Payment Gateway In India List 2024: Pros, Cons, And Unique Features Compared

The term “payment gateway” refers to an e-commerce service that processes credit or debit card transactions when customers make purchases online. It is a secure and reliable method of transmitting payment information from the customer’s browser to the merchant’s server.

What is the Meaning of Payment Gateway?

A payment gateway is essentially an online equivalent of a point-of-sale (POS) machine that one finds at a traditional brick-and-mortar store. The difference is that a payment gateway allows for real-time processing of financial transactions without the need for physical cards to be present. Payment gateways typically encrypt sensitive information – such as credit card numbers – to ensure that it can only be read by the intended recipient.

In order to use a payment gateway in India, a customer must usually provide their billing details, such as name, address, and card number. This information is then transmitted to the merchant’s bank for authorization. If the transaction is approved, funds are transferred from the customer’s account to the merchant’s account.

Why Use Payment Gateway In India?

There are several benefits to using a payment gateway In India for online transactions in India:

Overall, payment gateways have become an integral part of e-commerce in India, offering secure and convenient ways for customers to make purchases online while allowing merchants to accept payments from customers all over the world.

Payment gateway tools are important for online businesses that need to accept payments from customers in a fast and secure manner. There are many payment gateway tools available, below are  payment gateway list:

1. Zoho Checkout: This payment gateway tool allows businesses to customize their payment pages and also provides support for multiple payment options.
2. Razorpay: This payment gateway tool offers a simple checkout process and supports various payment methods, including credit/debit cards, net banking, UPI, and more.
3. Cashfree: This is another popular payment gateway tool in India that offers a range of payment options, including cards, net banking, UPI, and more.
4. Instamojo: This payment gateway tool is designed for small businesses and startups and offers easy integration with websites and apps.
5. Ccavenue: This payment gateway tool offers a range of payment options, including credit/debit cards, net banking, wallets, and more.
6. PayU: This payment gateway tool offers a range of payment options across multiple countries and has a robust fraud detection system.
7. Billdesk: This payment gateway tool is used by many large businesses in India and offers various payment options and features like recurring payments and refunds.
8. PayPal: This is a well-known payment gateway tool that supports various payment options and currencies across multiple countries.
9. Atom: This payment gateway tool offers a range of payment options, including credit/debit cards, net banking, and more.
10. Stripe: This payment gateway tool is popular among startups and offers easy integration with websites and apps, as well as support for various payment options.

These payment gateway tools offer different features and pricing plans, so it’s important to choose one that best fits your business needs.

1. Zoho Checkout

Zoho Checkout is a payment gateway service that allows businesses to accept online payments from customers. Here are some of its pros and cons along with its unique features:

Pros:

Multiple Payment Options: Zoho Checkout supports multiple payment options including credit cards, debit cards, net banking, wallets, and UPI, making it convenient for customers to make a payment.
Affordable Pricing: Zoho Checkout offers affordable pricing plans with no setup fees or hidden charges, making it an attractive option for small businesses.
Customizable Checkout Pages: Zoho Checkout allows businesses to create customized checkout pages that match their brand, creating a seamless customer experience.
Integration with Zoho Suite: Zoho Checkout can be integrated with other Zoho applications like Zoho CRM and Zoho Books, providing businesses with a complete solution for managing their finances.

Cons:

Limited Currency Support: Zoho Checkout only supports transactions in a few currencies, limiting its usability for international transactions.
Delayed Settlements: Zoho Checkout may take up to three business days to settle the payment to the merchant’s account.
No Fraud Detection: Zoho Checkout does not have a robust fraud detection system in place, which could increase the risk of chargebacks and fraudulent transactions.

Unique Features:

1. Subscription Billing: Zoho Checkout offers subscription billing, allowing businesses to automatically bill their customers regularly reducing administrative work.
2. Multi-lingual Support: Zoho Checkout supports multiple languages, making it accessible to customers in different regions.
3. Webhooks: Zoho Checkout has webhooks, allowing businesses to receive real-time notifications about their transactions and automate certain processes.

2. Razorpay

Razorpay is a payment gateway service that allows businesses to accept online payments from customers. Here are some of its pros and cons along with its unique features:

Pros:

Multiple Payment Options: Razorpay supports multiple payment options including credit cards, debit cards, net banking, wallets, and UPI, making it convenient for customers to make a payment.
High Success Rate: Razorpay has a high transaction success rate due to its robust technology infrastructure and advanced fraud detection system.
Easy Integration: Razorpay can be easily integrated into e-commerce platforms, mobile apps, and websites using plugins, APIs, or SDKs.
Fast Settlements: Razorpay settles payments to the merchant’s account within two business days, which is faster than many other payment gateways.
Excellent Customer Support: Razorpay provides excellent customer support through multiple channels including email, phone, chat, and social media.

Cons:

Limited Currency Support: Razorpay only supports transactions in a few currencies, limiting its usability for international transactions.
High Transaction Fees: Razorpay charges a relatively high transaction fee compared to some other payment gateways.
Delayed Refunds: Razorpay may take up to five business days to process refunds, which could affect a customer’s buying experience.

Unique Features:

1. Smart Collect: Razorpay offers a feature called Smart Collect that allows businesses to collect payments from customers using a payment link or an API integration, without requiring them to have a website.
2. Route Optimization: Razorpay has a route optimization feature that automatically routes transactions through the most reliable payment mode, ensuring higher transaction success rates.
3. Dynamic 3D Secure: Razorpay uses dynamic 3D Secure authentication that requires customers to enter a one-time password (OTP) only if deemed suspicious, reducing friction during the checkout process.

3. Cashfree

Cashfree is a payment gateway service that allows businesses to accept online payments from customers. Here are some of its pros and cons along with its unique features:

Pros:

Multiple Payment Options: Cashfree supports multiple payment options including credit cards, debit cards, net banking, wallets, and UPI, making it convenient for customers to make a payment.
High Success Rate: Cashfree has a high transaction success rate due to its advanced technology infrastructure and real-time fraud detection system.
Easy Integration: Cashfree can be easily integrated into e-commerce platforms, mobile apps, and websites using plugins, APIs, or SDKs.
Fast Settlements: Cashfree settles payments to the merchant’s account within two business days, which is faster than many other payment gateways.
Competitive Pricing: Cashfree charges competitive transaction fees compared to some other payment gateways.

Cons:

Limited Currency Support: Cashfree only supports transactions in a few currencies, limiting its usability for international transactions.
Delayed Refunds: Cashfree may take up to five business days to process refunds, which could affect a customer’s buying experience.

Unique Features:

1. Auto Collect: Cashfree offers a feature called Auto Collect that allows businesses to collect payments through bank mandates, enabling recurring payments and reducing administrative work.
2. Split Payments: Cashfree has a split payments feature that allows businesses to split the payment received between different stakeholders, such as vendors or affiliates, automatically.
3. Instant Settlements: Cashfree offers instant settlements to merchants at an additional cost, allowing them to receive payments instantly instead of waiting for two business days.

4. Instamojo

Instamojo is a payment gateway service that allows businesses to accept online payments from customers. Here are some of its pros and cons along with its unique features:

Pros:

Multiple Payment Options: Instamojo supports multiple payment options including credit cards, debit cards, net banking, wallets, and UPI, making it convenient for customers to make a payment.
Affordable Pricing: Instamojo offers affordable pricing plans with no setup fees or hidden charges, making it an attractive option for small businesses.
Easy Integration: Instamojo can be easily integrated into e-commerce platforms, mobile apps, and websites using plugins or APIs.
Customizable Checkout Pages: Instamojo allows businesses to create customized checkout pages that match their brand, creating a seamless customer experience.

Cons:

Limited Currency Support: Instamojo only supports transactions in Indian Rupees (INR), limiting its usability for international transactions.
Limited Fraud Detection: Instamojo’s fraud detection system may not be as advanced as some other payment gateways, which could increase the risk of chargebacks and fraudulent transactions.
Delayed Settlements: Instamojo may take up to three business days to settle the payment to the merchant’s account.

Unique Features:

1. Link-Based Payments: Instamojo offers a unique feature called link-based payments that allows businesses to create a payment link and share it with customers via email, SMS, or social media, enabling them to pay without leaving the platform.
2. Integrated Logistics: Instamojo has an integrated logistics feature that allows businesses to ship products to their customers seamlessly by generating shipping labels and tracking orders from a single dashboard.
3. Pre-Order Payments: Instamojo allows businesses to accept pre-order payments for upcoming products or services, helping them generate revenue before the launch.

5. CCavenue

CCavenue is a payment gateway service that allows businesses to accept online payments from customers. Here are some of its pros and cons along with its unique features:

Pros:

Multiple Payment Options: CCavenue supports multiple payment options including credit cards, debit cards, net banking, wallets, and UPI, making it convenient for customers to make a payment.
Advanced Security: CCavenue uses advanced security measures like SSL encryption, two-factor authentication, and risk management tools to ensure the safety of customer data during transactions.
Easy Integration: CCavenue can be easily integrated into e-commerce platforms, mobile apps, and websites using plugins, APIs, or SDKs.
Excellent Customer Support: CCavenue provides 24/7 customer support through multiple channels including email, phone, chat, and social media.

Cons:

Delayed Settlements: CCavenue may take up to three business days to settle the payment to the merchant’s account.
Limited Currency Support: CCavenue only supports transactions in a few currencies, limiting its usability for international transactions.
High Transaction Fees: CCavenue charges a relatively high transaction fee compared to some other payment gateways.

Unique Features:

1. Dynamic Routing: CCavenue has a dynamic routing feature that automatically routes transactions through the most reliable payment mode, ensuring higher transaction success rates.
2. Multi-Currency Checkout: CCavenue offers a multi-currency checkout feature that allows businesses to accept payments in different currencies, facilitating international transactions.
3. Smart Analytics: CCavenue has a smart analytics feature that provides insights into sales trends, customer behavior, and payment modes, helping businesses make data-driven decisions.

6. PayU

PayU is an online payment gateway that allows businesses to accept payments through various methods, such as credit/debit cards, net banking, and digital wallets. Here are some of its pros and cons along with its unique features:

Pros:

Wide range of payment options – PayU supports a variety of payment options, making it easier for businesses to cater to customers’ preferences.
User-friendly interface – PayU’s interface is easy to navigate, and the checkout process is quick and simple.
Quick settlement – PayU processes transactions quickly and ensures timely settlements, allowing businesses to manage their cash flows effectively.
High level of security – PayU uses advanced encryption and fraud prevention technology, ensuring secure transactions and protecting sensitive customer data.
Multi-currency support – PayU supports multiple currencies, making it easier for businesses to accept payments from customers across the world.

Cons:

Limited customization options – PayU’s interface may not be customizable to fit the specific needs of certain businesses.
Transaction fees – PayU charges a transaction fee on every payment processed, which may affect profit margins for some businesses.
Limited integration options – PayU may not be compatible with all e-commerce platforms, limiting its accessibility for some businesses.

Unique feature:

One of PayU’s unique features is its “deferred payments” option, which allows customers to pay for their purchases at a later date. This feature can be particularly useful for businesses selling high-value items or services, as it provides customers with more flexibility in managing their finances while also increasing sales potential for the business. Additionally, PayU offers a mobile SDK (Software Development Kit) that enables businesses to integrate PayU directly into their mobile apps, providing a seamless payment experience for customers on-the-go.

7. BillDesk

BillDesk is an online payment gateway that enables businesses to accept payments through various modes, such as credit/debit cards, net banking, and digital wallets. Here are some of its pros and cons along with its unique feature:

Pros:

Wide range of payment options – BillDesk supports multiple payment options, making it easier for businesses to cater to customers’ preferences.
Robust security features – BillDesk uses advanced encryption and fraud detection technology, ensuring secure transactions and protecting sensitive customer data.
User-friendly interface – BillDesk’s interface is easy to navigate, and the checkout process is simple and quick.
Customizable payment page – BillDesk allows businesses to customize their payment page with their logo and branding, providing a more personalized experience for customers.
Quick settlement – BillDesk processes transactions promptly and ensures timely settlements, allowing businesses to manage their cash flows effectively.

Cons:

Transaction fees – BillDesk charges a transaction fee on every payment processed, which may affect profit margins for some businesses.
Limited integration options – BillDesk may not be compatible with all e-commerce platforms, limiting its accessibility for some businesses.
Slow customer support – Some users have reported slow response times from BillDesk’s customer support team.

Unique feature:

One of BillDesk’s unique features is its “one-click payments” option, which allows customers to save their payment details securely with BillDesk for future transactions. This feature can significantly reduce the time and effort required for repeat purchases, increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty. Additionally, BillDesk offers a “split payments” feature that enables businesses to split payments across multiple vendors or accounts, simplifying accounting processes and improving accuracy.

8. Paypal

PayPal is an online payment gateway that enables businesses to accept payments through multiple modes, including credit/debit cards, net banking, and digital wallets. Here are some of its pros and cons along with its unique feature:

Pros:

Global accessibility – PayPal is widely accepted across the globe, making it easier for businesses to cater to international customers.
Strong security features – PayPal uses advanced encryption and fraud detection technology, ensuring secure transactions and protecting sensitive customer data.
User-friendly interface – PayPal’s interface is easy to navigate, and the checkout process is quick and simple.
Buyer protection – PayPal offers a buyer protection program that covers eligible purchases, providing added peace of mind to customers.
Quick settlement – PayPal processes transactions quickly and ensures timely settlements, allowing businesses to manage their cash flows effectively.

Cons:

High transaction fees – PayPal charges higher transaction fees compared to some other payment gateways, which may affect profit margins for some businesses.
Limited customization options – PayPal’s interface may not be customizable to fit the specific needs of certain businesses.
Account holds and freezes – Some users have reported account holds and freezes by PayPal, which can disrupt business operations and cash flows.

Unique feature:

One of PayPal’s unique features is its “PayPal Credit” option, which allows customers to finance their purchases with flexible payment terms. This feature can increase sales potential for businesses by providing customers with more purchasing power while also generating interest revenue for PayPal. Additionally, PayPal offers a “Virtual Terminal” feature that enables businesses to accept payments over the phone or via mail order, expanding payment options for customers who prefer not to transact online.

9. Atom

Atom is an online payment gateway that enables businesses to accept payments through multiple modes, including credit/debit cards, net banking, and digital wallets. Here are some of its pros and cons along with its unique feature:

Pros:

Wide range of payment options – Atom supports multiple payment options, making it easier for businesses to cater to customers’ preferences.
Strong security features – Atom uses advanced encryption and fraud detection technology, ensuring secure transactions and protecting sensitive customer data.
User-friendly interface – Atom’s interface is easy to navigate, and the checkout process is quick and simple.
Customizable payment page – Atom allows businesses to customize their payment page with their logo and branding, providing a more personalized experience for customers.
Quick settlement – Atom processes transactions promptly and ensures timely settlements, allowing businesses to manage their cash flows effectively.

Cons:

Limited integration options – Atom may not be compatible with all e-commerce platforms, limiting its accessibility for some businesses.
Transaction fees – Atom charges a transaction fee on every payment processed, which may affect profit margins for some businesses.
Slow customer support – Some users have reported slow response times from Atom’s customer support team.

Unique feature:

One of Atom’s unique features is its “Smart Collect” option, which enables businesses to collect recurring payments from customers automatically. This feature can simplify billing processes for subscription-based businesses and reduce the risk of missed payments. Additionally, Atom offers a “Split Settlement” feature that enables businesses to split payments across multiple vendors or accounts, simplifying accounting processes and improving accuracy.

10. Stripe

Stripe is an online payment gateway that enables businesses to accept payments through multiple modes, including credit/debit cards, net banking, and digital wallets. Here are some of its pros and cons along with its unique feature:

Pros:

Wide range of payment options – Stripe supports multiple payment options, making it easier for businesses to cater to customers’ preferences.
Strong security features – Stripe uses advanced encryption and fraud detection technology, ensuring secure transactions and protecting sensitive customer data.
User-friendly interface – Stripe’s interface is easy to navigate, and the checkout process is quick and simple.
Customizable payment page – Stripe allows businesses to customize their payment page with their logo and branding, providing a more personalized experience for customers.
Quick settlement – Stripe processes transactions promptly and ensures timely settlements, allowing businesses to manage their cash flows effectively.

Cons:

Complex integration process – Stripe’s integration process can be complex, requiring technical expertise for proper integration.
Transaction fees – Stripe charges a transaction fee on every payment processed, which may affect profit margins for some businesses.
Limited customer support – Some users have reported limited customer support from Stripe.

Unique feature:

One of Stripe’s unique features is its “Stripe Atlas” option, which enables businesses to incorporate a company in the United States as a foreign entrepreneur. This feature provides businesses with access to funding, legal tools, and other resources to help them grow and expand globally. Additionally, Stripe offers a “Radar” feature that uses machine learning to identify and prevent fraudulent transactions, increasing security and protecting businesses against losses.

Conclusion

Payment gateways are one of the key components of e-commerce, allowing customers to make online purchases quickly and securely. In India, there are many different payment gateway providers to choose from, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. By selecting the right payment gateway, businesses can offer their customers a seamless checkout experience and expand their reach globally.

FAQ About Payment Gateway In India