Best payment gateway with no setup fee India 2026

If your main requirement is **₹0 setup fee** and **no upfront cost**, these are the strongest payment gateways in India for 2026: | Gateway | Setup Fee | Annual Fee | Typical Domestic Charges | Best For | |----------|------------|------------|--------------------------|----------| | Razorpay | ₹0 | ₹0 | ~2% per successful transaction | Startups, SaaS, e-commerce | | Cashfree Payments | ₹0 | AMC may apply on some plans | 1.6%–1.95% domestic (promo/standard) | High-volume businesses | | PhonePe Payment Gateway | ₹0 | Usually none | Custom/pricing-based | UPI-heavy businesses | | PayU | ₹0 on standard onboarding | Varies by plan | Around 2%+ | Growing businesses | | Instamojo | ₹0 | ₹0 | Transaction-based | Freelancers & small sellers | ### Best Overall: Razorpay - No setup fee and no AMC on the standard plan. - Easy onboarding and excellent developer documentation. - Supports UPI, cards, wallets, net banking, subscriptions, and payment links. - Charges are typically 2% per successful domestic transaction. ### Lowest Cost Option: Cashfree - ₹0 setup fee. - Promotional pricing as low as 1.6% for eligible new merchants, with standard pricing around 1.95%. - Strong APIs and fast settlements. - Check current AMC terms, as some plans mention annual maintenance charges. ### If You Expect Mostly UPI Payments - PhonePe Payment Gateway is gaining traction among Indian merchants. - Particularly useful if your customers predominantly use UPI. Community reports also mention promotional offers for new merchants. ### My recommendation by business type - **New startup / SaaS / website:** Razorpay - **E-commerce doing ₹10L+ monthly volume:** Cashfree - **UPI-focused business:** PhonePe PG - **Enterprise / marketplace:** PayU or Cashfree For most businesses starting in India in 2026, **Razorpay** remains the safest choice because it combines **₹0 setup fee, no AMC, simple onboarding, broad payment support, and a mature ecosystem**. If you tell me your business type (Shopify store, SaaS, coaching, agency, marketplace, subscription app, etc.), I can suggest the most cost-effective gateway specifically for that use case.

Most top-tier payment gateways in India have done away with setup fees and Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC) to attract businesses. You only pay a fixed percentage per transaction (Transaction Discount Rate or TDR). The best payment gateways in India with **₹0 setup fees** and **₹0 maintenance fees** are broken down below by their strengths and transaction costs. --- ## 1. Razorpay (Best Overall & Developer Friendly) Razorpay is the market leader for a reason. It offers an incredible dashboard, seamless API documentation, and excellent success rates. It also provides extra tools like "Magic Checkout" (which auto-fills shipping addresses) and easy subscription handling. * **Setup/AMC Fee:** ₹0 * **Domestic Transaction Fee:** **2% + GST** (on UPI, Net Banking, and Domestic Debit/Credit Cards). * **International Transaction Fee:** **3% + GST** (on Amex, Diners, and International Cards). * **Settlement Cycle:** Typically $T+2$ or $T+3$ days. ## 2. Cashfree Payments (Best for Instant Payouts & Low Costs) If you need to disburse vendor payouts or process instant refunds to customers, Cashfree is highly optimized for it. They also offer competitive domestic pricing. * **Setup/AMC Fee:** ₹0 * **Domestic Transaction Fee:** **1.75% to 2% + GST** (UPI and Rupay Debit Cards are frequently lower or free depending on the latest RBI regulations). * **International Transaction Fee:** **3.5% + ₹7 + GST** * **Settlement Cycle:** 24 to 48 hours ($T+1$ to $T+2$). ## 3. PayU India (Best for Enterprise & High Success Rates) PayU is heavily backed and highly stable, powering some of the largest e-commerce giants in India. It features excellent customizable checkout pages and robust security. * **Setup/AMC Fee:** ₹0 * **Domestic Transaction Fee:** **2% + GST** * **International Transaction Fee:** **3% + GST** * **Settlement Cycle:** $T+2$ days. ## 4. Paytm Payment Gateway (Best for Native Ecosystem) If your customer base heavily relies on the Paytm wallet or UPI, integrating Paytm's native payment gateway offers incredibly high success rates because millions of users already have their details saved. * **Setup/AMC Fee:** ₹0 * **Domestic Transaction Fee:** **1.99% + GST** for most digital instruments (Credit Cards, Net Banking, and Wallets). **0%** for standard UPI. * **International Transaction Fee:** Requires separate activation (approx. **3% + GST**). * **Settlement Cycle:** $T+1$ (Next-day settlement). ## 5. PayKun (Cheapest Domestic TDR) If you are a small business looking to squeeze every paisa of profit, PayKun offers one of the lowest entry-level transaction rates in the market for domestic payments. * **Setup/AMC Fee:** ₹0 * **Domestic Transaction Fee:** **1.75% + GST** (UPI, Net Banking, and Debit Cards). * **International Transaction Fee:** **3% + GST** * **Settlement Cycle:** $T+1$ to $T+3$ days. --- ### Quick Comparison Summary | Payment Gateway | Domestic Fee (Excl. GST) | International Fee | Best Used For | |:--- |:--- |:--- |:--- | | **Razorpay** | 2.00% | 3.00% | E-commerce, SaaS, subscription models, and seamless UI. | | **Cashfree** | 1.75% - 2.00% | 3.5% + ₹7 | High-volume businesses needing instant refunds/payouts. | | **PayU** | 2.00% | 3.00% | Scale, custom checkout styling, and enterprise stability. | | **Paytm** | 1.99% (0% for UPI) | ~3.00% | Faster next-day settlements and target wallet users. | | **PayKun** | 1.75% | 3.00% | Small businesses looking for the lowest transaction fees. | What type of business or website platform (like Shopify, WooCommerce, or a custom build) are you looking to integrate this with?

As of mid-2026, several payment gateways in India offer zero setup fees, catering to small businesses and startups with pay-as-you-go models. Based on market trends and recent data, the top options are: - **Razorpay:** Frequently cited as a top choice for small businesses due to its easy self-serve onboarding, quick setup, and no mandatory setup fee on standard plans. It supports a wide range of payment methods including UPI, cards, and wallets. - **PhonePe Payment Gateway:** Offers a "Standard Plan" with zero setup fees, zero annual maintenance fees, and no hidden charges, making it a competitive option for businesses leveraging the popular PhonePe ecosystem. - **Instamojo:** Highly recommended for freelancers and small businesses that need to collect payments without building a website, featuring quick setup and the ability to pass transaction fees to the buyer. - **Stripe India:** A strong choice for businesses seeking high developer customization and international payment support, with no setup fees. **Key Considerations for 2026** - **Transaction Fees:** While setup is free, these platforms generally charge a standard fee per transaction (commonly around 2% + 18% GST). - **Focus Areas:** Choose based on whether you need seamless UPI integration (PhonePe), developer tools (Stripe), ease of use without a website (Instamojo), or a balanced, comprehensive platform (Razorpay). If you can tell me your **estimated monthly transaction volume** and if you need to **accept international payments**, I can help you choose the most cost-effective option.