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Head-to-Head Specification Audit

PayFast vs BEE123

E-Commerce & SaaS Businesses · South Africa

Payment Processing API

PayFast

E-Commerce & SaaS Businesses · South Africa

Visit PayFast

B-BBEE Compliance

BEE123

South African SMBs · South Africa

Visit BEE123

Specification Matrix

MetricPayFastBEE123
Starting PriceCustomBetter$29/mo
API Rate Limit60 req/minN/A
Target CountrySouth AfricaSouth Africa
CategoryPayment Processing APIB-BBEE Compliance
CompliancePOPIA, PCI-DSSB-BBEE Act, DTI Codes of Good Practice
Hosting RegionsZA-Cape-Town, ZA-JohannesburgZA-Cape Town
Native Integrations6 listedBetter3 listed

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

BEE123 — Key Specs

  • Self-service B-BBEE scorecard calculation software
  • Covers all sector codes including QSE and EME certificates
  • Automated document checklist to prepare for formal verification
  • B-BBEE score simulator — shows impact of ownership changes
  • Affordable — designed for SMBs who can't afford large agencies

Frequently Asked Questions

What is cheaper, PayFast or BEE123?+

PayFast starts at $0/mo, which is lower than BEE123 at $29/mo.

Which tool is better for compliance — PayFast or BEE123?+

PayFast additionally supports POPIA, PCI-DSS. BEE123 additionally supports B-BBEE Act, DTI Codes of Good Practice.

Is PayFast or BEE123 compliant with South Africa's POPIA?+

PayFast supports POPIA compliance. BEE123 does not list POPIA as a supported framework.

Which tool is better suited for South Africa?+

PayFast is evaluated for E-Commerce & SaaS Businesses in South Africa with hosting regions: ZA-Cape-Town, ZA-Johannesburg. BEE123 has hosting regions: ZA-Cape Town. For data residency in South Africa, check each vendor's data processing agreements.

Data last verified: 3 July 2026

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