Question 1

What is the best alternative to Payfast in South Africa?

Accepted Answer

For a South Africa-first payment gateway similar to Payfast, start with Whoosh and Netcash. Whoosh is positioned around secure checkout and payment links, and it is listed as available in South Africa. If you also need in-person card acceptance, Yoco is often a better match because it combines POS with real-time sales tracking.

Question 2

Is Payfast available outside South Africa, and what should I use if I need multi-country coverage?

Accepted Answer

Payfast is primarily focused on South Africa, so if you need to operate across multiple African markets you will usually compare it with DPO Pay or Peach Payments. DPO Pay is described as pan-African and supports multi-currency card and mobile money payments. Peach Payments is listed as available in Kenya, South Africa, Senegal, Mauritius, and Eswatini.

Question 3

Which apps are like Payfast for payment links and checkout on invoices?

Accepted Answer

If payment links are central to how you collect, compare Whoosh, DPO Pay, and CinetPay. All three are positioned around online payments with payment links, and CinetPay is designed for online payments across nine Francophone African countries. The best pick depends on whether you only sell in South Africa or need regional coverage.

Question 4

What can I use instead of Payfast for in-person POS payments in South Africa?

Accepted Answer

For POS in South Africa, iKhokha and Yoco are the most direct substitutes. iKhokha is described as offering card machines plus online payments and invoicing for SMEs. Yoco is positioned as an all-in-one POS and card payments platform with real-time sales tracking.

Question 5

Which Payfast alternative is best for an enterprise API in South Africa?

Accepted Answer

For an enterprise-grade payments API in South Africa, Stitch is the clearest Payfast competitor to evaluate. Stitch is described as an enterprise payments gateway and API in South Africa, covering pay-by-bank style payments, cards, debit orders, and payouts. It is also listed as available in Nigeria and South Africa, which can matter if you operate in both.

Question 6

Do Payfast alternatives support direct debit or recurring billing?

Accepted Answer

Yes, some Payfast alternatives explicitly cover recurring payment rails, but you need to check the specific method you want. SeerBit is listed with direct debit as a supported capability, alongside cards, USSD, and bank transfers. Stitch also mentions debit orders in its supported payment options in South Africa.

Question 7

How does Payfast pricing compare with alternatives if I want no monthly fees?

Accepted Answer

Payfast’s Aggregation option is described as having no monthly or setup fees, so you should compare it to providers that can price on transactions rather than fixed platform fees. Whoosh and Peach Payments are common shortlists, but the exact fee model depends on your integration type and payment methods. Always confirm per-rail charges for cards, EFT-style payments, and payment links before switching.

Question 8

How do I switch from Payfast to an alternative without breaking checkout?

Accepted Answer

Start by running Payfast and an alternative in parallel, then move traffic gradually once payments and webhooks are stable. Pick your replacement based on your integration style: Peach Payments and DPO Pay both emphasise integrations plus payout and settlement tools, while Whoosh is positioned around ecommerce plugins and payment links in South Africa. Keep refund and payout workflows tested before you fully cut over.

Top 58 Best Payfast Alternatives & Competitors (2026)

Alternatives to Payfast

Whoosh

SeerBit

Stitch

Peach Payments

Lipa Payments

54pay

CinetPay

DPO Pay

iKhokha

SnapScan

TurnStay

Konnadex

Paystack

Littlefish

Sticitt

Digicore

Payaza

Vantagepay

JabuPay

Enza

Netcash

Nairagram

EFT Corporation

Startbutton

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