For businesses and freelancers in India, receiving payments from international clients can be a complex and costly process. Between hidden fees, unfavorable exchange rates, and lengthy settlement times, a significant portion of your earnings can be lost before it even hits your account. Fortunately, a new wave of fintech platforms has emerged to simplify this process, offering more transparent and efficient solutions.

While many options exist, BRISKPE stands out as a leading contender, focusing on minimal charges and fast settlements to help Indian exporters and service providers retain more of their income.

Why Indian Businesses Need Smarter Payment Solutions

Traditional banking via SWIFT isn’t just slow, but it’s expensive. A single remittance can attract fees from both sending and receiving banks, plus a hefty markup on currency conversion. What finally lands in your account often looks very different from the invoice you raised. For SMEs and freelancers, those hidden costs eat directly into already thin margins.

That’s why smarter fintech platforms are gaining traction. The best ones focus on four critical areas:

• Transparent, Low Fees: No mystery deductions.
  
• Fair Exchange Rates: Rates that mirror the real mid-market, not padded with spreads.
  
• Speed: Settlements measured in hours or a day, not weeks.
  
• Compliance Made Simple: Automated e-FIRA and documentation so you’re not buried in paperwork.
  

Each payment platform in the market claims to address some or all of these pain points but not all do it equally well. Some focus on ultra-low fees, others on marketplace integrations, and some try to bundle banking services with payments.

So, the real question is, which platform actually delivers the most value for Indian businesses and freelancers?

Top Platforms for Foreign Payments: A Deep Dive

BRISKPE

BRISKPE is the cost-effective solution for Indian exporters, freelancers, and businesses, featuring a transparent, tiered pricing model for inward remittances. Fees are structured for maximum savings: a flat $16 for payments up to $2,000, a flat $25 for transactions between $2,000 and $10,000, and a highly competitive 0.25% for amounts above $10,000. Custom pricing is available for enterprise or high-volume clients exceeding $50,000 per month. This structure is paired with virtual accounts in currencies like USD, GBP, and EUR, allowing for local transfers that eliminate SWIFT fees and hidden FX markups.

The platform offers a mobile app and a web portal for real-time tracking, e-FIRA generation, and invoice management. For larger businesses with high transaction volumes, BRISKPE offers the ability to provide custom quotes, tailoring pricing to specific business needs to maximize savings.

Transactions up to $2,000 are charged at $16 each. Transactions between $2,000 and $10,000 are charged at $25 each. Any amount above $10,000 is charged at 0.25% per transaction. If you process more than $50,000 monthly or are an enterprise client, we offer custom pricing on request.

Strengths:

• Lowest transparent fee structure
  
• No forex markup—live rate applied directly
  
• Fastest Settlement: 24–48 hours settlement
  
• Free e-FIRA instantly
  
• Custom pricing for high volumes
  

For smaller transactions ($1,000):

Flat fee of $16
Net receipt ~$984 (before GST)

For monthly volume ($100,000):

Still the lowest among percentage-based models

For more than $100,000/month:

Fee drops to 0.2%
On $200,000 volume, fee = just $400 (vs. $2,000 with 1% platforms)
This makes BRISKPE unbeatable at scale.

RazorpayX

RazorpayX, an extension of the popular payment gateway, focuses on providing a complete business banking solution. For international payments, it offers a “MoneySaver Export Account” that charges a 1% fee on the transaction value. While this is competitive, it’s slightly higher than BRISKPE’s standard rate. Razorpay is well known for its robust payment gateway that allows for various payment methods.

Strengths:

• Comprehensive suite of payment and banking tools
  
• Strong brand presence and ecosystem integration
  

For smaller transactions ($1,000):

Fee = $10
Net receipt: ~$990

For monthly volume ($100,000):

Fee = $1,000
No discount at higher scale

Skydo

Skydo is a homegrown platform that, like BRISKPE, provides virtual international bank accounts to Indian freelancers and businesses. It prides itself on converting payments using the mid-market rate with no markup. The platform also offers free and instant e-FIRA generation.

Strengths:

• No forex markup, mid-market rates
  
• Instant, free e-FIRA
  
• Freelancer-focused
  

For smaller transactions ($1,000):

Flat fee of $19
Net receipt ~$981

For monthly volume ($100,000):

$19 per transaction × 100 = $1,900
More expensive at scale compared to % fee models

Instarem 

Instarem, a global remittance platform, offers low-cost money transfers with a focus on sending funds rather than receiving them. Its fees and exchange rates are generally competitive, but it may not offer the specific, India-centric features like automated e-FIRA generation that platforms like BRISKPE and Skydo do.

Strengths:

• Large global reach
  
• Good for both inward and outward transfers
  

For smaller transactions ($1,000):

Competitive rates, but fees vary
Net receipt uncertain due to corridor-based pricing

For monthly volume ($100,000):

No flat structure, costs fluctuate
Lack of automated e-FIRA makes it less India-focused

Payoneer

Payoneer is one of the oldest and most widely used platforms for international payments, especially popular with freelancers and gig workers. Its main selling point is its broad integration with global marketplaces like Upwork, Fiverr, and Amazon. However, its fees can be complex, including up to a 1% fee on payments received via its virtual accounts and up to 3% for withdrawals to an Indian bank account.

Strengths:

• Trusted global brand
  
• Strong marketplace integration
  

For smaller transactions ($1,000):

Fee = ~$10 (1%) + possible withdrawal costs
Net receipt ~$990 or lower

For monthly volume ($100,000):

At least $1,000 in fees, plus extra if withdrawn to Indian bank
Higher effective cost compared to BRISKPE or Skydo

Analysis for Small Payments:

For a single $1,000 transaction, BRISKPE’s transparent flat fee ensures you receive the maximum possible amount. While Tazapay can be very competitive, its variable fees and potential for additional charges for services like FIRC make it less predictable. BRISKPE’s simple, flat percentage provides peace of mind and the lowest cost upfront.

Cost of Receiving Payments

Platform	Fee Structure	Total Fee on $12,000 (annual $1k × 12)	Total Fee on $100,000 monthly	Total Amount Received (Pre-GST)
BRISKPE	$16 (up to $2K), $25 (up to $10K), then 0.25% (above $10K). Custom pricing for clients exceeding $50K monthly.	$90.00	$750.00 (at $100k) $200.00 (at $200k)	$11,910.00 (on $12k)
Skydo	Flat $19 per transaction	$228.00	$1,900.00	$11,772.00 (on $12k)
RazorpayX	1% of transaction value	$120.00	$1,000.00	$11,880.00 (on $12k)
Tazapay	Variable (~0.8% for local payments)	~$96.00	~$800.00	~$11,904.00 (on $12k)
Payoneer	Up to 1% per transaction + up to 3% for withdrawals	~$120.00	$1,000.00+ (withdrawal extra)	~$11,880.00 (on $12k)
Instarem	Corridor-based, variable	Variable	Variable	Variable

Overall Comparison

Feature	BRISKPE	RazorpayX	Skydo	Instarem	Payoneer	Tazapay
Fees for Inward Remittances	Transparent, tiered model. Custom pricing beyond $50K/month	1% (MoneySaver Export Account)	Flat $19 per transaction	Variable	Up to 1% + withdrawal fees	~0.8% (variable)
Forex Markup	None (live mid-market rate)	Possible markup	None	Minimal markup	Markup may apply	Variable
Fastest Settlement	24–48 hours	24–48 hours	24–48 hours	Corridor dependent	1–3 business days	1–2 business days
e-FIRA Generation	Instant & Free	Automated	Instant & Free	Manual / request-based	Free (for Indian customers)	Paid in some cases
Custom Quotes	Yes (high volume)	No	No	No	No	No
Strengths	Lowest fees, zero markup, custom pricing at scale	Wide ecosystem & integrations	Freelancer-focused	Global remittances	Marketplace integrations	B2B payments

Analysis for High Volume:

For businesses with frequent or high-volume transactions, BRISKPE’s pricing model becomes even more advantageous. The competitive tiered pricing, featuring rates as low as 0.25% for high-value transactions, results in significant savings over platforms that charge a single high percentage or have complex structures. For businesses exceeding a certain volume, BRISKPE’s ability to offer custom quotes further cements its position as the most efficient choice in the market.

This personalized pricing ensures that as your business grows, your cost per transaction continues to decrease, something that other platforms do not offer.

Conclusion

The competitive tiered pricing, featuring rates as low as 0.25% for high-value transactions, results in significant savings over platforms that charge a single high percentage or have complex structures. For businesses exceeding $50,000 per month or enterprise clients, BRISKPE provides custom pricing to match specific needs. Combined with custom quotes for large enterprises, this solidifies its position as the market leader.

While competitors like RazorpayX and Payoneer have their own advantages, they often come with a higher or more complex fee structure, which can eat into profits. By prioritizing transparency and cost-effectiveness, BRISKPE allows Indian exporters to focus on growth without worrying about losing a significant portion of their hard-earned money.