PhonePe

PhonePe is another popular UPI app. After linking a bank account you can pay at shops through QR codes, send money to contacts, recharge your phone and pay utility bills.

How to use it sensibly

• Set a screen lock or app lock so that a lost phone does not become a lost bank balance.
• Use only one or two UPI apps; fewer apps mean fewer places to monitor.
• Review your transaction history weekly and report anything unfamiliar to your bank straight away.

Compare before you choose

PhonePe and Google Pay both use the same UPI system, so payments between them work normally. Choose the one whose layout you find easier to understand. The decisive factor is not the brand but how carefully you handle your PIN and OTPs.

Always download the app from the official store listing and never share your UPI PIN, OTP or card details with anyone claiming to be from customer care.

Keeping a PhonePe account safe

• Use a screen lock and the app's own lock so a borrowed phone cannot make payments.
• Check your transaction history once a week and compare it with your bank SMS alerts.
• Never install a screen-sharing app because a caller says it is needed to fix a payment.
• For recharges and bills, use the biller list inside the app and avoid links forwarded on WhatsApp.

Things to know first

Why does PhonePe ask for my SIM to be verified? UPI links your bank account to your registered mobile number, so the app checks that the SIM is in the phone. Our re-registration guide explains the steps.

Can I use PhonePe without a bank account? UPI payments need a linked bank account, so you need one to pay or receive money by UPI.

Bottom line

PhonePe is popular for the same reason as other UPI apps: it works almost anywhere there is a QR code. What differs between apps is mostly layout and extras like recharges, not safety. The decisive factor is how you handle your PIN and OTPs. Make a habit of checking the name shown before you confirm a payment, and review your transaction history once a week.

A typical situation

Someone pays the electricity bill and the mobile recharge on the same day, then checks the history on Sunday. Because the habit of weekly review exists, an unfamiliar small debit would be noticed within days, not months.

Related reading

Compare with Google Pay and BHIM. If you changed your phone or SIM recently, read how to re-register UPI.