Payment methods: UPI

UPI (Unified Payments Interface) is a real-time payment method available to customers in India, offered through our payment processor, Stripe. You can use UPI to pay for new WordPress.com purchases and to set up automatic renewals for eligible subscriptions.

UPI is the one local payment method on WordPress.com that supports automatic renewals. UPI renewals work through an eMandate — a recurring payment authorization required by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for any UPI-based subscription.

A few things to know before you pay with UPI:

• UPI works with apps like Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm. Any UPI-enabled app can be used to complete or authorize a payment at checkout.
• Have your UPI app ready at checkout. Authorizing a UPI payment is time-limited. If you do not approve the request in your UPI app within the allowed window, the payment fails and you will need to start over.
• UPI appears at checkout when your tax location is set to India. If your tax location is set to another country, UPI will not appear as a payment option.

To pay for a new purchase with UPI, follow these steps:

1. Add your product to the cart and proceed to checkout.
2. Under “Payment method”, select the UPI option.
3. Complete the payment using one of the methods below.

1. Open your UPI app (such as Google Pay, PhonePe, or Paytm) on your phone.
2. Scan the QR code displayed on the checkout screen.
3. Review the payment and Autopay details in your UPI app.
4. Approve the payment before the timer expires.

If you are checking out on your phone, you can pay directly through a UPI app:

1. Click “Select UPI app instead” below the QR code.
2. Tap the UPI app you want to use.
3. Your UPI app opens with the payment and Autopay details.
4. Review and confirm the payment in the app.

Once the payment is approved, your purchase is complete and you receive a confirmation email. UPI receipts do not include an RRN (Retrieval Reference Number) due to a limitation in how UPI transactions are reported back to WordPress.com.

When you pay for a subscription with UPI, an eMandate is created in the background. The eMandate is what allows your subscription to renew automatically, without you needing to approve each charge manually.

A few things to know about UPI renewals:

• Renewals depend on the eMandate staying active. If you cancel or revoke the eMandate from your bank or UPI app, the next renewal fails. Update your payment method to keep the subscription active.
• Canceling your subscription cancels the eMandate. If you cancel a subscription that is paid with UPI, the eMandate is canceled at the same time, and you will not be charged again.
• A failed renewal does not immediately cancel your subscription. If a renewal fails, WordPress.com notifies you and gives you a chance to update your payment method before the subscription lapses.

To switch a subscription to or from UPI, follow these steps:

1. Go to Me → Purchases.
2. Select the subscription you want to update.
3. Click the “Change Payment Method” button.
4. Choose UPI (or another method) and confirm.

Selecting a new payment method cancels the existing UPI eMandate for that subscription.