Payfast Integration
South Africa's most trusted payment gateway. Accept credit cards, Instant EFT, and mobile payments securely on your website with seamless integration.
What is Payfast?
Payfast is South Africa's leading online payment processing solution, enabling businesses to accept payments from customers through multiple secure channels. Founded in 2007, it has become the go-to payment gateway for over 80,000 South African businesses.
Unlike traditional payment processors, Payfast acts as a secure bridge between your website and the banking system, handling all the complex security protocols while providing your customers with a smooth, familiar checkout experience.
How Payfast Integration Works
Understanding the flow from customer checkout to money in your bank account
Customer Checkout
Customer adds products to cart and clicks "Pay Now" on your website. They are redirected to Payfast's secure hosted payment page.
Secure Payment
Customer enters payment details on Payfast's PCI-compliant page. Card data never touches your server, ensuring maximum security.
Instant Verification
Payfast processes the transaction in real-time with 3D Secure authentication. Funds are verified immediately with participating banks.
You Get Paid
Upon successful payment, Payfast sends confirmation to your website via ITN (Instant Transaction Notification). Order is processed automatically.
Technical Integration Flow
When payment is complete, Payfast sends an Instant Transaction Notification (ITN) directly to your server. This happens behind the scenes, ensuring order status is updated even if the customer closes their browser after payment.
Why Choose Payfast?
Bank-Grade Security
PCI DSS Level 1 certified with 256-bit SSL encryption. 3D Secure authentication adds an extra layer of protection for card transactions.
- No card data stored on your server
- Automatic fraud screening
- Secure tokenization
Instant EFT
South Africa's favorite payment method. Customers pay directly from their bank account with instant confirmation—no waiting for clearance.
- Capitec, FNB, Standard Bank, ABSA
- No chargebacks
- Lower fees than cards
Mobile Wallets
Accept payments via SnapScan, Zapper, and Apple Pay. Perfect for mobile-first South African consumers who prefer app-based payments.
- QR code scanning
- One-tap Apple Pay
- In-app integration
Subscription Billing
Automated recurring payments for memberships, SaaS, and subscription boxes. Set it and forget it with Ad Hoc Agreements.
- Tokenized card storage
- Automated retries
- Flexible billing cycles
Split Payments
Automatically distribute funds between multiple parties. Perfect for marketplaces, platforms, and commission-based business models.
- Multi-party transactions
- Automated commission splits
- Real-time distribution
Easy Integration
Ready-made plugins for WordPress, WooCommerce, Shopify, and custom PHP. RESTful API for bespoke implementations.
- Copy-paste code snippets
- Sandbox testing environment
- Detailed documentation
How We Integrate Payfast
Choose the integration method that best suits your business needs
Hosted Payment Page
Customer is redirected to Payfast's secure hosted page to complete payment, then returned to your website. Simplest to implement, maximum security.
Direct API Integration
Build a fully customized checkout experience on your website using Payfast's RESTful API. Complete control over the user journey.
Supported Platforms & Plugins
Payfast Fees
No monthly fees, no setup costs. You only pay when you make a sale.
Instant EFT
Customers pay directly from their bank account with immediate confirmation. No chargeback risk.
- Minimum R2.00
- Maximum R8.00
- No chargebacks
Credit Cards
Accept all major credit and debit cards with 3D Secure authentication and automatic fraud screening.
- No minimum fee
- No maximum fee
- 3D Secure included
Mobile Wallets
QR code and app-based payments popular with South African mobile users. Quick and convenient.
- Minimum R2.00
- Maximum R8.00
- Instant notification
No setup fees, no monthly fees, no hidden costs. Funds settle to your bank account within 2 business days.
Payfast FAQ
Start Accepting Payfast Today
We'll integrate Payfast into your website, configure all payment methods, and ensure your checkout process is optimized for conversions.