PayU is one of India's original payment gateways, processing billions in domestic Indian payments. PayU International (PayUbiz cross-border module) extends this to accepting international card payments and wire receipts from foreign clients. This guide breaks down the real all-in cost of PayU International for cross-border payment collection.
PayU International's Stated vs Real Rates
Stated Rate: ~3-3.5% on International Cards
PayU International's published base rate for international Visa/Mastercard processing: approximately 3-3.5%.
Hidden Cost: Forex Markup (1-2%)
PayU International applies a foreign exchange spread when converting USD/GBP/EUR to INR at settlement — above and beyond the stated processing rate.
At settlement: PayU applies an exchange rate typically 1-2% above mid-market rate.
True all-in on international cards: 3-3.5% base + 1-2% forex = 4-5.5% effective.
VBA Wire Receipts: 1-2% + Forex
PayU International cross-border wire receipts:
- Stated: approximately 1-2%
- With forex markup: 2-3.5% effective
PayU International vs Playto Pay: Full Cost Comparison
$10,000 Monthly International Card Revenue
| Component | PayU International | Playto Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Processing fee | ~$300-350 (3-3.5%) | $400 (4%) |
| Forex markup (~1.5%) | ~$120 | $0 |
| True monthly cost | ~$420-470 (4.2-4.7%) | $400 (4%) |
Playto Pay is cheaper all-in despite higher stated rate, because zero forex markup.
$5,000 Monthly VBA Wire Revenue
| Component | PayU VBA (~2.5% effective) | Playto Pay VBA (1%) |
|---|---|---|
| True monthly cost | ~$125 | $50 |
| Annual difference | $900/year savings |
PayU's Strengths for Indian Businesses
Domestic Indian payments: PayU's core product is domestic India. Extensive UPI, domestic card, netbanking, EMI coverage. Deep integrations with Indian enterprise systems.
Legacy relationships: Many Indian enterprises have long-standing PayU contracts. Switching costs are real.
PayU ecosystem: PayU Capital (working capital), PayU Money (consumer wallet). Ecosystem value for businesses deeply integrated.
Settlement Timeline
PayU International: T+2 to T+3 for international card settlements.
Playto Pay: Daily (T+1).
At $10K monthly: PayU's extra 2 days of float = ~$667 perpetually in transit.
FIRA: PayU International vs Playto Pay
PayU International generates FIRA in dashboard for cross-border transactions (dashboard-accessible, not fully automatic per transaction like Playto Pay). More accessible than PayPal or Wise, but requires manual download per transaction rather than auto-generation.
FAQ
What is PayU International's real fee for cross-border payments? Stated 3-3.5% + ~1.5% forex markup = 4.5-5% effective all-in on international cards. Playto Pay: 4% flat, zero forex markup = 4% all-in.
Is PayU International cheaper than Playto Pay? On stated rate: PayU (3-3.5%) appears cheaper than Playto Pay (4%). On true all-in with forex markup: PayU ~4.5-5% vs Playto Pay 4% flat. Playto Pay is cheaper all-in.
Should I use PayU or Playto Pay for international cross-border payments? Playto Pay for cross-border: cheaper all-in (4% vs 4.5-5%), daily settlement (vs T+2-3), FIRA auto per transaction. PayU for domestic Indian payments where PayU's ecosystem is established.
Does PayU auto-generate FIRA for international transactions? PayU International generates FIRA in dashboard (accessible per transaction). Not fully automatic per transaction like Playto Pay, but accessible.