UPI Payment Apps in India 2026: PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm & BHIM
UPI Payment Apps in India 2026: PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm & BHIM
Compare India’s popular UPI payment apps for sending money, scanning QR codes, mobile recharges, bill payments, FASTag, subscriptions and everyday merchant payments.
What is UPI? UPI (Unified Payments Interface) is an NPCI-operated payments system that lets users transfer money directly between linked bank accounts. You can pay with a UPI ID, mobile number, account number, QR code or collect request—without sharing your bank-account details with a shopkeeper.
Payment Method
UPI ID or QR Scan
UPI ID or QR Scan
Money Source
Linked Bank Account
Linked Bank Account
Daily Use
Pay, Recharge & Bills
Pay, Recharge & Bills
Safety Rule
Never Share UPI PIN
Never Share UPI PIN
What Is UPI and How Does It Work?
A UPI ID is your virtual payment address, for example name@bank or mobile@upi. It can be used to send or receive money directly through a linked bank account.
To use UPI, install a supported app, verify the mobile number registered with your bank, select your bank account, and create a UPI PIN using your debit-card details where required. After setup, you can scan a merchant QR code or send money to another UPI ID.
What Can You Do With UPI?
| UPI Feature | What It Does | Example | UPI PIN Needed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scan & Pay | Pay a shopkeeper using a QR code | Paying at a restaurant or grocery store | Yes |
| UPI ID Transfer | Send money to another UPI user | Send money to a friend | Yes |
| Mobile Number Transfer | Pay a saved/registered UPI contact | Split a group bill | Yes |
| Collect Request | Approve a payment request sent by another user | Pay an online seller request | Yes — only after verification |
| Mobile Recharge | Recharge prepaid mobile or pay postpaid bill | Jio, Airtel, Vi or BSNL recharge | Yes |
| Bill Payment | Pay utility, FASTag, DTH, broadband or credit-card bills | Electricity or water bill | Yes |
How to Set Up a UPI Account
- Install PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, BHIM or your bank’s official UPI-enabled app
- Use the same mobile number that is registered with your bank account
- Allow SMS verification when the app requests it
- Select your bank from the bank list
- Choose the linked bank account detected by the app
- Create or reset your UPI PIN using debit-card verification, where requested
- Create/select your UPI ID and start using Scan & Pay
UPI Apps Comparison
| App | Bank Account UPI | QR Payments | Recharge & Bills | UPI Lite | Special Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PhonePe | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | UPI Circle, recurring payments, RuPay card on UPI |
| Google Pay | Yes | Yes | Yes | Check in app | Google ecosystem and rewards where available |
| Paytm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Check in app | Recharge, bills, travel and merchant ecosystem |
| BHIM | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | NPCI’s BHIM UPI app and family features |
PhonePe UPI App: Features and Uses
PhonePe supports UPI money transfers, QR payments, recharges, utility bills, FASTag, recurring payments, UPI Lite, RuPay credit-card payments on UPI and UPI Circle features where available.
| PhonePe Feature | What You Can Do | Useful For | Important Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPI Money Transfer | Send and receive money through linked bank accounts | Daily person-to-person payments | Confirm recipient name before entering PIN |
| Scan & Pay | Scan UPI QR at shops and online merchants | In-store payments | Verify merchant name on screen |
| Recharge | Mobile, DTH, FASTag, app-store and other top-ups | Prepaid recharges | Processing fee may apply in some cases |
| Bill Payments | Electricity, water, loan EMI, credit card and utility bills | Monthly household bills | Check biller and due date |
| UPI Lite | Small-value payments without entering UPI PIN | Fast low-value payments | Applicable limits apply |
| UPI Circle | Add trusted users and set payment authority/limits | Family members or staff | Use only with trusted people |
| RuPay Credit Card on UPI | Pay eligible merchants using a linked RuPay credit card | Merchant payments | Credit-card billing and terms apply |
PhonePe Official Links
Google Pay India: UPI Payments Guide
Google Pay allows eligible India users to link a bank account, create a UPI ID, send money, scan merchant QR codes and manage eligible payment tasks. Features and offers can vary by bank, device and region.
| Google Pay Feature | How It Works | Best For | Safety Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Account Linking | Link an eligible bank account with registered mobile number | Starting UPI setup | Use your own SIM and registered mobile number |
| UPI ID | Create/select a virtual payment address | Receiving money without sharing account number | Share UPI ID, never UPI PIN |
| Scan QR | Scan merchant QR and approve amount using UPI PIN | Retail and restaurant payments | Check merchant name and amount |
| Contacts Payment | Pay saved/verified contacts through UPI | Friends and family transfers | Verify the recipient before payment |
| Payment History | View UPI transaction history in the app | Payment tracking | Report unknown transactions immediately |
| Offers & Rewards | Eligible promotions may appear inside the app | Occasional cashback/rewards | Never pay a fee to claim a reward |
Google Pay Setup Checklist
- Your bank account must be linked to the mobile number installed on your phone
- Keep SMS sending/verification available during setup
- Use the official Google Pay app only
- Create a strong screen lock on your device
- Never reveal your UPI PIN to customer care, sellers or strangers
Paytm UPI: Payments, Recharges and Bill Payments
Paytm supports UPI transfers, QR payments, mobile recharge, DTH, data-card recharge, FASTag, electricity, gas, water, broadband and other bill-payment services.
| Paytm Service | What It Offers | Use Case | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paytm UPI | Bank-to-bank transfer through UPI | Send money or Scan & Pay | Verify recipient before payment |
| Mobile Recharge | Prepaid recharge and postpaid mobile bill payment | Jio, Airtel, Vi, BSNL and other operators | Review plan/operator before paying |
| Bill Payments | Pay a wide range of utility bills | Electricity, DTH, gas, water, broadband | Check consumer number carefully |
| FASTag | Recharge/toll-related payment service | Vehicle toll payments | Verify vehicle number and tag provider |
| Merchant QR | Pay local stores and online merchants | Retail payments | Never scan unknown QR to “receive” money |
| UPI Statement | View payment records and transactions | Expense tracking and reconciliation | Use official app only |
BHIM UPI App: NPCI’s Payment App
BHIM is an NPCI UPI app for UPI payments, recharges and bill payments. Its listed features include UPI Lite, RuPay credit-card usage on UPI where eligible, family mode and spending insights.
| BHIM Feature | What It Does | Best For | Important Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPI Transfer | Send/receive money via linked account and UPI ID | Everyday UPI use | UPI PIN is required for debit payments |
| QR Scan | Pay merchants by scanning UPI QR | Offline shop payments | Check payee name before confirming |
| UPI Lite | Small-value payment feature | Quick low-value purchases | Feature limits can change |
| Family Mode | Manage and monitor family payments | Family payment oversight | Use trusted family-member access only |
| Spend Insights | Dashboard to view/manage spending | Expense awareness | Review app privacy settings |
| RuPay Credit Card on UPI | Use an eligible RuPay credit card for eligible UPI merchants | Merchant transactions | Credit card bills and charges still apply |
UPI Safety Tips: Avoid Payment Fraud
Golden Rule: Money receive karne ke liye kabhi UPI PIN enter nahi karna hota. UPI PIN sirf payment/send-money approval ke liye use hota hai.
10 Important UPI Safety Rules
| Safety Rule | What You Should Do | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Never share UPI PIN | Keep your PIN private—even from customer care | PIN can authorize money leaving your account |
| Do not scan QR to receive money | QR scan is generally for making a payment | Fraudsters use fake “receive payment” QR codes |
| Check recipient name | Confirm the displayed name before approving | A similar UPI ID can belong to someone else |
| Reject unknown collect requests | Do not approve payment requests you do not understand | Approval can debit your account |
| Use official apps | Download only from Google Play or Apple App Store | Fake APKs can steal data and OTPs |
| Never share OTP or card details | Do not give OTP, CVV or debit-card PIN to anyone | Bank staff will not ask for this information |
| Check amount before PIN | Review amount and payee on confirmation screen | Prevents accidental overpayment |
| Set app lock | Use phone lock, biometric lock and app security | Protects account if phone is lost |
| Report fraud quickly | Contact bank, app support and cybercrime reporting channels | Fast reporting may help limit damage |
| Do not trust fake rewards | Ignore links asking for PIN or payment to claim cashback | Legitimate rewards do not need your UPI PIN |
UPI Circle Limits
NPCI states that UPI Circle can allow a primary user to authorize trusted secondary users within limits. Its published limits include up to ₹5,000 per transaction per device, ₹15,000 monthly per device, and ₹2,000 during the first 24 hours after linking a new device. A maximum of five secondary devices/software can be linked. Use it only with people you fully trust.
UPI Payment Apps FAQs
Which UPI app is best in India?
PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm and BHIM all support core UPI payments. Choose based on your preferred recharge, bill-payment, family-management, rewards and merchant features.
Is UPI payment free?
UPI person-to-person and standard merchant payments are generally free for users. However, app-specific service or processing fees may apply to selected recharge, card or bill-payment transactions—always review the final payment page.
Can I receive money without entering my UPI PIN?
Yes. Receiving money does not require entering a UPI PIN. The PIN is used to approve payments that debit money from your linked account.
Can I use more than one UPI app?
Yes. You can link the same eligible bank account to multiple UPI apps, subject to your bank and app policies. Keep track of your active UPI IDs and use strong device security.
What should I do if I send money to the wrong UPI ID?
Immediately save the transaction reference, contact your bank and the UPI app’s official support channel, and report the issue. A successful transfer cannot always be reversed, so verify recipient details before paying.
Disclaimer: UPI features, bank availability, app services, transaction limits, fees and offers can change. Confirm current information inside the official app, with your bank or NPCI before making a payment decision.