Payment gateway fees in South Africa: what you really pay

Payment gateway fees in South Africa for online card payments typically sit somewhere around 2.5% to 3.5% per transaction, sometimes plus a fixed fee of R1 to R2, while instant EFT and bank-app payments are usually cheaper at roughly 1.5% to 2%. On top of the transaction fee, check for payout or withdrawal charges, refund fees, VAT and any monthly costs, because those extras decide what you actually pay.

The rates below are taken from each provider's own pricing page as of September 2026. They change, so always confirm on the linked page before you decide.

Published payment gateway fees in South Africa (September 2026)

A few cautions about reading this table:

• VAT treatment differs. Some providers quote rates excluding VAT, others don't say on the summary page. At 15% VAT, a 2.9% fee becomes about 3.34% all-in.
• Tiers differ. Several providers drop their rates as your volume grows, and the thresholds aren't the same.
• Methods differ. Buy now, pay later, QR wallets and vouchers usually cost more than cards. Payfast, for example, lists separate rates for Payflex, MoreTyme, SnapScan, Zapper and others.

The fees people forget

Fixed per-transaction fees

A R2.00 fixed fee is invisible on a R2,000 order and painful on a R40 one. If you sell low-value items, compare providers on your typical basket, not on the percentage.

Payout and withdrawal fees

Some gateways pay out automatically at no charge; others hold your balance and charge per withdrawal. If you withdraw daily, a per-payout fee adds up quickly. Faster payouts often carry an extra percentage.

Refunds and chargebacks

Refunds may have a fixed fee and the original transaction fee is often not returned. Chargebacks usually carry an admin fee as well as the lost sale.

International cards and currency

Foreign-issued cards usually cost more. If you sell to overseas customers, check both the rate and how the provider handles currency conversion.

Monthly and add-on fees

Most online gateways in South Africa don't charge a monthly fee for basic online payments, but card machines, point-of-sale plans and premium features can. Yoco, for example, has monthly plans for its card machine and POS products.

How to work out your real cost

Use your own data from the last three months.

1. Split transactions by method: local cards, international cards, instant EFT, wallets.
2. Find the average value and count for each.
3. Apply each provider's percentage and fixed fee to each group.
4. Add payout costs based on how often you'll withdraw.
5. Add VAT where fees are quoted excluding VAT.
6. Add refunds and chargebacks at your historical rate.

An illustrative example

These figures use only the headline local card rates from the table above, before VAT, to show how basket size changes the picture. They are not a full quote.

The difference between providers is largest on small orders, where fixed fees dominate. On large orders, the percentage matters most and the gap narrows. Now layer in your EFT share: if 40% of your customers pay by instant EFT, a provider with a cheaper EFT rate may win overall even if its card rate is higher.

Ways to reduce what you pay

• Encourage cheaper methods. Showing instant EFT or Capitec Pay prominently can shift some customers away from cards.
• Ask for volume pricing. Payfast, Yoco and Ozow all state that custom or tiered rates apply at higher volumes.
• Withdraw less often if your gateway charges per payout, provided your cash flow allows it.
• Reduce refunds and chargebacks with clear product descriptions, recognisable billing descriptors and fast support.
• Use debit orders for predictable recurring amounts. For monthly billing, debit orders are priced differently from card payments and can be cheaper for some businesses; compare carefully. See EFT vs debit order vs card payments.
• Route by method. With multiple payment gateways, you can send each method to the provider that prices it best, at the cost of more admin.

Don't choose on fees alone

The cheapest provider isn't always the best value. A gateway that offers the methods your customers want, a smooth checkout, reliable payouts and clean settlement reports will often earn back a few tenths of a percent in higher conversion and less admin. Our guide on how to choose a payment gateway in South Africa covers the other factors.

How CentraPoint helps

CentraPoint doesn't process payments or add a margin to gateway fees; you contract directly with gateways such as PayFast, Paystack, Ozow, Yoco and Peach Payments and connect them as modules. Statement import and reconciliation match collections, fees and payouts, and the report builder lets you save reports and export them to CSV or XLSX, which makes it easier to see what each provider really costs you. CentraPoint's own plan pricing is on the pricing page.

Frequently asked questions

What are typical card fees for online payments in South Africa?

As of September 2026, published local card rates from major online gateways range roughly from 2.55% to 3.2%, sometimes plus a fixed fee of R1 to R2 per transaction. Check each provider's pricing page for current rates and VAT treatment.

Is instant EFT cheaper than card payments?

Usually, yes. Published instant EFT and bank-app payment rates are typically between about 1.5% and 2%, lower than card rates, though some providers set a minimum fee per transaction.

Do South African payment gateways charge monthly fees?

Many online gateways don't charge a monthly fee for basic online payments, but card machine plans, POS software and premium features can. Payout, refund and chargeback fees may also apply.

Are gateway fees quoted including VAT?

It varies. Some providers quote fees excluding VAT, so add 15% to compare like with like. Check the fine print on each pricing page.