For foreigners visiting India, UPI One World (via Paytm) and Cheq UPI are the best options, specifically designed for tourists to use international phone numbers and foreign cards to fund a prepaid wallet, allowing easy scanning of QR codes at over 55 million merchants without needing an Indian bank account.
To activate your UPI One World wallet, carry these:
3: BHIM UPI has the added advantage of being backed by the government, so it is regarded as safer and secure compared to Google Pay. Though Google Pay has enhanced security features like biometric authentication as well as PIN or pattern, extensive data syncing makes it less secure.
BHIM (Bharat Interface for Money), developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), is widely considered one of the safest UPI applications as it is the official NPCI app and focuses on secure bank-to-bank transfers.
Choosing the right payment app depends on your business and customers. PhonePe is best for rewards and regional language support. Google Pay is ideal for making fast and secure transactions with urban customers.
Paytm: Wide range of services including wallet, UPI, payments, and investments. Slightly higher app clutter and notifications. Key Takeaway: Google Pay is ideal for simplicity, PhonePe for comprehensive features, and Paytm for those who prefer wallet integration along with payments.
The risks associated with UPI primarily involve fraudulent activities attempting to exploit users. Common concerns include phishing, vishing, and smishing attacks where scammers try to trick users into revealing sensitive information like their UPI PIN.
For example, Paytm is a top UPI app for money transfer, often providing offers like up to 10% cashback on initial transactions. Additionally, certain credit cards, such as HDFC MoneyBack and ICICI Coral, offer high cashback on UPI transactions.
BHIM app is based on Unified Payment Interface(UPI), Whereas PAYTM is, as of now, is a mobile wallet. BHIM app is better when you have to transfer funds from one account to another and PAYTM is better when you have to pay for different services like mobile recharge, electricity bill payment etc.
Disadvantages include a daily transaction limit of ₹1,00,000 (though some banks may impose lower limits) and fewer features compared to private UPI applications that offer rewards or cashback.
Google Pay keeps your information safe. Google Pay uses special things to stop frauds from stealing your money or knowing your identity. Your Google Pay information is stored in a safe place, and our team monitors it all the time.
BARRIERS TO ADOPTION AND SUSTAINED USE. There were some bottlenecks in signing up on the BHIM application, such as: After linking the bank accounts with the application, it asks the user to set a UPI PIN. For that the user is required to put in the last 6 digits of the debit card and the expiry date.
Yes, NRIs can use their international mobile numbers for BHIM UPI app registration. This service is available for INR transactions in India for NRIs from approved geographies, including Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, UAE, UK, and USA.
Unfortunately, you generally cannot use your international Google Wallet to make UPI payments through GPay in India. GPay requires an Indian bank account and phone number, which most travelers and NRIs don't have.
It uses USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) technology, which works on basic phones too. This service helps people across India do banking just by dialling *99# from their mobile.
You can use BHIM outside India to send and collect money for your local accounts. Please note that NRI/NRE accounts can be used for the same.
India's UPI ecosystem continues to redefine digital payments — clocking billions of transactions every month. And leading the charge are a few giants who dominate the space. PhonePe reigns supreme with 8.96 Bn transactions, followed by Google Pay at 6.83 Bn and Paytm at 1.39 Bn.
Based on transaction volume data, some of the top banks for UPI remittances include the State Bank of India (SBI), HDFC Bank, Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India, and Punjab National Bank. Many banks, including HDFC and SBI, offer high UPI transaction limits, typically up to ₹100,000 INR per transaction.
Google Pay - Fast Transactions with Strong Security
Google Pay combines speed and security to offer a reliable UPI payment experience. Supports Google Pay UPI ID for seamless money transfers. Uses biometric authentication and AI-driven fraud detection.
Regular UPI transactions have a maximum daily limit of ₹ 1 Lakh. UPI withdrawals from ATMs using UPI apps are limited to ₹ 10,000 per day. Bank UPI apps allow a total of 20 UPI transactions each day. Third-party UPI apps permit a maximum of 10 transactions per day.
Yes, UPI payments are considered secure. They utilize encryption and mandatory UPI PIN verification, often coupled with two-factor authentication, to prevent unauthorized transactions. The system is regulated by NPCI under RBI guidelines, ensuring security standards are met.
Top Best UPI Apps in India for 2025 – Detailed Comparison
The best UPI payment app depends on user needs for security, speed, and rewards. Look for reliable apps powered by top Indian banks. Paytm is a secure, all-in-one option that builds features based on real user needs within the BHIM UPI ecosystem.