CCAvenue is one of India's original and longest-running payment gateways, launched in 2001. It remains widely used across Indian e-commerce and services. CCAvenue International extends its capabilities to accept cross-border payments from international customers. This guide breaks down the real all-in cost of CCAvenue International for Indian businesses accepting international payments.
CCAvenue International: Stated vs Real Rates
Stated Rate: ~3-3.5% on International Cards
CCAvenue International's published base rate for international Visa/Mastercard transactions from foreign customers: approximately 3-3.5%.
Hidden Cost: Forex Markup
Like Razorpay International, PayU International, and most India-domestic gateways' cross-border modules, CCAvenue applies a foreign exchange spread at settlement above mid-market rate.
Typical forex markup: 1-2% on USD/GBP/EUR to INR conversion.
True all-in on international cards: 3-3.5% base + 1-2% forex = 4-5.5% effective.
CCAvenue Setup and Subscription Fees
CCAvenue charges setup fees and annual maintenance fees unlike some newer platforms:
Setup fee: One-time activation fee (varies by merchant category and volume)
Annual maintenance fee: Charged regardless of transaction volume
Monthly minimum: Some plans have minimum transaction volume requirements
These fixed fees add to the effective processing rate at lower transaction volumes.
Settlement Timeline
CCAvenue International settlement: T+3 to T+5 for international card transactions.
Playto Pay: Daily (T+0/T+1).
At $10,000 monthly: CCAvenue's extra 3-5 days of float = ~$1,000-$1,667 perpetually in transit.
FIRA: CCAvenue International vs Playto Pay
CCAvenue generates settlement reports and some FIRA documentation, but the process is more manual than Playto Pay's auto-FIRA per transaction. For businesses with high international transaction volumes, manual FIRA processes create significant administrative overhead.
CCAvenue vs Playto Pay: Full Cost Comparison
$10,000 Monthly International Card Revenue
| Component | CCAvenue International | Playto Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Processing fee | ~$300-350 (3-3.5%) | $400 (4%) |
| Forex markup (~1.5%) | ~$120 | $0 |
| Setup/annual fee (amortised) | ~$25-50/month | ₹0 |
| True monthly cost | ~$445-520 | $400 |
| Annual | ~$5,340-6,240 | $4,800 |
Playto Pay saves $540-$1,440/year vs CCAvenue International at $10K monthly.
$5,000 Monthly International Card Revenue
At lower volumes, CCAvenue's fixed fees (setup/annual amortised) become a larger percentage:
| Platform | True Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| CCAvenue International (~5.5% effective + fees) | ~$300+ |
| Playto Pay (4% flat) | $200 |
CCAvenue's Domestic Strengths
CCAvenue is strong domestically:
- Wide Indian domestic payment method support (UPI, RuPay, 50+ netbanking options, EMI)
- Deep merchant integrations with Indian e-commerce platforms
- Established reputation in Indian retail and hospitality sectors Recommendation: CCAvenue for domestic Indian payments where its wide payment method support is valuable. Playto Pay for international cross-border collection where true 4% flat (zero markup) beats CCAvenue's 4-5.5% effective.
FAQ
What is CCAvenue International's real fee for cross-border payments? Stated 3-3.5% + ~1.5% forex markup + setup/annual fees = 4.5-5.5% effective all-in. Playto Pay: 4% flat, zero markup, zero setup fee.
Is CCAvenue International cheaper than Playto Pay? On stated rate: CCAvenue (3-3.5%) appears cheaper. True all-in with forex markup and fixed fees: CCAvenue ~5% vs Playto Pay 4% flat. Playto Pay is cheaper all-in.
Does CCAvenue auto-generate FIRA for international transactions? CCAvenue generates settlement documentation, but FIRA auto-generation per transaction is less streamlined than Playto Pay's automatic per-transaction FIRA.
Can I use CCAvenue for domestic and Playto Pay for international? Yes. CCAvenue for domestic Indian payments (wide payment method support). Playto Pay for international cross-border collection. No conflict.