Cashfree Payments vs Stripe
Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
Cashfree Payments
Indian payment gateway and payouts platform for collecting and sending money via UPI, cards and bank transfers.
Stripe
Developer-focused online payments platform for accepting cards, wallets and local payment methods worldwide.
The short answer
Cashfree Payments is an Indian gateway and payouts platform for businesses registered in India, with UPI, cards, netbanking and bulk payouts settled in rupees. Stripe is a global, developer-focused payments platform with 135+ currencies and add-ons for billing, tax and marketplaces. Pick Cashfree for Indian collections and high-volume payouts; pick Stripe for selling internationally from a supported country with strong developer tools.
Cashfree Payments or Stripe: our take
Cashfree Payments is built around the Indian market. It offers a gateway with 180+ payment modes, including UPI, cards, netbanking, wallets, EMI and pay-later, plus hosted checkout, payment links, subscriptions and a payouts API for paying vendors, customers and employees. It can accept international cards and PayPal across 140+ currencies, but everything settles in INR, and it is aimed at businesses registered in India. Identity and bank-account verification APIs and a native Shopify integration for Indian stores round it out.
Stripe is a global platform for accepting money online and in person, with 135+ currencies and 100+ payment methods from one integration. Developers use its well-documented APIs and test mode or prebuilt Checkout and payment links, and add Billing, tax calculations in 100+ countries, fraud screening, Connect for marketplace payouts, card issuing and terminals as needed. Its availability depends on the country where your business is registered.
Both charge per transaction with no setup fee. Cashfree's standard fee is 1.95% + taxes per transaction, 2.99% for international cards, with Amex and Diners costing more; payouts run from ₹3 per NEFT payout up to ₹1,000. Stripe's card pricing is 2.9% + a fixed fee per successful domestic card charge, with rates varying by country and payment method and separate fees for add-ons such as Billing and Tax. Cashfree is managed through a web dashboard and APIs; Stripe also has iOS and Android apps.
A marketplace, lender, insurer or D2C store in India that needs both collections and bulk payouts will find Cashfree closer to what it needs. A SaaS business or marketplace selling to customers in many countries, and registered somewhere Stripe operates, will be better served by Stripe.
Which should you pick?
Choose Cashfree Payments if…
- Indian businesses that need both payment collection and high-volume payouts
- Standard rate slightly below the common 2% Indian benchmark
- Payouts and verification APIs sit alongside the gateway
Choose Stripe if…
- SaaS companies and marketplaces that sell internationally and want strong developer tooling
- You need iOS and Android, which Cashfree Payments doesn't list
- Well-documented APIs with a full test mode
- Large set of payment methods and currencies from one integration
About each app
What is Cashfree Payments?
Cashfree Payments is an Indian payments company offering a payment gateway, hosted checkout, payment links, subscriptions and a payouts API for sending money to vendors, customers and employees. Merchants can accept UPI, cards, netbanking, wallets, EMI and pay-later options, and can collect international card and PayPal payments that settle in rupees. It is popular with marketplaces, lending and insurance companies and D2C stores that need both collections and bulk payouts, and it has a native Shopify integration for Indian stores. Pricing is a per-transaction platform fee with no setup charge on the standard plan; card networks such as Amex and international cards cost more, and enterprises can negotiate custom pricing. Cashfree also sells identity and bank-account verification APIs, which helps businesses that onboard many users. It is aimed at businesses registered in India and is managed through a web dashboard and APIs.
What is Stripe?
Stripe is a payments platform used by startups and large internet companies to accept money online and in person. Developers integrate its APIs or use prebuilt pieces such as Checkout, payment links and embeddable UI elements; non-developers can send invoices and payment links from the dashboard. It supports cards, digital wallets, bank debits and many local payment methods across a large number of currencies. Around the core gateway sit products for subscription billing, tax calculation, fraud screening, marketplace payouts (Connect), card issuing and in-person terminals. Standard pricing is pay-as-you-go per successful transaction with no setup or monthly fee; rates differ by country and payment method, and large businesses can get custom pricing. Stripe is known for clear documentation and test tooling, which is why it is a default choice for SaaS and marketplaces. Availability depends on the country where your business is registered, so check that your country is supported before building on it.
Side by side
| Attribute | Cashfree Payments | Stripe |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Paid |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Platforms | Web | Web, iOS, Android |
| Best for | Indian businesses that need both payment collection and high-volume payouts | SaaS companies and marketplaces that sell internationally and want strong developer tooling |
| Status | Active | Active |
Verified facts, compared
Facts both apps publish, checked on each vendor's own site.
| Fact | Cashfree Payments | Stripe |
|---|---|---|
| Payment methods | 180+ payment modes | 100+ |
Cashfree Payments vs Stripe pricing
Cashfree Payments: paid
We couldn't verify Cashfree Payments's plan details on its own site yet, so we don't list them.
Cashfree Payments pricing pagePlatforms
| Platform | Cashfree Payments | Stripe |
|---|---|---|
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android |
Cashfree Payments facts
8 of 8 verified- Standard fee
- 1.95% + taxes per transaction
- Checked Nov 8, 2026cashfree.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “After that, standard Cashfree platform fees of 1.95% + applicable taxes will apply automatically for all transactions.”
- Setup fee
- None
- Checked Nov 8, 2026cashfree.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “With Cashfree, you pay ZERO setup fees.”
- Payment methods
- 180+ payment modes
- Checked Nov 8, 2026cashfree.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “180+ payment modes on web and app”
- International payments
- 140+ currencies, settled in INR
- Checked Nov 8, 2026cashfree.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “PayPal in 140+ currencies, settle in INR”
- Standard pricing
- 1.95% platform fee per transaction
- Checked Nov 8, 2026cashfree.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Platform fee 1.95%”
- International card pricing
- 2.99% platform fee
- Checked Nov 8, 2026cashfree.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “International Cards VISA Mastercard Platform fee 2.99%”
- Bank transfer pricing
- ₹20 per IMPS/NEFT/RTGS payment
- Checked Nov 8, 2026cashfree.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “IMPS/NEFT/RTGS Payments Platform fee ₹20”
- Payout pricing
- From ₹3 per NEFT payout up to ₹1,000
- Checked Nov 8, 2026cashfree.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Up to ₹1,000 NEFT ₹ 3.00”
Stripe facts
7 of 7 verified- Setup and monthly fees
- None on standard pricing
- Checked Nov 8, 2026stripe.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Stripe does not charge setup fees, monthly fees, or any other hidden fees like closure fees.”
- Payment methods
- 100+
- Checked Nov 8, 2026stripe.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “100+ payment methods From Alipay to iDEAL, seamlessly support popular payment methods.”
- Tax automation
- Calculations in 100+ countries
- Checked Nov 8, 2026stripe.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Scale with confidence by automating tax calculations and collections in 100+ countries.”
- Pricing
- Pay as you go, no setup or monthly fees
- Checked Nov 8, 2026stripe.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “pay-as-you-go pricing. No setup fees, monthly fees, or hidden fees.”
- Custom domain price
- $10 per month
- Checked Nov 8, 2026stripe.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Custom domain Use your own domain while hosting your payments page or customer portal on Stripe. US$10.00 per month”
- Card pricing
- 2.9% + a fixed fee per successful domestic card charge
- Checked Nov 8, 2026stripe.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “2.9% + CA$0.30 per successful transaction for domestic cards”
Pros and cons of Cashfree Payments
- Standard rate slightly below the common 2% Indian benchmark
- Payouts and verification APIs sit alongside the gateway
- Accepts international cards and PayPal with INR settlement
- Amex, Diners and international cards cost noticeably more
- Mainly for Indian-registered businesses
- Promotional zero-fee offers come with detailed eligibility terms
Pros and cons of Stripe
- Well-documented APIs with a full test mode
- Large set of payment methods and currencies from one integration
- Billing, tax, fraud and marketplace payouts available as add-ons
- Not available to businesses in every country
- Add-on products like Billing and Tax carry their own fees
- Rates vary by country and payment method, so costs need checking per market
Other apps to consider
RazorpayInstead of Cashfree Payments
The best-known Indian gateway, with a broader set of banking products such as current accounts.
PayU IndiaInstead of Cashfree Payments
Established Indian gateway with simple 2% domestic pricing and EMI options.
InstamojoInstead of Cashfree Payments
Simple payment links and a free online store for Indian small sellers who don't need a full gateway integration.
PaddleInstead of Stripe
Acts as merchant of record, so it handles global sales tax and VAT for software sellers.
Lemon SqueezyInstead of Stripe
Merchant-of-record checkout aimed at indie software and digital product sellers.
PayPalInstead of Stripe
Buyers already know and trust the PayPal button, and it works in many markets without building a custom checkout.
Cashfree Payments vs Stripe: common questions
Is Cashfree Payments better than Stripe?
Cashfree Payments is an Indian gateway and payouts platform for businesses registered in India, with UPI, cards, netbanking and bulk payouts settled in rupees. Stripe is a global, developer-focused payments platform with 135+ currencies and add-ons for billing, tax and marketplaces. Pick Cashfree for Indian collections and high-volume payouts; pick Stripe for selling internationally from a supported country with strong developer tools.
Is Cashfree Payments free?
No. Cashfree Payments is paid, though it may offer a trial.
Is Stripe free?
No. Stripe is paid, though it may offer a trial.
Is Cashfree Payments or Stripe open source?
Neither is open source.
Which platforms do Cashfree Payments and Stripe support?
Cashfree Payments: Web. Stripe: Web, iOS and Android.