A UPI ID (Unified Payment Interface Identity) is a virtual payment address that acts as a unique identifier for a users identity in the UPI system. It is typically in the format of yourname@bankname or mmyy@ybl, where mmyy can be your name, the first half of your email address, or even your mobile number, and @ybl is the initials of your bank. A UPI ID is required to access UPI services and is used to identify a users account. It is an address that identifies you on UPI, and you can create your unique UPI ID on your preferred UPI application, such as Google Pay or PhonePe, in only a few simple steps.

A UPI number, on the other hand, is a bank-verified phone number identifier of your UPI ID. It allows you to receive money from users, regardless of the app the user is on. You can create up to 3 UPI numbers for a UPI ID. This can be your phone number, or any 8–10 digit numeric ID you choose.

In summary, a UPI ID is a virtual payment address that identifies a users account in the UPI system, while a UPI number is a bank-verified phone number identifier of a UPI ID that allows users to receive money.