Head-to-Head Specification Audit
PayFast vs Termii
E-Commerce & SaaS Businesses · South Africa
Specification Matrix
| Metric | PayFast | Termii |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $0/moTie | $0/moTie |
| API Rate Limit | 60 req/min | 500 req/minBetter |
| Target Country | South Africa | Africa |
| Category | Payment Processing API | Communication APIs |
| Compliance (vendor-stated) | POPIA, PCI-DSS | NDPA |
| Hosting Regions | ZA-Cape-Town, ZA-Johannesburg | NG-Lagos |
| Native Integrations | 6 listedBetter | 4 listed |
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
Termii — Key Specs
Vendor-stated- ✓SMS, OTP, and WhatsApp messaging API built for African networks
- ✓Highest delivery rates on African mobile networks vs global providers
- ✓Supports MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9mobile, Safaricom, and other African networks
- ✓OTP delivery optimised for low-bandwidth African mobile connections
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is lower-priced, PayFast or Termii?+
Both tools start at Free plan available on their entry plans.
Which compliance frameworks do PayFast and Termii list?+
PayFast additionally lists POPIA, PCI-DSS. Termii additionally lists NDPA. These are vendor-stated frameworks. VektorIndex has not independently audited these claims.
Does PayFast or Termii 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. Termii 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 Termii?+
Termii has a higher documented API rate limit at 500 req/min versus PayFast at 60 req/min.
Which data hosting regions do PayFast and Termii support?+
PayFast lists hosting regions: ZA-Cape-Town, ZA-Johannesburg. Termii lists hosting regions: NG-Lagos. 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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