Head-to-Head Specification Audit
Paystack vs Adyen
Nigerian & African Businesses · Nigeria
Specification Matrix
| Metric | Paystack | Adyen |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $0/moTie | $0/moTie |
| API Rate Limit | 300 req/min | 500 req/minBetter |
| Target Country | Nigeria | Global |
| Category | Payment Processing | Payments Platform |
| Compliance (vendor-stated) | NDPA, CBN Licensed, PCI-DSS | PCI-DSS, SOC2, GDPR, PSD2, ISO27001 |
| Hosting Regions | NG-Lagos, GH-Accra, ZA-Johannesburg | EU-West, US-East, AP-Southeast, EU-Central |
| Native Integrations | 5 listed | 6 listedBetter |
Paystack — Key Specs
Vendor-stated- ✓Acquired by Stripe — a widely-used payment API serving African markets
- ✓Supports Nigerian bank transfers, USSD, Visa/Mastercard, and mobile money
- ✓Instant settlement to Nigerian bank accounts
- ✓Now available in Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Ivory Coast
Adyen — Key Specs
Vendor-stated- ✓Single acquiring platform for 200+ payment methods globally
- ✓Issuing: virtual/physical cards for expense management
- ✓PSD2 SCA built-in with AI-powered SCA exemption engine
- ✓EU data residency, GDPR DPA, PCI DSS Level 1
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is lower-priced, Paystack or Adyen?+
Both tools start at Free plan available on their entry plans.
Which compliance frameworks do Paystack and Adyen list?+
Both list PCI-DSS in their vendor documentation. Paystack additionally lists NDPA, CBN Licensed. Adyen additionally lists SOC2, GDPR, PSD2, ISO27001. These are vendor-stated frameworks. VektorIndex has not independently audited these claims.
Which has a higher documented API rate limit — Paystack or Adyen?+
Adyen has a higher documented API rate limit at 500 req/min versus Paystack at 300 req/min.
Which data hosting regions do Paystack and Adyen support?+
Paystack lists hosting regions: NG-Lagos, GH-Accra, ZA-Johannesburg. Adyen lists hosting regions: EU-West, US-East, AP-Southeast, EU-Central. For data residency requirements in Nigeria, 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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