Head-to-Head Specification Audit
PayFast vs Conta Azul
E-Commerce & SaaS Businesses · South Africa
Specification Matrix
| Metric | PayFast | Conta Azul |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | CustomBetter | $35/mo |
| API Rate Limit | 60 req/minBetter | 60 req/min |
| Target Country | South Africa | Brazil |
| Category | Payment Processing API | Finance & Accounting |
| Compliance | POPIA, PCI-DSS | LGPD |
| Hosting Regions | ZA-Cape-Town, ZA-Johannesburg | BR-São Paulo |
| Native Integrations | 6 listedBetter | 4 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
Conta Azul — Key Specs
- ✓Brazil-specific accounting: Nota Fiscal, SPED, and DANFE generation
- ✓Integrated with Receita Federal for automatic tax calculations
- ✓Bank reconciliation with all major Brazilian banks (Itaú, Bradesco, BB)
- ✓PIX integration — instant payment reconciliation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cheaper, PayFast or Conta Azul?+
PayFast starts at $0/mo, which is lower than Conta Azul at $35/mo.
Which tool is better for compliance — PayFast or Conta Azul?+
PayFast additionally supports POPIA, PCI-DSS. Conta Azul additionally supports LGPD.
Is PayFast or Conta Azul compliant with South Africa's POPIA?+
PayFast supports POPIA compliance. Conta Azul does not list POPIA as a supported framework.
Which has a higher API rate limit — PayFast or Conta Azul?+
PayFast has a higher API rate limit at 60 requests per minute. PayFast: 60 req/min. Conta Azul: 60 req/min.
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. Conta Azul has hosting regions: BR-São Paulo. For data residency in South Africa, check each vendor's data processing agreements.
Data last verified: 25 June 2026
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