BHIM
NPCI's own UPI payments app for sending, requesting and paying money from an Indian bank account.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Android, iOS
Is BHIM free?
Yes, free to use
Switch from BHIM to
All 4
Google PayFree
PhonePeFree
- MoMobiKwik
Free
- Verified facts
- 5 of 5
- Alternatives ranked
- 4
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About BHIM
BHIM (Bharat Interface for Money) is the UPI app run by NPCI, the organisation that operates India's UPI network, through its subsidiary NBSL. It links directly to your bank account so you can send or request money using a mobile number or UPI ID, scan UPI QR codes at shops, pay online merchants, and set up recurring payments with UPI AUTOPAY. UPI Circle lets a trusted person pay from your account within limits you set. To sign up you need an Indian bank account, a mobile number registered with it, and a debit card. It is free to use and available in several Indian languages. Compared with Google Pay, PhonePe or Paytm, BHIM keeps to payments: there are fewer cashback offers and far fewer extras such as investments, insurance or ticket booking. It suits people in India who want a plain, ad-light UPI app from the network operator itself. It runs on Android and iPhone.
Best for: People in India who want a plain UPI app run by the network operator itself.
Pros and cons
What works
- Run by NPCI, the operator of UPI
- Free, with few upsells compared with commercial UPI apps
- Supports UPI AUTOPAY and UPI Circle
- Available in several Indian languages
Why people leave
- Works only with Indian bank accounts and mobile numbers
- Fewer rewards and extra services than PhonePe or Paytm
- Needs a debit card to set up
BHIM vs Google Pay, PhonePe and MobiKwik
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | BHIM | Google Pay | PhonePe | MobiKwik |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Verified price | — | — | — | — |
| Free plan | Free app | Free app | Free app | Free app |
| Open source | No | No | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | Android, iOS | Android, iOS | Android, iOS | Android, iOS, Web |
Top BHIM alternatives
See all 4- 1Google Pay68.8
Similarly simple bank-linked UPI app, with scratch-card rewards and a polished interface.
- 2PhonePe64.8
India's most used UPI app, adding bill payments, investments, insurance and travel booking.
- 3MoMobiKwik59.4
Wallet-plus-UPI app that lets you pay via UPI without linking a bank account.
- 4
CRED57.5Pays UPI and credit card bills in one place, with cashback rewards that BHIM doesn't offer.
Why people left BHIM
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Reviews
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BHIM: common questions
What is BHIM?
BHIM: NPCI's own UPI payments app for sending, requesting and paying money from an Indian bank account. Best for people in India who want a plain UPI app run by the network operator itself. Available for Android and iOS.
Is BHIM free?
Yes, BHIM is free to use.
Is BHIM open source?
No, BHIM is not open source.
What platforms does BHIM run on?
BHIM is available for Android and iOS.
What are the best alternatives to BHIM?
The highest-ranked BHIM alternatives right now are Google Pay, PhonePe and MobiKwik. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
BHIM vs Google Pay: what's the difference?
Both BHIM and Google Pay are free to use. Both run on Android and iOS.