Whenever an Indian freelancer, agency or SaaS founder receives money from a foreign client, there are two layers of cost. One is the visible fee that the platform charges. The other is the currency conversion markup that gets applied when dollars or euros are converted into rupees. This second layer is often the bigger cost and the one most people overlook.

Two platforms may advertise similar transaction fees, yet one may deliver several thousand rupees less because of a weaker conversion rate. Understanding how PayPal, Wise and Stripe apply their FX markups helps you judge which platform gives you the highest INR for the same dollar amount.

Below is a detailed breakdown of how each service handles currency conversion for Indian recipients.

How PayPal applies its currency conversion markup

PayPal uses its own exchange rate when converting foreign currency into INR. This rate is usually higher than the real interbank rate. For Indian users, the markup typically falls in the range of 3 to 4 percent above the true mid market rate.

Here is how it usually works:

• You receive the foreign currency from the client.
• PayPal deducts its transaction fee.
• The remaining amount is converted using a PayPal rate that includes a markup.

Because this markup is applied after the percentage fee, the loss becomes more noticeable on larger payments. A three percent difference in exchange rate is already significant. A four percent difference adds an even larger gap in final INR received.

For many users, this hidden spread is the single biggest reason PayPal delivers one of the lowest take home values despite its popularity.

How Stripe applies its conversion markup in India

Stripe’s international fee structure contains two parts. One is the processing fee. The second part is the currency conversion fee, which is added on top of the transaction.

For Indian businesses, Stripe typically adds an additional conversion charge of about 2 percent above the interbank rate. This markup is lower than PayPal’s but still meaningful. For a payment of 1000 dollars, a 2 percent markup can reduce the final INR by a noticeable amount.

The process usually looks like this:

• Stripe deducts the international processing fee.
• The remaining balance is converted into INR at a rate that includes the markup.
• The money is then settled to the Indian account after the payout cycle.

Stripe offers better transparency than PayPal and its markup is smaller. However, it is still higher than mid market levels. The result is a moderate loss when compared to platforms that use real time interbank rates.

How Wise handles currency conversion

Wise built its brand on transparent and fair exchange rates. Wise does not add markup to the mid market rate. Instead, it charges a clear service fee and converts the remaining amount at the actual live rate available on the market.

Wise does not disguise any margin inside the exchange rate. This is why it often provides a higher INR payout than both PayPal and Stripe for the same USD amount.

For a typical transfer, the process looks like this:

• Wise charges a small fee for processing the transfer.
• The remaining foreign currency is converted into INR at the exact mid market rate.
• There is no margin added into the rate.

Because the conversion is fair and the fee is relatively small, Wise is often the best option when the sender is willing to pay through the Wise system.

How exchange rate markup affects your earnings

FX markup matters more than most people realise. For example, consider a difference of 2 percent and 4 percent.

• A 2 percent markup on 1000 dollars translates to a loss of about 20 dollars worth of rupees.
• A 4 percent markup on the same 1000 dollars means losing about 40 dollars in value.

When applied every month or to larger invoices, this becomes a significant reduction in annual income. A freelancer or agency earning regularly from global clients may lose tens of thousands of rupees each year simply because of conversion markup.

This is why comparing only the visible fee is not enough. FX loss is often the bigger cost.

Where India focused platforms stand in comparison

Platforms built specifically for Indian exporters and service providers typically avoid percentage based models and avoid hiding any markup inside the conversion rate. Some solutions convert at the live interbank rate and charge a flat fee, which leads to higher INR compared to PayPal, Stripe and sometimes even Wise.

BRISKPE is one example of such a platform. It uses a flat fee model and converts at live rates without inflation. This removes the two biggest sources of hidden loss in international payments. For Indian professionals who want to maximise INR from every incoming payment, this type of pricing structure often delivers the highest final amount.

Final INR Amount You Receive From a 1000 Dollar Payment

BRISKPE

• Fee: 16 dollars
• Amount converted: 984 dollars
• INR received: 984 × 83 = 81,672 INR

PayPal (approx 4.4 percent fee + fixed charge, before conversion markup)

• Fee: about 44.40 dollars
• Amount left: about 955.60 dollars
• PayPal then applies a weaker rate, often 2 to 3 INR lower than interbank.
Using a conservative 80 INR conversion:
• INR received: 955.60 × 80 = 76,448 INR
(About 5,200 INR less than BRISKPE)

Stripe (3.5 percent cross border charge estimate)

• Fee: about 35 dollars
• Amount left: about 965 dollars
Assuming card settlement at around 80 INR:
• INR received: 965 × 80 = 77,200 INR

Wise (0.6 to 0.8 percent typical USD fee)

• Fee: about 7 dollars
• Amount left: 993 dollars
• Converted at close-to-interbank: 993 × 83 = 82,419 INR

Summary

From a 1000 dollar payment at an 83 INR interbank rate:

• BRISKPE: 81,672 INR
• Wise: 82,419 INR
• Stripe: 77,200 INR
• PayPal: 76,448 INR

Final thoughts

BRISKPE, for example, uses a simple flat fee model and applies live rates without markup. Because the fee is not tied to the size of the transaction and because the conversion does not include a hidden spread, users tend to see higher INR on each inward transfer.

Many exporters and freelancers choose this structure simply because it keeps the focus on clarity and takes home value rather than attempting to compensate for high FX loss.