Which payment gateway is cheapest for your store?
PayFast, Peach, Stitch, Yoco, Ozow and PayGate, ranked on your real numbers. Enter your turnover and payment mix — we show what each one actually costs you per month. Rates pulled from each provider’s own fee page.
Your numbers
Providers all advertise ex-VAT rates. If you’re not VAT-registered (or can’t claim it back), the incl-VAT figure is closer to what actually leaves your account.
Effective rate = total fees on the turnover a gateway actually processes, shown as cost per R10,000. Ranking uses your exact mix and order value, full-coverage gateways first. Yoco and Stitch are card-led; Ozow is instant-EFT only — these are costed on the share they can take and labelled accordingly. Rates are entry/standard tiers; most gateways negotiate lower at higher volume.
The rates we used (ex VAT, May 2026)
| Gateway | Card | Instant EFT | Monthly | Settlement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PayFast | 3.2% + R2 | 2.0% (min R2) | R0 | ~2 days |
| Peach | 2.95% + R1.50 | 1.5% + R1.50 | R0 | Next day |
| Stitch | 2.95% | Capitec 2% | R0 | ~1 day |
| Yoco | 2.95% | — | R0 | ~2 days |
| Ozow | — | 1.5% | R0 | Instant |
| PayGate | 3.5% | 1.5% | R99 | 2–3 days |
Sourced from each provider’s published fee page (May 2026). PayGate is quote-based via DPO — figures shown are the commonly published indicative rates. Always confirm your own rate with the provider before switching; high-volume merchants get better pricing.
Payment gateway questions, answered
Which is the cheapest payment gateway in South Africa?
It depends entirely on your payment mix and order value — that’s why this tool asks for them. If most of your customers pay by instant EFT, Ozow (1.5%) is usually cheapest. If you’re card-heavy, Peach, Stitch and Yoco (all ~2.95%) tend to beat PayFast (3.2% + R2). The flat per-transaction fee makes a big difference on small baskets.
Why does my average order value change the ranking?
Gateways that add a flat fee per transaction (PayFast +R2, Peach +R1.50) hurt most when your orders are small. On a R150 order, R2 is over 1% on its own. On a R2,000 order it’s negligible. Percentage-only gateways like Yoco and Stitch look better on low-value, high-volume stores.
Card vs instant EFT — which should I offer?
Offer both. Card is what most shoppers expect and converts best; instant EFT is cheaper for you and has zero chargeback risk. Many SA stores run two gateways — a card-led one plus Ozow for EFT — to get the best of both. We can set that up for you.
Do these rates include VAT?
No — every SA gateway advertises ex-VAT, which is what we show by default. Flip the toggle to add 15% and see the real cost if you can’t claim the VAT back. A 2.95% rate is really 3.39% incl VAT.
Can I negotiate a lower rate?
Yes. PayFast negotiates above ~R50k/month, Yoco and Stitch above R200k, Peach above R500k. If you’re processing real volume, the published rate is a starting point, not a ceiling. Tell the provider your numbers.
Which gateway works with Shopify and WooCommerce?
All six integrate with both, though the setup quality varies. Peach and Stitch have polished Shopify plugins; PayFast and Yoco are the most common on WooCommerce. As a Shopify Certified Partner we install and configure whichever fits your store — correctly, including the FICA verification that trips most people up.
Not sure which to actually pick?
We’ve set up every one of these gateways for SA stores. Tell us your numbers and we’ll recommend the gateway (or combination) that keeps the most money in your pocket — and wire it up for you.