Skydo now helps you with all Export Declaration Form (EDF)-related compliance. Learn more

logo

Stripe vs Razorpay: which is better for international payments in 2026?

  • Stripe is the global standard for card payments, trusted by the likes of Amazon and Shopify, but you give up ~7% on every invoice
  • Razorpay is easy for existing domestic users, but the 1% fee grows large as your invoices get bigger
  • Which one is better comes down to your priorities - fees, FIRA, GST handling, and how your clients actually pay you
Accept payment from 150+ countries
USD
Client pays
USD 100USD 100,000
1 USD = 95.73 INR
Live fx rate
You'll receiveINR
₹4,75,374
Stripe
₹4,44,790
You lose:7.1%
Razorpay
₹4,73,002
You lose:1.2%
100+ reviews
Trusted by 40,000+ businesses
Over $1B processed • Licensed by RBI
RBI PA-CB authorizedHDFC BankISO 27001 certifiedVisa

Stripe vs Razorpay: understanding the key differences

While both Stripe and Razorpay let Indian businesses accept global payments, they take different routes: Stripe is built for global card payments at ~7%, while Razorpay handles international bank transfers at 1% with automatic FIRA. Here is how they compare.
Featuresstriperazorpay
Transfer fees4.3% card fee per transaction1% on bank transfers (cards 3%, wallets 3.5%)
Forex markupAround 2% above mid-marketZero, live exchange rate
FIRANot provided, request from your bankAutomatic FIRA per transaction
eBRCNot supported, closed on DGFT after your bank issues the IRMNot supported, closed on DGFT after your bank issues the IRM
GST-compliant invoiceNoBuilt-in invoicing tool that is GST compliant
Settlement time2 to 5 business days1 business day
Customer supportCallback-based & email supportIndia-based support
Best suited forCard billing and subscriptionsLower-value invoices where 1% takes a smaller cut

Stripe vs Razorpay: pricing and forex breakdown

Stripe charges about 4.3% on cards plus a ~2% forex spread, taking the total cost to ~7%, while Razorpay charges 1% on bank transfers and 3% on cards, but with no forex markup. Move the slider to see what each costs.
With Skydo, you receive₹9,54,024
Money transferUSD 10,000
$500$10K$100K$1M
stripe2% markup
₹8,89,581
Exchange rate93.82
Forex markup₹19,146
Card fee₹41,164
Fixed fee₹0
GST (18%)₹7,410
Total fees₹67,719
You receive₹8,89,581
razorpay0% markup
₹9,46,004
Exchange rate95.73
Forex markup₹0
Transfer fee (1%)₹9,573
Fixed fee₹0
GST (18%)₹1,723
Total fees₹11,296
You receive₹9,46,004

Stripe vs Razorpay: compliance, payment rails, and platform comparison

stripe
  • Does not issue FIRA, you request it from your AD bank at ₹200 to ₹500 each, taking 3 to 7 days
  • No automated eBRC, you close it on the DGFT portal once your bank issues the IRM
  • Has Stripe Invoicing, but it does not produce GST-compliant invoices for India
  • Leaves the purpose code to your AD bank at settlement, outside the payment flow
  • SOFTEX and EDPMS are handled separately through your bank, not by Stripe
razorpay
  • Generates a digital FIRA automatically for every transaction on the dashboard
  • No automated eBRC, you close it on the DGFT portal once your bank issues the IRM
  • Has a built-in invoicing tool that produces GST-compliant invoices
  • Leaves the purpose code to your AD bank at settlement, outside the payment flow
  • SOFTEX and EDPMS are handled separately, not by Razorpay

Stripe vs Razorpay: which one is right for you

There is no single winner. The right pick depends on who pays you, how large your invoices are, and how much paperwork you can handle.
01stripe

Choose Stripe if:

You sell to global, card paying customers and want deep developer APIs, subscription billing, and marketplace tooling.
  • You are a SaaS company billing global, card paying customers on subscriptions
  • You are a marketplace that collects from buyers and pays out to many sellers
  • You are a developer led team that wants deep API control and 500+ integrations
  • You are a funded business that can absorb a higher effective cost for that card and developer tooling
02razorpay

Choose Razorpay if:

You want bank transfer rails and 1% pricing with 0 markup, rather than Stripe's card option and a higher effective cost.
  • You are an exporter or freelancer who wants to be paid by local bank transfer, like ACH, SEPA, or SWIFT, rather than card
  • You want 1% with zero forex markup instead of Stripe's roughly 6% effective cost
  • You want automatic per transaction FIRA, which Stripe does not provide
  • You already run on Razorpay's India stack and want gateway, payouts, and collections in one dashboard

Skydo: a better alternative to Stripe and Razorpay

Featuresstriperazorpay
Settlement time2 to 5 days1 business day24 hours
Forex markupAround 2%Zero, live rateZero, live rate
Transaction fee4.3% card fee1% on transfers$19 up to $2k, $29 up to $10k, 0.3% aboveBest
FIRANot provided, via bankAutomatic, per transactionFree, instant, per payment
eBRC and EDPMSNot supported, handled with your AD bankNot supported, handled with your AD bankOne-click eBRC, EDPMS closure assistance
GST invoicingNot built inBuilt in, GST compliantBuilt in, GST compliant
Customer supportCallback-based & emailIndia-based supportIndia-based, on WhatsApp, call and email
Payment trackingDashboard, real timeDashboard, payment statusAuto tracked, remittance to bank deposit
RBI authorisationPA license only, not PA-CBFull PA-CB (Dec 2025)Full PA-CB authorized
Losing money on each transfer but not sure how much?

See what our clients say about us

100+ reviews
Trusted by 40,000+ businesses
Shashank
“I'm looking for straightforward, transparent pricing. With most payment providers, it's hard to understand the actual fees and exchange rates, making it difficult to know what I'm really paying.”ShashankCEO, HCODE

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, Stripe or Razorpay, for international payments in 2026?+
It comes down to how your clients pay you. Stripe is built for card payments, subscriptions, and developer APIs, with an effective cost of around 7%. Razorpay is built for international bank transfers at 1% with no forex markup, automatic FIRA, and settlement to your Indian bank in about a business day. Stripe suits card-led and subscription businesses, while Razorpay suits exporters and freelancers collecting by bank transfer.
Is Stripe cheaper than Razorpay?+
For bank transfers, usually not. Stripe runs about 4.3% on cards plus a roughly 2% forex spread, around 7% all in. Razorpay charges 1% on bank transfers with no markup, and 3% on cards or 3.5% on wallets. If your clients pay by bank transfer, Razorpay is cheaper. Stripe only competes where you specifically need card acceptance.
Which provides better exchange rates, Stripe or Razorpay?+
Razorpay. Stripe builds a forex spread of about 2% into the rate, while Razorpay converts at the live exchange rate with no markup.
Do Stripe and Razorpay provide FIRA for Indian exporters?+
Razorpay generates a digital FIRA automatically for every transaction on the dashboard. Stripe does not, you request it from your AD bank, often at ₹200 to ₹500 each and taking 3 to 7 days. FIRA matters for GST and export compliance.
Are Stripe and Razorpay RBI-approved for receiving payments in India?+
Razorpay holds the full RBI Payment Aggregator Cross Border (PA-CB) licence, granted in December 2025. Stripe holds a PA license (Jan 2024) but not PA-CB, and its India product is in an invite only beta.
Is Stripe or Razorpay better for freelancers or businesses?+
Freelancers and exporters who get paid by international bank transfer are better served by Razorpay, with its 1% fee, automatic FIRA, and fast settlement. Card-led businesses, especially SaaS and subscription products selling to global card customers, are better served by Stripe.
Is there a better alternative to Stripe and Razorpay for receiving money in India?+
Skydo is built for Indian exporters and freelancers. It charges a flat fee ($19 up to $2k, $29 up to $10k, 0.3% above) that works out cheaper than a percentage fee as invoices grow, with zero forex markup, instant FIRA on every payment, built-in GST compliant invoicing, one-click eBRC and EDPMS closure assistance, full RBI PA-CB authorisation, and India-based support.

Ready to save more on international payments?

Start receiving global payments with Skydo and keep more of what you earn.