Best UPI Payment Apps in India 2026 (With Referral Codes)

UPI has made paying in India free and instant, but the app you use still matters. Some give better rewards, some work better for bills, and some pay you for inviting friends. This guide compares the five popular UPI payment apps — Google Pay, Paytm, PhonePe, BHIM and Amazon Pay — plus CRED for credit-card bills, so you can pick the right one and claim live bonuses.

Best UPI Payment Apps in India: Quick Comparison

App	Best for	Referral offer	Extra features
Google Pay	Everyday payments and rewards	Code KV16w — enter before first payment	Scratch cards, bills, UPI Lite
Paytm	Recharges, bills and tickets	Link + sign-up code 8988000525	Wallet, FASTag, tickets
PhonePe	Most merchants accept it	Invite link — https://phon.pe/v4nns08o	Insurance, mutual funds, gold
BHIM	Simple, ad-free official app	Refer & Earn in app	NPCI official app, no ads
Amazon Pay	Amazon shoppers	Invite Friends in Amazon app	Amazon shopping rewards, bills, gift cards
CRED	Credit-card bill payments	Sign-up link below — ₹50 off a ₹100+ bill	Rewards on bill payments

UPI Limits You Should Know Before You Pay

The same NPCI rules apply to every app: ₹1 lakh per transaction and ₹1 lakh per day, with a maximum of 20 transactions a day. New users are capped at ₹5,000 for the first 24 hours. Higher limits up to ₹5 lakh apply only to specific categories such as IPOs and insurance. UPI Lite, the small-value wallet inside most UPI apps, has separate limits — ₹1,000 per transaction and a ₹5,000 wallet balance — and works without a UPI PIN.

1. Google Pay (GPay) — Best for Everyday Payments and Rewards

Google Pay is one of the most used UPI apps in India and a strong default choice. It is fast, works at almost every shop QR code, and keeps things simple: send money, scan and pay, recharge, and pay bills. It also runs regular scratch-card rewards and supports UPI Lite.

Google Pay referral code: KV16w. If you are new to Google Pay, or have not used it in the last 180 days, you can get a welcome cashback on your first payment by entering this code:

1. Install Google Pay and sign in with the number linked to your bank account.
2. Tap your profile photo, then the three dots (menu), then Referral code.
3. Enter KV16w and tap Apply. Do this before your first payment — a code entered after the first payment does not work.
4. Make your first UPI payment within 28 days of signing up.

2. Paytm — Best for Recharges, Bills and Tickets

Paytm is the all-rounder of this list. Beyond UPI payments, it handles mobile recharges, DTH, electricity and gas bills, FASTag, and train, flight and movie tickets from inside one app.

Paytm referral: Sign up through this referral link — https://p.paytm.me/xCTH/oxcdicaj?utmt=111004 — and use sign-up code 8988000525 (a phone number, enter it exactly as shown). Make your first UPI payment of ₹10 within 7 days to earn up to ₹100 cashback plus a ₹50 recharge voucher. (This is the Paytm UPI app referral, not the Paytm Money investing app.)

3. PhonePe — Best for Merchant Acceptance

PhonePe is India's biggest UPI app by transaction volume: almost every shop, website and delivery app accepts it. It covers the basics well — send money, scan and pay, recharges and bill payments — and adds extras such as insurance, mutual funds and digital gold.

PhonePe referral: PhonePe runs a Refer & Earn programme. Open the app, tap the Refer & Earn banner, and share your invite link. There is no manual code box — your friend must install PhonePe through your invite link, link their bank account, and complete their first UPI payment. Rewards are usually ₹100 to ₹200 per referral. Our referral link: https://phon.pe/v4nns08o

4. BHIM — Best Simple, Ad-Free Official App

BHIM (Bharat Interface for Money) is the official UPI app built by NPCI, the organisation that runs UPI itself. It is the simplest app on this list: no ads, no shopping sections, just send money, request money, scan and pay, and bill payments.

BHIM referral: BHIM runs a Refer & Earn programme inside the app. Open BHIM, find the Referral or Invite section in your profile, and share your invite link or code. When a friend installs BHIM and completes their first UPI payment, both sides can earn cashback.

5. Amazon Pay — Best for Amazon Shoppers

Amazon Pay lives inside the Amazon shopping app, so it is the natural pick if you shop on Amazon often. You can pay with UPI, pay bills and recharges, and use your Amazon Pay balance for shopping. Payments through Amazon Pay can earn rewards into your Amazon Pay balance.

Amazon Pay referral: Open the Amazon app, go to Amazon Pay, tap Invite Friends, and share your referral link. When your friend signs up and completes their first UPI transaction, you can earn Amazon Pay balance cashback.

Bonus: CRED — Best for Credit-Card Bill Payments

CRED is not a UPI app — it is an app for paying your credit-card bills. If you have a credit card, you can pay its bill through CRED and earn rewards on every payment, instead of paying through your bank app and getting nothing extra.

CRED referral: Sign up with this link — https://app.cred.club/spQx/tq8pxw7p — within 10 days, and ₹50 is reserved for you. You can use it to reduce any upcoming bill of ₹100 or more.

Which UPI App Should You Choose?

For most people, Google Pay or PhonePe is the best first app: both are fast, accepted everywhere, and run regular rewards. Pick Paytm for bills and tickets, BHIM for a simple ad-free experience, and Amazon Pay if most of your spending happens on Amazon. You do not have to choose only one — UPI lets you link the same bank account to several apps. Just enter a referral code before your first payment, because you cannot claim a welcome reward afterwards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the best UPI payment app in India?

There is no single best app. Google Pay is best for daily payments, PhonePe for merchant acceptance, Paytm for bills and tickets, BHIM for a clean ad-free experience, and Amazon Pay for Amazon shoppers. All five use the same UPI network and ₹1 lakh limit.

What is the Google Pay referral code?

Our Google Pay referral code is KV16w. Enter it in the Google Pay app under your profile photo, then the three-dot menu, then Referral code, before your first payment. New users, or users who have not used Google Pay in 180 days, can earn a welcome cashback.

Can I use the same bank account on two UPI apps?

Yes. You can link the same bank account to all five apps at once. Your ₹1 lakh daily limit is counted per bank account across all apps combined, not per app.

Referral rewards change frequently — always check the live offer inside each app before signing up. This article is for information only and is not financial advice.