Since demonetization and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of a digital payment method has increased. In 2016, UPI or Unified Payments Interface was designed under the supervision of NPCI or National Payments Corporation of India. UPI was a comprehensive platform through which users can transfer and request money online, pay bills, recharge phones and do more. Different companies developed various apps to facilitate the use of UPI. Users also found the convenience in using this platform for making their payments and hence, the demand increased by nearly 105%. The need sky-rocketed even more since UPI highly facilitated inter-bank transactions just through mobile numbers.
There are various best UPI payment apps on the app stores. But here, we have listed the five best apps that users prefer the most, which provide the best service.
Fave Pay
Fave Pay is the up-and-coming online payment platform that offers exciting rewards and hefty cashback for every payment. This app shows the way for online payment and is highly preferred by Gen Z. Eventually, merchants are also signing up for this app due to the exciting merchant rewards. Moreover, merchants are helped with technology for customer acquisition.
Google Pay (Tez)
Google Pay, formerly Tez Pay, is developed by Google and is currently the best and most used UPI platform in India. Due to its convenience and optimized user experience, Google Pay has managed to attract a vast customer base in a short time. With the brand name of Google, the app has managed to gain the trust of users. Google Pay has more than 500 million satisfied users due to the exciting features. Users receive a “Scratch Card” by paying their friends and family or by performing merchant transactions. This scratch card offers exciting vouchers or even hefty cashback for each payment.
PayTM
PayTM is a similar app that allows users to transfer or request money, pay bills online, and do more. Under the PayTM brand label, users are open to features like PayTM Mall, PayTM UPI, and Paytm Wallet. You can transfer to a bank account, phone number or even scan a QR Code at POS points to make your payment. PayTM boasts more than 300 million users across the nation. Making payments, bills, booking rail and flight tickets, eCommerce, insurance premium payment, etc., are easy on PayTM.
PhonePe
User volume-wise, PhonePe is the third-largest UPI transaction app that made Indians trust online payments. PhonePe is an app through which users can transfer money through bank accounts and phone numbers, pay bills online, recharge phone bills and TV bills, order food and shop online. PhonePe has more than 100 million satisfied users. With various offers, cashback and rewards, PhonePe is quite a preferred app. Most shops in India have the PhonePe QR Code that connects to other apps.
BHIM App
BHIM UPI or Bharat Interface for Money is a trusted, locally developed UPI app. It was launched in 2016 and is under the direct supervision of NPCI. It facilitates safe and easy online payments. As of 2022, BHIM UPI has more than 50 million active users. The most attractive feature of this app is that you can pay insurance premiums and even apply for IPOs, apart from transferring money online.
Wrapping Up
UPI is seen as the future of payments in India. With most of the population already part of the UPI family, the demand is ever-increasing. More and more apps like WhatsApp Pay, Mobikwik, CRED, Bank UPIs, etc., are developing and upgrading their user experience to cater to the humongous needs of the people.