Best Payment Providers for Africa

Real-time payments

A payment systems software company powering infrastructure for banks and payment processors globally. ACI Worldwide enables real-time payment networks including FedNow, Zelle, and UK Faster Payments, processing over 671 billion transactions annually. Built for financial institutions requiring enterprise-grade payment switching and fraud management.

Emerging Market Wallet

A global digital wallet and prepaid card solution focused on emerging markets in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. AstroPay enables users in regions with limited banking access to make international purchases and merchants to accept payments from these markets. Popular among gaming and betting platforms for deposits from high-risk regions.

Self-hosted crypto

A self-hosted, open-source Bitcoin payment processor offering complete financial sovereignty with zero transaction fees. BTCPay Server supports Lightning Network for instant payments and integrates with major e-commerce platforms. Perfect for businesses wanting full control over their Bitcoin payment infrastructure without third-party dependencies.

Enterprise Security

A Visa-owned enterprise payment management platform with industry-leading fraud detection capabilities. CyberSource serves large enterprises across 190+ countries with sophisticated decision management tools and omnichannel payment processing. Best suited for large organizations with complex fraud prevention needs.

Emerging Markets

A payments platform specializing in emerging markets, offering 600+ local payment methods across 35+ countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. dLocal provides a single API integration for international businesses to accept payments and make payouts in markets where local presence is otherwise required. Ideal for global companies expanding into challenging markets.

African payments

Africa's leading payment gateway covering over 20 countries across the continent. DPO Group enables businesses to accept cards, mobile money, and bank transfers, offering essential payment infrastructure for companies expanding into African markets.

South African Instant EFT

A leading African payment infrastructure provider with over 25 years of operation in the continent. EFT Pay offers instant EFT payments, banking-as-a-service, card issuing, and payment processing for banks, telecoms, and enterprises across Africa. Built specifically for the unique requirements of African financial services.

Pan-African Payments

A leading African payment platform that enables businesses to accept and send payments across the continent. Flutterwave supports cards, mobile money (M-Pesa and others), bank transfers, and USSD across Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and other African markets. An essential gateway for any business looking to tap into Africa's growing digital economy.

African Mobile Money

Africa's pioneering mobile money platform, launched in Kenya in 2007 and now operating across 10 countries. M-Pesa revolutionized financial services by enabling users to send money, pay bills, and make purchases using just a mobile phone, without needing a bank account. The dominant payment method in East Africa, essential for any business operating in Kenya, Tanzania, or the broader region.

Trading & Gaming

A digital wallet tailored for online trading platforms, gaming sites, and international money transfers. Like its sister company Skrill, NETELLER is part of the Paysafe Group and operates in 200+ countries with a prepaid Mastercard option. Popular among forex traders and online gamers who need quick, reliable deposits and withdrawals.

Middle East enterprise

The largest digital payment provider in the Middle East and Africa, offering merchant acquiring, card processing, and payment infrastructure services. Network International serves over 50 countries with comprehensive solutions for banks, fintechs, and merchants across the MEA region.

Most Cryptocurrencies

Accept 150+ cryptocurrencies. Non-custodial, auto coin conversion, low fees, global payments.

South African EFT

South Africa's leading instant EFT payment platform enabling real-time bank-to-bank payments. Ozow offers Pay by Bank, QR codes, and payment links, providing cardless payment acceptance for South African merchants with competitive low fees.

High-risk merchants

A multi-currency e-wallet supporting both fiat and cryptocurrency transactions. Payeer serves merchants and users in 200+ countries with P2P exchange capabilities and various deposit methods. Note: Does not serve US citizens. Often used by high-risk merchants and in markets where traditional payment options are limited.

South African Market

South Africa's most popular payment gateway, now part of Network International, serving over 80,000 merchants. PayFast offers 18+ payment methods including cards, Instant EFT, and local options like Mobicred. The go-to payment solution for South African e-commerce businesses with easy integration and no monthly fees on the basic plan.

South African market

A trusted South African payment gateway part of the DPO network, powering online payments across Africa. PayGate offers hosted payment pages, API integration, bulk processing, and subscription billing for businesses of all sizes.

Gaming & digital

A global payment platform specializing in video games and digital content, reaching over 200 countries with 150+ payment methods. Paymentwall offers fraud prevention, KYC verification, and chargeback resolution, ideal for gaming and digital businesses.

Freelancer Payments

A global payment platform primarily serving freelancers, contractors, and businesses receiving international payments. Payoneer provides multi-currency accounts with local receiving details in major currencies, making it easy to get paid from global marketplaces and clients. The preferred payout solution for Fiverr, Upwork, Amazon, and other major platforms.

Global e-commerce

One of the world's most recognized digital payment platforms, operating in over 200 markets with support for 130+ currencies. PayPal offers buyer protection, a trusted checkout experience, and multiple payment options including pay-later services through Venmo. A go-to choice for e-commerce businesses seeking broad consumer recognition and trust.

Nigerian Market

A leading African payment gateway, acquired by Stripe in 2020, serving businesses across Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, and Côte d'Ivoire. Paystack offers excellent developer documentation, high payment success rates through intelligent routing, and support for local payment methods like bank transfers, USSD, and mobile money. The go-to choice for startups and established businesses in West and Southern Africa.

Global Emerging Markets

A global payment provider with deep expertise in emerging markets including India, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. PayU offers local payment method support across 50+ markets through a single integration, making it valuable for businesses expanding into regions where local presence matters. Part of Prosus, focused on high-growth markets.

African e-commerce

A secure African payment gateway with 365-day support and advanced payment orchestration. Peach Payments offers daily settlements, mobile-focused checkout, foreign card acceptance, and real-time payouts for businesses across South Africa and Kenya.

Fintech Infrastructure

A comprehensive fintech-as-a-service platform offering payments, payouts, and card issuing across 190+ countries. Rapyd provides access to 900+ payment methods through a single API, enabling businesses to embed financial services without building infrastructure from scratch. Well-suited for marketplaces, gig platforms, and global businesses needing unified payment capabilities.

Gaming & Forex

A digital wallet service with a strong presence in the online gaming and forex trading industries. Part of the Paysafe Group, Skrill enables fast deposits and withdrawals in 135+ countries with support for 95+ currencies. Popular among users who value privacy and instant transfers for gaming platforms, trading sites, and international money transfers.

Global Enterprise

A global enterprise payment processor owned by FIS, serving large multinational businesses across virtually every industry. Worldpay supports 300+ payment types in 120+ currencies with both online and in-person payment capabilities. Well-suited for established enterprises that need a trusted, large-scale payment partner with global reach.

South African SMEs

South Africa's leading payment provider for small and medium businesses, offering card acceptance and point-of-sale solutions. Yoco provides affordable hardware and simple pricing designed specifically for SMEs in the South African market.