Running a Shopify store in South Africa?
Smooth and secure payments are the lifeblood of your business.
But with a multitude of Shopify payment gateways in South Africa, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming.
This post dives into the top 10 contenders, helping you navigate the landscape and find the perfect fit for your store.
Table of Contents
Is Shopify payments available in South Africa?
Shopify Payments is not available in South Africa. Therefore, if you are based in South Africa and want to set up a Shopify store to sell and ship internationally, you will need to use a third-party payment gateway that can facilitate international payments, such as PayFast.
Additionally, you will need to use a third-party carrier that can integrate with Shopify to handle international shipping.
Note that South African regulation requires that you get paid in South African Rand, even if you quote or advertise in a foreign currency on your website.
While you can advertise products in a foreign currency, upon checkout, the amount will be converted to South African Rand.
As a result, you may need to consider custom coding or using a plugin to handle multiple currencies on your store.
1. Payfast
A local favourite, Payfast boasts widespread trust and competitive fees.
Cash flow loans and subscription billing add oomph, but high-volume businesses might find cheaper options.
The transaction fees for each payment method are as follows:
- Instant EFT: 2.0% (minimum R2.00)
- Credit and Cheque cards: 3.5% (plus R2.00) (promotional rate)
- Masterpass: 3.5% (plus R2.00) (promotional rate)
- Debit cards: 3.5% (plus R2.00) (promotional rate)
- Mobicred: 3.5%
- All fees exclude VAT
Remember, Shopify payment gateways in South Africa cater to diverse needs.
2. Yoco
Card payments are their forte, with transparent pricing and a mobile app for on-the-go transactions.
While Yoco excels in the card arena, EFT support might leave you wanting more.
There are no contracts and no settlement fees. Yoco charges a R49/month per device connectivity fee for their smart card machines, which entitles the user to unlimited 4G data.
After 3 months of using Yoco payments, the transaction fees are automatically lowered if the user is eligible.
This is based on the latest transaction volumes, and once the fees go down, they never go up again.
Yoco’s transaction fees are between 2.5-2.7% (ex. VAT) for local transactions, and there is no charge for online transactions.
Explore your Shopify payment gateways in South Africa options carefully.
3. Ozow
Instant EFTs are their game, offering competitive fees and swift transactions.
But wider acceptance and feature richness might tilt the scales for some.
According to the Ozow website, there are no subscription or setup fees for using their payment gateway.
For local Mastercard, Visa, and AmEx cards, the transaction fees are 1.5% or a minimum of R1 per transaction.
Ozow also offers SMS Payment Requests, which have a flat fee of 35c per SMS over the first twelve months from the merchant’s sign-up with Ozow.
After this twelve-month period, the SMS pricing applicable under the “Ozow Enterprise” category applies to the merchant.
Ozow’s Business package is free for businesses that process less than R1 million in aggregate Rand value of transactions in a month.
If a business transacts over R1 million in any of the first twelve months, processing fees will apply for that month/s.
Fees are charged on the total processing amount for that month
Evaluate your priorities when considering Shopify payment gateways in South Africa.
4. Zapper & 5. SnapScan
QR code payments are taking South Africa by storm, and these two are leading the charge.
Convenience, speed, and loyalty program integration are their strengths.
However, higher transaction fees and limited scope compared to other Shopify payment gateways in South Africa warrant consideration.
6. Mobicred
Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) is a rising star, and these players offer attractive options.
Mobicred caters to larger transactions, while Payflex focuses on smaller ones.
Remember, BNPL comes with potential risks, so weigh them carefully as you explore Shopify payment gateways in South Africa.
7. Payflex
Payflex is a South African payment gateway that can be integrated with e-commerce stores created using Shopify.
It allows merchants to accept credit card, debit card, and cheque card payments, as well as offering a ‘Shop now, Pay later’ option, which allows customers to make a purchase and pay it off over 6 weeks.
Payflex is a secure and convenient payment gateway that seamlessly integrates with Shopify, providing a hassle-free solution for accepting payments in South Africa.
8. Peach Payments
An established veteran, Peach Payments offers diverse payment methods and international reach.
But keep an eye on their potentially higher transaction fees when comparing Shopify payment gateways in South Africa.
For local Mastercard, Visa, and AmEx cards, the transaction fees are as follows:
- Non-3DSecure: 3.50% + R1.50/transaction
- 3DSecure: 2.95% + R1.50/transaction
- Instant EFT by Peach Payments: 1.50% + R1.50/transaction
- Payflex: 5.25% + R4/transaction + R1.50/transaction
- Scan to Pay: 2.95% + R1.50/transaction
- ZeroPay: 4.75% + R2/transaction + R1.50/transaction
- FinChoice Pay: 0.0% + R1.50/failed transaction
- 1Voucher: By application
- Apple Pay: Volume-based
- PayPal: ✔️
- 3D Secure: ✔️
- Currencies: Accept all currencies, settled in Rands.
For EFT payments, Peach Payments charges R3.20 Ex VAT for each EFT, with no monthly subscription costs.
Peach Payments’ transaction fee for EFT payments is 1.50% + R1.50 per transaction.
9. Paygate
DPO Group’s trusted provider boasts an array of features and accepts various payment methods.
However, their pricing structure might seem complex to some. It offers the PayGate Switch package, which requires a merchant account and has base fees as low as 0.25%.
Remember, user-friendliness matters when choosing Shopify payment gateways in South Africa.
10. PayU
A global giant with multi-currency support and fraud prevention tools, PayU caters to larger businesses.
But their complex setup process and potentially less competitive fees for smaller stores require careful evaluation.
How to integrate a payment gateway to your Shopify store
Choosing the right payment gateway is crucial for a smooth and successful South African Shopify store.
Now, let’s dive into the integration process itself! Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started:
1. Select Your Gateway:
Refer to the previous paragraphs on top Shopify payment gateways in South Africa to compare options like Payfast, Yoco, Ozow, and more. Consider factors like fees, supported payment methods, and features.
2. Activate Your Gateway:
Once you’ve chosen, head to your Shopify admin panel. Navigate to Settings > Payments.
Under “Payment providers,” click “Add a Provider“. Search for your chosen gateway and click “Activate“.
3. Enter Credentials:
Each gateway requires specific information. Provide your account details, API keys, or any other credentials requested by the chosen gateway.
4. Configure Settings:
Many gateways offer customization options. Set your preferred transaction behavior, error handling, and other settings relevant to your business needs.
5. Test Thoroughly:
Before going live, it’s crucial to test your integration.
Make simulated transactions using different payment methods to ensure everything works flawlessly.
Wrap!
Ultimately, the best Shopify payment gateway in South Africa is the one that aligns with your unique needs. Consider transaction fees, supported methods, features, and customer support to make an informed decision. With this comprehensive guide, you’re well on your way to a smooth and successful checkout experience for your South African customers!