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

  • Stripe is the global standard for card payments, but it is invite-only in India, accepts cards alone, and all-in costs run ~7% on international invoices
  • Remitly is a top-rated consumer remittance app — transfers land in minutes and pricing beats the banks, but it is built for personal payments, not invoices
  • 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
Stripe
₹3,94,936
You lose:7.1%
Remitly
₹4,21,175
You lose:0.9%
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Trusted by 40,000+ businesses
Over $1B processed • Licensed by RBI
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Stripe vs Remitly: understanding the key differences

Both Stripe and Remitly 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.
FeaturesstripeRemitly
Transfer fees4.3% card fee per transaction$3.99 under $1,000, free above (paid by the sender)
Forex markupAround 2% above mid-market~0.3-1.5% inside the exchange rate
FIRANot provided, request from your bankNot issued at any price
eBRCNot supported, closed on DGFT after your bank issues the IRMNot supported, payments never enter the export system
GST-compliant invoiceNot India GST-compliantNot available
Settlement time2 to 5 business daysMinutes (Express) to 3-5 days (Economy)
Customer supportCallback-based & email support24/7 chat and phone, for the sender
Best suited forCard billing and subscriptionsPersonal remittances from family abroad

Stripe vs Remitly: 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
stripe2% markup
₹7,89,871
Exchange rate83.30
Forex markup₹17,000
Card fee₹36,550
Fixed fee₹0
GST (18%)₹6,579
Total fees₹60,129
You receive₹7,89,871
Remitly~0.3-1.5% markup
₹8,42,350
Exchange rate84.23
Forex markup₹7,650
Transfer fee₹0
Fixed fee₹0
GST (18%)₹0
Total fees₹7,650
You receive₹8,42,350

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

stripe
  • No FIRA from Stripe — partner bank emails a payment advice, FIRC via your own bank
  • No automated eBRC, generate manually through DGFT
  • Invoicing shows GSTIN but is not India GST-compliant, no IRN or QR
  • One RBI purpose code per account, fixed at onboarding
  • SOFTEX and EDPMS handled separately via your bank
Remitly
  • No FIRA or FIRC issued, at any price
  • Payments arrive under personal purpose codes (P1301/P1302), not export codes
  • No GST-compliant invoicing — no invoicing at all
  • No eBRC support; EDPMS entries are never created
  • Consumer terms prohibit business use outright — it's a breach of the user agreement

Stripe vs Remitly: 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 want Stripe's card checkout and developer stack, and can absorb a ~7% all-in cost.
  • SaaS business already inside Stripe's invite programme
  • Checkout-first sellers whose customers pay by card
  • Teams that need subscriptions and billing automation
  • Businesses that can live with payment-advice-based FIRC paperwork
02Remitly

Choose Remitly if:

You want Remitly's consumer speed and polish, and the payment is genuinely personal.
  • Client is an individual who already uses the app
  • Small, occasional transfers with no paperwork needs
  • Speed to UPI or a bank account is the top priority
  • You accept personal-remittance classification and no FIRA

Skydo: a better alternative to Stripe and Remitly

FeaturesstripeRemitly
Settlement time2 to 5 business daysMinutes to 3-5 days24 hours
Forex markupAround 2%~0.3-1.5% in the rateZero, live rate
Transaction fee4.3% card fee$3.99 under $1K, else free (sender pays)$19 up to $2k, $29 up to $10k, 0.3% aboveBest
FIRANot provided, via bankNot issuedFree, instant, per payment
eBRC and EDPMSNot supported, handled with your AD bankNot supportedOne-click eBRC, EDPMS closure assistance
GST invoicingNot built inNot availableBuilt in, GST compliant
Customer supportCallback-based & emailSender-side onlyIndia-based, on WhatsApp, call and email
Payment trackingDashboard, real timeSender app trackingAuto tracked, remittance to bank deposit
RBI authorisationPA license only, not PA-CBNot on PA-CB register (RDA rail)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 Remitly, for international payments in 2026?+
It comes down to how your clients pay you and how much compliance you want handled. Stripe is the global standard for card payments with strong developer tools, at around 7% all in, but it is invite-only in India and accepts cards only. Remitly is a top-rated consumer remittance app whose transfers land in minutes, but it moves personal remittances — business income arrives misclassified with no FIRA. Stripe suits card-led and subscription businesses, while Remitly suits genuinely personal transfers, not invoices.
Is Stripe cheaper than Remitly?+
Usually not. Stripe is about 4.3% on cards plus a roughly 2% conversion markup, around 7% all in. Remitly's cost sits almost entirely inside the exchange rate at roughly 0.3 to 1.5%, and the overseas sender pays it — but no FIRA is ever issued and transfers arrive under personal purpose codes. Remitly is generally cheaper — but it is a consumer remittance app: the costs sit with your sender, no FIRA is issued, and business use breaches its terms, though what actually lands in your bank depends on invoice size.
Which provides better exchange rates, Stripe or Remitly?+
Remitly. Stripe's currency conversion adds about 2% above mid-market, while Remitly builds roughly 0.3 to 1.5% into the exchange rate, varying by corridor and tier.
Do Stripe and Remitly provide FIRA for Indian exporters?+
Stripe does not issue FIRA — its partner bank emails a payment advice and you obtain FIRC via your own bank. Remitly issues no FIRA or FIRC at any price — a personal-remittance credit is not export-classified. For GST refunds and export compliance an instant per-payment FIRA matters — Skydo issues one free with every payment.
Are Stripe and Remitly RBI-approved for receiving payments in India?+
Stripe holds a domestic PA licence (Jan 2024) but not PA-CB, and its India product is invite-only. Remitly has no RBI authorisation of its own — it delivers via partner banks under the Rupee Drawing Arrangement, a personal-remittance rail.
Is Stripe or Remitly better for freelancers or businesses?+
Card-led businesses, especially SaaS and subscription products selling to global card customers, lean towards Stripe. Remitly only fits genuinely personal transfers — its consumer terms prohibit business use outright.
Is there a better alternative to Stripe and Remitly 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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