Comparison · Updated October 12, 2026
Peach Payments vs Payfast for South African businesses
Peach Payments
B
Peach Payments is a Cape Town payments company founded in 2012 by Rahul Jain and Andreas Demleitner. Its South African operating company is Peach Payment Services (Pty) Ltd, and Jain is still chief executive. It started as an online payment gateway and now also offers payment links, recurring billing, payouts to bank accounts, card terminals and, through a partner, business cash advances. It has offices in South Africa, Kenya and Mauritius, and in 2025 it agreed to buy PayDunya, a Senegalese gateway operating in six French-speaking West African countries. Apis Partners led a US$31 million (EUR 29 million) Series A in 2023; Launch Africa, an early investor, sold its stake to 27four's Nebula Fund in 2026. That changed who the investors are, not who controls the company. As of October 2026 its fees page lists 2.95% + R1.50 per transaction (ex VAT) for 3-D Secure payments on South African cards under its Growth plan, with no setup or monthly fee and free next-business-day settlement in rands. Kenyan and Mauritian pricing is quoted per account. Its published merchant agreement has no minimum term and lets you cancel on written notice.
Payfast
B-
Payfast is a Cape Town online payment service for South African businesses, sole traders and registered non-profits, now trading as Payfast by Network after Network International bought its parent, DPO Group, in 2021. Its standard "aggregation" account needs no merchant bank account: Payfast collects payments, holds the money and pays it out to a South African bank account. As of October 2026 it lists 3.2% + R2.00 per card payment and 2% + R2.00 per Instant EFT, all excluding VAT, with R8.70 per standard payout and R2.00 per refund. Businesses processing more than R50,000 a month can ask for custom pricing, and merchants that already have a bank merchant account can use its Paygate gateway at quoted rates. It now also sells card machines, at 2.5% for local cards, R999 or R1,499 per device and R49 a month. The published price list is clear and the checkout supports a long list of local payment methods. Its general terms are tougher than the marketing suggests, though: a 36-month term that renews automatically, wide powers to hold funds for up to 540 days, and a minimum monthly fee for low-volume accounts whose amount is set in the application, not on the website. Recent public reviews are mostly complaints about verification delays and held funds.
VS
Overview
This compares the two gateways for a South African business selling online in rand, using the prices each published in October 2026. Every fee below excludes 15% VAT, as both companies quote them. Peach Payments' Growth plan charges 2.95% + R1.50 on South African cards with 3-D Secure, against Payfast's 3.2% + R2.00 for credit and cheque cards (Payfast's own fee calculator prices a separate Debit Card option at 3.5% + R2.00, which its fee table does not show). Peach is also cheaper on pay by bank and Capitec Pay (1.50% + R1.50 against 2% + R2.00), on Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay, and on Scan to Pay. Peach settles you free on the next business day; Payfast holds funds for 48 hours and charges R8.70 for each payout, which then takes one to two working days, or 0.8% (minimum R14) for an Immediate Payout that arrives within minutes once the hold has passed, so a weekday sale usually reaches a Peach merchant first. Peach's merchant agreement has no fixed term, where Payfast's general terms run for 36 months and renew automatically, although both let you leave without a penalty (Payfast on 60 days' notice). Payfast is cheaper on refunds (R2.00 against Peach's R3.00) and Mobicred, publishes card-machine prices, and supports SnapScan, Zapper and MukuruPay cash payments, which Peach does not list. Peach charges its R1.50 on every attempted transaction, including declines, and adds 0.2% on Shopify and Wix stores. Payment Review grades Peach Payments B and Payfast B-.
Key Takeaways
- ✓Peach Payments is cheaper on most online payments: 2.95% + R1.50 on local 3-D Secure cards against Payfast's 3.2% + R2.00 (credit) or 3.5% + R2.00 (debit, per Payfast's calculator), and 1.50% + R1.50 on pay by bank and Capitec Pay against 2% + R2.00.
- ✓Peach settles free on the next business day. Payfast charges R8.70 per standard payout after a 48-hour hold, or 0.8% (minimum R14) to get cleared funds within minutes, which is still no sooner than 48 hours after the sale.
- ✓Peach's agreement runs with no fixed term and you can cancel on written notice. Payfast's runs 36 months and renews automatically, but lets you leave without penalty on 60 days' notice.
- ✓Payfast wins on refunds (R2.00 against R3.00), Mobicred, QR coverage (SnapScan and Zapper) and published card-machine prices. Peach bills its R1.50 on every attempted transaction, including declines; Payfast's fees page does not say whether failed attempts are charged.
- ✓Peach has 24/7 phone and email support; Payfast's contact centre works weekdays 08:00–18:00 and Saturdays 08:00–14:00. Both carry thin or poor public reviews.
Peach Payments
Choose Peach Payments if you sell online in South Africa and want the lower card and pay-by-bank rates, free next-day settlement, a Wix plugin and a contract with no fixed term. Model the R1.50 per attempt if you see many declines, and add 0.2% on Shopify or Wix.
Payfast
Choose Payfast if you need SnapScan, Zapper or MukuruPay cash payments, issue many refunds, want to draw cleared funds within minutes, at any hour, through Immediate Payout, or want card machines at published prices from the same provider. Budget for R8.70 per payout and ask whether your application sets a Minimum Volume Fee.
Overall Winner
🏆 Winner
Peach Payments
Bexpert grade
Runner-up
Payfast
Why?
For a South African business selling online, Peach Payments is the better pick on the published terms. It is cheaper on local cards, pay by bank, Capitec Pay and wallets, settles free on the next business day where Payfast charges R8.70 a payout after a 48-hour hold, so weekday sales reach a Peach merchant sooner, offers 24/7 support, works on Wix, and has no fixed contract term. Payfast is the better fit if you need SnapScan, Zapper or MukuruPay, want to draw cleared funds within minutes at any hour, weekends included, through Immediate Payout, issue many refunds, rely on Mobicred, or want published card-machine pricing. Peach's R1.50 on every attempted transaction and its 0.2% Shopify and Wix fee narrow the gap for stores with many declines or small baskets. Payment Review grades Peach Payments B and Payfast B-.
Feature by feature
Detailed Comparison
Filter Options
Online card rates (South Africa, ex VAT, October 2026)
| Feature | Peach Payments | Payfast |
|---|---|---|
| Local Visa and Mastercard | 2.95% + R1.50 (3-D Secure) Winner | 3.2% + R2 (credit); debit 3.5% + R2 in calculator |
| Peach's fees page lists 2.95% + R1.50 for local Mastercard, Visa and Amex with 3-D Secure, and 3.50% + R1.50 for local cards without 3-D Secure or on recurring billing. Payfast's fee table lists "Credit and Cheque Card" at 3.2% plus R2.00 and has no debit line, but the calculator on the same page offers a "Debit Card" option at 3.5% + R2. Peach is cheaper on either Payfast figure: a R500 payment costs R16.25 at Peach against R18.00 (credit) or R19.50 (debit calculator) at Payfast. | ||
| International cards | 3.50% + R1.50 | 3.2% + R2 (credit); debit 3.5% + R2 in calculator |
| Peach lists international Mastercard, Visa and Amex at 3.50% + R1.50. Payfast publishes no separate international rate online, so foreign cards fall under its card rate. For foreign credit cards Payfast is cheaper above about R167 (R18.00 against R19.00 on R500); on the calculator's debit figure Payfast is dearer at every amount. No winner, because the answer depends on which Payfast figure applies. | ||
| Charge on failed or declined attempts | R1.50 per attempt | Not disclosed |
| Peach's merchant agreement (Annexure A, updated 22 July 2025) bills the R1.50 processing fee on all attempted transactions, successful or failed, and counts a pre-authorisation and its capture as two transactions. Clause 4.3 exempts attempts that never reach the bank or payment-method provider, such as timeouts. Payfast's fees page prices transactions without saying whether failed attempts are charged. | ||
| Cost of 100 local card payments of R400 a month | R1,330 Winner | R1,514.80 (with weekly payouts) |
| Transaction and payout fees only, ex VAT, on local credit cards with 3-D Secure. Peach: 2.95% of R40,000 plus 100 × R1.50, with free settlement. Payfast: 3.2% of R40,000 plus 100 × R2.00, plus four payouts at R8.70. On Shopify or Wix Peach adds 0.2% (R80), still R1,410. Payfast's debit-calculator rate would raise its figure further. | ||
Local Visa and Mastercard
Peach Payments
2.95% + R1.50 (3-D Secure)
Winner
Payfast
3.2% + R2 (credit); debit 3.5% + R2 in calculator
Peach's fees page lists 2.95% + R1.50 for local Mastercard, Visa and Amex with 3-D Secure, and 3.50% + R1.50 for local cards without 3-D Secure or on recurring billing. Payfast's fee table lists "Credit and Cheque Card" at 3.2% plus R2.00 and has no debit line, but the calculator on the same page offers a "Debit Card" option at 3.5% + R2. Peach is cheaper on either Payfast figure: a R500 payment costs R16.25 at Peach against R18.00 (credit) or R19.50 (debit calculator) at Payfast.
International cards
Peach Payments
3.50% + R1.50
Payfast
3.2% + R2 (credit); debit 3.5% + R2 in calculator
Peach lists international Mastercard, Visa and Amex at 3.50% + R1.50. Payfast publishes no separate international rate online, so foreign cards fall under its card rate. For foreign credit cards Payfast is cheaper above about R167 (R18.00 against R19.00 on R500); on the calculator's debit figure Payfast is dearer at every amount. No winner, because the answer depends on which Payfast figure applies.
Charge on failed or declined attempts
Peach Payments
R1.50 per attempt
Payfast
Not disclosed
Peach's merchant agreement (Annexure A, updated 22 July 2025) bills the R1.50 processing fee on all attempted transactions, successful or failed, and counts a pre-authorisation and its capture as two transactions. Clause 4.3 exempts attempts that never reach the bank or payment-method provider, such as timeouts. Payfast's fees page prices transactions without saying whether failed attempts are charged.
Cost of 100 local card payments of R400 a month
Peach Payments
R1,330
Winner
Payfast
R1,514.80 (with weekly payouts)
Transaction and payout fees only, ex VAT, on local credit cards with 3-D Secure. Peach: 2.95% of R40,000 plus 100 × R1.50, with free settlement. Payfast: 3.2% of R40,000 plus 100 × R2.00, plus four payouts at R8.70. On Shopify or Wix Peach adds 0.2% (R80), still R1,410. Payfast's debit-calculator rate would raise its figure further.
Best For Your Business
Recommendations based on your business type
WooCommerce or Shopify store taking mostly local cards and Instant EFT
Recommended
Peach Payments
At 100 local card payments of R400 a month Peach costs about R1,330 ex VAT against Payfast's R1,515 with weekly payouts, and pay by bank is 1.50% + R1.50 against 2% + R2. Shopify stores pay Peach's extra 0.2%, which still leaves Peach cheaper.
Wix store
Recommended
Peach Payments
Wix lists Peach Payments as a South African payment provider and does not offer Payfast.
Seller whose customers pay by SnapScan, Zapper or cash (MukuruPay)
Recommended
Payfast
Payfast supports SnapScan, Zapper, Scode and MukuruPay; Peach's fees page lists none of them.
Business that needs fast access to its sales
Recommended
Peach Payments
Peach pays weekday sales into your bank free on the next business day. Payfast holds funds for 48 hours (its help centre says up to 72) before even an Immediate Payout can be requested, and that payout then costs 0.8% (minimum R14). Payfast's 24/7 Immediate Payout comes out ahead mainly on Friday sales, which Peach pays on Monday.
Shop selling both online and at a counter or market stall
Both. Payfast publishes card-machine prices (R999 or R1,499 plus R49 a month, 2.5% on local cards) under the same account as its online checkout. Peach also sells terminals that report alongside online sales, but agrees their pricing per merchant, so get a Peach quote before choosing.
Subscription business with many declined renewals
Both. Peach is cheaper per successful charge but bills R1.50 on every attempt, charges 3.50% + R1.50 on recurring card payments and R200 a month for stored cards. Payfast publishes no tokenisation fee. Model your decline rate with both before choosing.
Peach Payments: Best for 3 use cases
Payfast: Best for 1 use case
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this comparison
For most online payments, Peach Payments. As of October 2026, excluding VAT, Peach charges 2.95% + R1.50 on local 3-D Secure cards and 1.50% + R1.50 on pay by bank and Capitec Pay. Payfast charges 3.2% + R2.00 on credit and cheque cards (its calculator shows 3.5% + R2.00 for debit cards) and 2% + R2.00 on Instant EFT and Capitec Pay, plus R8.70 per payout. Payfast is cheaper on refunds, Mobicred, and Payflex baskets under R250.
Peach settles automatically on the next business day at no charge, once a Growth merchant has traded for two weeks; weekend sales are paid on Monday. Payfast makes funds available after a 48-hour hold, then a standard payout takes one to two working days and costs R8.70 ex VAT. Payfast's Immediate Payout can only be requested once that 48-hour clearing time has passed, then reaches your bank within minutes for 0.8% ex VAT, minimum R14, up to R50,000 a day. So for a sale made Monday to Thursday, Peach usually pays first.
Peach's merchant agreement has no fixed term and you can cancel on written notice. Payfast's general terms set a 36-month term that renews automatically, but let you terminate for convenience on 60 days' written notice without penalty. That applies to Payfast's card machines too, despite its marketing saying they come with no contracts.
Peach Payments is an independent, venture-backed Cape Town company founded in 2012 by Rahul Jain, still chief executive, and Andreas Demleitner. Apis Partners' Growth Fund II led its US$30–31 million Series A, which Peach announced in April 2023 and said had concluded in October 2023; Launch Africa sold its stake to 27four's Nebula Fund in 2026. Payfast has belonged to Network International since 2021, when Network completed its purchase of DPO Group, which had bought Payfast in 2019, and trades as Payfast by Network. Network International was taken private by a Brookfield-led consortium on 17 September 2024.
Peach has plugins for both, but its merchant agreement adds a 0.2% platform fee on payments from Shopify and Wix stores. Payfast lists a Shopify plugin among its 70+ integrations, but Wix does not offer Payfast as a payment provider.
No. Both companies quote transaction, payout and refund fees excluding 15% VAT, so a 2.95% fee costs about 3.39% once VAT is added, and Payfast's R8.70 payout fee is about R10.01.
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