What is the difference between card payment and UPI?

Card payments, like debit and credit cards, use either direct funds from a bank account (debit) or borrowed credit (credit). Card transactions are processed through networks like Visa or Mastercard. UPI (Unified Payments Interface) facilitates instant bank-to-bank transfers directly from your linked account using a virtual payment address. UPI transactions are typically free or minimal in cost, while credit cards may involve interest and annual fees. UPI is primarily for domestic use, though international payments are expanding in select countries.