Freecharge Wallet - Digital Wallet App

Freecharge is one of the popular mobile payment apps in India that is owned by Axis Bank. The application is used by customers to recharge their mobile phones, pay utility bills, do online shopping and also use the unique 'Chat n Pay' service. The Freecharge wallet service was launched in September 2015, and has ever since introduced a number of attractive features. Recently, the wallet company joined hands with the Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system, which has been developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). This will enable all customers to send and receive funds through the UPI system. Freecharge UPI will allow users to initiate fund transfers instantly on a 24/7 basis on all 365 days in a year, including bank holidays. Money can be sent from one bank account to another without the need to know bank details such as IFSC code, bank account number, etc. The Freecharge Unified Payments Interface can be used by almost all bank customers in the country. As of now, the service is only available on Android smartphones.

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How to Register for Freecharge

Step 1: First download the app on your mobile phone through the Google Play Store

Step 2: Complete the mobile number verification process and choose a number if you have a dual sim phone

Step 3: Choose your bank account details and then verify the same using OTP and debit card data

Step 4: Choose a UPI pin

How to Add a Bank Account on the Freecharge App

Step 1: Open the app and choose the 'Add Bank Account' option

Step 2: Proceed to choose the name of the bank and the system will automatically detect your account number

Step 3: Initiate the account number verification process by keying debit card details and completing the OTP verification process

Step 4: The mobile number linked to the bank account needs to be the same as that linked to the app

How to Make Payments using Freecharge

There are different methods that can be used to make payments using this digital payment platform. Let us take a look at them one by one:

  • Chat & Pay: Payments can be made using this feature through a chat window. This is an easy method because money can be sent in a much faster method. The chat window can be found on the home screen.
  • PIN feature: The 'onthego' PIN feature allows customers to transact while on the move without having an active mobile internet connection. Through this, payments can also be made offline.
  • UPI: This is also a popular payment method that can be used by linking a bank account and processing transactions through a VPA.
  • OTP: This is a type of offline payment method that can be done by giving out your phone number at a retail outlet and then making a confirmation of the payment through an OTP.
  • Scan & Pay: The QR Code feature can be used to 'Scan & Pay' at all merchant outlets. There is no need to furnish any phone number details to use this feature.

Benefits of UPI on Freecharge

  1. No need to share confidential bank account information
  2. Free service with no transaction fee
  3. Available even on bank holidays
  4. Less time consuming
  5. Immediate money transfer

Stepwise Process Involved in Generating a '@freecharge' UPI ID

Step 1: Open the Freecharge app and choose the 'BHIM UPI' option that appears on the homescreen

Step 2: Now, proceed to carry out mobile number verification, which will be done by OTP

Step 3: The next thing to do is to link savings bank account and choose a respective UPI PIN

Once this process is complete, money can be sent to anyone by keying in their respective UPI ID on the app. Payments can also be made to merchants using a UPI ID.

How to Recharge Mobile and Pay Bills Using Freecharge Wallet

Freecharge Wallet makes recharging your mobile phone and paying utility bills simple and convenient. To recharge or pay bills:

  • Open the Freecharge App on your smartphone.
  • Select the Recharge or Bill Payment option from the home screen.
  • Enter your mobile number or bill details such as electricity, water, gas, or broadband account number.
  • Choose your operator or service provider from the list.
  • Enter the recharge amount or bill amount you want to pay.
  • Select Freecharge Wallet as your payment method.
  • Confirm the payment by entering your UPI PIN or Wallet PIN.
  • Once the transaction is successful, you will receive a confirmation message and receipt.

Differences Between Freecharge Wallet and Other Digital Wallets

Freecharge Wallet stands out from other digital wallets due to several key features:

Feature

Freecharge Wallet

Other Digital Wallets

UPI Integration

Fully integrated UPI payments with '@freecharge' ID

Some wallets lack seamless UPI ID generation

Bill Payments

Supports wide range of utility bill payments

Varies, some limited in biller options

Bank Linking

Supports multiple bank accounts via UPI

Some wallets only allow wallet balance payments

Cashback & Offers

Frequent cashback and partner deals

Cashback may be less frequent or limited

Owned By

Backed by Axis Bank ensuring trust and reliability

Varies from startups to other banks

Security

High-grade encryption, 2FA, and app locks

Security features vary widely

Overall, Freecharge combines convenience, security, and lucrative offers, making it a preferred choice for many users.

How Freecharge Integrates with UPI – Key Features

All those who use Freecharge will now have the facility to also make payments using the UPI system. All transactions can be made by linking the bank account to UPI using a Virtual Payment Address (VPA). With Freecharge UPI customers can:

  1. Make instant payments round-the-clock and from anywhere
  2. Secure and safe payment mechanism
  3. Raise a 'collect' request for money
  4. Make payments to online and offline merchants
  5. Scan & Pay using the BHIM UPI QR code feature
  6. Generate a UPI ID that will look something like '@freecharge'.

FAQs on Freecharge Wallet

  • What is Freecharge UPI?

    Ans: Freecharge UPI is a type of payment method through which transactions can be made directly through a bank account without the need to add money through a wallet.

  • What is a UPI ID?

    Ans: A UPI ID is something like an email ID that is used to identify people or merchants in the UPI ecosystem. It is a unique identification that is given to each user in this type of payment system.

  • Do all IDs have to end with @freecharge?

    Ans: Yes, the name of the app will be used in the UPI ID.

  • How to delete a registered bank account from the wallet app?

    Ans: This can be done by going to the 'My Account' section and deleting the linked bank account.

  • Is it possible to add any bank account to app?

    Ans: Any UPI-enabled bank that is part of the Unified Payments Interface network can be used to make payments.

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