Head-to-Head Specification Audit
PayFast vs Elliptic
E-Commerce & SaaS Businesses · South Africa
Specification Matrix
| Metric | PayFast | Elliptic |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | CustomBetter | $4167/mo |
| API Rate Limit | 60 req/min | 120 req/minBetter |
| Target Country | South Africa | Global |
| Category | Payment Processing API | Crypto Compliance |
| Compliance | POPIA, PCI-DSS | FATF Travel Rule, OFAC, EU AMLD 6, FCA, MAS, AUSTRAC |
| Hosting Regions | ZA-Cape-Town, ZA-Johannesburg | UK-London, US-New York, AP-Singapore |
| Native Integrations | 6 listedBetter | 5 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
Elliptic — Key Specs
- ✓Only crypto compliance platform trusted by both crypto companies AND banks
- ✓Holistic screening — wallet, transaction, and counterparty risk in one view
- ✓Coverage of 100+ blockchains including DeFi protocols
- ✓Elliptic Discovery — proactively identifies sanctioned crypto entities
- ✓Trusted by Santander, Barclays, ANZ, and 200+ financial institutions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cheaper, PayFast or Elliptic?+
PayFast starts at $0/mo, which is lower than Elliptic at $4167/mo.
Which tool is better for compliance — PayFast or Elliptic?+
PayFast additionally supports POPIA, PCI-DSS. Elliptic additionally supports FATF Travel Rule, OFAC, EU AMLD 6, FCA, MAS, AUSTRAC.
Is PayFast or Elliptic compliant with South Africa's POPIA?+
PayFast supports POPIA compliance. Elliptic does not list POPIA as a supported framework.
Which has a higher API rate limit — PayFast or Elliptic?+
Elliptic has a higher API rate limit at 120 requests per minute. PayFast: 60 req/min. Elliptic: 120 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. Elliptic has hosting regions: UK-London, US-New York, AP-Singapore. For data residency in South Africa, check each vendor's data processing agreements.
Data last verified: 10 July 2026
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