Here’s a comprehensive 2026 guide to the Top 20 Payment Gateways in India — including key features, pros & cons, and a comparison to help you choose the right one for your business needs (eCommerce, startups, SMEs, enterprises, international sales, etc.).
⭐ What Is a Payment Gateway?
A payment gateway securely authorises and processes payments between customers, banks, and merchants — for online stores, apps, and platforms. It handles cards, UPI, wallets, netbanking, BNPL, and sometimes international payments.
🔝 Top 20 Payment Gateways in India (2026)
Below are the most widely used and growing payment gateways in India — combining market share, flexibility, feature-set, and developer friendliness.
| No | Gateway |
|---|---|
| 1 | Razorpay |
| 2 | PayU |
| 3 | Cashfree |
| 4 | CCAvenue |
| 5 | Instamojo |
| 6 | PhonePe for Business |
| 7 | Paytm Payments |
| 8 | Stripe India |
| 9 | Easebuzz |
| 10 | BillDesk |
| 11 | PayKun |
| 12 | Zaakpay |
| 13 | Atom Paynetz (NTT Data) |
| 14 | TransactBridge |
| 15 | PayGlocal |
| 16 | QuickPay (upcoming) |
| 17 | Zoho Payments |
| 18 | PayPal India* |
| 19 | Global BNPL/UPI integrated PGs |
| 20 | Bank-linked gateways (HDFC SmartGateway etc.) |
(Note: PayPal India and global gateways serve international merchants or cross-border payments.)
🧩 1. Razorpay
Features
- 100+ payment modes (cards, UPI, wallets, netbanking, EMI, BNPL)
- APIs & plugins for all major platforms
- Subscriptions, marketplace payouts
- Real-time status & analytics
Pros
✔ Easy setup & modern dashboard
✔ Competitive pricing
✔ Good success rates & mobile-friendly
✔ Strong developer tools
Cons
✘ Can be pricey for enterprise international plans
🧩 2. PayU
Features
- 150+ payment methods, including international cards
- Risk & fraud analytics
- Smart checkout UI
Pros
✔ Excellent fraud tools
✔ Strong for large merchants
✔ Easy global expansion
Cons
✘ Support responsiveness varies by plan
🧩 3. Cashfree
Features
- Payments + payouts & bulk payouts
- Flexible APIs & SDKs
- Competitive UPI pricing
Pros
✔ Great for marketplaces
✔ Low UPI rates
✔ Instant payouts (optional)
Cons
✘ International card fees higher
🧩 4. CCAvenue
Features
- One of India’s oldest gateways
- Supports 200+ payment options
- Multilingual checkout
Pros
✔ Highly customisable
✔ Good for large enterprises
Cons
✘ Setup can be slower
✘ Higher fees for international cards
🧩 5. Instamojo
Features
- Plug-and-play for small businesses
- Simple invoicing & checkout
Pros
✔ Great for SMEs & creators
✔ Fixed pricing structure
Cons
✘ Fewer enterprise features
🧩 6. PhonePe for Business
Features
- Massive UPI base (dominates Indian real-time payments)
- New one-click card checkout
Pros
✔ Excellent UPI success rate
✔ Great in-app experience
Cons
✘ Limited international support
🧩 7. Paytm Payments
Features
- Smart routing, direct bank integrations for high success rate
- Works well with POS & wallets
Pros
✔ Excellent for POS + UPI
✔ Strong brand trust
Cons
✘ Merchant support varies
🧩 8. Stripe India
Features
- Global gateway with Indian operations
- Developer-centric APIs
Pros
✔ Excellent international features
✔ Global currency support
Cons
✘ Slightly complex for beginners
🧩 9. Easebuzz
Features
- Multiple checkout types (hosted, iframe, API)
Pros
✔ Flexible integration
✔ Good for niche use cases
Cons
✘ Smaller market share
🧩 10. BillDesk
Features
- Strong legacy in recurring & bill payments
Pros
✔ Trusted by enterprises
✔ Good for large utility billing
Cons
✘ Less agile than fintech rivals
🧩 11. PayKun
Features
- Low transaction fees
Pros
✔ Affordable for small businesses
Cons
✘ Fewer advanced tools
🧩 12. Zaakpay
Features
- Good netbanking & card support
Pros
✔ Strong desktop integrations
Cons
✘ Limited modern features
🧩 13. Atom Paynetz (NTT Data)
Features
- EMI & custom enterprise support
Pros
✔ Good for large merchants
Cons
✘ Slightly old-school interface
🧩 14. TransactBridge
Features
- Merchant-of-Record handling compliance & settlements
Pros
✔ Eases global expansion
✔ Handles tax & compliance
Cons
✘ Higher fees
🧩 15. PayGlocal
Features
- Focus on cross-border capabilities
Pros
✔ Supports multi-currency checkout
Cons
✘ Still gaining traction
🧩 16. QuickPay (Quicktouch)
Notes
- Obtained RBI payment aggregator approval
Pros
✔ Emerging player with strong compliance
Cons
✘ Not fully mainstream yet
🧩 17. Zoho Payments
Features
- PKI + POS devices + virtual accounts
- Integrates with Zoho ecosystem
Pros
✔ Great for Zoho users
✔ End-to-end finance stack
Cons
✘ Smaller standalone market presence
🧩 18. PayPal India*
Features
- Global name + trust
Pros
✔ Good for international payments
Cons
✘ Higher fees locally
🧩 19. Global BNPL/UPI Gateways
Pros
✔ BNPL support increases conversions
✔ UPI boosts success rates
Cons
✘ Rates & compliance still evolving
🧩 20. Bank-linked Gateways (e.g., HDFC SmartGateway)
Pros
✔ High reliability & bank trust
Cons
✘ Less feature-rich APIs
📊 Quick Comparison (2026)
| Provider | Domestic Fees | International | Best For | Ease of Integration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Razorpay | Medium | Yes | All sizes | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| PayU | Medium | Yes | Growth merchants | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Cashfree | Low UPI | Limited | Payouts & marketplaces | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| PhonePe | Very Low (UPI) | Limited | UPI merchants | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Stripe | Medium | Yes | Global sellers | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Paytm | Medium | Limited | Retail + POS | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| CCAvenue | Medium | Yes | Enterprises | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Instamojo | Medium | Limited | SMEs | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Easebuzz | Medium | Yes | Custom integrations | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| BillDesk | Negotiable | Limited | Utilities | ⭐⭐ |
(*Indicative based on market data and typical pricing structures in 2025–26.)
⚙️ Key Features to Consider (2026)
✔ Success Rate & UPI Support – Critical for Indian market conversion
✔ Multi-Currency & International Checkout – For global e-commerce
✔ APIs & Plugins – Ease of technical integration
✔ Security & Compliance – RBI 2FA mandatory from 2026 onward
✔ Payout & Settlement Speed – Faster cash flow
📌 Final Tips
🔹 Use two gateways if possible — one for UPI-heavy domestic payments and one for international sales.
🔹 Test checkout success rates on UPI and cards before choosing.
🔹 Check fraud protection, refund processes and dashboard insights.