Introduction
PingPong Payments is a well-known global payments platform with a wide global reach and a suite of business-focused tools. But it also comes with many limitations. So if you’re thinking about signing up for the platform, it’s worth taking a closer look.
Here, we break down what PingPong’s features are, its pricing, drawbacks, and real user experiences, and we’ll also show you why Xflow positions itself as a better alternative for receiving cross-border payments.
What is PingPong Payments?
PingPong Payments is a cross-border payment platform that helps ecommerce sellers, freelancers, and other businesses send and receive international payments. It is headquartered in New York but has a wide global presence and allows outbound transfers to over 200 countries and regions.
PingPong is also well known for its developer-friendly APIs and multiple marketplace and website integrations, like Amazon, Etsy, Shopify, Udemy, 99designs, and Upwork.
Key features of PingPong Payments
Features that PingPong offers to simplify cross-border transactions include:
1. Virtual bank accounts in 18 different currencies.
2. Conversion of payments in more than 25 currencies.
3. Multiple payment methods, including bank transfers, wires, cards or local payment methods.
4. Integration with major marketplaces like Amazon, Shopee, Shopify, and Rakuten.
5. Automatic issuance of free eFIRA.
6. Withdrawal of funds directly into Indian bank accounts.
7. Withdrawal in the same foreign currency into EEFC accounts (Exchange Earner Foreign Currency account).
8. VAT/GST and other tax payments.
9. Strong security measures like 2FA, real-time fraud detection, and high-level data protection.
10. Forwards and other hedging tools to lock in FX rates and reduce FX risks.
How does PingPong Payments work?
To start receiving global payments through PingPong Payments, you’ll have to register on the platform. Here are the steps to register:
1. Go to PingPong Payment’s website.
2. Click on the ‘Sign Up’ button in the top right corner.
3. Provide the category of your business and click ‘Next.’
4. Create an account with your email and password.
5. Give your agreement to the PingPong Services Agreement and Privacy Policy.
6. Click on the ‘Create’ button. This submits your basic profile and moves you to the next step.
7. Choose the foreign currencies you’ll be receiving money in — you can select up to ten.
8. Fill in the KYC verification section using your Aadhaar, PAN, or Passport.
9. Add the required details about you and your company, and then your local bank account details.
10. Once everything looks good, click ‘Next’ to move ahead.
After you submit your application, PingPong usually reviews and verifies it within 1–2 business days. Once your account is activated, if you need to, you can link it with marketplaces and freelancing platforms and start receiving international payments.
Pricing and fees of PingPong Payments
The pricing information is not publicly disclosed. You’ll have to contact PingPong’s customer support to get any information about the actual fees. However, PingPong keeps its basic costs fairly straightforward.
You won’t be charged any monthly fees for maintaining your account, and the PingPong card doesn’t come with ongoing charges either. Same-currency transfers, like sending USD to another USD account, are also free. Additionally, for international transfers, the fees do vary, but they typically stay within a maximum of 1% of the transaction amount.
What’s not fully transparent, however, is the exchange rate they use. The rate you see on Google or any foreign exchange website reflects the real mid-market rate — the one banks use without any markup. When platforms apply a markup, which is usually around 1-2%, it means you’re paying an additional, less visible exchange-rate fee.
Pingpong Payments review: What are users saying?
One of the best ways to understand how any payment processing platform performs in the real world is to look at what its users are experiencing. Their feedback offers a clearer picture of the platform’s reliability, service quality, and any recurring issues. Here are some reviews of PingPong’s users left on Trustpilot:
“Pingpong is a great online global banking system for suppliers who do e-commerce sites. They have a dedicated support center to solve my issue anytime. I have been consistently using it over the past two years!”
“it is easy to use and all the data is safe. it is secure for all the marketplaces in low fee.”
Now, let’s take a look at some of the negative user reviews:
“Absolute worse service ever. It's been months in trying to register an account, with their faulty system full of glitches that doesn't let me proceed due to technical issues. I ask for support, and an agent keeps sending an automated same message again and again without any support. Absolutely useless platform.”
“I just got blocked for no reason”
“My experience with PingPong has been incredibly frustrating. After my account was closed, unresolved balances and refunds were left pending. Despite providing all necessary documentation and updated bank details, there has been no clear communication or timeline for resolution.”
It’s quite clear from the PingPong Payments reviews that there is a clear divide: while some users like PingPong’s ease of use, security, and suitability for e-commerce sellers, others report serious concerns around customer support, unexplained account blocks, and unresolved refunds. So it’s better to take both sides into account before deciding if the platform fits your needs.
What are the limitations of PingPong?
PingPong might be a convenient way to receive international payments, but there are a few limitations you should be aware of:
- Sometimes, refunds are not processed after account closure.
- Several users also highlight slow or unhelpful responses from the support team
- Accounts can occasionally be suspended or blocked without a clear explanation.
- The exchange rate markup is not clear, which creates a lot of uncertainty around the actual cost of using the platform.
- Some transactions may be blocked or halted without proper reasoning.
PingPong Payments vs competitors
Here is a comparison table that provides an overview of how PingPong fares against its competitors.
| Platform | Xflow | PingPong | Wise | Payoneer | PayPal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Key features | Transparent pricing, zero markup, mid-market exchange rate, free eFIRA, multi-currency receiving accounts, AI-powered FX management, business-oriented tools | Virtual bank accounts, multiple payment methods, marketplace integrations, tax payments, and free eFIRA | Multi-currency accounts, mid-market exchange rate, wide global reach, eFIRA at a cost | Multi-currency business accounts, free eFIRA, multiple payment methods, mass payouts, and dedicated account managers | Multi-currency support, invoicing, online checkouts, recurring payments, marketplace integrations, and monthly eFIRA |
| Fees and pricing | Up to $2,000: $12, and above that 0.6%; up to $5,000: $20, and above that 0.4%; zero markup. | 1% transaction fee and unclear markup. | 1.7-1.8% transaction fee+FIRA charges. | Free if receiving funds from a Payoneer customer; 3.20% + $0.49 for direct credit card payments; free if receiving INR in receiving accounts; fixed fee or 1% on other currencies; annual inactivity fee (around $29.95). | 4.4% transaction fees + small fixed fee, 3-4% FX markup |
| Settlement time | 1 business day. | 3-5 business days. | 1-2 business days. | 1-3 business days. | 1-5 business days. |
| Best for | Startups, exporters, freelancers, Saas businesses, and payment platforms. | E-commerce sellers, freelancers, and SMBs. | SMBs and freelancers. | Freelancers, SMBs, and marketplace sellers. | E-commerce sellers, freelancers, and SMBs. |
| Ratings | 4.9/5 on G2. | 2.2/5 on Trustpilot. | 3.9/5 on G2. | 3.2/5 on G2. | 4.4/5 on G2. |
Who should use PingPong Payments?
PingPong Payments serves the best the following category of users:
1. Ecommerce sellers and SMBs
For e-commerce sellers who run their businesses across global marketplaces like Amazon, Shopee, Shopify, Cdiscount, and Rakuten, PingPong gives you virtual bank accounts in major currencies so that you can receive marketplace payouts and B2B payments from anywhere.
Once the money comes in, PingPong can automatically transfer those funds to your Indian bank account in INR. You also get features like Direct Payment Request, which makes it easy to request payments for products or services. Plus, the platform covers free VAT and global tax payments, which come in handy if you're selling across borders.
For teams and growing businesses, PingPong supports multiple users under a single account, with permission controls for secure and organized access.
2. Freelancers
For freelancers in India who work with global freelancing platforms like Freelancer, Upwork, 99designs, Envato, and Udemy, PingPong’s receiving account is quite convenient to collect payments directly from these marketplaces.
You’re also able to receive payments in multiple major currencies. And once the funds reach your PingPong account, you can withdraw them to your India collection account in INR or in foreign currencies, usually within 1-2 working days. Plus, every transaction automatically comes with a digital FIRC, which is quite useful for compliance and taxation purposes.
Why should you choose Xflow over PingPong Payments?
To understand why Xflow is a better choice than PingPong Payments, here’s a comparison of the total fees involved when receiving $2,500 from an international client.
Since PingPong doesn’t disclose its exchange-rate markup, we’ve assumed a 2% markup, which is a common rate many platforms apply. For this calculation, we’re also using the current exchange rate of ₹88.55 (as of 19 November 2025).
| Fees | PingPong Payments | Xflow |
|---|---|---|
| Initial amount sent by client | $2,500 | $2,500 |
| Transaction fee | 1% of $2,500 = $50 | 0.6% of $2,500 = $15 |
| Amount after deducting transaction fee | $2,500 – $50 = $2,450 | $2,500 – $15 = $2485 |
| Exchange rate markup | 2% of ₹88.55 = ₹1.77 ₹88.55 – ₹1.77 = ₹86.78 | Zero markup |
| Final amount received by you after markup applied | $2,000 × ₹86.78 = ₹1,73,560 | $2485 × ₹88.55 = ₹2,20,046.75 |
Clearly, in the case of PingPong, you are losing approximately ₹47,815 in fees alone.
And you can see why Xflow is better: not only does it charge a significantly lower transaction fee, it also doesn’t charge any markup on the mid-market exchange rate, letting you save more than ₹46,000 on a single transaction!
Beyond the fees, Xflow’s user feedback tells an even clearer story. Many users highlight its transparency, intuitive interface, competitive rates, and faster settlements — all of which make the overall experience feel far more reliable. Here are a few reviews that reflect this:
“Best pricing and timely transfer. We use them for money transfer on a monthly basis. We found their pricing, product and service to be very good. Far better than going via a traditional bank.”
“Xflow has simplified our cross border payments like never before. From smooth onboarding to streamlined FX conversions, payouts and collections - everything just works. Transfers are quick, rates are better than traditional banks, and their support team is always responsive and helpful - big thanks to Xflow team.”
“I’ve been using this app regularly for USD to INR transfers, and it’s been consistently excellent. The interface is clean and intuitive, making the entire process super easy. What I appreciate the most is the competitive exchange rates and low transfer fees, which are clearly displayed before confirming a transaction.”
Key features of Xflow that make it the best alternative to PingPong include:
- Next-business-day settlements
- Zero FX markup with transparent pricing
- 24/7 withdrawal flexibility
- A virtual foreign currency account to let clients pay through local payment methods.
- Limitless transactions per invoice
- Automatic issuance of eFIRA within 24 hours of the transaction
- Modern tools like payment links, invoice generation, and white-label APIs
- Intelligent FX management through the FX AI Analyst
- 50% FX costs savings
- Fast, responsive customer support
- Real-time transaction tracking
- FX rate freeze for up to 45 days
And that is not all. Sign up with Xflow now for seamless global transfers and to keep more of your hard-earned money in your pocket!
Frequently asked questions
Yes, PingPong is largely safe to use. It’s RBI-approved, FCRN-registered, and protects your account with two-factor authentication, PIN checks, and fraud monitoring.
PingPong users often complain about things like sudden account blocks, long waits for refunds, unresponsive customer support, and unclear pricing, especially with the high FX markup.
Yes, there are many PingPong alternatives, like Xflow, that offer clear pricing, faster settlement, AI-powered FX management, a clean UI, responsive customer service, and a simple onboarding experience.
PingPong charges a 1% transaction fee but has not disclosed its markup rate during currency conversion.

