Best payment gateway with no setup fee India 2026

If your priority is **₹0 setup fee**, **no annual maintenance charge (AMC)**, and reliable UPI/card payments in India, these are the strongest options in 2026. ### Top payment gateways with no setup fee | Gateway | Setup Fee | AMC | Standard Fee | Best For | |----------|-----------|------|-------------|----------| | Razorpay | ₹0 | ₹0 | ~2% + GST | Startups, SaaS, ecommerce | | Cashfree Payments | Usually ₹0 | Depends on plan/contract | ~1.75–1.9% + GST | High-volume businesses | | PhonePe Payment Gateway | ₹0 | Typically ₹0 | Competitive custom pricing | UPI-heavy businesses | | Instamojo | ₹0 | ₹0 | Around 2% + fixed fee | Freelancers, creators | | PayU | Sometimes waived, varies by contract | May apply | ~1.8–2% + GST | Enterprise, marketplaces | Razorpay publicly states **zero setup fee and zero AMC**, with pay-as-you-go pricing. ### My recommendation by business type #### New startup / small business **Razorpay** Why: - Fast onboarding - No setup fee - No AMC - Strong Shopify, WooCommerce, and custom API integrations - Good dashboard and payment links Many Indian startups still choose Razorpay despite slightly higher MDR because there are usually fewer hidden fixed costs. #### High transaction volume (₹2L–₹5L+ monthly and above) **Cashfree Payments** Why: - Lower transaction pricing than Razorpay - Fast settlements - Strong APIs - Better economics at scale Be careful to verify AMC and contract terms before signing, since some merchants report annual fees on certain plans. #### Freelancer / consultant / course seller **Instamojo** Why: - Easy payment links - Minimal setup - No website required - Beginner-friendly ### What about "0% fee" gateways? Several newer UPI-only providers advertise **0% transaction fees and ₹0 setup costs**, such as: - VyaparGateway - Trustope - UPI Merchant However, these are generally not full-featured payment aggregators like Razorpay or Cashfree. Before using them, verify: - RBI/NPCI compliance - Chargeback handling - Refund workflows - Settlement reliability - Long-term business stability ### Best overall in 2026 1. 🥇 Razorpay — best balance of reliability, integrations, and zero upfront cost. 2. 🥈 Cashfree Payments — best for reducing transaction costs at higher volumes. 3. 🥉 PhonePe Payment Gateway — worth considering if most of your payments are UPI-based. If you tell me your use case (Shopify store, WordPress, SaaS, subscription business, app, coaching, digital products, etc.), I can narrow it down to the best gateway for that specific setup.

The Indian payment gateway landscape has largely shifted away from mandatory setup fees for new and standard accounts. However, many gateways hide costs behind **Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC)**. When evaluating the total cost of ownership (TCO), a zero-setup, zero-AMC gateway with high payment success rates frequently saves more money than a "budget" gateway with a lower transaction fee but high hidden charges. The best payment gateways in India with **zero setup fees** and **zero AMC** for standard plans feature distinct advantages depending on your business model: --- ## 1. Razorpay (The Market Leader & Best Overall) Razorpay is the go-to default for most Indian startups, D2C brands, and SaaS companies due to its developer-friendly APIs, robust feature set, and high transaction success rates. * **Setup Fee:** ₹0 * **Annual Maintenance Charge (AMC):** ₹0 * **Transaction Fee (MDR):** Flat 2% + 18% GST per successful transaction (covers UPI, domestic debit/credit cards, net banking, and wallets). International cards are usually around 3%. * **Best For:** Startups, SMEs, and companies looking for seamless website/app integration, subscription management, and smart automated routing (which minimizes failed payments). ## 2. PhonePe Payment Gateway (Best for UPI-Heavy Businesses) Leveraging its massive consumer UPI network, PhonePe offers a highly competitive payment gateway solution for businesses where the majority of customers pay via phone apps. * **Setup Fee:** ₹0 * **Annual Maintenance Charge (AMC):** ₹0 * **Transaction Fee (MDR):** Standard plan is free/pay-as-you-go with competitive tier pricing (frequently running promotions for zero or minimal fees on UPI transactions). * **Best For:** E-commerce stores with low average ticket sizes and businesses primarily targeting mobile-first UPI users. ## 3. Cashfree Payments (Best for Fast Settlements & Payouts) Cashfree is highly competitive with Razorpay and excels in split payments, vendor payouts, and rapid settlement cycles. * **Setup Fee:** ₹0 * **Annual Maintenance Charge (AMC):** ₹0 * **Transaction Fee (MDR):** Ranges between 1.75% to 2% + GST depending on the business vertical and current onboarding offers. * **Best For:** Marketplaces requiring vendor splits, on-demand services needing fast automated payouts, and e-commerce platforms. ## 4. Zaakpay by MobiKwik (Best for Early-Stage/Pre-Revenue Startups) Zaakpay offers aggressive introductory pricing specifically targeted at capturing early-stage startup volume. * **Setup Fee:** ₹0 * **Annual Maintenance Charge (AMC):** ₹0 * **Transaction Fee (MDR):** Standard plans hover around 1.85% to 1.90% + GST. They frequently offer initial GMV (Gross Merchandise Value) waivers (e.g., 0% fee on your first few lakhs) for newly registered startups. * **Best For:** Bootstrapped founders trying to minimize burn rate before reaching steady revenue. ## 5. Instamojo (Best for Solo Entrepreneurs & Creators) If you don't have a fully developed website and just want to sell digital products, courses, or services via shareable links, Instamojo requires the least technical effort. * **Setup Fee:** ₹0 * **Annual Maintenance Charge (AMC):** ₹0 (on the basic "Lite" plan) * **Transaction Fee (MDR):** 2% + ₹3 per transaction + GST. * **Best For:** Freelancers, content creators, and small independent sellers using social media or WhatsApp to collect payments. --- ### Summary Table | Payment Gateway | Setup Fee | AMC | Standard Transaction Fee (Domestic) | Ideal Use Case | |:--- |:--- |:--- |:--- |:--- | | **Razorpay** | ₹0 | ₹0 | 2.0% + GST | All-in-one e-commerce, SaaS, apps | | **PhonePe PG** | ₹0 | ₹0 | Competitive / UPI Focus | High-volume UPI checkout | | **Cashfree** | ₹0 | ₹0 | 1.75% - 2.0% + GST | Marketplaces & complex payouts | | **Zaakpay** | ₹0 | ₹0 | ~1.9% + GST | Pre-revenue startups wanting discounts | | **Instamojo** | ₹0 | ₹0 | 2% + ₹3 + GST | No-code web links & independent creators | > **Pro-Tip on Hidden Costs:** While setup and AMC are free on these plans, always ensure you check the pricing for **Value-Added Services** (like Instant Settlement instead of standard T+2 days) or **International Card Activation**, as those may incur separate configuration fees or higher transaction percentages. Additionally, a GST certificate is generally required by all compliant payment gateways during KYC onboarding. What kind of platform or website (e.g., Shopify, custom app, simple payment links) are you planning to integrate this gateway with?

The best payment gateways in India with **zero setup fees and zero annual maintenance charges (AMC)** are **,, and Cashfree**. These providers operate on a strict pay-as-you-go model, charging only a percentage per successful transaction. Top Zero Setup Fee Payment Gateways - **Razorpay**: Best overall for startups and tech platforms. - **Setup/AMC Fee**: ₹0. - **Standard Transaction Fee**: 2% + 18% GST for standard domestic cards, UPI, and net banking. - **Key Highlights**: Features a highly intuitive developer dashboard, instant activation, automated refunds, and native checkout flows to boost conversions. - **PhonePe Payment Gateway**: Best for businesses prioritizing UPI success rates. - **Setup/AMC Fee**: ₹0. - **Standard Transaction Fee**: 1.95% + GST on standard cards, with highly competitive structures for UPI. - **Key Highlights**: Leverages PhonePe's massive consumer base, features instrument health tracking to avoid failed payments, and provides simple integration plug-ins. - **Cashfree**: Best for high-scale D2C brands and automated payouts. - **Setup/AMC Fee**: ₹0. - **Standard Transaction Fee**: 1.9% to 2% + GST per successful transaction. - **Key Highlights**: Powered by an in-house UPI switch that handles 12,000+ transactions per second, making it incredibly stable for rapid growth. Direct Comparison Overview | Provider | Standard Transaction Fee | Best Suited For | Key Tech Features | |---|---|---|---| | **Razorpay** | 2% + GST | Startups, SaaS, and App Developers | Advanced analytics, instant activation, subscription billing | | **PhonePe PG** | 1.95% + GST | Local E-commerce and Retail Brands | Proactive health tracking for payment networks | | **Cashfree** | ~2% + GST | D2C Brands and High-Volume Scale | 12K+ TPS UPI switch, automated instant splits | | **** | ~2% + GST | Enterprise and Global Scale Merchants | Over 150 local and multi-currency payment methods | Alternative Domestic Options - ****: Perfect for individual creators and small vendors. It charges ₹0 upfront and includes built-in payment links and basic digital storefront templates so you do not even need to build a website. - **Zaakpay**: MobiKwik’s payment aggregator engine features an attractive promotional waiver of 0% MDR on your first ₹5 Lakh of Gross Merchandise Value (GMV). What to Look Out For While setup is free across these options, remember that **international cards (like Amex) always incur a higher transaction fee** (usually between 3% to 4.99%) across almost all Indian aggregators. Always verify that your business structure (Proprietorship, LLP, or Pvt Ltd) has active registration documents ready, as the RBI compliance guidelines require complete KYC verification before the gateway can be set live. If you would like to pinpoint the absolute best choice for your platform, let me know: - What **e-commerce platform or stack** are you building on (e.g.,, WooCommerce, custom React app)? - Do you need to accept **international payments** or strictly domestic Indian orders? - Are you dealing with **one-time purchases** or recurring **monthly subscriptions**?