Head-to-Head Specification Audit
Adyen vs PayFast
Enterprise Payment Processing · Global
Specification Matrix
| Metric | Adyen | PayFast |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | CustomBetter | Custom |
| API Rate Limit | 500 req/minBetter | 60 req/min |
| Target Country | Global | South Africa |
| Category | Payments Platform | Payment Processing API |
| Compliance | PCI-DSS, SOC2, GDPR, PSD2, ISO27001 | POPIA, PCI-DSS |
| Hosting Regions | EU-West, US-East, AP-Southeast, EU-Central | ZA-Cape-Town, ZA-Johannesburg |
| Native Integrations | 6 listedBetter | 6 listed |
Adyen — Key Specs
- ✓Single acquiring platform for 200+ payment methods globally
- ✓Issuing: virtual/physical cards for expense management
- ✓PSD2 SCA built-in with AI-powered SCA exemption engine
- ✓EU data residency, GDPR DPA, PCI DSS Level 1
PayFast — Key Specs
- ✓Only major payment gateway with POPIA-compliant ZA data residency by default
- ✓Supports EFT, credit card, Instant EFT, Mobicred, and SnapScan natively
- ✓No monthly fee — pay 2.0–3.5% per transaction only
- ✓Recurring billing API supports subscription SaaS models out of the box
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cheaper, Adyen or PayFast?+
Both tools start at $0/mo on their entry plans.
Which tool is better for compliance — Adyen or PayFast?+
Both support PCI-DSS. Adyen additionally supports SOC2, GDPR, PSD2, ISO27001. PayFast additionally supports POPIA.
Is Adyen or PayFast compliant with South Africa's POPIA?+
PayFast supports POPIA compliance. Adyen does not list POPIA as a supported framework.
Which has a higher API rate limit — Adyen or PayFast?+
Adyen has a higher API rate limit at 500 requests per minute. Adyen: 500 req/min. PayFast: 60 req/min.
Which tool is better suited for Global?+
Adyen is evaluated for Enterprise Payment Processing in Global with hosting regions: EU-West, US-East, AP-Southeast, EU-Central. PayFast has hosting regions: ZA-Cape-Town, ZA-Johannesburg. For data residency in Global, check each vendor's data processing agreements.
Data last verified: 26 June 2026
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