What matters most
A 2.9% card fee with no flat fee can beat a lower-looking rate on low-value orders. A capped EFT fee can dramatically beat percentage-only pricing on high-value orders. Always calculate against your own average order value.
Summary
Current fee signals
PayFast publishes per-method fees and a payout fee. Peach Payments publishes Growth Plan fees with no setup or monthly fees. Yoco advertises online gateway pricing from 2.55% to 2.95% excluding VAT. Paystack publishes South African card and EFT pricing through support documentation.
Fee winner logic
For the default calculator scenario, Stitch ranks as the lowest-cost viable full-stack option and PayFast ranks as the most expensive viable full-stack option. Change turnover, average order value and card/EFT split to test your case.
Comparison Table
| Gateway | Card fee signal | EFT/bank payment signal |
|---|---|---|
| Stitch | 2.9% + R0.00 in this model | 1.5% capped at R10 |
| Paystack | 2.9% + R1.00 in this model | 1.5% capped at R10 |
| Peach Payments | 2.95% + R1.50 | 1.5% + R1.50 |
| PayFast | 3.2% + R2.00 | 2.0% minimum R2.00 |
| Yoco Online | 2.55% - 2.95% online signal | Card-centric, not a traditional EFT gateway |
| Ozow | N/A | Instant EFT specialist |
FAQ
Which payment gateway has the lowest fees in South Africa?
It depends on payment mix and order value. For the model used on this site, Stitch and Paystack are usually among the cheapest viable full-stack options.
Why do flat fees matter?
A fixed R1.50 or R2.00 fee matters more on low-value orders. On larger orders, percentage rate and EFT caps become more important.
Are published fees final?
No. High-volume merchants can often negotiate custom rates, especially on enterprise plans.
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