PayU Pricing: A Complete Fee Breakdown 2026
PayU charges 3% for international card transactions plus GST. Anecdotally we have seen a forex markup of 1.5% to 2.5% on top of that, so confirm your own rate with PayU before you proceed. Here is a worked example vs Skydo.
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PayU Pricing Overview
PayU's published pricing is simple on the surface: 2% on domestic cards, netbanking and wallets, and 3% on international cards, Amex and Diners, with 18% GST on top and no setup or annual fee.
The catch is what sits on top of that. Anecdotally we have seen a forex markup of 1.5% to 2.5% above the MDR, and international acceptance is reviewed case by case before you are quoted a rate.
At 3% plus an FX markup anecdotally around 1.5% to 2.5%, a $5,000 card payment costs roughly $225 to $275 all in. Skydo charges $29 flat on a bank transfer, with the rate shown.
PayU Transfer Fees Explained
PayU prices by payment type. International cards sit in the 3% slab, with a forex markup of roughly 1.5% to 2.5% sitting on top.
Approximate all-in cost for common currencies
FIRA charges
PayU: Not documented publicly for Indian exporters anywhere. Skydo provides free instant per-transaction FIRA.
Multi-currency hold
PayU: No foreign currency accounts at all. Skydo offers multi-currency virtual accounts.
PayU Exchange Rate and FX Margin
Anecdotally we have seen a forex markup of 1.5% to 2.5% on PayU's international card payments. Confirm your own rate with PayU directly before you proceed.
Where PayU costs you is the stack. On a $5,000 card payment the 3% MDR alone is $150, and an FX markup of 1.5% to 2.5% adds another $75 to $125 on top of that.
For consumer e-commerce and subscription businesses selling overseas, PayU's checkout is a sound fit. For an Indian exporter invoicing B2B clients, a card gateway is the wrong shape entirely.
PayU Gaps and Charges to Watch For
PayU publishes its MDR slabs clearly enough. The other charges to know about:
International slab
Overseas cards sit at 3%, against 2% for domestic payments.
Forex markup
Anecdotally 1.5% to 2.5% on top of the MDR, so do confirm your own rate.
18% GST
Applied on top of every fee, so the 3% slab is really 3.54% before any FX cost.
Approval first
International acceptance is off by default and reviewed case by case.
No receiving accounts
There is no USD account a client can transfer to.
T+2 settlement
Funds reach your bank two days after the payment, rather than the same day.
How Much Does PayU Actually Cost? (Real Example)
An Indian exporter invoices a US client $5,000, with today's mid-market rate at 1 USD = ₹95.
Invoice
$5,000.00
Breakdown
PayU — what you lose
Invoice
$5,000.00
Breakdown
Skydo — what you keep
Across 12 monthly $5K invoices: PayU costs ~₹2.52 lakh/year more than Skydo.
PayU Pricing vs Skydo Pricing
Here's a clear side-by-side of every PayU and Skydo fee, so you can see what each platform actually costs you per transaction.
Transaction fee structure
3% intl cards
Flat $19 / $29 / 0.3%
Fee on $1,000 invoice
~$50
$19
Fee on $5,000 invoice
~$250
$29
Fee on $10,000 invoice
~$500
$29
Fee on $50,000 invoice
~$2,500
—
FIRA
Not documented
Free, instant, per payment
Multi-currency hold (India)
No foreign currency accounts at all
Yes
Is PayU Worth the Cost for Indian Exporters?
PayU has real strengths for some businesses. For Indian B2B receivables, the math depends on invoice size and compliance needs.
PayU is worth it when.
You sell to overseas consumers at checkout and already use PayU for domestic payments. You need recurring billing and tokenised cards. You have the volume to reach PayU's published custom pricing slabs.
PayU stops being worth it when.
You are receiving direct B2B invoices at any size. You want the price published before you apply. You need free instant FIRA and automated eBRC. You want bank transfer collections, not a card checkout.
Frequently Asked Questions About PayU Pricing
What is PayU's effective cost on a typical USD to INR transfer?
PayU charges 3% for international cards plus 18% GST. Anecdotally we have seen a forex markup of 1.5% to 2.5% on top, which puts the realistic all-in cost at around 4.5% to 5.5%. On a $5,000 payment that is roughly $225 to $275. Confirm your own rate with PayU before you proceed, as international pricing is quoted after approval.
Does PayU charge a forex markup?
Yes. Anecdotally we have seen a forex markup of 1.5% to 2.5% above the mid-market rate on PayU's international card payments, on top of the 3% MDR. PayU's own international page notes that the bank's foreign exchange cost is usually unknown to the merchant, so confirm your own rate with PayU directly before you proceed.
Are there volume discounts on PayU?
Yes. PayU's pricing page states that businesses with higher volumes or enterprise needs get custom pricing slabs, and that pricing varies by payment mode, industry type, risk profile and transaction volume. No threshold is published, so the level at which better international rates begin is known only by talking to their sales team.
What is the cheapest way to receive payments in India?
Skydo is cheaper at almost every size. It charges $19 up to $2,000, $29 up to $10,000, then 0.3% above that, at the live mid-market rate with free FIRA. PayU charges 3% on international cards plus a forex markup of roughly 1.5% to 2.5%. On a $50,000 invoice that is about $150 against $2,500.
Does PayU provide FIRA?
PayU does not document FIRA or eBRC for Indian exporters on any public page. Skydo issues FIRA free and instantly with every transaction and automates eBRC for Amazon Global Selling sellers. If you export goods and file on DGFT, that difference is the gap between an automated step and a manual one.
Should I use PayU or Skydo?
If overseas customers pay by card at your checkout, PayU is well suited, especially alongside your domestic setup. If you invoice clients directly, Skydo costs less at essentially every invoice size above about $380, settles bank transfers rather than cards, and includes free instant FIRA and automated eBRC.
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