Setting up payments is one of the first things you'll do on Shopify and one of the most important decisions for your South African store. Here's a complete guide to every option available to SA merchants in 2026.
Why Shopify Payments isn't available in South Africa
Shopify Payments is Shopify's own built-in payment processor, available in countries like the US, UK, Australia, and Canada. South Africa is not currently on the list.
This means two things for SA merchants:
This isn't a dealbreaker, SA merchants have excellent local gateway options but it's important to factor the extra fee into your margin calculations.
South African payment gateways for Shopify
PayFast
Best for: Most SA merchants, widely trusted, broad payment method support.
PayFast is the most commonly used payment gateway on Shopify in South Africa. It's well-known to SA shoppers, which builds trust at checkout, customers recognise the PayFast logo and feel confident completing their purchase.
Payment methods supported:
Fees: 3.5% + R2.00 per transaction (standard rate, volume discounts available)
How to set up PayFast on Shopify:
Peach Payments
Best for: Growing merchants who want strong card and EFT support with competitive rates.
Peach Payments is used by many of South Africa's larger online retailers. It offers a clean checkout experience and supports a wide range of payment methods.
Payment methods supported:
Fees: Approximately 2.5-3% per transaction depending on volume and agreement
How to set up Peach Payments on Shopify:
Yoco
Best for: Smaller merchants who already use Yoco for in-person sales.
Yoco started as a card machine provider for small SA businesses and has since added online payments. If you already use a Yoco card machine in your physical store, adding online payments creates a consistent experience across both channels.
Payment methods supported:
Fees: 2.95% per transaction
How to set up Yoco on Shopify:
Ozow
Best for: Merchants whose customers prefer EFT for larger purchases.
Ozow specialises in instant EFT, it allows customers to pay directly from their bank account without leaving your checkout, and the payment is confirmed instantly (unlike traditional manual EFT).
Many SA customers, particularly for purchases above R500, prefer EFT over card payments. Ozow captures this segment effectively.
Payment methods supported:
Fees: Approximately 1.5% per transaction
How to set up Ozow on Shopify:
Can I use multiple payment gateways?
Yes. Many SA merchants use more than one gateway to offer customers choice. A common setup is PayFast as the primary gateway (for cards and EFT) plus Ozow as a secondary option specifically for instant EFT.
In Shopify, go to Settings > Payments and you can add additional payment methods alongside your primary gateway.
Understanding Shopify's transaction fees
When you use a third-party gateway, Shopify charges an additional fee per transaction:
| Plan | Shopify transaction fee |
|---|---|
| Basic | 2% per transaction |
| Shopify | 1% per transaction |
| Advanced | 0.5% per transaction |
This fee is separate from your gateway's own fee. So on Basic with PayFast, your total fee per transaction is approximately 5.5% + R2.00 (3.5% PayFast + 2% Shopify).
On Advanced with PayFast it drops to approximately 4% + R2.00.
For high-volume merchants, upgrading to a higher plan can save significant money in transaction fees. Worth calculating before choosing your plan.
Which gateway should you choose?
| Situation | Recommended gateway |
|---|---|
| Starting out, want simplicity | PayFast |
| Customers prefer EFT | Ozow alongside PayFast |
| Already using Yoco in person | Yoco |
| Growing store, want competitive rates | Peach Payments |
For most SA merchants starting out, PayFast is the right first choice. It's widely trusted, easy to set up, and supports the widest range of SA payment methods.
Testing your payment setup
Always test before going live. Every gateway has a sandbox or test mode:
PayFast: Use PayFast's sandbox environment (sandbox.payfast.co.za) with test credentials
Shopify Bogus Gateway: Go to Settings > Payments > Skip account setup to place a test order without real money
Walk through the full checkout as a customer. Add a product, enter a test address, complete payment, and confirm the order confirmation email arrives.
Frequently asked questions
Does Shopify work with PayFast in South Africa?
Yes. PayFast integrates directly with Shopify and is the most commonly used payment gateway for SA Shopify stores. Setup takes about 15 minutes once you have a PayFast merchant account.
Why is Shopify Payments not available in South Africa?
Shopify Payments requires local banking partnerships and regulatory compliance in each country. Shopify hasn't yet launched these partnerships in South Africa, so SA merchants use local third-party gateways instead.
How do I receive money from my Shopify store in South Africa?
Your payment gateway (PayFast, Peach Payments, etc.) handles payouts directly to your South African bank account. PayFast typically pays out within 1-3 business days.
What is the cheapest payment gateway for Shopify in South Africa?
Ozow has the lowest per-transaction fee at approximately 1.5%, but only supports instant EFT. For card payments, Peach Payments offers competitive rates for growing stores. PayFast at 3.5% + R2 is the most common starting choice.
Can South African customers pay with EFT on Shopify?
Yes. PayFast, Peach Payments, and Ozow all support EFT payments. Ozow specialises in instant EFT, which confirms immediately rather than requiring manual bank transfers.
Do I need a business account to use PayFast?
PayFast supports both personal and business accounts. You can start with a personal account using your SA ID and upgrade to a business account when you register a company.