Accept Online Payments in South Africa
If you're a service provider in South Africa - a salon, personal trainer, therapist, photographer, or consultant - accepting online payments means clients pay when they book, not when they arrive. This reduces no-shows, improves cash flow, and saves you the awkward "can you please EFT me" conversation.
South Africa has three main online payment providers that work well for service businesses. Here's how they compare.
The three main options
Yoco
Yoco is probably the most recognised payment brand among South African small businesses. Originally known for their card machines, they also offer online payments.
- Fees: 2.55%-2.95% for local cards, 3.2%-3.4% for international
- Settlement: Next business day
- Payment methods: Visa, Mastercard
- Best for: Businesses whose clients are comfortable paying by card online
PayFast
PayFast is one of South Africa's longest-running payment gateways, processing payments for over 100,000 merchants.
- Fees: 3.5% + R2.00 per card transaction; 2% + R2.00 for instant EFT
- Settlement: 2 business days
- Payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, instant EFT, SnapScan, Masterpass
- Best for: Businesses that want to offer multiple payment methods (especially EFT and SnapScan)
Paystack
Paystack is backed by Stripe and has been growing fast in South Africa.
- Fees: 2.9% + R1.00, capped at R50 per transaction
- Settlement: Next business day
- Payment methods: Visa, Mastercard
- Best for: Higher-value services (R1,700+) where the fee cap saves you money
Fee comparison: real examples
Here's what you'd actually pay on common booking amounts:
| Booking amount | Yoco (2.75%) | PayFast (3.5% + R2) | Paystack (2.9% + R1, cap R50) |
|---|---|---|---|
| R250 | R6.88 | R10.75 | R8.25 |
| R500 | R13.75 | R19.50 | R15.50 |
| R1,000 | R27.50 | R37.00 | R30.00 |
| R2,500 | R68.75 | R89.50 | R50.00 |
| R5,000 | R137.50 | R177.00 | R50.00 |
Key takeaway: Yoco is cheapest for low-value bookings. Paystack wins for anything above R1,700 thanks to the R50 cap. PayFast costs more per transaction but offers the most payment methods.
Which one should you choose?
- Most service providers: Start with Yoco - lowest fees, fastest settlement, most recognised brand.
- Want payment variety: Choose PayFast if your clients prefer EFT or SnapScan over card payments.
- High-value services: Choose Paystack if your average booking is above R1,500 - the fee cap saves real money.
How to connect payments to your booking system
With Booklink, connecting any of these providers takes under 2 minutes:
- Sign up for your chosen payment provider and get your API keys
- In Booklink settings, add your API keys
- Enable payment on the services that should require it
- That's it - clients now pay when they book
You can even use different providers for different services, or switch providers at any time without affecting existing bookings.
Do I need to accept payments?
You don't have to. Many service providers start with free bookings and add payments later. But if no-shows are costing you money, taking payment upfront is the most effective fix. Read more about reducing no-shows.
Start with Booklink for free and add payments when you're ready.