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Head-to-Head Specification Audit
PayFast vs Clerk
E-Commerce & SaaS Businesses · South Africa
Specification Matrix
| Metric | PayFast | Clerk |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | CustomBetter | $25/mo |
| API Rate Limit | 60 req/min | N/A |
| Target Country | South Africa | Global |
| Category | Payment Processing API | Authentication & Identity |
| Compliance | POPIA, PCI-DSS | SOC2, GDPR, CCPA |
| Hosting Regions | ZA-Cape-Town, ZA-Johannesburg | US-East, EU-West |
| Native Integrations | 6 listed | 7 listedBetter |
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
Clerk — Key Specs
- ✓Drop-in React components for sign-in, sign-up, and user profile — 15-minute integration
- ✓Multi-tenancy with Organizations built-in — no custom RBAC required for B2B SaaS
- ✓Passkey, WebAuthn, and magic link support included on all plans
- ✓Webhooks on every auth event for syncing users to Supabase, Stripe, or your database
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cheaper, PayFast or Clerk?+
PayFast starts at $0/mo, which is lower than Clerk at $25/mo.
Which tool is better for compliance — PayFast or Clerk?+
PayFast additionally supports POPIA, PCI-DSS. Clerk additionally supports SOC2, GDPR, CCPA.
Is PayFast or Clerk compliant with South Africa's POPIA?+
PayFast supports POPIA compliance. Clerk 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. Clerk has hosting regions: US-East, EU-West. For data residency in South Africa, check each vendor's data processing agreements.
Data last verified: 12 June 2026
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