Getting Paid: The Options
One of the most common questions we get is: "How do I accept card payments on my website?"
Unlike the US, Shopify Payments is not natively available in South Africa yet. This means you need a third-party gateway. The good news? We have world-class options. Here is how the big three compare for 2025.
1. PayFast (The Standard)
PayFast is the most popular choice for South African dropshippers and ecommerce startups.
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The Good: No monthly fees. Setup is instant. It accepts Credit Cards, Cheque Cards, Instant EFT, Zapper, and SnapScan all in one window.
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The Cost: Approx 3.2% + R2.00 per transaction.
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Best For: New stores launching quickly.
2. Yoco (The Omni-Channel King)
If you already have a Yoco card machine for markets or a physical shop, their online gateway is a great addition.
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The Good: Integrates your sales reports (online and offline) in one dashboard. Very user-friendly brand.
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The Cost: Fees start at 2.95% and drop as your turnover increases.
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Best For: Businesses that sell online AND at markets.
3. Peach Payments (The Scaler)
Peach is often used by larger retailers (like Takealot or Mr D). They offer an "enterprise" feel.
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The Good: extremely reliable with lower transaction fees on higher tiers. They also offer "1-click" checkout features.
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The Cost: Often involves a small monthly account fee (approx R150-R300), but lower transaction fees (around 2.95% + R1.50).
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Best For: Stores doing over R50k/month in sales.
Our Verdict
For 90% of our clients, we recommend starting with PayFast. It has zero risk (no monthly fees) and integrates seamlessly with Shopify. As you grow, we can help you migrate to Peach Payments to save on fees.
Need help integrating these? We set up your gateway and test it as part of every build.