PayJustNow vs PayFlex: which is right for your SA store?

How does each BNPL service actually work?

How does PayFlex work for SA merchants?

PayFlex splits the customer's purchase into four equal interest-free payments over six weeks. The first payment is made at checkout. The remaining three are deducted automatically every two weeks. The merchant receives the full sale amount upfront, minus PayFlex's commission. There is no interest charged to the customer if payments are on time. PayFlex was acquired by Australian BNPL firm Zip and is now operated by FeverTree Finance in South Africa.

How does PayJustNow work for SA merchants?

PayJustNow splits the purchase into three equal interest-free payments over three months. The first payment is at checkout, with the second and third deducted monthly thereafter. The merchant also receives funds upfront. PayJustNow was acquired by Homechoice in 2022 and has the broader merchant network of the two, with partnerships at major SA retailers including Takealot, Makro, and Superbalist.

What does each option cost the merchant?

Neither PayJustNow nor PayFlex publishes standard merchant rates openly, which means you need to get a direct quote based on your transaction volume and product category. What is consistent across BNPL providers in South Africa is that merchant fees are higher than standard card transaction rates. Before adding BNPL, run the maths on your margins. If a customer buying a R1,200 product generates R420 gross profit, a 5 to 6% BNPL merchant fee costs R60 to R72 off that margin. The question is whether the increased conversion rate and higher average basket size offset that cost. For most SA e-commerce stores in the R300 to R3,000 product range, the data suggests it does.

Which repayment structure converts better for SA shoppers?

Is a shorter repayment period better for conversion?

PayFlex's four payments over six weeks suits customers making smaller, impulse-adjacent purchases in the R200 to R1,500 range. The shorter cycle means less psychological friction. Customers are not committing to three months of deductions. For Shopify stores selling fashion, accessories, homeware, or gifts, this structure tends to work well with SA consumer behaviour.

Does a longer repayment period help with higher-value items?

PayJustNow's three payments over three months suits higher-value purchases where customers need more time to spread the cost comfortably. If your average order value is above R1,500, PayJustNow's structure is easier for a customer to justify. For Darling Boys, which operates in the lifestyle and print-on-demand space, the three-month model aligns better with customers buying multiple items in a single session.

What are the late fee structures?

PayFlex charges R95 per missed payment, applied weekly, up to three times. PayJustNow charges R145 per missed payment, with the total penalty capped at 25% of the purchase price. From a merchant perspective, both providers absorb the default risk themselves, paying the merchant upfront and chasing the customer directly. Your cash flow is not affected by a customer missing a payment. The merchant gets paid regardless.

Do PayJustNow and PayFlex both integrate with Shopify?

Yes. Both integrate with Shopify and WooCommerce through direct plugins. Setup is straightforward and does not require a developer in most cases. At checkout, the BNPL option appears alongside your existing payment methods including PayFast or Peach Payments. You choose which providers to enable, and customers select at checkout.

Should you add both or just pick one?

Adding both is possible and some SA stores do it. The practical downside is checkout complexity. Too many payment options at checkout creates decision fatigue and can reduce overall conversion. The better approach is to pick one based on your product range and average order value, then test conversion rate before adding the second. If your AOV is below R1,500, start with PayFlex. If it is above R1,500, start with PayJustNow.

Frequently asked questions

Does adding BNPL actually increase sales for SA online stores?

BNPL use in South Africa doubled between 2024 and 2025, and Payflex has reported that offering BNPL can increase sales by up to 30% for participating merchants. The most significant impact is typically on average order value and cart abandonment rates, as customers who might otherwise hesitate at a full-price checkout complete the purchase when they can split the cost.

Is BNPL a good fit for all SA e-commerce stores?

BNPL works best for stores selling discretionary or higher-value items where the purchase decision involves a price barrier. Stores selling low-cost, high-frequency items, such as consumables under R200, see less benefit because the payment friction is already low. If your average order value is above R400 and your product category involves considered purchases, BNPL is worth testing.

Does BNPL work in South Africa for B2B purchases?

Most SA BNPL providers are focused on B2C retail. They require a valid South African ID and a personal debit or credit card. There are no mainstream B2B BNPL options in the South African market as of 2026. B2B purchases are better handled through payment terms negotiated directly or through Mobicred for individual business buyers.

Running a Shopify store and want to know whether BNPL, your payment gateway setup, and your checkout flow are converting at the right rate? A free e-commerce audit covers all of it. Get a free audit