UPI Circle lets one person with a bank account on UPI, the primary user, allow trusted people, such as a parent, child or helper, to make UPI payments from that account without having their own bank account linked. The primary user either sets a monthly limit or approves every payment.
Google Pay brands its version as an allowance feature built on UPI Circle. The idea is the same in every app: one account holder, a few trusted people, and clear rules on who can spend what.
Why UPI Circle exists
Plenty of people in India pay by UPI every day without a bank account of their own: a college student, a parent who never opened an account, a driver or a cook who buys supplies for the household. Before UPI Circle, the options were handing over cash, sharing your phone, or worse, sharing your UPI PIN. UPI Circle replaces all three. The other person pays from their own phone, you keep your PIN to yourself, and every payment shows up in your history.
It also suits small businesses. An owner can let a trusted staff member buy stock or pay a supplier at the market without giving them a company card, and set a monthly limit so a mistake can never drain the account.
Who's who in a UPI Circle
| Role | What they do | What they need |
|---|---|---|
| Primary user | Owns the bank account and pays for the circle | An active bank account in the UPI app |
| Secondary user | Makes payments from the primary user's account | The UPI app registered on their own phone number, plus an app lock |
Google's help page says a primary user can add a maximum of 5 secondary users. A secondary user can only belong to one UPI Circle at a time, so a teenager can't be in both parents' circles.
The two ways to share access
Set a monthly limit (full delegation). You give the person a monthly cap. They can pay anyone within that cap without asking you each time. You get a notification when they pay.
Approve every payment (partial delegation). The person sends you a request for each payment, and nothing leaves your account until you approve it and enter your UPI PIN. Google says you must approve within 10 minutes, or the request lapses.
My take: partial delegation is the safer start for children and anyone new to UPI. Move to a monthly limit once you're comfortable with how they spend.
The catches nobody mentions
- A 30-minute wait: with a monthly limit, Google says the secondary user waits 30 minutes before their first payment. With approve-every-payment, there's a smaller cap on requests in the first 24 hours.
- Invites expire: an invite is live for 30 minutes. If they miss it, you send a fresh one.
- Your UPI ID matters: on Google Pay, the primary user needs an @okaxis UPI ID on the bank account used for the circle. If you see an error saying your UPI ID isn't eligible, create one from the bank account's Manage UPI IDs screen.
- Only some banks: UPI Circle is live for select banks. If yours isn't listed, the option won't appear.
- ID check: for a monthly limit you add the person's relationship to you and a government ID number. Google says your bank uses this to verify them under the RBI's 2016 Know Your Customer Master Direction.
How to set up UPI Circle on Google Pay
- Make sure the person's number is saved in your phone contacts and Google Pay can see your contacts.
- Ask them to install Google Pay on their own number and set an app lock.
- Open your profile and find UPI Circle.
- Search their name or number and confirm their UPI ID, or scan their UPI Circle QR code.
- Choose Set a monthly limit or Approve every payment.
- For a monthly limit, set the limit, add the relationship and their government ID number.
- Pick the bank account, tap Send invite and enter your UPI PIN.
- They accept the invite on their phone.
If a menu name differs on your phone, search the app for UPI Circle. Other apps that support it follow the same steps.
What a secondary user can and can't pay
Google lists QR code payments at shops, payments to contacts, phone numbers and UPI IDs, and online payments. Payments using UPI Lite, bill payments and mobile recharges aren't supported yet. Everything shows up in both people's transaction history, so there's no hidden spending.
What the secondary user sees
On their phone, the secondary user picks UPI Circle when the app asks which account to pay with. With a monthly limit, they scan, enter the amount and pay, and you get a notification. With approvals, they tap Request to pay instead, and can add a note so you know what it's for. They can follow the request live on the UPI Circle screen until you approve it.
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If your phone is locked when a request arrives, you open it, tap continue to pay, pick a bank account and enter your UPI PIN. That PIN step is what keeps the account yours.
Removing someone
Open UPI Circle, find the person under the list of people you pay for, and choose to remove them, then confirm. Do this the day a helper leaves or a child no longer needs it. It's also worth checking the list every few months.
Is UPI Circle a good idea?
For a parent who wants an elderly relative or a college-age child to pay without carrying cash, it's a neat answer, and the monthly cap keeps it predictable. I'd keep the limit low, start with approvals, and only add people you'd trust with your wallet. Scammers will copy anything popular, so never accept a circle invite from a number you don't know, and never set one up because a caller told you to.
For more on staying safe with payment apps, see my earning app safety checklist and the guide to whether online banks are safe.
Frequently asked questions
How many people can I add to UPI Circle?
Google Pay says a primary user can add up to 5 secondary users.
Does the secondary user need a bank account?
No. They need the UPI app on their own phone number, and the app creates a UPI ID or UPI Circle QR code for them.
Can someone be in two UPI Circles?
No. A secondary user can only be part of one UPI Circle at a time.
Can a secondary user pay bills or recharges?
Not yet. Google lists bill payments, mobile recharges and UPI Lite payments as not supported.
