Head-to-Head Specification Audit
PayFast vs Razorpay
E-Commerce & SaaS Businesses · South Africa
Specification Matrix
| Metric | PayFast | Razorpay |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $0/moTie | $0/moTie |
| API Rate Limit | 60 req/min | 300 req/minBetter |
| Target Country | South Africa | India |
| Category | Payment Processing API | Payment Processing |
| Compliance (vendor-stated) | POPIA, PCI-DSS | PCI-DSS, RBI Compliance |
| Hosting Regions | ZA-Cape-Town, ZA-Johannesburg | IN-Mumbai, IN-Bangalore |
| Native Integrations | 6 listedTie | 6 listedTie |
PayFast — Key Specs
Vendor-stated- ✓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
Razorpay — Key Specs
Vendor-stated- ✓#1 payment gateway in India — 8M+ businesses use it
- ✓Supports UPI, NetBanking, Wallets, Cards, and EMI out of the box
- ✓Razorpay Capital offers working capital loans based on transaction history
- ✓RazorpayX business banking with INR-denominated accounts
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is lower-priced, PayFast or Razorpay?+
Both tools start at Free plan available on their entry plans.
Which compliance frameworks do PayFast and Razorpay list?+
Both list PCI-DSS in their vendor documentation. PayFast additionally lists POPIA. Razorpay additionally lists RBI Compliance. These are vendor-stated frameworks. VektorIndex has not independently audited these claims.
Does PayFast or Razorpay list POPIA as a supported compliance framework?+
PayFast lists POPIA (Protection of Personal Information Act) as a supported compliance framework per its vendor documentation. VektorIndex has not independently verified this claim. South African organisations should request the vendor's current Data Processing Agreement and confirm data residency settings before processing personal information. Razorpay does not list POPIA as a supported compliance framework in its public documentation. Contact the vendor to confirm their position before processing South African personal information.
Which has a higher documented API rate limit — PayFast or Razorpay?+
Razorpay has a higher documented API rate limit at 300 req/min versus PayFast at 60 req/min.
Which data hosting regions do PayFast and Razorpay support?+
PayFast lists hosting regions: ZA-Cape-Town, ZA-Johannesburg. Razorpay lists hosting regions: IN-Mumbai, IN-Bangalore. For data residency requirements in South Africa, confirm exact region configuration directly with each vendor.
Data last updated: 29 August 2026 — Sourced from official vendor documentation. Not independently audited. Report incorrect information
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