Best payment gateways in Africa

Selling across African markets can mean supporting different payment methods and currencies. Read the guide to understand how leading providers compare

Key takeaways

• Paystack, Flutterwave and DusuPay support cards, bank transfers and mobile money
• DPO Pay, Pesapal and Yoco focus on online payments and e-commerce integrations
• Interswitch and CinetPay support multiple African payment methods, with CinetPay offering 64+ payment methods
• DusuPay and Elemipay support cross-border collections, payouts and multiple currencies, including local African currencies like NGN
• WorldFirst’s World Account is a multi-currency account that provides local account details in 15+ currencies and supports payouts from 130+ marketplaces and payment gateways

Businesses selling online to customers in other countries may struggle to accept international payments, support customers’ preferred payment methods and receive those funds at competitive currency exchange costs. Payment gateways help solve the first part by connecting businesses to online payment methods such as cards, mobile money, bank transfers and other local options.

For businesses receiving payments in multiple currencies, a multi-currency account can provide local account details to receive funds, hold balances in different currencies and convert funds when needed. Businesses can then make international payments to suppliers, vendors and other recipients without moving funds between separate accounts.

This guide covers nine payment gateways serving across African markets, focusing on their features and market availability. It also covers the World Account, a multi-currency account by WorldFirst that supports payments in 15+ currencies.

What is a payment gateway?

A payment gateway allows businesses to accept payments online. When a customer pays at checkout, the gateway securely captures their payment details and sends the transaction to the relevant payment processor or bank for approval.

Once the payment is approved, the transaction moves through the payment system for settlement, and the business receives the funds through its designated payout or settlement account. Payment gateways can support different payment methods (like mobile wallets, banks, etc.) and, for international businesses, may also accept payments in multiple currencies.

For international sales, it is also important to distinguish between the currency used at checkout and the currency received as a payout. For example, a customer could pay in USD while the business receives the proceeds in another currency after conversion (with a possible markup applied), depending on the gateway’s supported settlement options.

What to look for in a payment gateway

When comparing payment gateways, consider how well each provider supports your target markets, payment methods and payout requirements. Key factors include:

• Payment methods: Check whether the gateway supports cards, mobile money, bank transfers, QR payments and other methods used by customers in your target markets
• Currency support: Check which currencies the gateway can accept from customers and which currencies it can use for payouts. This is important for businesses serving both local and international customers, as they may need to accept payments in currencies such as NGN, KES or GHS as well as USD, GBP or EUR, while receiving the funds in a supported settlement currency
• Market coverage: Confirm which African countries the gateway operates in and whether the required payment methods are available in each market
• Integrations: Look for compatibility with platforms such as WooCommerce, Shopify payment gateway and Magento, as well as APIs for custom-built websites
• Payout options: Check whether proceeds can be paid to bank accounts, wallets or multi-currency accounts, and in which currencies
• Regulatory compliance: Verify the provider’s licensing and regulatory requirements in the markets where it operates
• Cross-border features: For international sales, compare support for foreign-issued cards, multi-currency pricing and other cross-border payment capabilities

Top payment gateways in Africa

1. Paystack

Paystack is a payment gateway serving businesses across several African markets, including Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana.¹ It was acquired by Stripe in 2020.² Paystack allows businesses to accept payments through cards, bank transfers, USSD (phone payment codes), mobile money and other local payment methods, depending on the market.¹

Its platform also provides APIs for custom integrations, recurring payments, transaction reporting and fraud detection.1Paystack supports international card payments and offers various settlement options via API.¹

Pricing:

• Nigeria: Local transactions are charged at 1.5% + NGN 100, with the NGN 100 fee waived below NGN 2,500. International transactions cost 3.9% + NGN 100³
• Kenya: Local card transactions cost 2.9%, while international card transactions cost 3.8%. M-PESA transactions are charged at 1.5%³
• Ghana: Local and international transactions are charged at 1.95%, with payouts to mobile money costing GHS ¹ and bank accounts GHS 8³

*Fees checked in August 2026

2. DusuPay

DusuPay is a payment gateway that helps businesses collect and make payments across 16+ African markets including Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana.^4,5 It supports transactions in more than 27 currencies and provides access to locally accepted payment methods.⁴ Businesses can accept mobile money, bank transfers, VISA, Mastercard and Verve payments through a single integration.⁴

DusuPay also provides multi-currency transaction capabilities, local and international bank settlements and API integration for enterprise customers.⁴  Its solutions cover industries including e-commerce, fintech, SaaS, travel and foreign exchange.⁴

Pricing:

• Standard: Fees start from 3.5% per transaction, with mobile money, bank transfers, cards, multi-currency transactions and local or international settlements⁶
• Enterprise: Fees start from 1.5% per transaction, with API integration, lower currency conversion fees and customisation options⁶

*Fees checked in August 2026

3. Flutterwave

Flutterwave provides payment infrastructure for businesses, startups and enterprises across African markets, including Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana.⁷ Its online checkout supports cards, bank accounts, bank transfers, mobile money, USSD, POS payments and QR payments, depending on the market.⁷

Businesses can also use payment links, invoices and online stores to accept payments without building a full checkout system.⁷ Flutterwave supports more than 30 currencies and provides APIs for custom payment integrations.⁷ Its platform also includes transfer and payout functionality for sending funds to bank accounts and mobile money wallets across countries.⁷

Pricing:

• Nigeria: Local transactions are charged at 2%, and international transactions cost 4.8%⁸
• Kenya: Local card transactions cost 3.2%, and international card transactions 4.8%⁹
• Ghana: Local card transactions cost 2.6%, and international card transactions 4.8%¹⁰

*Fees checked in August 2026

4. DPO Pay

DPO Pay (part of Network), is a payment service provider with a presence across more than 20 countries.¹¹ It enables businesses to accept payments in multiple currencies through cards, bank transfers and mobile money, with cross-border payment methods such as Airtel Money, M-PESA, and more.¹¹ Its African coverage includes Ghana and Kenya.¹¹

Users can accept payments from customers using credit and debit cards issued by major networks, including Mastercard, VISA and American Express.12 DPO Pay also provides integrations such as Shopify, WooCommerce, Odoo and more, designed for e-commerce and other industries like hospitality, insurance, schools and travel.¹¹ Its platform is intended to support both local and international payment acceptance.¹¹

Pricing: DPO Pay states that it no longer charges setup fees for newly onboarded merchants.¹³ Other pricing is not specified

*Fees checked in August 2026

5. Pesapal

Pesapal is an online payment service provider focused on businesses in Kenya.¹⁴ It allows businesses to accept local and international payments through more than 10 payment methods.¹⁴ It also provides online payment links, invoicing and integrations through APIs and plugins for websites and e-commerce platforms.¹⁴

Businesses can use Pesapal to sell to local and international customers while tracking transactions through reporting tools.¹⁴ The provider also offers solutions for sectors such as hospitality, events and online commerce and is regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya.¹⁴

Pricing: Not specified

*Fees checked in August 2026

6. Yoco

Yoco is a South African payment provider offering online and in-person payment tools for businesses.¹⁵ Its online payment gateway allows merchants to accept card payments through websites and integrates with platforms including Shopify, WooCommerce and Wix.¹⁵

Businesses can also create payment links for collecting payments through channels such as WhatsApp, Instagram and e-mail.¹⁵ Yoco supports VISA, Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay for online payments.¹⁵ Its platform combines online and physical payment acceptance with sales reporting, payouts and business management tools, making it suitable for businesses operating across multiple sales channels.¹⁵

Pricing:

• Core plan: Zero monthly, with online transaction fees of 2.55%–2.95% depending on the payment type and volume¹⁶
• Plus plan: ZAR 249 per month per location, with transaction rates from 1.25% for local in-person debit card payments¹⁶
• Pro plan: ZAR 499 per month per location, with transaction rates from 1.20% for local in-person debit card payments¹⁶

*Fees checked in August 2026

7. Interswitch

Interswitch is a payments technology company offering payment infrastructure for businesses, financial institutions, and developers in 14 African countries including Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana.¹⁷ Its products include an Internet Payment Gateway designed to help businesses accept online payments, alongside solutions for small businesses and enterprise customers.¹⁷

Users can accept card payments, USSD payments, transfers, split payments and more.¹⁷ Plus, its developer offering also includes APIs and payment gateway tools for businesses building custom payment experiences.¹⁷

Pricing: Not specified

*Fees checked in August 2026

8. CinetPay

CinetPay is a payment gateway provider supported in Nigeria, with payment collection services available across more than 10 African countries.¹⁸ It allows businesses to accept payments through mobile money, bank cards and digital wallets through CinetPay Collect.¹⁸ It also offers payment links that provide a no-code option for collecting online payments.¹⁸

The platform supports 64+ payment methods and more than five currencies.¹⁸ CinetPay also provides APIs, mass payouts and sector-specific solutions such as school-fee collection.¹⁸

Pricing: Online transaction fees range from 1.5%–5% depending on transaction volume¹⁹

*Fees checked in August 2026

9. Elemitech (Elemipay)

Elemitech, through Elemipay, provides payment infrastructure for businesses accepting and making payments across 14 African markets.²⁰ Its platform supports mobile money wallets, credit and debit cards, online banking and ATM payments.²⁰

Businesses can also use the platform for payouts to mobile money wallets and bank accounts, with payouts available in local currencies.²⁰ Elemipay provides foreign exchange for currencies including KES, UGX, NGN, TZS, GHS and ZAR, as well as global settlement options in USDT wallets or bank accounts.²⁰ The provider supports businesses in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Morocco.²¹

Pricing: Not specified

*Fees checked in August 2026

WorldFirst: A multi-currency account that connects to payment gateways

Businesses using multiple payment gateways to accept customer payments across different countries face a common problem: each gateway settles funds into a bank account, and if that account only holds one currency, every international transaction gets converted to the local currency on arrival at the bank’s rate. Over time, and across multiple gateways, these forced conversions can impact margins on every sale.

The World Account is a multi-currency account by WorldFirst that allows businesses to send, hold, and receive funds in over 15+ currencies. Businesses can add their World Account local currency details as the settlement destination for payment gateway payouts.

When a gateway settles a USD transaction, it lands in the USD balance within the World Account. A GBP payment lands in GBP, and a EUR payment lands in EUR. Nothing gets converted unless the business chooses to convert it.

This gives businesses control over three decisions that a single-currency bank account takes away:

• When to convert, based on rate movements rather than the moment of settlement
• How much to convert (partial conversions are supported)
• Where the funds go next–businesses can choose to hold it future FX timing, spend in the original currency via the World Card, or send to overseas suppliers, contractors and platforms

The World Account works with 130+ marketplaces and payment gateways, including Amazon, Etsy, Stripe, Shopify and more.

Key features of the World Account

• Local currency accounts in 15+ currencies, including USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, JPY and CNH, each with matching-currency receiving details for payment gateway settlement
• Send payments in 100+ currencies across 200+ countries and regions, using the balances collected from gateway settlements
• Zero-fee instant transfers between World Account holders, useful for paying international team members or partners on the same platform
• The World Card, a virtual card supporting payments in 150+ currencies. No fees when paying in any of the 15 supported currencies (with sufficient balance held in that currency). Up to 20 cards linked to account balances at no extra cost
• Pay suppliers in China on 1688.com through World Pay, the authorised international payment provider for 1688.com
• Accounting integrations with Xero, NetSuite and more, for multi-currency reconciliation across gateway settlements

*Fees checked in August 2026. Terms and Conditions Apply

FAQs

1. What is the best online payment gateway for African businesses?

The best payment gateway depends on the business’s target markets, currencies and preferred payment methods. Popular options include Paystack, Flutterwave, DPO Pay and more.

2. How do African businesses accept mobile money payments?

Businesses can use payment gateways that integrate with local mobile money networks, allowing customers to pay directly from their mobile wallets.

3. How does WorldFirst work with payment gateways?

WorldFirst can provide receiving account details that businesses use to receive eligible payouts from supported payment gateways. Funds can then be received, held, converted and sent through the World Account.

Sources

1. https://paystack.com
2. https://paystack.com/stripe
3. https://paystack.com/pricing
4. https://www.dusupay.com
5. https://www.dusupay.com/post/what-is-dusupay-and-who-is-it-for
6. https://www.dusupay.com/pricing
7. https://flutterwave.com/eu/
8. https://flutterwave.com/ng/pricing
9. https://flutterwave.com/ke/pricing
10. https://flutterwave.com/gh/pricing
11. https://dpogroup.com/online-payments/
12. https://dpogroup.com/payment-methods/
13. https://dpogroup.com/faq/
14. https://www.pesapal.com/business/online
15. https://www.yoco.com/za/online-payment/?srsltid=AfmBOooib0C1_wwue36epGkrmQYKIaU5K2S-GkdbmmWn5q3jTOD19bGu
16. https://www.yoco.com/za/pricing/
17. https://interswitchgroup.com/ipg
18. https://cinetpay.com
19. https://cinetpay.com/pricing
20. https://www.elemitech.com
21. https://www.elemitech.com/post/high-risk-payment-processing-in-africa-why-elemitech-is-the-better-option

This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or professional advice. This article should not be regarded as constituting an offer or a solicitation to buy or sell any regulated or financial products or services. WorldFirst makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or applicability of the content, and readers are encouraged to consult with legal professionals or other professionals for advice tailored to their specific situation. WorldFirst does not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of this article and expressly disclaims any and all liability to any person in respect of the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done wholly or partly in reliance on this article.