White label payment gateway

August 21, 2025 • Blogs
White label payment gateway

Introduction

In today’s digital economy, businesses cannot survive without offering secure, seamless, and reliable payment solutions. Whether you run an e-commerce store, a subscription-based SaaS platform, or a financial service company, your customers expect quick and trusted transactions. But building your own payment infrastructure from scratch can be costly, time-consuming, and technically complex. This is where the concept of a white label payment gateway comes in.

A white label payment gateway allows companies to launch a fully branded payment platform under their own name, without having to develop the technology or maintain the compliance infrastructure themselves. Instead of relying on third-party gateways that display their own branding (like PayPal or Stripe), businesses can offer a checkout page, mobile app, or digital wallet that carries their logo, brand colors, and custom workflows—all powered by a backend provider.

The adoption of white label payment solutions is rapidly growing in India and worldwide. In India especially, where UPI, wallets, and card payments are witnessing exponential growth, fintech startups and even established enterprises are turning to white label software as a way to control customer experience and revenue. With RBI guidelines tightening and customer trust becoming a priority, white-label platforms have emerged as a practical way to combine compliance, scalability, and brand visibility.

This article is a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know about white label payment gateways. We’ll cover their meaning, benefits, pricing models, reviews, reseller opportunities, India-specific providers, and frequently asked questions. By the end, you will have clarity on whether this solution fits your business needs and how you can leverage it to enter the fast-growing digital payments space.

 

What is a White Label Payment Gateway?

At its core, a white label payment gateway is a ready-made payment processing infrastructure that businesses can rebrand and offer as their own. It enables merchants to accept payments through multiple methods—credit/debit cards, UPI, net banking, wallets, EMI, and even international methods like PayPal or crypto—without the business having to build the technology stack from scratch.

Think of it as renting a fully equipped payment factory, but with the freedom to stamp your brand’s logo, design, and user interface on the finished product. Customers who use your platform never see the original provider’s name; they only recognize and trust your brand. This creates a stronger bond between your company and your merchants or end-users.

Key Difference Between a Standard Payment Gateway and a White Label Payment Gateway

  • Standard Payment Gateway (e.g., PayPal, Stripe, Razorpay)
    • Branded experience of the provider.
    • Limited control over checkout design and customer journey.
    • You earn less direct revenue because the gateway owns the merchant relationship.
  • White Label Payment Gateway
    • Full branding under your company’s identity.
    • Customizable APIs, checkout flows, and mobile apps.
    • You own the merchant/customer relationship and revenue streams.
    • Flexibility to integrate additional services like loyalty, EMI, or BNPL.

For example, if a startup uses Stripe or Razorpay directly, customers will know they are paying via that provider. But if the same startup launches its own white-label payment gateway, the customer sees only the startup’s branding—building credibility, loyalty, and trust.

White Label Payment Processing

Along with the gateway, most providers also offer white label payment processing, meaning they handle the entire behind-the-scenes settlement, compliance (like PCI DSS), fraud detection, and connectivity with banks/card networks. The business only focuses on acquiring merchants, marketing its brand, and managing relationships, while the backend provider takes care of the heavy lifting.

In short, a white-label payment gateway allows businesses to step into the fintech ecosystem as full-fledged payment providers—without spending years developing proprietary technology or worrying about regulations.

 

Why Businesses Choose White Label Payment Gateways

The payments industry is evolving at a remarkable pace. Traditional payment gateways once dominated the ecosystem, but as competition increases and customers demand more personalized, seamless, and secure payment experiences, businesses are looking for smarter solutions. A white label payment gateway stands out because it allows companies to launch their own branded payment platforms without investing years of development and compliance costs.

Here are the top reasons why businesses in India and globally are increasingly choosing white label payment gateways:

  1. Cost Savings and Faster Go-to-Market

Building a proprietary payment gateway from scratch requires enormous investment. From developing the software to securing compliance certifications like PCI DSS, integrating with banks, and building fraud-detection systems—the process can easily take years and cost millions.

By contrast, a white label payment gateway offers an already built, pre-certified infrastructure. Businesses simply rebrand it, customize the design, and launch their platform within weeks. This drastically reduces the time-to-market and lowers the capital expenditure, making it an attractive option for startups, fintechs, and even established enterprises looking to expand.

  1. Full Brand Ownership and Trust

One of the biggest drawbacks of using third-party gateways like PayPal, Stripe, or Razorpay is that your customers interact with another brand during checkout. This can dilute your own brand’s visibility and trust.

With a white-label solution, the entire payment journey—from checkout page to transaction confirmation emails—carries your company’s branding, logo, and domain. This creates a consistent user experience and strengthens brand loyalty. In markets like India, where consumer trust is crucial, this brand-first payment approach can be the difference between retaining and losing customers.

  1. Customizable Payment Experiences

Unlike standard gateways that offer limited customization, a white-label solution comes with flexible APIs, SDKs, and design control. Businesses can:

  • Create a seamless checkout flow that matches their app or website design.
  • Enable multi-language, multi-currency, and localized payment methods.
  • Add extra features like loyalty points, EMI options, or BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later).

This customization advantage is particularly valuable for e-commerce platforms, SaaS providers, and fintech companies that want to differentiate themselves with unique payment experiences.

  1. New Revenue Streams

White label gateways not only save money—they also generate money. Businesses can onboard sub-merchants under their branded payment platform and earn revenue from transaction fees, MDR (Merchant Discount Rate), and value-added services.

For example:

  • A fintech startup can offer its own branded payment gateway to small businesses.
  • It earns a margin on every transaction while strengthening its ecosystem.
  • Over time, it can scale into offering additional financial services like payouts, invoicing, and digital wallets.

This transforms a simple payments setup into a revenue-generating business model.

  1. Built-in Compliance and Security

Handling payment data means dealing with stringent regulatory and security requirements. Achieving certifications like PCI DSS, tokenization, 3D Secure, and ensuring compliance with local laws (such as RBI guidelines in India) requires specialized expertise.

White label providers already maintain these compliance standards. By using their infrastructure, businesses automatically benefit from world-class security and legal compliance without having to build or manage it in-house.

  1. Scalability and Future-Readiness

As businesses grow, their payment needs evolve. A local e-commerce brand may start with domestic payments but soon need international processing, recurring billing, or mobile app integrations.

A white label payment gateway is designed for scalability. Since the backend infrastructure is already robust and tested, businesses can expand quickly into new markets, currencies, and payment methods without worrying about downtime or performance bottlenecks.

 

businesses choose white-label payment gateways because they offer the perfect mix of speed, brand ownership, cost efficiency, compliance, and revenue potential. Whether you’re a startup entering fintech or an established enterprise looking to strengthen your ecosystem, white-label payment software helps you become a payment provider in your own right—without the hassle of building from scratch.

 

White Label Payment Gateways in India

India has become one of the fastest-growing digital payments markets in the world. With the rise of UPI, mobile wallets, QR codes, and card-based transactions, the demand for advanced payment solutions has skyrocketed. Businesses today are not just looking for a payment gateway; they want complete ownership of the customer experience, faster settlements, and regulatory compliance. This is where white label payment gateways in India are making a significant impact.

The Regulatory Landscape in India

India’s payments ecosystem is tightly regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Any company that wants to operate as a payment gateway must comply with strict norms, including:

  • KYC/AML compliance for merchants.
  • PCI DSS certification for secure handling of cardholder data.
  • Data localization requirements (storing payment data within India).
  • Periodic audits and reporting to maintain transparency.

Building such compliance-heavy infrastructure from scratch is nearly impossible for startups and time-consuming for enterprises. A white label solution provides a shortcut, allowing companies to launch a compliant gateway quickly while meeting RBI standards.

Popular White Label Payment Providers in India

Several companies in India offer white label payment gateway solutions or reseller programs:

  • Razorpay – Offers partnership models and supports co-branded payment flows.
  • Cashfree – Provides APIs and payment suites that can be adapted for white-label use.
  • PayU – Known for large-scale merchant onboarding and flexible integrations.
  • PayTM for Business – Allows businesses to use PayTM’s ecosystem under limited branding arrangements.

However, most of these providers retain partial branding or offer limited customization. For businesses looking for full ownership of their gateway and merchant ecosystem, dedicated white-label software providers like Us stand out because we provide complete source code, APIs, and compliance-ready platforms that can be hosted and controlled by the business itself.

FAQ Spotlight: Which payment gateway provider is white-label in India?

The answer is — several offer some form of white-labeling, but the level of branding control differs. For complete rebranding and control, you need providers that specialize in white-label fintech software rather than just reselling payment APIs.

In short, white-label payment gateways in India are no longer optional; they are becoming the preferred route for fintech startups, NBFCs, digital banks, and enterprise businesses that want to enter the payments space without long development cycles.

Key Features of a Good White Label Payment Gateway

Not all white-label solutions are equal. Choosing the right partner requires careful evaluation of the features, scalability, and compliance readiness of the platform. Here are the must-have features that define a reliable white-label payment gateway:

  1. Multi-Payment Method Support

A modern gateway should support cards (Visa, MasterCard, RuPay, Amex), UPI, net banking, mobile wallets, QR payments, EMI options, and Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL). For global expansion, it should also process international cards, PayPal, and crypto payments.

  1. Multi-Currency & Cross-Border Support

As Indian businesses increasingly sell to global customers, multi-currency support becomes crucial. A good white-label solution should allow payments in USD, EUR, GBP, AED, SGD, and more, with automatic currency conversion and settlement options.

  1. Seamless APIs & SDKs

A strong developer-first approach is essential. Businesses should get well-documented APIs, SDKs, and sandbox environments to integrate the gateway into websites, mobile apps, and POS systems smoothly.

  1. Customizable Checkout & Branding

The checkout page, emails, invoices, and even mobile apps should carry the business’s branding, not the provider’s. White-label means 100% brand visibility—right from the first transaction to settlement notifications.

  1. Merchant Dashboard & Analytics

Merchants onboarded on your gateway should get access to a powerful dashboard to track transactions, settlements, refunds, and chargebacks. Advanced analytics, heatmaps, and sales insights add real value.

  1. Risk Management & Fraud Prevention

A good gateway must include AI-driven fraud detection, velocity checks, tokenization, and 3D Secure protocols. These ensure safe transactions and reduce chargebacks, protecting both merchants and customers.

  1. Mobile-First Experience

Since most transactions in India now happen through mobile, the gateway should offer white-label mobile apps (Android/iOS) for merchants and customers. This is especially important for neo-banking apps, wallets, and fintech platforms.

  1. Flexible Settlement Options

Merchants prefer different settlement cycles—daily, weekly, or instant payouts. A competitive white-label solution should offer customizable settlement rules to suit merchant needs.

  1. Compliance & Security Certifications

Look for a provider that is PCI DSS Level 1 certified, ISO 27001 compliant, GDPR-ready, and RBI-compliant (for Indian operations). Compliance is not just a checkbox—it’s the foundation of customer trust.

  1. Scalability & Hosting Options

A future-ready platform should scale to handle millions of transactions per day. Ideally, the provider should also allow businesses to host the solution on their own cloud or servers for maximum control.

White Label Payment Gateway Pricing

One of the first questions businesses ask before adopting a white label payment gateway is: “How much does it cost?” The pricing model for white-label gateways can vary depending on the provider, the level of customization, and the geography of operations (India vs. international markets).

While building your own gateway from scratch could cost millions of rupees and years of development, a white-label solution offers a much more affordable and predictable pricing structure.

Here’s how pricing usually works:

  1. Setup / Onboarding Fee

Most providers charge a one-time setup fee for licensing the software and branding it under your business.

  • In India, setup fees can range from ₹1.5 lakh to ₹10 lakh depending on features, hosting options, and compliance requirements.
  • Some SaaS-based white-label providers outside India may charge a lower upfront fee but tie you into monthly/annual contracts.
  1. Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) / Transaction Fee

Every transaction processed through your gateway has a fee attached, known as the MDR (Merchant Discount Rate).

  • Typical MDR in India: 1.75% – 3% for domestic cards, 2.5% – 4% for international cards, and 0.9% – 1% for UPI.
  • As the white-label owner, you can set your own MDR markup for sub-merchants and earn profits per transaction.
  1. Rolling Reserve / Security Deposit

To protect against chargebacks and fraud, some providers hold back a percentage of transaction volume for a fixed period.

  • Standard reserve: 5–10% held for 3–6 months.
  • With white-label ownership, you may have flexibility to define your own rolling reserve terms for your merchants.
  1. Monthly SaaS Fee (Subscription Model)

Certain providers offer their gateway software as a SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) product.

  • Monthly fee can range between ₹50,000 – ₹2,00,000, depending on the scale and number of merchants supported.
  • This model works best for companies that don’t want to host or maintain the infrastructure themselves.
  1. Custom Development Costs

If you need advanced features such as:

  • White-label mobile apps for merchants,
  • Neo-banking integrations,
  • Crypto payment processing,
    then additional development fees may apply.

white label payment gateway

Compared to building a gateway in-house, which could cost upwards of ₹5–10 crore and years of development, a white-label payment gateway price in India is extremely cost-efficient, making it the smarter option for fintech startups, NBFCs, and enterprises.

 

White Label Payment Gateway Reseller Model

Another popular trend in the payments space is the white-label payment gateway reseller model. Instead of launching their own infrastructure, businesses partner with an existing provider and resell the payment gateway services under their own brand.

This model is particularly attractive for:

  • Digital agencies wanting to offer payments to clients.
  • SaaS companies looking to add a new revenue stream.
  • Entrepreneurs entering the fintech space without heavy upfront investment.
  • Payment service providers (PSPs) wanting to expand to new markets.

How the Reseller Model Works

  1. The provider gives you a rebranded version of their payment gateway.
  2. You onboard merchants under your brand, while the provider handles backend processing and compliance.
  3. You earn revenue by marking up transaction fees (MDR) or charging merchants subscription/settlement fees.

Revenue Opportunities in Reselling

  • Markup on MDR: If the provider charges 2% MDR, you can resell at 2.5% and pocket the margin.
  • Recurring Revenue: Charge merchants a monthly subscription fee for using your branded payment platform.
  • Value-Added Services: Offer payouts, invoicing, EMI schemes, or BNPL under your brand.

Benefits of Reselling

  • Low upfront cost compared to owning the entire gateway infrastructure.
  • Faster time to market (go live in weeks).
  • Minimal compliance headache as the provider remains the licensed entity.
  • Scalable business model — you can expand into different geographies or verticals easily.

Limitations of Reselling

  • Limited control over infrastructure and merchant terms.
  • Brand dilution risk if merchants discover the underlying provider.
  • Revenue share dependency (you can’t keep 100% of MDR profits).

The reseller model is a great stepping stone for businesses that want to test the fintech waters without large investment. However, for those who want full ownership, brand independence, and higher margins, investing in a true white-label payment gateway software (where you control the ecosystem) is the better long-term strategy.

 

Reviews & Best White Label Payment Gateways

When evaluating a white-label payment gateway, businesses often compare providers based on ease of use, customization options, settlement timelines, scalability, and support. Since the white-label market is relatively niche compared to standard gateways, reviews can vary widely depending on the business model and region. Below, we’ll review some of the best-known white-label payment gateways, both in India and globally, and highlight their strengths and limitations.

 

🔹 White Label Gateways in India

  1. Razorpay White Label
    • Strengths: Razorpay offers co-branded and partner models, making it easier for businesses to quickly launch a semi-white-label solution.
    • Limitations: Full white-label independence is limited; Razorpay retains backend ownership and compliance.
    • Best For: Agencies, SaaS companies, and startups that want quick entry without full infrastructure control.
  2. Cashfree White Label Solutions
    • Strengths: Developer-friendly APIs, UPI-first approach, and strong support for e-commerce.
    • Limitations: Limited customization and branding flexibility compared to full-fledged white-label providers.
    • Best For: Businesses that want low-code integrations with partial branding.
  3. PayU Partner Program
    • Strengths: Large merchant base, reliable infrastructure, and global reach.
    • Limitations: Reseller model rather than pure white-labeling, meaning brand ownership is not 100%.
    • Best For: Established businesses seeking a strong backend but don’t mind co-branding.
  4. PayTM for Business
    • Strengths: Access to India’s largest wallet ecosystem, fast settlement cycles.
    • Limitations: PayTM branding cannot be fully removed.
    • Best For: Businesses focusing on wallet-driven transactions in India.

 

🔹 Global White Label Payment Providers

  1. Akurateco
    • Strengths: 100+ integrations with banks and processors, strong routing engine.
    • Limitations: Higher setup costs.
    • Best For: Businesses serving global merchants who need advanced risk management.
  2. PayTabs White Label
    • Strengths: Middle-East leader, fully customizable, PCI DSS compliant.
    • Limitations: Geographically focused, limited UPI support.
    • Best For: Companies targeting MENA markets.
  3. BlueSnap
    • Strengths: Strong for SaaS and subscription billing, global reach.
    • Limitations: Complex fee structure.
    • Best For: SaaS companies and enterprises with recurring billing needs.
  4. Adyen for Platforms (WL Model)
    • Strengths: Enterprise-grade solution, multi-currency, fraud tools.
    • Limitations: High cost, not startup-friendly.
    • Best For: Large enterprises and marketplaces.

 

Key Takeaways from Reviews

  • If you are in India, Razorpay and Cashfree are easier entry points but not fully white-label.
  • If you need complete branding independence, global providers like Akurateco or PayTabs offer deeper customization but come with higher costs.
  • For true ownership, Our’s white-label payment software offers source-code control, RBI-compliant setups, and fully brandable apps/APIs, making it ideal for fintech startups and enterprises in India and abroad.

✅ Final Verdict: The best white-label payment gateway is the one that aligns with your target market, scale, compliance needs, and brand strategy. Businesses that want full control and higher margins should invest in complete white-label platforms rather than partial reseller models.

 

White Label Payment Apps & Future of White Labeling

The future of payments isn’t limited to web-based gateways—mobile-first payment apps are becoming the new norm. With UPI transactions in India crossing 12 billion monthly transactions in 2024 and mobile wallets dominating retail, businesses are realizing the importance of offering their own branded payment apps through white-label solutions.

 

White Label Payment Apps: What Are They?

A white-label payment app is a mobile application provided by a software vendor but branded entirely under your business. This allows you to launch your own app on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store with your branding, logo, and features, while the backend technology is managed by the provider.

Features typically include:

  • Merchant collections via UPI, cards, wallets, and QR.
  • Customer app for wallet top-ups, bill payments, and P2P transfers.
  • In-app dashboards for tracking transactions and settlements.
  • Add-ons like loyalty, EMI, and BNPL.

The Rise of White Labeling in India

  • Neo-Banks & NBFCs: Many neo-banks don’t build technology from scratch—they use white-label solutions for apps, cards, and gateways.
  • SaaS Companies: SaaS providers are embedding payment apps into their platforms to lock in customers.
  • Enterprises: Retail chains and aggregators are launching their own branded wallets for customer engagement.

Why White Label Apps are the Future

  1. Frictionless Branding – Customers see only your logo and brand, not a third party.
  2. Faster Customer Acquisition – With your own app, you can offer targeted discounts, rewards, and loyalty programs.
  3. Cross-Selling Opportunities – Once a user is inside your app, you can cross-sell insurance, loans, or subscription services.
  4. Embedded Finance Growth – The global embedded finance market is expected to exceed $7 trillion by 2030, and white-label apps are at its core.

Example: Super App Ecosystem

Apps like PhonePe, PayTM, and Google Pay dominate because they combine payments + financial services + rewards. With a white-label payment app, businesses can create their own mini “super app” without years of R&D.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Since businesses often have very specific queries before choosing a white-label payment gateway, here are answers to the most common ones.

  1. Which payment gateway provider is white-label in India?

Several Indian providers offer white-label or partner models, including Razorpay, Cashfree, PayU, and PayTM for Business. However, these are often semi-white-label solutions, where full brand independence is limited. For businesses seeking complete control, specialized fintech developers like Ours provide true white-label platforms with full branding, compliance, and API control.

  1. Is Stripe a white-label payment gateway?

No, Stripe is not a fully white-label payment gateway. Stripe allows customization through APIs and embedded checkouts, but the underlying infrastructure and compliance remain under Stripe’s brand. Businesses cannot fully rebrand Stripe as their own gateway. For true white-labeling, you need a platform that allows complete rebranding, source-code control, and merchant ownership.

  1. What are the four types of payment gateways?

The four primary types are:

  1. Hosted Payment Gateways (redirects customers to a third-party site, e.g., PayPal).
  2. Self-Hosted Payment Gateways (merchants host payment pages but rely on gateway APIs).
  3. API/Non-Hosted Gateways (seamless integration, branding controlled by the merchant).
  4. Local Bank Gateways (direct bank integrations, limited features).

A white-label payment gateway is essentially an API/Non-Hosted model where you own the branding and customer relationship.

  1. Is WorldPay a payment gateway or processor?

WorldPay is both a payment gateway and a processor. It provides merchant services, payment processing infrastructure, and gateway solutions. While WorldPay offers enterprise-level solutions, it’s not a fully white-label option for smaller businesses.

  1. Is Razorpay white-label?

Razorpay offers a reseller and partner model, which is often referred to as “white-label.” However, businesses using Razorpay cannot fully remove Razorpay branding or own the infrastructure. It’s better classified as a co-branded solution rather than a true white-label gateway.

  1. What is the difference between a white-label and reseller payment gateway?
  • White-label: Full branding and ownership. Your business appears as the provider. You control MDR, settlements, and merchant relationships.
  • Reseller: You sell another provider’s services under limited branding. The provider still owns the backend and compliance.

In short, reselling is an entry-level option, while white-labeling provides complete independence.

  1. Which is the best free payment gateway in India?

Several providers market themselves as “free” by offering zero setup fees and zero annual maintenance. Examples include Razorpay, Instamojo, and PayUMoney. However, they still charge transaction fees (MDR), which cannot be avoided. True white-label gateways are not free but are cost-effective when compared to building infrastructure in-house.

  1. What are the best payment gateways in India for businesses?

The most popular gateways include Razorpay, Cashfree, PayU, CCAvenue, and PayTM. For businesses that want control, branding, and long-term scalability, the best choice is to invest in a white-label solution where you can launch your own gateway.

  1. What is a white-label payment app?

A white-label payment app is a mobile application developed by a provider but fully branded under your business. It allows merchants or customers to make payments, track transactions, and manage finances—all under your company’s name on app stores.

  1. What businesses benefit most from white-label payment gateways?
  • Fintech startups launching wallets, BNPL, or neo-banks.
  • E-commerce platforms that want to offer in-house branded checkouts.
  • SaaS companies embedding payments into their platforms.
  • Enterprises wanting customer loyalty and branded experiences.
  • Payment resellers/aggregators seeking revenue from merchant onboarding.
  1. How secure is a white-label solution compared to Stripe or PayPal?

A true white-label gateway is as secure as major providers—if it is PCI DSS certified and equipped with fraud detection tools. Many white-label solutions (like those offered by Us) come pre-certified with tokenization, encryption, and 3D Secure protocols, making them equally reliable.

  1. Can I scale globally with a white-label gateway?

Yes. Most modern white-label platforms support multi-currency, cross-border transactions, and international payment methods. This allows businesses to serve both domestic and global merchants under their own brand.

Conclusion

The payments industry is no longer about simply accepting transactions—it’s about owning the entire customer experience, building trust, and unlocking new revenue streams. A white-label payment gateway makes this possible by giving businesses a ready-made, compliant, and customizable payment infrastructure that can be branded entirely as their own.

From our discussion, it’s clear why businesses in India and worldwide are moving toward white-labeling:

  • Faster go-to-market without huge R&D costs.
  • Complete brand ownership in customer journeys.
  • Revenue generation through sub-merchants and MDR markups.
  • Compliance and security handled by experts.
  • Scalability across geographies, currencies, and new payment methods.

As the future of digital payments shifts toward mobile-first, embedded, and branded experiences, companies that adopt white-label solutions will be positioned as leaders in fintech. Whether you’re a startup launching your first fintech app or an enterprise expanding into payments, the white-label model gives you the agility and control needed to succeed.

👉 If you’re ready to launch your own white-label payment gateway or mobile wallet solution with complete branding, APIs, and compliance, We provide customizable fintech software tailored for startups, banks, and enterprises.
📩 Get in touch with our team today to explore demo options and pricing.

With white-label payment software, your business doesn’t just process payments—it becomes a payment provider.