developing a new website or eCommerce store, the payment gateway should be selected before development is completed, because the gateway affects checkout design, API integration, webhooks, order status, refunds, payment verification and database structure.
