# Best payment gateway with no setup fee India 2026 · 5 Jul
> What ChatGPT, Gemini, and Google AI Mode said about: Best payment gateway with no setup fee India 2026. Brands named, sources cited, sentiment per engine o…

Canonical URL: https://cite.solutions/state-of-ai-india/payment-gateways/reports/2026-07-05/p/12
Source: Cite Solutions (cite.solutions)
Published: 2026-07-05
---

[← B2B Payments & Business Banking · 5 July 2026](/state-of-ai-india/payment-gateways/reports/2026-07-05)One prompt · three engines

Prompt 12 · 5 July 2026

# Best payment gateway with no setup fee India 2026

Three engines were asked the exact prompt above on 5 July 2026. Below is the verbatim answer each one gave, the brands it named, and the URLs it cited.

ChatGPTgpt-5-5

Answered 5 July 2026

If you're looking for a \*\*payment gateway in India with ₹0 setup fee\*\* in 2026, these are the strongest options: | Payment Gateway | Setup Fee | Typical Transaction Fee\* | Best For | |---|---:|---:|---| | Razorpay | ₹0 | Around 2% + GST | Startups, SaaS, eCommerce, subscriptions | | Cashfree Payments | ₹0 | Custom pricing (often starts around 1.9–2%) | High-volume businesses, marketplaces | | PayU | ₹0 | Around 2% + GST | Small businesses, international payments | | Instamojo | ₹0 | Around 2% + fixed fee | Freelancers, creators, small sellers | | Paytm Payment Gateway | ₹0 | Varies by payment method | Businesses already using the Paytm ecosystem | \\\*Actual rates can vary based on payment method, business category, and negotiated pricing. ### My recommendations - \*\*Best overall:\*\* Razorpay — Excellent APIs, plugins for platforms like WooCommerce and Shopify, recurring payments, and strong developer experience. No setup or annual maintenance fee. - \*\*Lowest cost for growing businesses:\*\* Cashfree Payments — Competitive pricing, fast settlements, and good support for high transaction volumes. - \*\*Best for beginners:\*\* Instamojo — Quick onboarding, payment links, and simple setup for individuals and small businesses. - \*\*Best if you need international payments:\*\* PayU — Supports cross-border payments and EMI options with no setup fee. If you tell me: - what you're selling (physical products, digital products, SaaS, services, courses, etc.), - your website platform (WordPress/WooCommerce, Shopify, custom, Flutter app, etc.), - and your expected monthly transaction volume, I can recommend the most cost-effective payment gateway for your specific use case.

Brands named

[Razorpay](https://razorpay.com "Visit Razorpay")[Cashfree](https://cashfree.com "Visit Cashfree")[PayU](https://payu.in "Visit PayU")[Instamojo](https://instamojo.com "Visit Instamojo")[Paytm Business](https://paytm.com "Visit Paytm Business")

Sources cited · 4

* [Low Cost Payment Gateway in Indiarazorpay.com/blog/low-cost-payment-gateway-in-india-the-complete-decision-guide](https://razorpay.com/blog/low-cost-payment-gateway-in-india-the-complete-decision-guide/?utm%5Fsource=chatgpt.com)
* [Comparison Between Top 15 Payment Gateways in Indiaangularminds.com/blog/comparison-between-indian-payment-gateways](https://www.angularminds.com/blog/comparison-between-indian-payment-gateways?utm%5Fsource=chatgpt.com)
* [7 Cheapest Payment Gateways in India for SaaS Startups ...salarybox.in/blog/7-cheapest-payment-gateways-in-india-for-saas-startups-in-2026](https://salarybox.in/blog/7-cheapest-payment-gateways-in-india-for-saas-startups-in-2026/?utm%5Fsource=chatgpt.com)
* [Best payment gateways for small businesses in India (2026)wise.com/in/blog/best-small-business-payment-gateway](https://wise.com/in/blog/best-small-business-payment-gateway?utm%5Fsource=chatgpt.com)

Geminigemini-3-flash

Answered 5 July 2026

In the Indian fintech landscape, charging upfront setup fees or Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC) for standard plans has largely become obsolete. Leading payment gateways operate entirely on a \*\*pay-as-you-go\*\* model, meaning you pay nothing until you start making sales. When evaluating these platforms, the primary metrics to track are the \*\*Transaction Discount Rate (TDR)\*\* and \*\*Payment Success Rates\*\*. The best payment gateways in India with \*\*₹0 Setup Fee and ₹0 AMC\*\* include: --- ## 1\. Razorpay Razorpay is the market leader for startups and developers due to its incredibly smooth onboarding, rich documentation, and extensive feature ecosystem. \* \*\*Setup Fee / AMC:\*\* ₹0 \* \*\*Standard Transaction Fee:\*\* 2% + 18% GST (on the transaction fee amount) for domestic cards, UPI, net banking, and wallets. \* \*\*International Transactions:\*\* 3% + GST. \* \*\*Best For:\*\* Startups, SMEs, and businesses requiring robust e-commerce plugins (Shopify, WooCommerce) and an analytical dashboard. \* \*\*Key Advantage:\*\* Exceptional success rates due to smart dynamic routing and an AI-ready, developer-friendly API layer. ## 2\. PhonePe Payment Gateway PhonePe has aggressively expanded its enterprise footprint by leveraging its massive consumer UPI network. \* \*\*Setup Fee / AMC:\*\* ₹0 \* \*\*Standard Transaction Fee:\*\* Varies, but they frequently run competitive promotional rates (sometimes as low as 1.5% to 1.8% or temporary 0% platform fees for new merchants depending on the active cohort). \* \*\*Best For:\*\* Businesses targeting mobile-first consumers with heavy UPI usage. \* \*\*Key Advantage:\*\* Seamless integration with the PhonePe app ecosystem, drastically lowering checkout friction for millions of Indian shoppers. ## 3\. Cashfree Payments Cashfree is highly competitive and popular among high-volume businesses and businesses requiring complex automated payout workflows. \* \*\*Setup Fee / AMC:\*\* ₹0 \* \*\*Standard Transaction Fee:\*\* Highly aggressive standard rates, ranging from 1.6% to 1.90% + GST depending on active promotional periods and industry category. \* \*\*Best For:\*\* E-commerce stores with high volume, marketplace models requiring vendor splits, and instant refund needs. \* \*\*Key Advantage:\*\* Exceptional bulk payout APIs and faster standard settlement cycles (often T+1 or instant settlement options for eligible merchants). ## 4\. PayU India PayU is a deeply entrenched, enterprise-grade payment gateway known for its stability and handling massive traffic without breaking a sweat. \* \*\*Setup Fee / AMC:\*\* ₹0 \* \*\*Standard Transaction Fee:\*\* 2% + GST for domestic transactions. \* \*\*Best For:\*\* Rapid scaling businesses and high-volume enterprises that need custom checkout customizations. \* \*\*Key Advantage:\*\* "Checkout for Bharat" feature supports multilingual checkouts, allowing you to convert tier-2 and tier-3 city shoppers more effectively. --- ### Summary Comparison Table | Payment Gateway | Setup / AMC | Standard Domestic TDR | Strengths | |:--- |:--- |:--- |:--- | | \*\*Razorpay\*\* | \*\*Free\*\* | 2% + GST | Best dashboard, developer tools, and plug-and-play integrations. | | \*\*PhonePe PG\*\* | \*\*Free\*\* | Competitive / Tiered | Highly reliable for heavy UPI traffic. | | \*\*Cashfree\*\* | \*\*Free\*\* | 1.6% - 1.9% + GST | Lower transaction fee baselines and elite vendor payout tools. | | \*\*PayU\*\* | \*\*Free\*\* | 2% + GST | Enterprise stability and vernacular checkout options. | > ⚠️ \*\*A Quick Cautionary Note:\*\* While the setup and maintenance fees are listed as free on standard plans, always double-check the fine print regarding \*\*International Cards, Amex, or corporate credit cards\*\*, which universally carry a higher transaction fee (usually around 3% + GST) across all gateways. What type of platform are you integrating this with (e.g., a custom-coded website, Shopify, or a mobile app)?

Brands named

[Razorpay](https://razorpay.com "Visit Razorpay")[PhonePe Business](https://phonepe.com "Visit PhonePe Business")[Cashfree](https://cashfree.com "Visit Cashfree")[PayU](https://payu.in "Visit PayU")

Sources cited · 10

* [Payment Gateway Charges - Simple & Transparent Pricing - Razorpayrazorpay.com/pricing](https://razorpay.com/pricing/#:~:text=There%20are%20zero%20setup%20fees,transaction%20fee%20on%20successful%20payments.)
* [7 Best Payment Gateways in India (2026 Guide & Comparison)photonpay.com/hk/blog/article/payment-gateway-in-india?lang=en](https://www.photonpay.com/hk/blog/article/payment-gateway-in-india?lang=en#:~:text=Razorpay%3A%20The%20All-in-,Key%20Features%20and%20Capabilities)
* [Best Payment Gateways in India 2026: Top 11 Options Compared - GoKwikgokwik.co/blog/best-payment-gateways-in-India](https://www.gokwik.co/blog/best-payment-gateways-in-India)
* [7 Best Payment Gateways in India (2026 Guide & Comparison)photonpay.com/hk/blog/article/payment-gateway-in-india?lang=en](https://www.photonpay.com/hk/blog/article/payment-gateway-in-india?lang=en#:~:text=Razorpay%20typically%20follows%20a%20%22pay,need%20to%20go%20live%20quickly.)
* [Online Payment Gateway in India for Businesses - Razorpayrazorpay.com/payment-gateway](https://razorpay.com/payment-gateway/#:~:text=Intelligent%20payment%20infrastructure%20that%20delivers,Developer-friendly%20APIs)
* [7 Best Payment Gateways in India (2026 Guide & Comparison)photonpay.com/hk/blog/article/payment-gateway-in-india?lang=en](https://www.photonpay.com/hk/blog/article/payment-gateway-in-india?lang=en)
* [Best ROI Payment Gateway in India | Full 2026 PG Pricing Guide - Refrensrefrens.com/grow/best-payment-gateway-roi-india-2026](https://www.refrens.com/grow/best-payment-gateway-roi-india-2026/#:~:text=PhonePe%20PG%20tends%20to%20fit,widely%20used%20consumer%20payments%20brand.)
* [Best payment gateways for small businesses in India (2026) - Wisewise.com/in/blog/best-small-business-payment-gateway](https://wise.com/in/blog/best-small-business-payment-gateway#:~:text=It%20is%20closely%20integrated%20with,hidden%20charges%2C%20with%20T%26Cs%20applicable.)
* [Best Payment Gateways in India 2026: How to Choose One | EnKashenkash.com/resources/blog/top-10-payment-gateways-in-india](https://www.enkash.com/resources/blog/top-10-payment-gateways-in-india#:~:text=Cashfree%20Payments%20is%20suitable%20for,that%20manage%20high%20transaction%20volumes.)
* [Best Payment Gateway in India for Digital Payments - PayUpayu.in/payment-gateway](https://payu.in/payment-gateway/#:~:text=Yes%2C%20PayU%20offers%20a%20multi,%2C%20Android%2C%20and%20React%20Native.)

AI ModeGoogle AI Mode

Answered 5 July 2026

The best payment gateways in India that charge \*\*₹0 in setup fees\*\* and \*\*₹0 in Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC)\*\* as of 2026 operate primarily on a pay-as-you-go model. Transaction fees generally range from 2% to 2.5%, but the ideal choice depends on your business size, e-commerce platform, and preferred settlement speed. Top-rated gateways include: 1\. Razorpay The most widely used payment gateway for standard e-commerce in India, favored for its developer-friendly API and robust dashboard. - \*\*Setup Fee:\*\* ₹0 - \*\*AMC:\*\* ₹0 - \*\*Transaction Fee:\*\* 2% per successful transaction for standard payment methods (UPI, Cards, Netbanking, Wallets) + GST - \*\*Highlights:\*\* Instant settlements available (Standard settlement is 2-3 days). Supports deep integrations with and. 2\. PayU Highly regarded for its hyper-local Indian payment success rates and extensive international/EMI support. - \*\*Setup Fee:\*\* ₹0 - \*\*AMC:\*\* ₹0 - \*\*Transaction Fee:\*\* 2% per successful domestic transaction + GST. (International cards/AMEX/EMI rates range from 3% to 3.5%) - \*\*Highlights:\*\* Provides a seamless checkout experience with hundreds of pre-integrated payment options. 3\. PhonePe Payment Gateway Known for its massive consumer reach and extremely high success rates on the UPI network. - \*\*Setup Fee:\*\* ₹0 - \*\*AMC:\*\* ₹0 - \*\*Transaction Fee:\*\* 1.95% per successful transaction + GST (upon completion of the initial free period). - \*\*Highlights:\*\* Ideal if your customer base relies heavily on UPI apps for their purchases. 4\. Easebuzz A fast-growing gateway with tailored flat pricing solutions for varying business sizes. - \*\*Setup Fee:\*\* ₹0 - \*\*AMC:\*\* ₹0 - \*\*Transaction Fee:\*\* Customized pricing based on business scale and API requirements. - \*\*Highlights:\*\* Known for its low-cost API models and zero hosting charges. Summary of Platform Details | Gateway | Setup Fee | AMC | Standard Transaction Rate | |---|---|---|---| | \*\*\*\* | ₹0 | ₹0 | 2.00% + GST | | \*\*\*\* | ₹0 | ₹0 | 2.00% + GST | | \*\*\*\* | ₹0 | ₹0 | 1.95% + GST | | \*\*\*\* | ₹0 | ₹0 | Variable / Custom | If you can share a few more details, I can recommend the exact gateway that fits your needs: - \*\*What is your estimated monthly transaction volume / revenue?\*\* - \*\*What platform are you using for your website (e.g., Shopify, WordPress, custom build)?\*\* - \*\*Do you need to process international payments or offer customer EMIs?\*\*

Brands named

[PayU](https://payu.in "Visit PayU")[Razorpay](https://razorpay.com "Visit Razorpay")[PhonePe Business](https://phonepe.com "Visit PhonePe Business")

Sources cited · 8

* [in / blog / best small business payment gatewaywise.com/in/blog/best-small-business-payment-gateway](https://wise.com/in/blog/best-small-business-payment-gateway)
* [blog / low cost payment gateway in india the complete decision guiderazorpay.com/blog/low-cost-payment-gateway-in-india-the-complete-decision-guide](https://razorpay.com/blog/low-cost-payment-gateway-in-india-the-complete-decision-guide/)
* [Shopifyshopify.com](https://www.shopify.com/)
* [WooCommercewoocommerce.com](https://woocommerce.com/)
* [Razorpayrazorpay.com](https://razorpay.com/)
* [PayUpayu.in](https://payu.in/)
* [PhonePephonepe.com](https://www.phonepe.com/)
* [Easebuzzeasebuzz.in](https://easebuzz.in/)

[← Prompt 11](/state-of-ai-india/payment-gateways/reports/2026-07-05/p/11)[Back to edition ↑](/state-of-ai-india/payment-gateways/reports/2026-07-05)[Prompt 13 →](/state-of-ai-india/payment-gateways/reports/2026-07-05/p/13)