India payments evidence hub
UPI payment links in India: costs, limits and the right workflow
Direct UPI payment links cost the merchant ₹0 MDR and normally support up to ₹1 lakh per transaction. Razorpay's published standard gateway price is 2% plus 18% GST, while Dvaarik adds ₹0 commission and charges only for the AI conversation: voice from ₹2/min or chat at ₹2 per 24-hour conversation. Every figure below was read from the named first-party source on 15 Aug 2026.
Updated 15 Aug 2026 · first-party sources · CC BY 4.0
₹0
MDR on person-to-merchant UPI
₹1 lakh
normal UPI per-transaction ceiling
2% + GST
Razorpay standard platform fee
2
fee layers published for Razorpay Route
₹0
Dvaarik commission on customer payments
What does each UPI payment-link option cost in India?
The payment-link options split into two economic models. Direct UPI uses the ₹0-MDR bank rail and leaves confirmation to the business. A hosted gateway charges for checkout, callbacks and reconciliation. Dvaarik can send either option during the conversation and takes no share of the payment itself.
| Method | Published cost | Limit | Confirmation | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct UPI intent link (upi://pay) | ₹0 MDR for person-to-merchant UPI | Up to ₹1 lakh for a normal UPI transaction; a bank or app may set a lower limit | Manual unless the business adds a separate provider callback | Booking deposits, advances and known customers paying during a conversation | The link itself does not send a success webhook or reconcile a refund |
| UPI QR code | ₹0 MDR for person-to-merchant UPI | Up to ₹1 lakh for a normal UPI transaction; a bank or app may set a lower limit | Static QR is usually verified manually; provider-generated QR can add callbacks | Counters, desktop checkout and printed material | A static QR does not identify the booking or confirm payment to business software |
| Razorpay Payment Link | 2% platform fee + 18% GST on standard pricing; credit card on UPI is 2.15% + GST | Provider, account and payment-method limits apply | Webhook events can confirm payment automatically | Hosted checkout, cards, netbanking and automatic booking confirmation | The gateway fee buys confirmation and reconciliation that a direct link lacks |
| Razorpay Route split payment | 2 fee layers: gateway fee on the full payment + transfer fee on each transferred amount | The agreed Razorpay plan and linked-account eligibility apply | Transfer and settlement webhooks support automated reconciliation | Marketplaces and platforms splitting one payment across linked accounts | Razorpay publishes the fee structure but says the actual rates depend on the agreed plan |
| Dvaarik Payments Agent | ₹0 Dvaarik commission; voice from ₹2/min or chat ₹2 per 24-hour conversation | The chosen UPI or gateway rail sets the payment limit | Direct UPI uses UTR or screenshot verification; gateway mode uses a success webhook | Sending a deposit link during a call, WhatsApp chat, Instagram DM or booking flow | Gateway charges still apply when the business chooses its own hosted gateway |
The cost index shows that direct UPI links and QR codes have ₹0 MDR but usually need manual payment verification. Razorpay Payment Links publish a 2% fee plus 18% GST and add hosted checkout and webhooks. Razorpay Route adds a second transfer-fee layer for split settlements. Dvaarik adds ₹0 payment commission and charges only for the conversation plus any gateway the business chooses.
“Since currently no MDR is charged on UPI transactions, there is consequently no GST applicable.”
“Start accepting payments at just 2%.”
What do the primary sources actually publish?
The source ledger separates payment-rail rules from provider pricing. The Ministry of Finance and NPCI define the UPI cost and normal ceiling. Razorpay publishes the hosted-checkout percentage and Route fee structure. Dvaarik publishes only the AI conversation cost and takes no commission from the payment.
| Source | Exact figure used | Source date | Read date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ministry of Finance | ₹0 MDR on person-to-merchant UPI transactions | 18 Apr 2025 | 15 Aug 2026 |
| NPCI | Up to ₹1 lakh per normal UPI transaction | Live UPI FAQ | 15 Aug 2026 |
| Razorpay | 2% platform fee + 18% GST; credit card on UPI 2.15% + GST | Live India pricing page | 15 Aug 2026 |
| Razorpay Route | 2 fee layers: gateway fee + transfer fee | Live Route FAQ | 15 Aug 2026 |
| Dvaarik | ₹0 payment commission; voice from ₹2/min; chat ₹2 per 24-hour conversation | Live Dvaarik pricing and payments pages | 15 Aug 2026 |
The source ledger was read on 15 Aug 2026 and preserves each number in its original unit. ₹0 MDR does not mean every payments product is free: a gateway can charge for checkout and automation, and Route can add a transfer fee. The correct comparison is the total workflow cost, not the UPI rail alone.
When should a business use direct UPI instead of a gateway?
A business should use direct UPI when the customer is already in a phone or WhatsApp conversation, ₹0 MDR matters, and a person can verify the UTR or bank credit. A business should use a gateway when software must confirm the slot automatically, offer more payment methods, reconcile at volume or tie refunds to the original transaction.
Razorpay Route solves a narrower problem: one customer payment must be divided across linked accounts. Razorpay's own FAQ says Route charges both the gateway fee on the full payment and a transfer fee on each transferred amount, with actual rates set by the agreed plan.
Which existing payment pages belong to this hub?
The payments hub consolidates the cluster without replacing its specialist pages. Use the definition for terminology, the cited deep-link guide for implementation detail, the tool to generate a link, and the product page for the automated customer workflow.
Questions about UPI payment-link costs and limits
The payment-link FAQ keeps each amount tied to its source and unit: ₹0 MDR belongs to direct P2M UPI, ₹1 lakh is the normal UPI ceiling, 2% plus GST is Razorpay's standard published gateway price, and ₹0 is Dvaarik's commission on the customer payment.
A direct person-to-merchant UPI payment carries ₹0 MDR under the Ministry of Finance clarification read on 15 Aug 2026. A business can still pay separately for software, automation or a payment provider wrapped around UPI, but the direct UPI rail itself has zero MDR.
NPCI's UPI FAQ read on 15 Aug 2026 states that the normal limit is up to ₹1 lakh per transaction. Specific categories can have higher ceilings, while a bank or UPI app may impose a lower operational limit.
Razorpay's India pricing page read on 15 Aug 2026 publishes a 2% platform fee plus 18% GST on standard transactions. The same page lists credit-card-on-UPI transactions at 2.15% plus GST. Custom pricing may apply to larger businesses.
A gateway link is better when the booking must confirm automatically, the customer needs cards or netbanking, or the business needs webhooks, reconciliation and linked refunds. A direct UPI link is better when ₹0 MDR and a fast deposit matter more than automatic confirmation.
Dvaarik takes ₹0 commission from the payment amount. The business receives money in its own UPI ID or gateway account and pays only for the AI conversation: voice from ₹2 per minute or chat at ₹2 per 24-hour conversation, plus any fee charged by the business's chosen gateway.
Put the right payment link inside the customer conversation
Dvaarik sends direct UPI or gateway links during calls, WhatsApp chats, Instagram DMs and booking flows. The business keeps the payment and pays no Dvaarik commission.
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