Whether you want to send or receive money, recharge your mobile, pay utility bills, or make investments and shop online, UPI covers it all. This makes life super convenient. To start, just connect your bank account and begin transacting on the go. Some of the apps also offer digital wallets to store your money, plus lucrative offers and cashback. Let’s have a look! Note: You can only use UPI apps with your registered phone number that’s connected to your bank account.
1. Google Pay: Editor’s choice
Google Pay tops my list of the best UPI apps for its speed and ease of use. It works with all banks that support BHIM UPI payments and guides you through the entire setup process. You can pay others or request payments as well as communicate through text messages. Your money stays securely in your bank account until you authorize payments with your UPI pin. Further, you can enjoy a range of conveniences such as recharging your phone, paying bills for electricity, gas, broadband, etc. You can even set up regular payments for these so that you never miss one! Of course, you get rewarded for making payments in cashback or vouchers for various stores. You can routinely enjoy special offers, especially if you refer friends to use the app. It also supports QR code payments, so you can easily use it at local shops and merchants. Besides, while I don’t enjoy the trivia games in the app, my editor Nidhi adores those games related to upcoming festivities or matches. I am suspecting that the only reason she enjoys those trivia is because she wins! Download
Clean, well-designed interface StraightforwardVariety of features No ads
No wallet
2. PhonePe: Best UPI app for rewards
PhonePe is another leading UPI app that’s worth having on your iPhone. It offers a range of features such as instant money transfers, bill payments, mutual fund investments, and shopping on various food, travel, grocery, and e-commerce apps without needing to download them separately. For instance, I can use it to book a trip on MakeMyTrip without needing the MakeMyTrip app. You can also purchase or renew your insurance, whether it’s for travel, health, or some other type. Moreover, it’s so versatile that you can also buy and sell gold on it and receive doorstep delivery of certified gold. I especially love the cashback and other rewards on PhonePe, which are more numerous and lucrative than what Google Pay gives. (Nidhi is giving me strange looks for writing this as she made over 2K bucks via Google Pay rewards) Download
One-stop payment solution Great cashback and rewards Reliable service Includes wallet
Too many banner ads
3. PayTM: Best UPI app for business
Paytm is one of the first digital payments apps I used, and it’s grown incredibly over the years! The great thing about its wide acceptance across India. It’s perfect for all the usual cashless payments, including sending and receiving cash, recharges, bills, online shopping, etc. Moreover, it’s a convenient mobile wallet to use anywhere, anytime. I love how the Paytm wallet doubles up as your FASTag account. So you can buy and manage Fastag for any vehicle with minimum documentation using your Paytm Wallet. If you invest in stocks, you will love PayTM. It is the best UPI app for IPO that not only allows you to apply for IPO but also get information on subscription and help make an informed decision. The wide range of options makes it incredibly versatile and a must-have UPI app for businesses and individuals alike. Download
Most widely accepted UPI appLucrative offers and cashback Lots of options Includes wallet
Cluttered interface makes it less user-friendly
4. Airtel Thanks: Best for Airtel subscribers
If your carrier is Airtel, you are probably familiar with the My Airtel app; now Airtel Thanks. It’s an all-in-one app for UPI payment, recharge, bills, and money transfer. Of course, you can also manage all your Airtel services and enjoy exclusive offers. Your payments are secured through the Airtel Payments Bank with Airtel Safe Pay. It uses Airtel Network Intelligence to send transaction alerts to your phone number for an additional layer of security. Further, it also comes with Wynk Music which has a great selection of the top love songs, retro hits, party chartbusters, and more. Download
Well-organized Exclusive offers Extra features like Wynk Music
Customer support could be improved
5. Freecharge: Best for shopping
This is one of the oldest cashless payments apps in India. From recharges to bill payments, movie tickets, UPI transfers, investments, and more, FreeCharge covers it all pretty well. It has excellent deals sections that allow you to buy lucrative discount coupons from your favorite brands starting at just a rupee! Further, you can also get gift cards from brands such as Flipkart, Lifestyle, Myntra, etc. The best part is the easy-to-use interface that looks good and functions effectively. Lastly, this is one of the few UPI apps that’s also available on iPad. Download
Pleasing interface Available on iPadGreat deals on shopping
Ads distract from the experience
Download
Easy to use Lucrative cashback offers All the options you need
7. BHIM Axis Pay: Most simplistic
While several banks have their own UPI apps, such as the HDFC UPI app for iPhone, Axis bank’s is the best one. It’s well-designed and reliable. It can be used by both Axis bank and non-Axis bank customers to make payments from their phone to anyone without knowing the recipient’s bank details. It’s got a nice interface that functions well and is easy to use. Further, the recharge feature is nifty too. The app uses very little space and data, so it’s lightweight on your phone. You also get cashback from time to time, but the rewards are not as good as other UPI apps. Download
Clean interface Easy to use Quick recharge
Not many offers or rewards
8. BHIM UPI: Best multilingual UPI app
Check out this app from the makers of UPI. It’s super simple to use, and you can set a custom UPI of your choice. It includes all the standard features you would expect, such as sending and receiving payments, settling bills, and QR code scanning. Further, you can personalize your home screen in the app to display the options you use most often. The distinctive factor about this app is its availability in 20 Indian languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Bengali, and more. Download
Available in 20 regional languagesSimple and fast Developed by the creators of UPI
Outdated user interface
9. JioPay: Best for Jio users
If you’re already using Jio services, this app is worth having, so you don’t need to get a separate UPI app. You can enjoy exciting offers and even link to other wallets such as Paytm and PhonePe. Download
All-in-one app Good interfaceAttractive discounts from partner services
No standalone app
10. Mobikwik: Best for credit
MobiKwik is another popular UPI app that helps you manage all your finances in one place. You can use it for recharges, money transfers, shopping, bookings, and more. What makes it stand apart is the credit facility that lets you spend now and pay later at thousands of brand stores! Further, you can even get instant personal loans of up to INR 500,000. Interest rates vary from12%-30% p.a. with a tenure of 6 months-36 months. So, this is the perfect app to help you out in a financial crunch. It’s efficient and works well, though there was news of a reported data breach. MobiKwik, however, denied this. Many people may also appreciate its patriotic branding! Download
Works like an expense manager Set up a personal payment linkGet credit and loans
Plenty of ads
That wraps up my list of the best UPI apps for the iPhone. Although Google Pay is my favorite, all these apps offer similar features and conveniences. Each has its own merits and makes it super easy to go cashless. No matter which you pick, a UPI app is a must-have today. What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. If you have any questions or concerns, too, I’d be happy to help out. You might also like:
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