Global payments
Posted on Jan 7, 2026
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates, insights, and tips delivered straight to your inbox.
Quick Summary
Over time, Wise has built a strong global reputation for being the affordable way of receiving international payments. However, as Indian businesses and professionals are becoming increasingly global in 2026, many have realised that Wise is not a cost-effective or practical solution for receiving international payments in India.
Indian professionals like freelancers, exporters, startup founders, agencies, and owners of SaaS companies today require faster INR settlements, India-specific compliance support, and low, transparent pricing, and these are the areas where Wise can fall short.
This blog will help you explore the different alternatives available to Wise in India for receiving international payments. We will first see why Indians need an alternative to the Wise payment method, and what makes up a good alternative to the Wise payment method. And then we will explore different alternatives and determine which one is the best choice for Indian businesses and professionals.
Why India needs a Wise alternative?
Wise works well for basic international transfers, but Indian businesses often face structural challenges when using it for high-value cross-border payments. Here are a few reasons why Indian businesses need a Wise alternative:
Cost increases as the transaction grows
Wise, as a payment platform, is often perceived as a low-cost platform, but when it comes to Indian users, that's not always the case. FX fees and transfer charges add up over time. For exporters and service providers working on thin margins, even small percentage differences can significantly impact profitability.
Wise charges a transfer fee of around 1.9%-2% on average for receiving international payments. This could eat up the profit margins for those professionals receiving money in chunks or small payments.
Unlike India-focused platforms, Wise pricing is not optimised for business-scale inward remittances. So, this makes Wise less economical as volume grows.
For knowing more about Wise pricing, click here.
Limited features for Indian businesses
For Indian businesses, just receiving international payment in a multi-currency account is not enough. Along with that, Indian businesses need a seamless INR credit facility to their Indian bank account, payment traceability for audits, and clear remittance categorisation.
Wise is primarily designed for global individual use cases, which means Indian businesses often need additional manual processes to manage accounting and reporting.
Compliance and documentation complexity
Operating a business in India means complying with RBI and FEMA regulations. Business in India that receives international payments must often provide FIRA documents to prove export income, file GST returns, and satisfy auditors and banks. Wise does not always provide a smooth, automated compliance experience, which creates extra work for the finance teams.
Evolved cross-border economy in India
In 2026, India is one of the largest exporters of IT services, consulting, creative and freelance work, and Saas products. So, now Indian businesses need India-based payment products that can completely satisfy all their business needs and not a generic global solution.
What makes a good Wise alternative for India?
Not all international payment platforms work well in the Indian context. A truly effective Wise alternative must address India-specific needs. Here is a list of things that make a payment platform good Wise alternative:
Transparent pricing with no hidden markup
Many platforms advertise low fees but hide margins in exchange rates. Indian businesses should look for solutions that offer clear, upfront pricing so they can accurately forecast revenue. For example, a platform like Infinity charges a flat and transparent fee of 0.5% (inclusive of all). This makes Infinity an ideal platform for Indian businesses and professionals, as the fees are minimal without any hidden charges.
Faster INR settlement
Cash flow is critical for businesses. Faster INR settlements mean quicker reinvestment, smoother payroll cycles, and reduced dependency on credit.
A good Wise alternative in India should prioritise speedy INR payouts to an Indian bank account. For example, Wise, on average, takes 2-4 days to settle a payment, whereas there are platforms like Infinity that settle a transaction within 24 hours.
Built-in RBI & FEMA compliance
Compliance should not be an afterthought. Platforms that automatically handle remittance classification and documentation, like providing FIRA in case of international payments, should reduce operational risk and save time.
Scalability for global payments
As Indian businesses are growing, payment systems should scale effortlessly across countries, currencies, and client types to ensure scalability to Indian businesses.
This is what a Reddit user has to say about using Wise in India:
Source: Reddit
Best Wise alternatives in India (2026)
Infinity- The best alternative for Indian businesses
Infinity is a modern fintech payment platform designed for Indian professionals, freelancers, exporters, and startup founders to receive international payments. Infinity is the best alternative to Wise in India, as it provides all the features of Wise for receiving global funds but at a significantly lower cost. Infinity provides you with a multi-currency account that helps Indian professionals receive international payments in over 50+ currencies.
Why Infinity stands out as the best Wise alternative in India
Low and transparent fees: Infinity charges a low and transparent fee of only 0.5%(Inclusive of all). Whereas Wise at the same time charges a transaction fee of 1.9% -2%, which is much higher than that of Infinity. This allows users to retain more of their earnings.
FX Markup: Infinity does not charge any FX markup and converts foreign currency at the live exchange rates.
Fast settlement: Funds received through Infinity are settled within 24 hours of the transaction. Wise, on the other hand, can take up to 2 business days.
FIRA and compliance: Infinity automatically generates FIRA after every successful transaction. This simplifies compliance for Indian users.
When to choose Infinity:
Any Indian professional (freelancers, exporters, startup founders, agency owners) can choose Infinity to receive their international payments. This is because Infinity has no limits on transfer and withdrawal amounts.
Infinity is the best Wise alternative in India, as it charges much lower than Wise and makes the process of international payments smooth and hassle-free.
If you are looking for a payment platform that is compliant with RBI and FEMA regulations, then Infinity is the best platform.
Payoneer – Ideal for Freelancers and Marketplaces
Payoneer allows Indian freelancers to receive payments from marketplaces like Upwork, Fiverr, and other clients. It provides a multi-currency account and competitive fees for recurring payments.
Key Features of Payoneer India:
Multi-currency account support: Like Infinity and Wise, Payoneer also supports a multi-currency account feature for receiving multiple currencies like USD, EUR, GBP, etc. You can receive payments from your global clients in these accounts.
Integration with marketplaces: Payoneer is popular among freelancers as it is integrated on many platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, etc. For example, if you are a freelancer earning through Upwork, you can integrate your Upwork account with your Payoneer account and get funds directly transferred into it.
Fee Structure: The Payoneer fee structure is a bit complicated, especially if you or your clients directly use the Payoneer account. The fee ranges from 0% to 3.2%. So it is somewhere similar to Wise charges, which is up to 2% or sometimes Payoneer can be expensive too.
Conversion charges: Payoneer charges a conversion fee of 2-3%. Other than that, they charge a little extra on top of the mid-market rate, which makes the whole fees somewhere between 2-5%, making it a costlier option for receiving international payments. Wise, on the other hand, converts your money at the mid-market rate, which makes it a cheaper option than Payoneer.
Other important features: Payoneer provides its clients with other features, like a prepaid Mastercard that can be linked to your account. Although the availability of this feature to Indian users is not smooth due to the regulatory restrictions.
Considerations while choosing Payoneer in India
Payoneer charges an inactivity fee. This means if you haven't used your account within a time span of 12 months, you will be charged $29.95. This comes as a surprise to many users.
Other than the conversion fees, Payoneer charges an FX markup on top of the mid-market rate.
When it comes to the withdrawal part, Payoneer might charge a small fee when withdrawing your funds into your Indian bank account.
PayPal India- A wise alternative for global reach
PayPal is known for its worldwide reach. So, this makes PayPal an easier and trustworthy choice for Indian businesses and freelancers. For Indian professionals, this trust factor is crucial, as clients are more comfortable sending money through a platform they know.
Key features of PayPal in India:
Easy setup: For Indian users, a PayPal account is easy to make and easy to link to Indian bank accounts. The platform dashboard is built to be user-friendly, which allows users to track payments, view transaction history, and manage invoices.
High Fees and Currency Conversion Costs: PayPal in India charges a standard fee of 4.4% + other charges for international payments. Other than the transaction fees, PayPal also charges a conversion fee of 2.5-4% as a markup above the mid-market rate. Many Indian freelancers report that these charges make PayPal an expensive alternative to Wise in India.
Support Responsiveness Can Vary: Indian users often report delays in PayPal support, especially when a dispute arises. As it is not an Indian-based company, a few issues like compliance and verification might take longer than expected.
Buyer and Seller protection: PayPal’s protection policy offers a safety net to both buyers and sellers. If any client claims that a service was not delivered, PayPal can immediately mediate disputes.
When to choose PayPal in India:
You can choose PayPal if you are looking for a seamless, easy integration with multiple global marketplaces like Upwork and Toptal.
PayPal is suitable for quick and one-off payments. Regular payments can become very expensive due to PayPal’s high fees.
Stripe- Best for online businesses
Stripe is a powerful payment processor favoured by global SaaS companies. Stripe is a payment gateway primarily for online businesses, e-commerce platforms, and subscription-based services. While it is not as user-friendly for individual freelancers as Infinity or Wise, it provides powerful features for businesses that need to process card payments globally.
Why businesses choose Stripe:
Advanced APIs and developer tools
Strong global customer acceptance
Subscription and billing flexibility
Challenges for Indian businesses:
Complex setup and technical requirements
Limited India-centric compliance support
Not ideal for service exporters without tech teams
Stripe works well for tech-heavy SaaS businesses, but not for most Indian exporters or service providers.
Wise Alternatives Comparison Table (India – 2026)
Platform | Pricing Transparency | INR Settlement Speed | Compliance Support | Ideal For |
Infinity | High | 24-hour settlement | Full (Free-of-cost FIRA) | Indian exporters & businesses |
PayPal | Low | Moderate | Limited | Occasional payments |
Payoneer | Medium | Moderate | Partial | Marketplace freelancers |
Stripe | Medium | Variable | Limited | SaaS companies |
Why is Infinity the best Wise alternative in India?
What makes any payment platform a good alternative to Wise is being able to provide better cost, compliance, and scalability. If any platform is able to provide all of the above, it is considered to be a good alternative to Wise. This is where Infinity fits in. Infinity consistently outperforms other Wise alternatives in India as a better choice for receiving international payments.
Infinity is built specifically for Indian businesses and professionals.
Infinity is designed for receiving international payments at scale and large volume.
Infinity is optimised for RBI and FEMA compliance by providing instant and free-of-cash FIRA.
Infinity is designed to optimise cash flow by providing the service of 24-hours INR settlement.
Infinity charges minimal fees, which are 0.5%(inclusive of all). This makes Infinity a really attractive alternative to Wise as the fees are really low and there are no other hidden charges or markup.
So, for businesses, freelancers, and startup founders looking for global growth without worrying about the international payments process, Infinity offers long-term reliability and not just short-term convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions about Wise India
Is Wise good for Indian businesses in 2026?
Wise can work for individuals or low-volume transfer. But many Indian professionals find it less attractive due to compliance issues, settlement time and transaction fees.
Which Wise alternative is best for Indian exporters?
Infinity is the most suitable option for Indian exporters due to its India-first design, fast INR settlements, and automated compliance documentation.
Do Wise alternatives provide FIRC or FIRA?
Not all Wise alternatives provide FIRA or FIRC. Infinity does provide free-of-cost FIRA after every successful transaction. Many other platforms might need manual or third-party support.
Is PayPal cheaper than Wise for Indian users?
In most cases, PayPal is more expensive due to higher transaction fees and FX markups, especially for regular payments.
Can Indian freelancers use Infinity as a Wise alternative?
Yes. Freelancers can use Infinity as a Wise alternative as it provides better pricing and compliance support for freelancers scaling their income.
