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Adyen vs PayU: which is better for international payments in 2026?

  • Adyen is enterprise-grade omnichannel acquiring trusted by global brands, but it is sales-led, carries a minimum invoice, and cannot collect export payments into India
  • PayU is a domestic-first gateway with full RBI authorisation, but its international product is a card checkout, not a collections account — so B2B invoicing doesn't fit
  • Which one is better comes down to your priorities - fees, FIRA handling, and how your clients prefer to pay
Accept payment from 150+ countries
USD
Client pays
USD 100USD 100,000
1 USD = 85.00 INR
Live fx rate
You'll receiveINR
₹4,22,091
Adyen
₹4,07,434
You lose:4.1%
PayU
₹4,01,455
You lose:5.5%
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Trusted by 40,000+ businesses
Over $1B processed • Licensed by RBI
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Adyen vs PayU: understanding the key differences

Both Adyen and PayU are well-known names for international payments, but they differ in who can use them from India, fees, export documentation like FIRA, GST compliance, settlement timelines, and support. Here is how they compare side by side.
FeaturesadyenPayU
Transfer feesInterchange++ plus 0.60% + $0.13 per transaction (~3.5% est. on international cards)3% on international cards (2% domestic)
Forex markupNot published, contract-specific1.5-2.5% (anecdotal)
FIRANot offered at allNot documented publicly
eBRCNo eBRC, and no inward flow to need it forNot documented
GST-compliant invoiceNot available, no invoicing productNot published
Settlement time2 to 3 business daysT+2 standard (domestic)
Customer supportTicket-based, account managers for enterpriseIndia-based, ticket and email
Best suited forEnterprise omnichannel acquiringConsumer checkout, recurring card billing

Adyen vs PayU: pricing and forex breakdown

Beyond the published fees, the real cost is what lands in your bank after fees, forex and GST. Move the slider to see what each one works out to, and how Skydo compares.
With Skydo, you receive₹8,47,091
Money transferUSD 10,000
$500$10K$100K$1M
adyenFX not published
₹8,14,882
Exchange rate85.00
Forex markup₹0
Card fee₹29,750
Fixed fee₹11
GST (18%)₹5,357
Total fees₹35,118
You receive₹8,14,882
PayU1.5-2.5% markup
₹8,02,910
Exchange rate83.30
Forex markup₹17,000
Card fee₹25,500
Fixed fee₹0
GST (18%)₹4,590
Total fees₹47,090
You receive₹8,02,910

Adyen vs PayU: compliance, payment rails, and platform comparison

adyen
  • No FIRA or e-FIRC — not offered at all
  • No eBRC support — and no inward flow to need it for
  • No GST-compliant invoicing; Adyen has no invoicing product
  • Purpose codes not handled — no export remittances move through Adyen
  • India licences: online PA (Jul 2024) plus import-side PA-CB only
PayU
  • FIRA handling is not documented publicly at all
  • No eBRC generation documented for exporters
  • No documented GST-compliant sales invoicing
  • Purpose code handling is not documented publicly
  • Card checkout only, and no bank transfer collections

Adyen vs PayU: 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.
01adyen

Choose Adyen if:

You are an enterprise selling omnichannel at scale and can meet sales-led minimums.
  • Global brand with an Indian entity acquiring from Indian consumers
  • High-volume retailer unifying online and in-store payments on one stack
  • Marketplace or platform needing split payments and sub-merchant payouts
  • Enterprise with developer teams ready for API integration
02PayU

Choose PayU if:

You want PayU's domestic reach and can absorb 3% plus a 1.5 to 2.5% forex markup on top.
  • Consumer e-commerce brand selling to buyers overseas
  • Ed-tech or SaaS business billing global customers by card
  • Business already running PayU for domestic payments
  • Seller who needs recurring card billing

Skydo: a better alternative to Adyen and PayU

FeaturesadyenPayU
Settlement time2 to 3 business daysT+2 (domestic)24 hours
Forex markupNot published1.5-2.5% (anecdotal)Zero, live rate
Transaction fee~3.5% est. on intl cards3% intl cards$19 up to $2k, $29 up to $10k, 0.3% aboveBest
FIRANot offeredNot documentedFree, instant, per payment
eBRC and EDPMSNot supportedNot documentedOne-click eBRC, EDPMS closure assistance
GST invoicingNot availableNot publishedBuilt in, GST compliant
Customer supportTickets, enterprise account managersIndia-based ticketsIndia-based, on WhatsApp, call and email
Payment trackingReal-time dashboardDashboard reportsAuto tracked, remittance to bank deposit
RBI authorisationPA + import-side PA-CB onlyFull PA aggregation (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, Adyen or PayU, for international payments in 2026?+
It comes down to how your clients pay you and how much compliance you want handled. Adyen is enterprise-grade omnichannel acquiring trusted by global brands, but onboarding is sales-led with a minimum invoice, and its India cross-border licence covers import flows only. PayU is a domestic-first gateway with full RBI authorisation, but its international product is a card checkout, not a collections account — B2B invoicing does not fit. Adyen suits enterprise omnichannel acquiring, while PayU suits consumer checkout and recurring card billing.
Is Adyen cheaper than PayU?+
Usually yes. Adyen prices at Interchange++ plus 0.60% + $0.13, working out to roughly 3.5% on international cards — and its India licence covers import-side flows only, so Indian exporters cannot collect through it. PayU lists 3% for international cards, with an anecdotal 1.5 to 2.5% forex markup on top, landing near 5% all in. Adyen is generally cheaper, though what actually lands in your bank depends on invoice size.
Which provides better exchange rates, Adyen or PayU?+
PayU, on published information. PayU carries an anecdotal 1.5 to 2.5% forex markup on top of the card MDR, while Adyen does not publish FX pricing — it is contract-specific, and Indian merchants settle in INR only.
Do Adyen and PayU provide FIRA for Indian exporters?+
Adyen provides no FIRA or e-FIRC at all. PayU does not document FIRA provision publicly for exporters. For GST refunds and export compliance an instant per-payment FIRA matters — Skydo issues one free with every payment.
Are Adyen and PayU RBI-approved for receiving payments in India?+
Adyen is an RBI-authorised online payment aggregator (July 2024) with PA-CB for outward, import-side flows only. PayU holds full RBI authorisation across online, offline and cross-border payment aggregation (2025).
Is Adyen or PayU better for freelancers or businesses?+
Enterprises with an Indian entity acquiring omnichannel at scale lean towards Adyen — it is not an option for exporters collecting from abroad. Consumer e-commerce brands selling to overseas buyers at checkout lean towards PayU.
Is there a better alternative to Adyen and PayU 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, one-click eBRC and EDPMS closure assistance, built-in GST-compliant invoicing, full RBI PA-CB authorisation, and India-based support.

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