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UPI, cards, COD and wallets: which payment methods your store needs

The methods you offer quietly decide how many carts become orders. Here's how India actually pays — UPI, cards, COD, wallets — and the mix that wins the most orders without cluttering checkout.

Illustration: which payment methods an Indian store needs
Ananya Sharma
Merchant Success Lead
9 Jul 2026 · 6 min read

Offer how India actually pays

The payment methods you offer quietly decide how many carts turn into orders. In India, that means UPI, cards, cash on delivery, and wallets — but not in equal measure. Get the mix right and checkout feels effortless. Get it wrong and you lose buyers at the last step. Here's what each one is for.

UPI: the default

UPI is how most of India pays online now. It's instant, free for the buyer, and a tap to confirm. It has to work flawlessly at your checkout, because for many buyers it's the only method they'll reach for. If UPI is clunky on your store, you're losing sales you never even see.

Cash on delivery: still huge

Don't switch COD off. In smaller cities it can be more than half your orders, and turning it off can gut your volume. COD does bring returns, so pair it with controls — but the answer is to manage it, not remove it. For a large slice of Indian buyers, COD is what trust looks like.

Cards: fewer buyers, higher value

Debit and credit cards are a smaller share than UPI, but they matter — especially for higher-value orders and repeat buyers. Offer them cleanly, support saved cards and EMI where it fits, and you cover the buyers who prefer cards without much extra effort on your side.

Wallets and the rest

Wallets and net banking fill the gaps for buyers who prefer them. You don't need every option under the sun — too many choices can even slow checkout down. Cover UPI, cards, and COD well first, then add wallets if your buyers actually ask for them.

More methods isn't always better

There's a limit. A checkout crammed with twenty options is slower and more confusing than one with the four that matter. Watch which methods your buyers actually use, and lead with those. At checkout, simplicity converts better than choice.

Where your store helps

The Storemate wires this up for you. UPI, cards, and COD are ready from your first order through your own Razorpay account, with COD controls built in. You offer how India pays without stitching gateways together yourself — so checkout just works, on the methods your buyers reach for.

Frequently asked questions

Which payment methods does an Indian store need?

UPI first (it's the default), plus cards for higher-value orders and cash on delivery, which can be more than half your orders in smaller cities. Wallets and net banking are optional extras.

Should I offer every payment method?

No. A checkout crammed with twenty options is slower and more confusing. Cover UPI, cards, and COD well first, then add wallets only if your buyers ask for them.

Why is UPI so important at checkout?

It's how most of India pays online — instant, free for the buyer, and a tap to confirm. If UPI is clunky on your store, you lose sales you never even see.