Best International Payment Gateways for Freelancers in India [2025 Review + Alternative]
Working with clients abroad? Great. But how you get paid can cost you more than you think.
There are ample payment gateways to choose from, but we know how busy your schedule is. To save time and give you a detailed overview of popular payment gateways, we have put together this comparison guide.
We have picked the 6 best payment gateways for freelancers in India, highlighted their pros and cons, and at the end, introduced a smarter alternative to receive direct wire transfers.
What to Look for in a Payment Gateway as a Freelancer
The best way to know which payment gateway works for you is to make a list of must-have features and evaluate different platforms based on them. Here’s a readymade list to help you get started:
Transparent fees
A payment platform might advertise low fees on its website homepage, but read the fine print. Does it charge a markup on the exchange rate? Are there intermediary bank charges? Give more weight to a platform that is transparent about these charges.
Card and international payment support
Ask your clients about their preferred payment method. If they prefer cards, then prioritise payment gateways that support card payments.
Settlement time
Quick payments allow you to have cash on hand to manage business expenses or investments, plan your bills, taxes, and savings. With longer settlement time, all of this is hampered, and so could be the exchange rate.
FIRA / compliance docs (for tax filing)
A Foreign Inward Remittance Advice (FIRA) is an important document for tax filing. It proves you have received a foreign payment in India. Check if the payment gateway automatically provides FIRA for free, so you don’t have to chase anyone to obtain it.
Ease of use—no dev work, no complex forms
When you’re always chasing client deadlines, you don’t want to settle for a complicated tool. The best way to find out how simple the tool is to use is by setting it up and using it firsthand. Run a few operations, like adding a client, bank information, and payment tracking. Take it to the next level by evaluating advanced features, like mobile access and automated invoicing. If the platform demands you to fill out complex forms or hire developers to set up a mobile integration, then it might not be the best choice for you.
Best International Payment Gateways for Indian Freelancers
In this section, we’ll cover the top international payment gateways Indian freelancers can use to receive payments, along with a smarter, more affordable alternative you may not have considered
PayPal: Trusted but Costlier Payment Gateways for Indian Freelancers
PayPal is the first on the list of 6 popular payment gateways you can consider. You’ve probably had at least one international client ask to pay you through PayPal, and that’s no surprise. PayPal remains the world’s leading digital payment platform, holding a 45% share of the global online payment market in 2025.
Pros
Accepted in 200+ countries
With PayPal’s availability in 200+ countries and support for 25 currencies, you have access to a truly global client pool. If you want to attract clients from the US, Germany, the UK, or even lesser-connected regions, PayPal’s trusted reputation means your clients can pay you quickly.
Easy payment links and buttons
Payment links are simply personalised URLs that you can share with your clients over email or chat. Pay Now buttons are added to the website or invoice to help your client complete the payment. These techniques are effective because they make it easy for your clients to pay you even when they are busy or are unfamiliar with PayPal.
Supports card payments
PayPal supports all major cards, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. Your clients can use their card even without a PayPal account, and you will still get your money. Offering this flexibility is critical when you’re working with businesses that might have their own company payment policies or preferred payment methods.
Cons
High transaction fee + currency conversion fees (~4.4% + markup)
PayPal takes out a sizeable chunk of your earnings. Standard transaction fees for cross-border payments are around 4.4%. PayPal also adds a currency conversion markup, which can be as much as 4% above the prevailing exchange rate. There is also a fixed fee, which depends on the currency. For USD, it is $0.30.
Limited availability in India
While PayPal is well known globally, some of its features are restricted for Indian users. For example, you can’t keep your PayPal balance in India and must withdraw funds to your local bank account. You also don’t get access to PayPal debit cards. These restrictions may mean missed opportunities to handle your funds more flexibly.
Payoneer: Freelancer-Friendly Gateway with Global Marketplace Support
Payoneer might be a great fit if you work with platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Amazon. With Payoneer, you can create virtual account details in the US, UK, and EU, and track all the payments in a single dashboard.
Pros
Supports multiple currencies (USD, EUR, GBP)
Payoneer supports 70+ currencies. You have the flexibility to accept payments in major currencies like USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, and more. As Payoneer provides virtual accounts, your clients can use domestic payment methods to pay you. The advantage is that you save on international fees and get quicker settlement.
Easy withdrawal to Indian bank accounts
The process of withdrawing your money from Payoneer to your bank account is straightforward. Payoneer handles the currency conversion after receiving the payment and sends the money directly to your local bank, usually within three business days. This ease of withdrawal means you don’t have to stress about liquidity or getting stuck in a lengthy remittance process.
Marketplace integrations
Payoneer’s integration with multiple marketplaces lets you channel all your payments to one centralised account. This is a huge win because you don’t need to handle separate payout systems. Payoneer’s advanced features also allow you to request payments from your clients and track your incoming payments.
Cons
Complex fee structure
Payoneer’s fee structure could be overwhelming, especially if you’re new to international payments. You pay up to 3.2% for payments received via credit card, and while getting paid from another Payoneer user is free, the charges for marketplace payouts or direct bank transfers vary by platform. There’s also an annual inactivity fee ($29.95) if your account isn’t used for 12 months.
Forex markup
Every time Payoneer converts currency to INR for you, they add a forex markup of upto 3% above the mid-market rate. This means if the current mid-market rate of USD to INR is Rs. 85, then Payoneer will offer an effective exchange rate of Rs. 82.45. For a $1000 payment, you lose Rs 2,550 due to forex markup.
Stripe: Advanced Tools, But a Complex Payment Gateway for Freelancers
Stripe is a developer-friendly payment gateway that supports over 135 currencies and operates in 195 countries. It’s widely used by SaaS companies and tech startups for its powerful APIs and automation features. While freelancers can use Stripe to receive international payments—especially for recurring or subscription-based services, it’s better suited for those with technical know-how or productized offerings.
Pros
Clean checkout experience
A complicated checkout experience often leads to abandoned payments and lost revenue. Stripe helps you to avoid this by letting you build a clean, professional checkout that looks great on any device. You can embed Stripe’s pre-built payment form on your website. Or, you can redirect your clients to a Stripe-hosted payment page, which you can customise using your logo and brand colours.
Global card support
With Stripe, you can accept payments from virtually any major credit or debit card worldwide: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, Diners, China UnionPay, and more. This is great news if your clients prefer paying via a card.
Subscription and recurring payment support
Stripe’s advanced subscription tools let you set up automated billing for recurring services. For example, if you provide a monthly website maintenance package, Stripe can automatically bill your client every month. You don’t have to spend time sending payment reminders to your clients anymore. It also becomes easy to handle upgrades, downgrades, and plan changes with minimal friction.
Cons
Invite only in India
Stripe works on an invite-only model in India. This means you cannot sign up directly; you have to request access first, and only if it’s approved, can you use Stripe. Right now, Stripe is accepting applications from businesses focused on international expansion. If you’re a gig worker or a small agency, your chances of getting that approval are quite slim.
Fees
Stripe charges a 4.3% processing fee for foreign currency transactions. There is also a currency conversion fee of 2%. That means you will lose 6.3% to fees for every foreign payment you get through Stripe. For a $10,000 payment, that’s $630 reduced to fees
No FIRA
Stripe does not issue FIRA. It offers a payment advice which you then need to take to the bank to get your FIRA. This is a pain point because you’ll have to rely on your receiving bank to generate the FIRA instead. The bank process for getting FIRA is often manual and time-consuming, so you may end up chasing a lot of paperwork.
Cashfree: India-Based Payment Gateway for Freelancers and Startups
Cashfree is an Indian payment gateway designed to help Indian businesses, especially startups and small service providers, accept both domestic and international payments. If you’re a freelancer who works with global as well as Indian clients, Cashfree can be a practical option. It offers developer-friendly APIs, easy integrations, and flexible settlement options.
Pros
Accepts International Card Payments
Cashfree supports all major global card networks, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Maestro. This makes it easy for international clients to pay using their preferred cards. However, international transaction fees vary depending on the card network and can include currency conversion charges.
Multi-Currency Support
You can receive payments in Indian Rupees (INR) and over 30 major foreign currencies like USD, EUR, and GBP. Managing both domestic and international clients through a single dashboard helps simplify accounting and reduces the need for multiple platforms.
Easy Integrations (No Coding Needed)
Cashfree integrates easily with popular platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, and even WhatsApp. Freelancers running online stores or showcasing portfolios on websites can start accepting payments without needing technical expertise.
Cons
International Payment Fees
For international card payments, Cashfree charges a base fee of 2.95%–2.99% depending on the card type. Additional forex conversion fees may apply, making it costlier compared to some other alternatives for freelancers receiving large international transfers.
Documentation and Approval Required
To enable international payments,
Cashfree may require document verification such as PAN, bank details, and sometimes GST registration—especially for certain payment methods or business types. Approval can take a few working days.
PayU: Enterprise-Grade Payment Gateway, But Freelancer-Friendly Too
PayU is a global payment gateway with strong roots in India, supporting over 4.5 lakh merchants. While it's known for serving large e-commerce companies, its user-friendly interface and flexible features also make it a viable option for freelancers looking to accept international payments.
Pros
100+ Payment Methods Supported
PayU allows you to accept payments via a wide range of options, including UPI, net banking, credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, RuPay, Maestro, Diners), wallets, EMI, and Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL). For international clients, this flexibility helps reduce payment friction by offering convenient methods.
Recurring Billing & Easy Payment Links
If you offer subscription-based services or receive monthly retainers, PayU supports automated recurring billing with reminders. You can also send payment links directly to clients via email, WhatsApp, or social media—ideal for freelancers without a full website.
Works for Both Indian and International Clients
PayU supports multi-currency processing and settlement, enabling freelancers to cater to both domestic and international clients through a single platform.
Cons
Charges for Small Accounts
Freelancers typically face a 3%+ fee for receiving international card payments. The pricing model is tiered, and better rates are often reserved for enterprise accounts with higher transaction volumes.
Complicated Onboarding for International Payments
To enable international payments, PayU may require extensive documentation like a PAN, GST certificate, website or portfolio, and in some cases, audited financials or an import-export code (IEC). This can be a blocker for early-stage freelancers.
No Automatic FIRA Generation
PayU doesn’t generate Foreign Inward Remittance Advice (FIRA). You’ll need to depend on your bank to obtain these documents for compliance, something service exporters must track manually.
Skydo: A Smarter Alternative to Traditional Payment Gateways
Traditional payment gateways are convenient, but they come at a cost. The forex fees are on the higher side, and some of them do not provide an FIRA. So if your international clients prefer paying via wire transfers instead of cards, Skydo might be a better fit. It’s a modern payment solution designed for freelancers who invoice clients directly and want seamless, fast cross-border payments with a stress-free compliance process.
Why freelancers use Skydo:
- Live Exchange Rates, No Markup
With Skydo, you always get live exchange rates with no hidden forex markup. This means you will always know how much money you will receive in your bank account.
- Instant FIRA — Fully Compliant
Skydo generates your Foreign Inward Remittance Advice (FIRA) instantly and for free as soon as you receive payment. There’s no need to chase your bank for it.
- Global Bank Accounts (USD, EUR, GBP)
Skydo provides access to major currencies, like USD, EUR, and GBP, through virtual accounts. They are like digital addresses linked to your Indian bank account. You can create a virtual account in key countries, like the US, UK, and Australia, without actually going there. The advantage is that your clients can pay you with a simple local bank transfer. You don’t have to bear the SWIFT fees and the delays that are associated with wire transfers.
- Faster Settlements – Typically 24 Hours
Wire transfers via Skydo usually settle in your Indian bank within 24 hours. This is much faster compared to 5 days taken by banks to settle a wire transfer
- Flat, Transparent Fee Structure
There are no hidden fees. Skydo charges a flat fee per transaction, so you always know exactly what you’ll pay.
- Designed for Freelancers Sending Professional Invoices
If you send invoices directly to your international clients, Skydo can help you with that as well. You can create GST-compliant invoices in Skydo, send payment reminders, and track the payment too.
Does Skydo sound like the payment tool you were looking for to scale your freelance business? Sign up for a free demo now
What is the best payment gateway for freelancers in India?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Freelancers working on marketplaces may prefer Payoneer, while those needing subscription billing might go with Stripe. But if you're looking for a simpler, more affordable way to receive international payments without hidden fees or forex markups, Skydo is a smart alternative worth exploring.
Can freelancers in India use PayPal or Payoneer to receive international payments?
Which platform offers the lowest fees for receiving international payments in India?
