Razorpay vs Stripe: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Razorpay and Stripe? Both are popular payment gateway tools. Below we compare them on pricing, free tiers, features, and pros & cons so you can pick the right fit for your stack.
Razorpay is for: Businesses selling to customers in India who need UPI, cards, netbanking, wallets and EMI in one gateway.
Stripe is for: Developers who want card and wallet payments through an API, with billing, tax and a merchant-of-record option from the same company.
Quick verdict
There’s no single winner; pick on your constraint. Choose Razorpay if your customers mostly pay in India. Choose Stripe if you want to build checkout and billing through an API.
Razorpay vs Stripe — Side by Side
| Razorpay | Stripe | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Payment Gateway | Payment Gateway |
| What it is | Payment gateway | Payments platform |
| Merchant of record | No | No by default; yes with Managed Payments (+3.5%) |
| Online card fee | 2% platform fee (India) + 18% GST | 2.9% + 30¢ (US) |
| Monthly fee | None | None |
| Built for | Businesses selling in India | Online businesses of any size |
| Pricing | Usage-based | Usage-based |
| Starting price | Pay-as-you-go | Pay-as-you-go |
| Free tier | — | — |
| Best for | Payment Gateway — India, UPI, payment gateway | Payment Gateway — payments API, developers, global cards |
Pros & Cons
- Built for UPI and Indian payment methods
- No monthly fee
- Rich payment methods
- Good developer docs
- Gateway, not merchant of record
- India-focused
- You handle tax compliance
- Cards, ACH and wallets through one API
- No setup or monthly fees
- Merchant of record available through Managed Payments
- You handle sales tax unless you add Managed Payments (+3.5%)
- International cards and currency conversion add fees
- $15 per dispute
Key Features Compared
Razorpay
- Standard: 2% platform fee across domestic methods, including UPI, RuPay, cards, netbanking and wallets
- Corporate cards 2.15%; international cards up to 3%; international bank transfers 1%
- GST of 18% applies to the platform fee
- No setup fee, annual maintenance charge or refund fee
Stripe
- US cards and wallets: 2.9% + 30¢ per successful transaction; +0.5% manually entered, +1.5% international, +1% currency conversion
- ACH Direct Debit: 0.8%; Billing: 0.8% of billing volume
- Disputes: $15 per dispute
- No setup or monthly fees on standard pricing
- Managed Payments: Stripe becomes merchant of record for 3.5% on top of standard processing fees
Choose Razorpay if…
- Your customers mostly pay in India.
- You need UPI, netbanking and EMI as well as cards.
- You want one flat platform fee across domestic methods.
Choose Stripe if…
- You want to build checkout and billing through an API.
- You want to handle tax yourself now and add a merchant of record later.
- You want cards, ACH and wallets from one account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Razorpay better than Stripe?⌄
There’s no single winner; pick on your constraint. Choose Razorpay if your customers mostly pay in India. Choose Stripe if you want to build checkout and billing through an API.
What is the difference between Razorpay and Stripe?⌄
What it is — Razorpay: Payment gateway. Stripe: Payments platform. Merchant of record — Razorpay: No. Stripe: No by default; yes with Managed Payments (+3.5%). Online card fee — Razorpay: 2% platform fee (India) + 18% GST. Stripe: 2.9% + 30¢ (US). Built for — Razorpay: Businesses selling in India. Stripe: Online businesses of any size.
Razorpay vs Stripe: which is cheaper?⌄
Razorpay pricing: Usage-based. Stripe pricing: Usage-based. Confirm current pricing on each tool's official site, as plans change.
When should I skip both Razorpay and Stripe?⌄
Skip Razorpay if you sell mostly outside India. Stripe and Paddle are built for global card payments. Skip Stripe if you want a merchant of record from day one at one flat rate. Paddle and Polar charge 5% + 50¢ with tax included.
Sources · tool facts checked November 2026
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