Cashfree vs PayU: India Payment Gateway Comparison (2026)

Head-to-head — the case and the catch for each.

Source-backed facts only; no invented ratings. Each side shows the verified numbers, what earns it, and what to watch for.

Online payment gateways and billing tools✓ The pick

Cashfree Payments

India-first, RBI-licensed payment gateway and payouts platform supporting UPI, cards, net banking, and cross-border payments.

Starts at

Freemium

Free plan

Yes

India fit

INR pricing

The case for

• RBI-licensed for PA, cross-border (PA-CB), and PPI, giving regulatory trust
• Native, India-first UPI and RuPay support with broad payment-mode coverage
• No setup fee and no annual maintenance charge
• Integrated payouts, recurring payments, and KYC alongside collections

The catch

• Headline promotional rate has volume cap and UPI-mix eligibility conditions
• Standard domestic rate (1.95%) is notably higher than the promotional rate
• International card and forex charges add cost for cross-border sellers
• Exact per-category rates (e.g., UPI/RuPay) can vary and need direct verification

Source trail

Cashfree payment gateway charges page (pricing, promo rate, eligibility)Cashfree pricingCashfree official homepage (products, capabilities, customers)

Read the recordVisit Cashfree Payments

Online payment gateways and billing tools

PayU

Indian payment gateway for online businesses, accepting cards, UPI, netbanking, wallets and EMI.

Starts at

Paid / usage-based

Free plan

Not listed

India fit

INR pricing

The case for

• Broad payment-method coverage incl. UPI/EMI
• Established Indian gateway

The catch

• Rates vary by method/volume
• India-focused

Source trail

PayU pricingPayU (official site)

Read the recordVisit PayU

Is Cashfree Payments or PayU cheaper in India?

At least one of these does not publish a clear starting price, so compare their India pricing pages directly — where a price exists, this page shows the all-in GST-registered cost in rupees.

Who should choose Cashfree Payments?

Indian e-commerce and D2C brands collecting payments online

Does Cashfree Payments or PayU have a free plan?

Cashfree Payments offers a free plan; PayU does not list one. For a zero-commitment start, Cashfree Payments is the lower-risk option.

What should Indian businesses check before choosing a Payments & Billing tool?

For Online payment gateways and billing tools, check the real INR cost (with GST), free-plan limits, per-seat versus flat pricing, India-specific support and integrations, setup effort, and the vendor's pricing page directly before committing.