Discover infinity
Posted on Jun 20, 2025
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Indian businesses, from Saas companies from exporters to freelancers, need fast reliable and affordable solution for receiving international payments. But with so many options how do you decide, which is the best one?
Traditionally, many cross-border payments have moved through SWIFT network or ACH. But these systems have their own drawbacks such as limited visibility, slow settlement time and high and hidden charges. Now comes Infinity, a moden payment platform built for Indian businesses that want to simplify the process of receiving international payments without compromising on speed or compliance.
In this blog, we will compare three most popular options of receiving international payments from abroad- SWIFT, ACH and Infinity. This blog will help you choose the right solution for your business in 2025.
What is SWIFT?
SWIFT Network is a system that allows financial institutions around the world to send and receive international payments instructions in a standardised and secured format.
How does the SWIFT network work?
Your client instructs the bank to send funds.
The payment is routed through multiple intermediary banks.
You finally receive international payments in your Indian bank account.
Pros of the SWIFT network:
Globally accepted and supported by nearly every bank.
Secured and well-established network.
Best for large B2B transactions.
Cons of the SWIFT network:
Very slow: It can take upto 3-7 days for reaching the beneficiary.
Expensive: Intermediary bank fees + receiving bank fees.
Poor transparency: Hard to track delays or missing transfers.
Unfavourable exchange rate: Indian banks usually charge high markup fees.
The SWIFT network is best for large-value business transactions with international clients who prefer bank-to-bank payments.
Read More: Wire Transfer vs Bank Transfer for Receiving Money
What is ACH?
Localised bank transfers, but only within countries.
ACH is an electronic network used for bank-to-bank transfers within a specific country, mostly in the US. Many US-based clients prefer to pay using ACH because it's cheap and convenient domestically. However, for Indian exporters, ACH has its own limitations.
Pros of ACH:
Low fees for US-based clients.
Ideal for subscription-based payments.
ACH works well within the US market.
Cons of ACH:
It is not directly available to Indian banks.
Indirectly, ACH relies on the SWIFT network to reach India.
Delayed settlements, like 5-7 days, are common for end-to-end transfers.
It does not support a multi-currency account.
No support for documentation like FIRA.
ACH is best for receiving international payments from the US clients only. ACH best supports low to medium volumes transaction only. It is not suggested for full-fleged global businesses or exporters.
Infinity: The Better Alternative to SWIFT and ACH
Infinity is a crossborder payment solution built for Indian businesses, exporters, freelancers and SMBs to receive international payments from all over the world. It helps you open virtual bank accounts in different countries so your clients can easily transfer money in domestic bank accounts.
Infinity, then, gets your money transferred from the virtual bank account to your local bank account and converted into INR from USD or any other currency.
With Infinity, you just need to pay a flat fee of 0.5% (inclusive of GST) on the transaction amount. Plus, you receive the payment within 24 hours. It solves all the problems of SWIFT and ACH by combining speed, cost-efficiency, compliance and friendliness in one platform.
How Infinity works:
You create a multi-currency account on Infinity.
Clients can pay you in any currency they want- USD, EUR, GBP etc.
The money gets credited into your Indian bank account and converted into INR.
Infinity issues FIRA instantly after every transaction and ensures FEMA compliance.
Infinity vs. ACH vs. SWIFT: Feature by Feature Comparison
Features | SWIFT | ACH | InfinityApp |
|---|---|---|---|
Speed | 3-7 business days | 3-5 business days | Within 24 hours |
Transaction fees | High | Low for the sender | Low and transparent |
Currency conversion | Poor FX rates | No conversion (USD only) | Live mid-markets rate |
Intermediary banks | Yes (adds delay + cost | Yes (via SWIFT) | No intermediaries |
Multi-currency accounts | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (USD, EUR, GBP, etc.) |
FIRA support | ✅ Yes (manual) | ❌ No | ✅ Auto-issued for each transfer |
Why Do FX rates Matter in International Payments?
One of the most important aspects while receiving international payment is currency conversion. Here is how traditional methods like SWIFT and ACH can eat into your earnings:
Banks can add 2-5% markup on exchange rates.
Hidden fees are not shown to the sender or receiver.
Double conversion is charged when using ACH+SWIFT.
With Infinity, you get to exchange your currency at live mid market rtaes and the ability to hold foreign currencies, so that you can convert when the rates are in your favour, saving you money every time.
How to Ensure FIRA and Compliance for International Payments?
Infinity provides you with instant FIRA after every transaction. FIRA is critical for:
Claiming GST refunds.
LUT filing.
FEMA compliance.
Proof of export for customs and tax audits.
SWIFT transfers may offer FIRA, but it's manual, time-consuming, and prone to errors. Infinity automatically generates FIRA after every transaction, helping Indian exporters stay 100% compliant with RBI.
Receive International Payments Smoothly With Infinity
SWIFT and ACH helped cross-border payments for decades, but they are not built for modern Indian businesses. Infinity offers a faster settlement solution with low and transparent fees. Infinity does not charge any Fx margin, that means you get to convert at live Google rate.
Whether you are a first time exporter, or scaling your business or a freelancer, Infinity simplifies the process of receiving international payments so you can focus on your growing business and not tracking your money.
Frequently Asked Questions on SWIFT vs. ACH
1. What is the difference between SWIFT and ACH transfers?
SWIFT is an international transfer system used by banks to send money across borders. It can take 3–7 business days and often involves intermediary bank fees.
ACH (Automated Clearing House), on the other hand, is a US-based system for domestic payments within the US.
2. Is SWIFT safe for sending money internationally?
Yes, SWIFT is considered secure and widely used for large business transactions. However, it can be slow and expensive, with little transparency on exchange rates or intermediary deductions.
3. Can Indian businesses receive payments through ACH?
No, ACH is meant for the US-based bank-to-bank transfers. Indian freelancers or businesses cannot receive ACH transfers directly unless they use a US-based account or an intermediary service that supports ACH payouts.
4. How does Infinity compare to SWIFT and ACH for Indian users?
Infinity is designed specifically for Indian freelancers, businesses, and remote teams to receive international payments. It supports multiple currencies, auto-converts to INR at competitive rates, and deposits directly into Indian bank accounts within 24–48 hours.
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