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EXPLAINER

Payment gateways for studios in India: UPI, fees and AutoPay compared

Last verified: 25 September 2026

Disclosure. We make StudioFly. We've included it, and we've tried to be fair to everyone else.

Most members in India would rather pay a studio by UPI than hand over cash, and many studios want memberships to renew without chasing anyone. That means choosing a payment gateway, and software that works with it.

This explainer quotes what NPCI and the RBI say about UPI charges and recurring payments, sets six gateways’ published prices and conditions side by side, and shows which studio software supports which gateway in India. It isn’t a ranking, and every figure is quoted as published on 25 September 2026.

Product names on this page are trademarks of their owners. StudioFly is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.

UPI CHARGES

What changes for UPI payments.

From 15 October 2026, merchants pay an MDR of 0.4% on person-to-merchant UPI payments above ₹2,000, capped at ₹300 for payments of ₹75,000 and above; payments up to ₹2,000 carry no MDR (NPCI FAQ, 15 September 2026).1

NPCI’s worked example: a ₹3,000 payment carries ₹12 of MDR, ₹50,000 carries ₹200, and ₹1,00,000 stops at the ₹300 cap.1

Merchants cannot pass the UPI MDR on to customers, and consumers continue to pay nothing for UPI payments.1

UPI mandates (AutoPay) carry no prescribed MDR, so recurring debits set up through AutoPay are outside the new charge.1

Small merchants in NPCI’s P2PM category, receiving up to ₹1 lakh a month through UPI QR into their own accounts, keep zero MDR; after three consecutive months above ₹1 lakh they move to the P2M category.1

RECURRING PAYMENTS

AutoPay and e-mandates.

NPCI describes UPI AutoPay as a mandate for recurring payments, available on all UPI apps: the customer checks the mandate in their UPI app and confirms with the UPI PIN, and can pause or revoke it at any time.2

The RBI’s Digital Payments – E-mandate Framework, 2026 (21 April 2026) covers recurring payments by card, prepaid instrument and UPI. Recurring debits up to ₹15,000 need no extra authentication; above that, each needs AFA.3

An e-mandate is registered once with AFA, and the first transaction also needs AFA. The issuer notifies the customer at least 24 hours before each debit, and the customer can opt out of a debit or the whole mandate.3

For a studio, that means a monthly membership of up to ₹15,000 can renew by UPI AutoPay or a card mandate without the member authenticating each debit, once the mandate is set up and after a notice at least 24 hours before each one.3

StudioFly doesn’t take UPI AutoPay or card mandates. Members pay each renewal by UPI, card or netbanking in the member portal or through a payment link, and automatic WhatsApp reminders go out before a membership expires or a payment is due.

THE GATEWAYS

Six gateways, side by side.

Razorpay, PayU and CCAvenue list 2% plus GST for most domestic payments, Cashfree lists 1.95%, and PhonePe shows 1.99% struck through beside a limited-period free offer. Stripe takes Indian cards at 2%; its pricing page says India accounts take Visa, Mastercard and Amex, not local payment methods, and accounts in India are invite-only.4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14

New merchants get introductory offers: Razorpay charges no fee on the first ₹5 lakh of domestic payments within 90 days, and Cashfree 0% on the first ₹20 lakh under an offer running to 31 March 2027.4,5,6,9

What each gateway publishes (checked 25 September 2026)
ProductStandard pricingRecurring paymentsSettlementOnboarding
RazorpayPayment gateway2% + 18% GST on UPI, domestic cards, netbanking and wallets; 2.15% + GST on RuPay credit cards on UPI. Merchants activated from 1 July 2026 pay no fee on their first ₹5 lakh of domestic payments within 90 days.4,5,6Subscriptions support cards, UPI Autopay (mandates up to ₹1,00,000; frictionless debits to ₹15,000) and eMandate. The pricing tab shows 0.9% plus the standard fee per card transaction; UPI, NACH and e-mandate pricing is on request.5,15T+2 working days for domestic payments, counted from capture; the cycle can vary with business vertical and risk. Instant Settlements are offered separately.16Individuals and unregistered businesses can sign up: PAN, address proof (CKYC, DigiLocker or Aadhaar) and a bank account. Proprietorships add two business proofs such as Udyam, GST or Shop & Establishment. A ₹199 KYC processing fee may apply.6,17
Cashfree PaymentsPayment gateway1.95% per transaction (2.0% shown struck through) on UPI, cards, netbanking and wallets. New merchants pay 0% on their first ₹20 lakh under an offer to 31 March 2027. Its FAQ says UPI charges are “as per the applicable law”.9UPI Autopay, cards, e-mandate and NACH. Mandate creation plus each presentation: ₹7.5 + ₹7.5 (cards, e-mandate, NACH); UPI Autopay ₹7.5 + ₹5 under ₹1,000, ₹7.5 + ₹15 from ₹1,000; transaction fees extra. UPI Autopay without AFA: up to ₹15,000.9,18Standard settlements are T+1 or T+2 business days, depending on the configured cycle; another answer calls T+2 the default. Instant settlements carry a fee.19Individuals (unregistered) and proprietorships sign up with PAN or Form 60 and Aadhaar or Central KYC. Proprietorships upload two business proofs such as Udyam or Shop & Establishment, or are moved to Unregistered. Video KYC may be required.20
PayUPayment gateway2% for Visa, Mastercard, net banking, BNPL and wallets (domestic); 3% for Diners, American Express, EMI and international; 18% GST on all. Merchant UPI pricing “varies by business type and volume”. No setup fee.7The Subscription Suite supports cards, UPI, EMI, eMandate, international cards and LazyPay, using e-mandates, UPI AutoPay and tokenised cards; its docs cover UPI Autopay and eNACH, including Aadhaar eNACH. No subscription prices are shown.21,22Standard settlement is T+2; same-day and Priority Settlements are available by business category and may carry a nominal fee.7Individual and Sole Proprietorship are listed entity types. Individuals give PAN, address proof and bank proof; proprietorships add two government proofs such as GSTIN, MSME, FSSAI or shop establishment.23
PhonePe Payment GatewayPayment gatewayStandard Plan: 1.99%, shown struck through beside “Free*” as a limited-period offer (T&C apply), with zero setup and annual maintenance fees. Rates by payment method aren’t shown on the page.10,11UPI AutoPay, with zero setup charges and zero annual fees for standard mandate processing; mandates are set up with the UPI PIN. Its FAQ puts the standard UPI AutoPay limit at ₹1 lakh per transaction.24T+1 for online and offline payments, except bank holidays; the cycle can change with transaction type, merchant and business model and is confirmed at commercial closure.25KYC documents depend on entity type. A sole proprietor gives the owner’s KYC plus any two business documents, such as an Udyam registration certificate; companies, partnerships, trusts and societies have their own lists.26
CCAvenuePayment gatewayStandard: 2.00% per transaction for online payments by domestic cards, wallets, netbanking and UPI, plus 18% GST; 2.15% for credit cards on UPI. No setup fee; annual software upgradation charge ₹1,200 + GST, waived in the first financial year.8Subscriptions take Mastercard and Visa credit cards from any Indian bank, and ICICI and Kotak debit cards. Card mandate creation ₹15 + GST, with ₹1 validation and ₹1 notification charges; ENACH is also listed.8,27Weekly, or as the agreement says: amounts over ₹1,000 for transactions up to Wednesday midnight are paid out on Friday. Payouts start only after KYC documents are complete.28Accounts are activated within an hour of registrations made 9 AM–6 PM, Monday to Saturday. Sole proprietors then submit PAN, ID, address and bank proofs, two business documents and a stamped sub-merchant agreement.28,29
StripePayment gateway2% for cards issued in India, 3% for cards issued outside India (+2% if currency conversion is required); domestic debit cards carry an MDR of 0.4% capped at ₹200. India accounts take Visa, Mastercard and Amex, not local payment methods.12,13Stripe Subscriptions handle RBI e-mandates for India cards and UPI: one-time AFA registration, a pre-debit notice at least 24 hours ahead, AFA each time above 15,000 INR. Card charges are delayed 26 hours.30Daily payouts only: payments on Indian cards are paid out two business days later, international cards five; the first payout waits seven days.31Invite-only in India: new businesses must request an invite, and platforms add Indian connected accounts by invite only. Supported entities are companies, LLPs, sole proprietorships, and individuals for domestic payments.13,14
THE SOFTWARE

Which gateway your software works with.

The international studio platforms we checked run on Stripe or their own processing, and none lists UPI for India. Kenko and Bookday connect Razorpay for studios in India, and Zenoti uses Airpay, JusPay and Pine Labs. The Indian tools connect Razorpay, Cashfree, PhonePe or Paytm, or don’t name the gateway.14,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56

StudioFly connects a Razorpay account in your business’s name, for UPI, cards and netbanking, on Pro and Enterprise or as an add-on on Growth. It adds no fee to member payments; Razorpay’s own charges apply.

Gateways and UPI on each vendor’s pages (checked 25 September 2026)
ProductGateways for IndiaUPI
MindbodyStudio platformNot listed on the pages we checked.32,33Not listed on the pages we checked.32
ABC GlofoxStudio platformNo gateway is named for India. The billing page lists Stripe, GoCardless, Amazon Payments, Nice Payments, PayU, Ezidebit and Spreedly, “the provider that fits your region”; Glofox Payments (Stripe) has its own country list.34,35Not listed on the pages we checked.34,35,57,58
MomenceStudio platformNot listed on the pages we checked.36,37Not listed on the pages we checked.36,37,59
Mariana TekStudio platformNot listed on the pages we checked.38,39Not listed on the pages we checked.39,60
ArketaStudio platformStripe only: Arketa uses Stripe for all payment processing and supports countries where Stripe operates. Stripe is invite-only in India.14,40Not listed on the pages we checked.40
WellnessLivingStudio platformNot listed on the pages we checked.41Not listed on the pages we checked.41
StudioBookingsStudio platformStripe, or PayPal where Stripe isn’t available; only Stripe supports contract (recurring) passes.42Not listed on the pages we checked.42,61,62,63
KenkoStudio platformRazorpay, its only payment gateway in India.43Through Razorpay payment links sent from the POS; only non-recurring memberships can be sold by link, and links expire after 4 hours.64
BookdayStudio platformRazorpay, “available for studios in India”; the studio enters its own Razorpay keys. Subscriptions work only with Stripe.44Not listed on the pages we checked.44,65,66
ZenotiSalon, spa and fitness · India officeJusPay and Plutus (Pine Labs) are its listed gateways for India (JusPay tested with PayU Biz); Plutus is on the Enterprise plan. Airpay, supported only in India, handles in-store and Webstore payments.45,46,47Through Airpay (in-store and Webstore) and through payment links on Zenoti Payments, which don’t cover recurring membership payments. India’s gateway table marks recurring payments as unsupported for JusPay and Plutus.45,47,67
YoActivStudio software · India“Partner payment gateways”, not named, sold as an add-on on every plan.53YoActiv One collects payments by UPI, debit or credit card, or internet banking.68
YDLGym software · IndiaRazorpay, PhonePe or Stripe for in-app payments; its terms name Razorpay as payment processor.48,49Members pay by UPI, cards or net banking, including in the member app.69
Easy Gym SoftwareGym software · IndiaNot listed on the pages we checked.54,55,56Members can pay by UPI, cards and net banking through supported payment gateways, with recurring membership payments.54,56
OkfitGym software · IndiaIts help centre has articles on managing online payments with Razorpay and with Stripe.70Its payment-gateway integration takes UPI, cards and net banking for online payments.71
DINGGSalon, spa and fitness · IndiaIts blog describes a UPI/Paytm integration switched on in POS settings, using gateway credentials from your payment provider.52The point of sale takes cash, cards, digital wallets and UPI.72
YourFeeAcademy software · IndiaThe academy connects its own Razorpay or Cashfree account; money goes directly to its bank.50Parents pay by UPI, debit or credit card, or net banking.50
AcadifyOSAcademy software · IndiaRazorpay is listed among its integrations.51Parents pay online by UPI or card, through a payment link or the parent app.73
StudioFlyStudio software · the maker of this pageRazorpay, connected in your business’s name through the partner route. Pro and Enterprise, or an add-on on Growth.UPI, cards and netbanking through Razorpay checkout, in the member portal and through payment links.
DECIDING

Which one do you need?

Choosing a gateway

  • Compare the published rate for the way your members actually pay: UPI, debit cards or credit cards.
  • Check whether you need UPI AutoPay or card mandates for renewals, and what each mandate costs.
  • Check the settlement cycle, and what faster settlement costs.
  • Check which documents your business type needs to sign up.

Choosing software

  • Check that the software supports a gateway that works in India, and takes UPI.
  • Ask whether it adds its own fee on top of the gateway’s.
  • Check that each payment lands on the right member and invoice without manual matching.

StudioFly payment integration We make StudioFly. Compare it with the software above.

A LITTLE MORE CLARITY

Your questions, answered.

Want to talk through your own setup?

Let’s have a conversation
Is there a fee on UPI payments to a studio?

NPCI’s FAQ says that from 15 October 2026, merchants pay an MDR of 0.4% on person-to-merchant UPI payments above ₹2,000, capped at ₹300 for payments of ₹75,000 and above. Payments up to ₹2,000 carry no MDR, AutoPay mandates carry no prescribed MDR, and merchants can’t pass the MDR on to customers. Your gateway’s own pricing also applies.

Which payment gateway is cheapest for a studio in India?

It depends on how your members pay and how much you collect. On the pages we checked, Razorpay, PayU and CCAvenue list 2% plus GST for most domestic payments, Cashfree 1.95%, and PhonePe a limited-period free offer; Razorpay and Cashfree also have introductory offers for new merchants. Check each gateway’s current terms before you sign up.

Can members pay a monthly membership automatically?

Yes, through UPI AutoPay or a card or bank e-mandate, if your gateway and software support them. Under the RBI’s e-mandate framework, recurring debits up to ₹15,000 need no extra authentication once the mandate is set up, and the member gets a notice at least 24 hours before each debit. StudioFly doesn’t take mandates; members pay each renewal by UPI, card or netbanking.

Can I use Stripe for a studio in India?

Stripe’s own pages say accounts in India are invite-only, and its pricing page says India accounts take Visa, Mastercard and Amex, not local payment methods. Several international studio platforms run their payments on Stripe.

Which studio software supports Razorpay?

StudioFly, Kenko, Bookday, YDL, YourFee, AcadifyOS and Okfit name Razorpay on their pages; YourFee also takes Cashfree, and YDL also names PhonePe and Stripe. Zenoti uses Airpay, JusPay and Pine Labs in India.

How often is this checked?

At least every 90 days, and straight away after a known change to UPI charges, the e-mandate rules or a gateway’s pricing. The date at the top of the page is the last full check.

KEEP READING

Sources

Every source below was checked on 25 September 2026. Vendors change their pages, so check anything that matters to you with the vendor before you buy.

  1. NPCI, FAQs on MDR on select UPI (P2M) transactions, 15 September 2026 (PDF): npci.org.in/uploads/FA_Qs_Merchant_Discount_Rate_MDR_on_Select_UPI_P2_M_Transactions_58dba1d39e.pdf
  2. NPCI, UPI AutoPay guidelines (PDF): npci.org.in/uploads/UPI_Auto_Pay_Brand_Guidelines_bcabed7282.pdf
  3. RBI, Digital Payments – E-mandate Framework, 2026 (Master Direction): rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_ViewMasDirections.aspx?id=13374
  4. Razorpay, Razorpay payment gateway pricing explained: razorpay.com/blog/razorpay-payment-gateway-pricing-explained/
  5. Razorpay, pricing: razorpay.com/pricing/
  6. Razorpay, day free pg offer: razorpay.com/terms/90-day-free-pg-offer/
  7. PayU, pricing: payu.in/pricing/
  8. CCAvenue, genregistration.do: dashboard.ccavenue.com/web/genregistration.do?command=navigateSchemeForm
  9. Cashfree Payments, payment gateway charges: cashfree.com/payment-gateway-charges/
  10. PhonePe Payment Gateway, pricing: phonepe.com/business-solutions/payment-gateway/pricing/
  11. PhonePe Payment Gateway, payment gateway: business.phonepe.com/payment-gateway
  12. Stripe, pricing: stripe.com/in/pricing
  13. Stripe help: Supported payment methods currencies and businesses for Stripe accounts in India: support.stripe.com/questions/supported-payment-methods-currencies-and-businesses-for-stripe-accounts-in-india
  14. Stripe help: Stripe accounts are invite only in India: support.stripe.com/questions/stripe-accounts-are-invite-only-in-india
  15. Razorpay, supported payment methods: razorpay.com/docs/payments/subscriptions/supported-payment-methods/
  16. Razorpay, settlements: razorpay.com/docs/payments/settlements/
  17. Razorpay, business types kyc documents: razorpay.com/docs/payments/business-types-kyc-documents/
  18. Cashfree Payments, payment modes: cashfree.com/docs/payments/subscription/payment-modes
  19. Cashfree Payments help: Settlements: cashfree.com/docs/help/payments/settlements/settlements
  20. Cashfree Payments help: Account activation: cashfree.com/docs/help/account/account-activation
  21. PayU, recurring payments suite: payu.in/recurring-payments-suite/
  22. PayU help: FAQs recurring payments: docs.payu.in/docs/faqs-recurring-payments
  23. PayU help: Documents checklist for account activation: docs.payu.in/docs/documents-checklist-for-account-activation
  24. PhonePe Payment Gateway, UPI AutoPay: business.phonepe.com/upi-autopay
  25. PhonePe Payment Gateway, settlement: developer.phonepe.com/docs/settlement
  26. PhonePe Payment Gateway, merchant profiling Guidelines.pdf: phonepe.com/apollo/pdf/Merchant_Profiling_Guidelines.pdf
  27. CCAvenue, subscriptions: ccavenue.com/subscriptions
  28. CCAvenue, FAQ: ccavenue.com/faq
  29. CCAvenue, documentlist soleproprietor.htm: ccavenue.com/documentlist_soleproprietor.htm
  30. Stripe help: India recurring payments: docs.stripe.com/india-recurring-payments
  31. Stripe help: Payout schedule for Stripe accounts in India: support.stripe.com/questions/payout-schedule-for-stripe-accounts-in-india
  32. Mindbody, payments: mindbodyonline.com/business/payments
  33. Mindbody help: Payment processor contact information and processors by region: support.mindbodyonline.com/s/article/203255663-Payment-processor-contact-information-and-processors-by-region?language=en_US
  34. ABC Glofox, billing: glofox.com/features/billing/
  35. ABC Glofox help: How to set up Glofox payments Stripe: support.glofox.com/hc/en-us/articles/46466480893204-How-to-Set-up-Glofox-Payments-Stripe
  36. Momence help: Stripe payment FAQs: help.momence.com/en/articles/12028686-stripe-payment-faq-s
  37. Momence help: Selling stuff taking payments FAQs: help.momence.com/en/articles/12028713-selling-stuff-taking-payments-faq-s
  38. Mariana Tek help: What complementary tools adjacent to Mariana Tek is my studio responsible for: support.marianatek.com/en/articles/11180138-what-complementary-tools-adjacent-to-mariana-tek-is-my-studio-responsible-for
  39. Mariana Tek help: What credit card types does Stripe support and what are the minimum charge amounts: support.marianatek.com/en/articles/4596988-what-credit-card-types-does-stripe-support-and-what-are-the-minimum-charge-amounts
  40. Arketa help: Connect Stripe: help.arketa.com/getting-started/connect-stripe
  41. WellnessLiving help: Merchant processing: help.wellnessliving.com/en/articles/8976663-merchant-processing
  42. StudioBookings help: Stripe vs paypal: help.studiobookings.com/en/articles/14693205-stripe-vs-paypal
  43. Kenko help: Kenko for India how to get onboard: help.gokenko.com/en/articles/12169689-kenko-for-india-how-to-get-onboard
  44. Bookday, setup guide: bookday.io/en/setup-guide
  45. Zenoti help: Payment gateways 2C services 2C and terminals supported by Zenoti: help.zenoti.com/en/integrations/payment-gateways%2C-services%2C-and-terminals-supported-by-zenoti.html
  46. Zenoti help: Plutus: help.zenoti.com/en/integrations/plutus.html
  47. Zenoti help: Airpay India: help.zenoti.com/en/configuration/zenoti-payments-configurations/customer-payments/airpay--india-.html
  48. YDL, member app: yourdigitallift.com/member-app/
  49. YDL, privacy policy: yourdigitallift.com/privacy-policy/
  50. YourFee, fee collection: yourfee.in/features/fee-collection
  51. AcadifyOS, features: acadifyos.com/features/
  52. DINGG, top salon billing software with GST UPI integration in India: dingg.app/blogs/top-salon-billing-software-with-gst--upi-integration-in-india
  53. YoActiv, pricing: yoactiv.com/pricing
  54. Easy Gym Software, India: easygymsoftware.com/india
  55. Easy Gym Software, billing: easygymsoftware.com/billing
  56. Easy Gym Software, gym management app: easygymsoftware.com/gym-management-app
  57. ABC Glofox help: Getting started with payment processing: support.glofox.com/hc/en-us/articles/46466538745236-Getting-Started-with-Payment-Processing
  58. ABC Glofox help: What payments methods can be used with the store: support.glofox.com/hc/en-us/articles/46426001587348-What-payments-methods-can-be-used-with-the-Store
  59. Momence, features: momence.com/features/
  60. Mariana Tek, pricing: marianatek.com/pricing/
  61. StudioBookings, features: studiobookings.com/features
  62. StudioBookings, FAQ: studiobookings.com/faq
  63. StudioBookings help: Connecting and accepting payments with paypal: help.studiobookings.com/en/articles/13566011-connecting-and-accepting-payments-with-paypal
  64. Kenko help: Collect payments with ease introducing Razorpay Stripe payment links: help.gokenko.com/en/articles/11659875-collect-payments-with-ease-introducing-razorpay-stripe-payment-links
  65. Bookday, online payments: bookday.io/features/online-payments
  66. Bookday, home page: bookday.io/
  67. Zenoti help: Speed up checkouts: help.zenoti.com/en/configuration/zenoti-payments-configurations/payment-settings/speed-up-checkouts.html
  68. YoActiv, one: yoactiv.com/one
  69. YDL, home page: yourdigitallift.com/
  70. Okfit help centre: help.okfit.in/
  71. Okfit, home page: okfit.in/
  72. DINGG, India home page: dingg.app/in
  73. AcadifyOS, fee billing: acadifyos.com/features/fee-billing/
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