Best UPI Apps in India 2025

Anyone who has ever scrambled to find spare change in a crowded market knows how frustrating and time-consuming cash payments can be. That’s where UPI apps come in to save the day as they let you send money with just a few taps. 

This blog will introduce you to some of the most popular UPI apps in India, helping you choose the one that fits your needs best. With so many options available, each with its own unique features, strengths, and drawbacks, understanding the pros and cons of each app will make it easier for you to make the right choice.

What is UPI?

Unified Payments Interface, or UPI for short, is an instant money transfer system built by The National Payments Corporation of India in 2016. With UPI, money moves straight from one bank account to another, with just the help of a smartphone almost like a text message traveling with cash inside. This system enables high speed digital financial transactions.  

Since the launch, UPI has transformed the way we think about payments. In 2022, close to half the world’s instant transactions passed through Indian phones. India literally tapped its way through 18.68 billion UPI payments in May 2025, moving a jaw-dropping ₹25.14 trillion before the month even ran out. If the current trend holds, UPI could claim nearly 90% of every retail digital rupee spent by the end of 2026-2027. This rising growth is also fueling a boom in the wider digital wallet scene, where UPI sets the pace. Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of India keeps a watchful eye, adding a layer of regulatory oversight and increasing trust among the users.

UPI : A Simple Breakdown

Sending cash through a UPI app is all about smart tech and user friendly technology doing its job behind the curtain. Digital IDs, mobile networks, and a high tech savvy system together enable instant payments that barely gets noticed. Encryption wraps around the data like a security blanket, keeping prying eyes out until your phone beeps to confirm the transfer.

Every transaction begins and ends with the Virtual Payment Address (VPA) also known as UPI ID. This is a unique ID of the user’s bank account and using this unique ID helps in securing the other sensitive information like the IFSC code or full bank account details as the odds of important financial information leaking out during a money transfer drop sharply. 

To authorise a transaction the app asks for a UPI PIN. This is a secret 4 or 6 digit code which is similar to an ATM PIN. This PIN adds a security layer to the transaction, with two-factor-authentication process safeguarding the transaction till the last step, keeping fraudsters locked outside the vault. 

The NPCI manages the entire UPI ecosystem, making it an easy to use, smooth and secure way of transaction with integration of all banks and payments applications.

UPI payment methods fall into two categories :

• Push Payments: You decide to send cash, either by typing in a virtual payment address (VPA) or by scanning a QR code that someone hands you. Once you hit send and enter your PIN, the money is sent to the other person’s account almost instantly. 
• Pull Payments: A shop owner or a friend can ping you with a money request. If you agree, you approve the request with your PIN, and the funds are sent from your account to fulfill these requests. 

UPI allows a single app to add and transfer funds to several bank accounts, this means you can switch to pay to different users, giving you flexibility and convenience to manage your finances by using one interface. 

Top UPI Apps in India 

App	Key Features	Unique Selling Point	Best For (User Type)
PhonePe	User-friendly interface, multi-language, bill payments, recharges, QR scan, investments (MFs, Gold, NPS), insurance, loans, PhonePe Switch	Comprehensive “Super App” with wide merchant network	All-round users seeking diverse financial services
Google Pay	Minimalist design, NFC tap-to-pay, bill payments, recharges, expense tracking, voice transactions, tokenization security, loans via partners	Simplicity, strong security, Google ecosystem integration	Security-conscious users, those preferring a clean interface
Paytm	UPI payments, autopay, QR payments, ticket booking, Paytm Money (stocks, MFs), insurance, loans, Paytm Mall	Extensive ecosystem, privacy features, wallet integration	Users who are comfortable using the Paytm ecosystem.
BHIM	Govt. backed, multi-language, low connectivity optimization, Family Mode, Spend Analytics, UPI Lite, RuPay Credit Card on UPI, Split Expenses	NPCI’s official app, focus on inclusion & accessibility	Users preferring a government-backed app, basic UPI needs
Freecharge	QR scan, UPI Lite, Credit Line on UPI, Aadhaar OTP for PIN set, personal loans, Digital Gold, Axis Bank backing	Leverages recharge base, Axis Bank trust, credit line	Existing Freecharge users, those seeking UPI with credit line
MobiKwik	Pocket UPI (wallet-based UPI), budget digital spends, clutter-free bank statements, one-tap payments, bill payments, recharges	Wallet-centric UPI, helps manage digital spending pool	Users preferring wallet-based UPI, budget-conscious users
CRED	Rewards for credit card bills (CRED Coins), CRED UPI (link credit cards), CRED Pay, personal loans (CRED Cash), P2P lending (CRED Mint)	Rewards for creditworthy users; enables credit usage via UPI.	Affluent credit card users, those wanting to use credit via UPI

Overview of Top UPI Apps in India

An overview of the top UPI apps in India is given below:

1. PhonePe

Launched in 2016, it carries about 600 million users and handled nearly half of the nation’s transactions as of March 2025. The app ticks off more than 330 million payments a day, adding up to over ₹150 lakh crore in a year.
PhonePe aims to be a one-stop shop. You can pay bills, recharge your phone, and even jump to other apps such as shopping, food, travel, etc. from the PhonePe app through a feature called PhonePe Switch. Every feature sits behind tight security, with tools like Security shield watching for suspicious activity. Frequent users also rack up cashback and discount rewards, adding a nice bonus to everyday payments.

2. Google Pay

It first showed up in India as Tez before its rebranding for a wider audience. The app now handles a hefty chunk of UPI traffic, roughly 35 to 37% of the market share. Using the app feels nearly effortless due to its clean, minimalist design and robust security. Biometric locks and Google Play Protect offer an enhanced level of security for the users. NFC (near field communication) in GooglePay offers users tap-to-pay, bill payments and voice generated transactions. The app has now expanded to lend personal loans and ticket booking via partnerships. For rewarding the users it uses reward based scratch cards and vouchers for transactions done. 

3. Paytm

It began as a mobile wallet but has now emerged as a one-stop digital payment app with a total market share of about 10% to 15%. Paytm combines its wallet with UPI services. Paytm has features like QR payments, ticket bookings, personalized UPI IDs like name@pytes, which helps in ensuring the privacy of your mobile numbers. Safety is maintained by UPI PIN verification and two-factor authentication.
Paytm ecosystem includes Paytm Money for investment, Paytm Mall for e-commerce, also it has various services like mutual funds, loans, and even credit cards. Cashback coupons and promo are available round the corner for its wider range of services.

Read Also: Paytm Case Study

4. BHIM

Bharat Interface for Money or BHIM is NPCI’s official UPI app designed for promoting financial inclusion and digital payments in India. It has a multilingual option with over 15 languages inbuilt and is highly optimised for low connectivity areas. Key features of BHIM include “Spend analytics” feature allowing users to track their personal expenses, UPI Lite for small amount transactions without the requirement of PIN. Also it is built to link your credit cards (generally RuPay cards)  for hassle free credit card payments. 

BHIM is a government supported initiative which serves as the backbone of the UPI ecosystem in India. The main aim is to provide simple, secure and effortless digital payments. 

5. Freecharge

It began as a simple prepaid top-up platform and now serves a customer base of 100 million people. Today the app functions as any other UPI application, meaning you can easily send money from your phone in seconds. Freecharge also offers UPI Lite, which lets you pay small amounts even when the connectivity is low, the app also consists of a Credit Line on UPI feature, making merchant payments easier. 

The app is supported by Axis Bank and allows you to securely set up your UPI PIN via Aadhaar OTP. Freecharge provides various options for the app users like personal loan, co-branded credit card, or even buy Digital Gold. 

6. MobiKwik

It is a “Pocket UPI” app that lets you pay from your wallet balance rather than directly linking your bank account. This allows you to put money directly into your wallet where you can easily monitor your daily expenses. 

With Pocket UPI, you can transfer as much as Rs.2,00,000 into your MobiKwik wallet with a daily limit of Rs.1,00,000, making it easier for users to scan a QR and pay instantly. Mobikwik securely detaches your bank account with its secure wallet so that risk of frauds could be evaded. It provides additional services like utility bills, travel booking, recharge etc. 

Read Also: One MobiKwik Systems Case Study

7. CRED

It is for premium class users that have a high credit score, it rewards the credit card payments with “CRED Coin”. CRED UPI helps in linking the users credit cards (especially Rupay) for making UPI payments from one’s credit card directly. CRED also offers “CRED Cash” which allows instant personal loan facility, “CRED Mint” where peers can lend money among themselves.  

It is a holistic app that combines UPI and credit card services. Biometric locks and PIN shields your personal data, keeping it secure during transactions. 

Read Also: CRED Case Study

Advantages Of UPI

Advantages of using UPI to make payments are listed below:

• Lightning-Fast Payments : The most unique feature of UPI is the instant one click payment helping users with speedy transactions. The money transferred instantly appears in the receiver’s wallet or bank account. 
• 24×7 : UPI has no time restrictions as you can pay anytime, may it be a holiday or non banking hours, as via UPI one has the leverage of making payments 24×7, 7 days a week as compared to primitive money transfer options like NEFT or RTGS.
• Super Convenient : UPI apps run smoothly on your smartphone, which means paying for chai, booking a movie ticket, or splitting dinner with classmates can be done in seconds. 
• Top-Notch Security : People worry about money, and UPI addresses this concern. Every payment is authenticated with UPI PIN before money is sent.
• No Need to Share Personal Information : Sharing your bank account details can feel risky. With UPI you simply use your VPA ID or even your mobile number to receive money.  
• Mostly Free (for Users) : Most of the time, sending cash via UPI costs you nothing, which is a nice perk for students living on pocket money. Most people who send money directly from one bank to another using UPI find the transfer costs zero, but merchants may incur some fees associated for certain types of transactions.  
• One App, Many Accounts : Switching from one banking app to another for payments might feel irritating sometimes, with most UPI wallets you can stack several accounts into one screen and pick your desired bank for different kinds of payments.
• Accepted Almost Everywhere : UPI apps have widely grown across the country making it acceptable by everyone, by just scanning the QR code bills or purchases can be dealt instantly even if you are at a chai stall or buying a gadget from an electronics shop.

Read Also: Fake Payment Screenshot Scam: How to Identify and Avoid It

Understanding UPI Limits

Various limits concerning UPI are mentioned below:

1. General Daily Limit

If you’re using UPI the usual way, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) lets you send up to ₹1 lakh per day.

2. Bank-Specific Variations

Not every bank has the same rules. Some lenders quietly trim the ceiling to ₹25,000 or ₹50,000. Check your official banking app to know the exact maximum amount allowed.

3. Higher Limits for Specific Categories (NPCI Guidelines)

• When money is transferred to purchase stocks, mutual funds, or even insurance premiums, the limit jumps to ₹2 lakh per day. The same ₹2 lakh ceiling also includes EMI collections for NBFCs and foreign inward remittances. 
• IPOs, RBI Direct Bonds, schools fees, and Hospital payments have a ₹5 lakh per transaction limit.

4. Transaction Count Limit

UPI isn’t just about how much, it’s also about how often. Most apps keep the daily peer-to-peer transaction limit between 10 and 20 transfers a day.

Basic Tips for UPI App Security

If you want to use UPI in a secure manner, then it is advised that you follow the below tips:

• Keep Your UPI PIN Secret : UPI pin acts as the main payment authenticator, so never scribble it on a sticky note or share it with someone.
• Double-Check the Payee details : Before proceeding with payments, slow down and look at the name and UPI ID correctly. A tiny typo could send cash to a different account incurring loss.
• Beware of Unknown payment request : If a payment request pops up from someone you don’t recognize, hit decline without hesitation. 
• Don’t scan unknown QR codes : A square barcode can be both a shortcut and a trap. Skip scanning any QR code other than where you need to pay. 
• Stick to official and updated apps : Apps are powerful, but fraudulent apps can carry viruses. Download your preferred UPI app only from the Play Store or Apple’s App Store.
• Layer on Extra Security : Keep your smartphone secure using a pin, app lock, fingerprint scan, or face ID to prevent unauthorized access. 
• Skip Public Wi-Fi : A private home network or using your mobile data to make payments is safer.
• Dispute Resolution : If a payment is mistakenly done to a different account, tap into the transaction history to dispute it right away. You can also call your app’s customer support or dial NPCIs helpline (1800-120-1740) for resolution.

Conclusion 

Unified Payment Interface (UPI) has transformed the Indian money transfer ecosystem, with a highly secure, fast, and convenient digital transaction system. With evidently massive online transactions and wider acceptance UPI is taking over the traditional payment methods. Features like UPI lite, ticket booking, UPI’s inbuilt credit services are indicating the ongoing innovation. UPI’s adaptability and reliability among the users making it the next big thing. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)