Three platforms that Indian businesses evaluate for cross-border payment collection: GoCardless (direct debit specialist), Stripe (developer-first payment gateway), and Playto Pay (India-native cross-border infrastructure). Each serves a different need. This three-way comparison covers which to use and when.
The 30-Second Summary
| Dimension | GoCardless | Stripe | Playto Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| India access | ❌ EU/UK/US/AU entity | ❌ Invite-only / US LLC | ✅ Indian KYB 24-72hr |
| Payment mechanism | Bank direct debit (pull) | Card + bank transfer | Card + VBA wire + UPI |
| International cards | ❌ No | ✅ 2.9% + $0.30 | ✅ 4% flat |
| UK client GBP | BACS direct debit | Via Stripe | GBP VBA (Faster Payments) 1% |
| EU client EUR | SEPA Direct Debit | Via Stripe | EUR VBA (SEPA) 1% |
| UPI | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ 0% |
| FIRA auto | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Auto per txn |
| INR daily settlement | ❌ No | ❌ No (USD) | ✅ Daily |
| Cost per transaction | 0.5-1% (bank debit) | 3-3.5% effective | 4% flat (zero markup) |
| Offshore entity needed | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Monthly fee | Yes | $0 | ₹0 |
GoCardless for Indian Businesses
What it does: Bank-to-bank direct debit from UK (BACS), EU (SEPA Direct Debit), US (ACH debit), Australia (BECS). Pulls money from customer's bank account on billing date. Low per-transaction cost at volume.
India reality: Requires EU/UK/US/AU entity. Not directly accessible to Indian-incorporated businesses.
Best suited for: UK SaaS companies billing UK customers via BACS; EU subscription businesses using SEPA Direct Debit. Not India.
Stripe for Indian Businesses
What it does: Best-in-class developer payment gateway. Cards, subscriptions, invoicing, Connect for marketplaces, Capital for lending.
India reality: Invite-only. Requires US LLC for access. LLC overhead: $83-$250/month amortized.
Best suited for: Indian startups with Delaware C Corp at $10K+ MRR; US enterprise clients requiring Stripe invoices.
Playto Pay for Indian Businesses
What it does: India-native cross-border payment collection. Cards, VBA wire receipts, UPI, FIRA auto, daily INR.
India reality: Built for India. 24-72 hour Indian KYB. No offshore entity.
Best suited for: All Indian businesses below $20K monthly international revenue; any business wanting UPI + international on one platform.
Cost Comparison at $10,000 Monthly International Revenue
| Setup | Monthly Processing | Overhead | True Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Playto Pay | $400 (4%) | $0 | $400 |
| Stripe via LLC | ~$315 (3.15%) | ~$125 LLC | ~$440 |
| GoCardless (bank debit) | ~$50-100 (0.5-1%) | Entity overhead | ~$175+ (entity required) |
GoCardless is cheapest on processing — but requires offshore entity that Indian businesses don't have. Playto Pay is cheapest all-in for India-incorporated businesses with no offshore entity.
FAQ
GoCardless vs Stripe vs Playto Pay for Indian businesses — which to choose? For India-incorporated businesses without offshore entity: Playto Pay (Indian KYB, 4% flat cards, 1% VBA, 0% UPI, FIRA auto, daily INR). For businesses with Delaware C Corp at $10K+ MRR: Stripe via LLC. GoCardless requires EU/UK/US/AU entity — not accessible to most Indian businesses.
Is GoCardless cheaper than Playto Pay? GoCardless's bank debit rate (0.5-1%) is cheaper per transaction. But GoCardless requires offshore entity ($83-$250/month overhead) and only handles bank direct debit (not card acceptance or UPI). Playto Pay's 4% flat with no entity overhead is cheaper all-in for Indian businesses.
Does any of these three generate FIRA for Indian businesses? Only Playto Pay auto-generates India-format FIRA per transaction.