Navi lifts UPI share to 4.4% as PhonePe and Google Pay edge lower

Navi processed 1.08 billion UPI transactions in August, taking its volume share to 4.4% from 4.0% in July. PhonePe and Google Pay retained 78.3% combined share, while an MDR framework for eligible merchant payments above ₹2,000 is due from October 15.

— Source publishedWed, 16 Sept, 2026, 20:54 IST·First seen Wed, 16 Sept, 2026, 21:51 IST·Source Inc42

What happened

Navi lifted its UPI volume share to 4.4% in August as PhonePe and Google Pay slipped marginally. Record UPI volumes and an October 15 MDR framework for eligible

Key facts

  • Navi UPI volume share: 4.4% in August, up from 4.0% in July and 3.7% in June
  • Navi: 1.08 billion transactions worth ₹52,512.85 crore in August
  • PhonePe: 11.25 billion transactions worth ₹14.26 lakh crore; volume share 45.9%, down from 46.1%
  • Google Pay volume share: 32.4%, down from 32.5%; about 7.9 billion transactions
  • PhonePe and Google Pay combined share: 78.3%, down from 78.6%
  • Paytm volume share: 8.1%, up from 8.0%; 1.98 billion transactions worth ₹2.04 lakh crore
  • super.money share: 1.7%, down from 1.9%; 421.87 million transactions worth ₹20,363.26 crore
  • Overall UPI: 24.51 billion transactions in August, up 3.6% from 23.66 billion in July
  • Eligible merchant UPI payments above ₹2,000: MDR of 0.4%, capped at ₹300 for transactions above ₹75,000, effective October 15

Why this matters

The emerging MDR framework could make merchant-payment capabilities strategically more valuable, increasing the appeal of partnerships or acquisitions spanning merchant acquiring, payment gateways, and loyalty.

What to watch

  • Navi's September and October UPI volume share, transaction count and any disclosure on transaction value share.
  • Final MDR rules, eligible merchant definitions, fee caps, settlement mechanics and whether customer charges are prohibited.
  • Changes in share for PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm and other mid-tier UPI apps after October 15.
  • Merchant acceptance campaigns or incentive announcements from Navi and incumbent apps.
  • Evidence that Navi's share gain persists after promotional periods, especially in repeat users and higher-value transactions.
  • Navi is likely to increase merchant onboarding, payment reminders and rewards in categories with frequent UPI use.
  • Navi may prioritize higher-ticket merchant-payment journeys ahead of the October 15 MDR framework, subject to final eligibility and implementation rules.
  • PhonePe and Google Pay may deploy selective cashback, merchant offers and app-placement campaigns rather than broad-based incentives.
  • Banks and payment aggregators may reassess routing, settlement and merchant-pricing partnerships as the MDR rules clarify unit economics.