Yoco vs Payfast

Which South African payment provider fits how you take payments? Here’s how they differ, based only on facts we’ve recorded, each labelled with where it comes from. We don’t pick a winner: the right choice depends on what you need.

Last reviewed · desk research, not hands-on testing · How we compared these tools

Yoco

Ecommerce

A South African payments company offering card machines and tools for accepting payments in person and online, aimed at small businesses.

Best suited for

  • working from a phone or tablet Listed by vendor
    Yoco lists mobile apps; Payfast doesn’t.
Visit Yoco

Not an affiliate link.

Payfast

Ecommerce

A South African online payment gateway that lets websites and online stores accept a range of local payment methods. It integrates with common ecommerce platforms.

Best suited for

  • people who use Shopify Listed by vendor
    Payfast lists an integration with Shopify.
  • teams Our classification
    We classify Payfast as built for growing teams; Yoco mainly for individuals and small teams.
Visit Payfast

Not an affiliate link.

Key differences

  • Platforms: only Yoco lists iOS and Android. Listed by vendor
  • Notable integrations listed — Payfast: Shopify. Listed by vendor
  • Payfast also suits mid-size (51–250). Our classification

Comparison table

Yoco vs Payfast, feature by feature
FeatureYocoPayfast
Pricing model Not yet verifiedNot yet verified
Free plan Not yet verifiedNot yet verified
AI features No notable AI features
Our classification		No notable AI features
Our classification
Team support (differs) Built mainly for individuals and small teams
Our classification		Built for teams and growing organisations
Our classification
Built for (differs) Solo / freelancer, Small business (2–50)
Our classification		Solo / freelancer, Small business (2–50), Mid-size (51–250)
Our classification
Platforms (differs) Web, iOS, Android
Listed by vendor		Web
Listed by vendor
Connects via Plugins / add-ons, Public API
Listed by vendor		Plugins / add-ons, Public API
Listed by vendor
Notable integrations (differs) WooCommerce
Listed by vendor		WooCommerce, Shopify
Listed by vendor
Export options Not yet verifiedNot yet verified
Key features
  • Card machines
  • Online payment options
  • Business app for sales tracking

Publicly documented
  • Online payment gateway
  • Multiple local payment methods
  • Ecommerce platform integrations

Publicly documented
Use cases
  • Accepting card payments at markets and shops
  • Taking payments for services
  • Checkout for online stores
  • Payment links
  • Recurring billing
Hands-on reviewNot yet reviewedNot yet reviewed

Highlighted rows differ. “Not yet verified” means we haven’t got that fact yet, so it isn’t treated as a difference.

Supported platforms

Platform support
PlatformYocoPayfast
WebListedListed
WindowsNot listedNot listed
macOSNot listedNot listed
LinuxNot listedNot listed
iOSListedNot listed
AndroidListedNot listed
ExtensionNot listedNot listed
APINot listedNot listed

✓ listed by the vendor · — not listed · ? we don’t know yet. Not yet verified by ToolTarvern.

Pricing and free plan

Yoco

Pricing not yet verified by ToolTarvern.

Free plan: not yet verified.

Check current Yoco prices ↗

Payfast

Pricing not yet verified by ToolTarvern.

Free plan: not yet verified.

Check current Payfast prices ↗

Limitations to check

Yoco

  • Free plan not yet verified Not yet known
    Check the official pricing page.
  • Pricing not yet verified Not yet known
    Prices change and vary by country — check the official site.
  • Not yet tested hands-on by ToolTarvern Not yet known
    This comparison is based on public information and our classifications.

Payfast

  • Free plan not yet verified Not yet known
    Check the official pricing page.
  • Pricing not yet verified Not yet known
    Prices change and vary by country — check the official site.
  • Not listed for iOS and Android Listed by vendor
    Yoco lists them.
  • Not yet tested hands-on by ToolTarvern Not yet known
    This comparison is based on public information and our classifications.

Alternatives to consider

Shopify

Ecommerce

A hosted ecommerce platform for building an online store and selling across channels, with an app store for extra features and…

Main use
Launching an online store
Free plan
Not yet verified
Pricing
Not yet verified
Last reviewed
Not yet reviewed

Compare Yoco, Payfast and alternatives side by side

How we compared these tools

  • Desk research, not hands-on testing. This comparison uses the facts in each tool’s ToolTarvern profile. Neither tool has been tested hands-on by us yet.
  • Every value shows where it comes from: Verified means checked on the vendor’s own pages, and the date is recorded. Listed by vendor means as publicly listed, not yet verified by us. Our classification means ToolTarvern’s editorial judgement, explained in our editorial policy.
  • Only known facts count. A difference is listed only when we have the fact for both tools. Unknown values are shown as “Not yet verified”, never guessed.
  • “Best suited for” statements come from those recorded differences, using fixed rules. For example, if only one tool lists Linux, it’s best suited for Linux users. Each statement shows its basis. We don’t score, rank or declare a winner.
  • We only publish meaningful comparisons: the tools must do the same kind of job and differ in at least 3 separate areas. We choose pairs by hand and don’t generate pages for every combination.
  • Not compared yet: export options, customer support quality, security and compliance, performance and reliability, ease of use in practice, local (ZAR) pricing. Check these yourself, ideally with a free trial.
  • Affiliate links don’t affect the comparison. The same rules apply whether or not we earn a commission.
Comparison last reviewed
Yoco profile updated
· not yet reviewed hands-on
Payfast profile updated
· not yet reviewed hands-on

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