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The definitive list for SA nonprofits choosing payment gateways that can handle recurring donations reliably—features, pricing signals, integrations, gotchas, and real-world tips.
Quick takeaways:
Best plug-and-play for NPO sites: Payfast (native Subscriptions, broad plugin support, clear R8.70 payout fee).
Most flexible dev-friendly stack: Peach Payments (tokenised recurring & subscriptions, headline 2.95% + R1.50 on Growth; note R499/month appears on fees page—confirm your plan).
Enterprise-grade with a dedicated subscriptions module: DPO PayGate (PaySubs). Pricing is quote-based.
All-rounder with local methods + subscriptions: PayU South Africa (Subscription Payments + one-click/tokenisation options).
Modern API + transparent SA pricing: Paystack (cards 2.9% + R1, EFT 2%; Subscriptions API supports card recurring in all Paystack markets).
Gateway + debit orders for true auto-debits: Netcash (Subscription Billing via Pay Now; also strong Debit Order rails).
Another enterprise option: Adumo Online (tokenised recurring & subscriptions).
Cards-only and simple (no native recurring): Yoco Gateway — quick setup for once-off donations; nurture manual monthlies.
Bank-to-bank with NGO 0% option: Ozow (Pay by Bank) — instant EFT via bank apps; great for low-fee giving.
Bonus to know: SnapScan now offers limited recurring payments for NPOs on request (not general business), and headline QR rate starts at 2.95% ex VAT—useful for donor-initiated “monthlies”.
How we picked (in 60 seconds):
Recurring payment readiness: native Subscriptions/Tokenisation and billing tools.
NPO practicality: WordPress/GiveWP/Charitable/WooCommerce integrations and settlement norms.
Cost clarity: publicly stated pricing signals or official pages—even when quote-based.
Local trust: support for SA payment habits (cards, EFT, QR) and provider reputation.
Need help setting up your donations payment gateway?
We’ll configure Payfast/Peach/PayGate/Paystack/Netcash, enable subscriptions & tokenisation, set up dunning emails, and test end‑to‑end so you can start collecting recurring donations with confidence.
Here is the list of the best payment gateways for recurring and once off donations
1. Payfast: easiest path to automated monthly giving
Payfast is a South African payment gateway built for online donations and ecommerce. It supports cards, Instant EFT and QR, with built‑in Subscriptions for automated monthly giving.
Why it’s great for NPOs
Payfast’s Subscriptions let donors opt in once and get billed on schedule. It plays nicely with WordPress (GiveWP, Charitable, WooCommerce) so you can launch quickly with minimal dev work.
Pricing signals to note
Public fees pages state a flat payout fee of R8.70 (ex VAT), and optional Immediate Payout at 0.8% (min R14)—handy for cash-flow. Your transaction rates vary by method (cards, Instant EFT, QR), so confirm your nonprofit rate card.
Implementation tips
For WordPress donations, start with GiveWP + Payfast; managing, pausing, or editing subscriptions is available in the Payfast dashboard.
Use Payment Request links for campaign-based pushes (email/SMS/WhatsApp).
Best for: small–mid NPOs wanting a familiar checkout, quick setup, and solid recurring.
Watch-outs: percentage fees can bite on high-value monthly gifts; consider mixing with debit orders for large sustainers.
2. Peach Payments: robust subscriptions + multi-method checkout
Peach Payments is a developer‑friendly gateway offering tokenised recurring payments and rich APIs. Use it to unify cards and Pay‑by‑Bank/EFT in one streamlined checkout.
Why it stands out
Peach Payments offers full subscription & recurring tooling with tokenisation, plus a unified checkout across cards and EFT. Developers like the APIs and plugin coverage. Headline Growth pricing often referenced as 2.95% + R1.50 per local card txn.
Important pricing detail
Peach’s fees page shows a Growth plan monthly fee of R499—while some product copy markets “no monthly fees”. Get your nonprofit quote in writing so there’s no surprise line items.
Best for: teams needing granular control, tokenisation, and flexible settlement.
Watch-outs: pricing pages can change; lock in your rate card.
3. DPO PayGate: enterprise recurring via PaySubs
DPO PayGate is an enterprise‑grade gateway used across Southern Africa. Its PaySubs module enables centrally managed subscription billing and renewals.
Why NPOs choose it
PaySubs lets you create and manage subscriptions from back office or your site, including immediate first charge and scheduled renewals. Large NGOs appreciate DPO’s scale and multi-method support.
Pricing & setup
It’s quote-based. Discuss volumes, refund policy, chargeback handling, and settlement cadence up front.
Best for: established organisations with integration resources and complex needs.
4. PayU South Africa: subscriptions + one-click/tokenised payments
PayU South Africa provides Subscription Payments plus tokenisation/one‑click for returning donors. It aggregates local methods so supporters can pay the way they prefer.
What you get
Subscription Payments with APIs to define plans, plus tokenisation / one-click for returning donors—useful for reducing friction on renewals. PayU also aggregates local methods (cards, Instant EFT/SmartEFT, wallets/loyalty).
Best for: NPOs needing a broad method mix and enterprise-grade controls.
Watch-outs: public rate cards are limited—negotiate nonprofit pricing.
5. Paystack: clean APIs, clear SA pricing, and subscriptions by card
Paystack shines for clean APIs and transparent pricing. It supports card‑based Subscriptions so you can automate monthly giving in custom apps or headless sites.
Why it’s a contender
Paystack publishes South Africa pricing (cards 2.9% + R1, EFT 2%, VAT excl.) and provides Subscriptions/Recurring by card across all its markets—nice for dev teams building custom donor flows.
Good to know
The Subscriptions API bills cards automatically on your chosen interval; Direct Debit is Nigeria-only, so in SA you’ll use card recurring (or EFT for one-off).
Best for: custom builds, headless CMS, or app-driven donations that need a modern API.
6. Netcash: subscription billing + debit orders under one roof
Netcash combines an online gateway (Pay Now) with Debit Order collections. It’s a strong fit when you want subscription billing and low‑fee bank debits under one roof.
Why it’s compelling
Netcash Subscription Billing (via Pay Now) supports recurring charges and integrates with WooCommerce Subscriptions—and Netcash also runs Debit Order rails if you want ultra-low-fee bank debits for large monthly gifts.
Best for: NPOs that want a single provider for gateway + debit order collections.
Watch-outs: confirm fee schedules for both gateway and debit order services.
7. Adumo Online: tokenised recurring & subscriptions
Adumo Online (part of Lesaka) offers an online gateway with tokenised recurring payments and subscriptions. Local onboarding and support suit NGOs that value an SA partner.
What it offers
Adumo markets tokenised recurring payments and subscriptions as part of its online gateway, useful for donors who prefer saved-card experiences and faster repeat checkouts. (Adumo is now part of Lesaka.)
Best for: NGOs wanting an alternative enterprise stack with local support.
8. Yoco Gateway: simple online cards (no native recurring)
Yoco Gateway offers a simple hosted card checkout with minimal setup. It’s ideal for once‑off donations and small teams that don’t need native subscriptions.
What it offers
Yoco’s online gateway focuses on card payments with transparent pricing and low setup friction. It’s ideal for one-off donations and smaller teams.
Recurring Donations?
No native subscriptions at this time; use it for once-off gifts and nurture repeat donors via reminders or CRM automations.
Best for: small NPOs wanting fast, trustworthy card checkout without complex setup.
9. Ozow (Pay by Bank): instant EFT with NGO 0% option
Ozow enables Instant EFT via major SA bank apps. With a Social/NGO package available, it’s popular for low‑cost donor‑driven payments.
What it offers
Instant EFT via major SA bank apps—no card required. Social/NGO package can mean 0% processing for qualifying nonprofits.
Recurring Donations?
No built-in subscriptions; use payment links for donor-driven repeats.
Best for: cost-sensitive campaigns and donors who prefer bank-app approval.
10. SnapScan: QR links & codes for donor-driven repeats
SnapScan lets donors give via QR codes and mobile payment links they already trust. While not a full subscriptions engine, it’s excellent for campaigns and event giving.
What it offers
Frictionless QR and payment links that donors recognise and trust. Fee starts around 2.95% ex VAT with no monthly.
Recurring Donations?
Not a general subscriptions tool; limited NPO recurring may be available on request. Great for events and social drives.
Best for: outreach, events, and quick mobile-friendly donations.
Honourable mention: Bank Debit Orders (DebiCheck)
What it offers
Traditional bank-to-bank debits with flat per-debit fees (often just a few rand), which can beat percentage fees for higher-value monthlies.
Recurring Donations?
Yes—by mandate. Requires admin for mandates, re-debits, and handling disputes.
Best for: established programmes with many R300+ monthly donors.
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At-a-glance comparison of all payment gateways for donations
Gateway | Recurring type | Headline public info | Ideal NPO fit |
|---|---|---|---|
Payfast | Subscriptions + tokenisation | R8.70 payout fee; Immediate Payout 0.8% (min R14); broad plugins | Fastest launch on WordPress; mainstream donor UX. |
Peach Payments | Subscriptions & recurring (cards/EFT) | 2.95% + R1.50 on Growth; fees page lists R499/month | Dev-friendly; multi-method checkout. |
DPO PayGate | PaySubs module | Quote-based enterprise recurring | Larger/complex programmes. |
PayU SA | Subscriptions + one-click | Subscription Payments + tokenisation | Broad method mix; enterprise controls. |
Paystack | Card subscriptions via API | SA pricing: 2.9% + R1 (cards), 2% (EFT); cards recurring in all markets | Custom builds/app flows. |
Netcash | Subscription Billing (+ debit orders) | Gateway + Debit Order under one roof | Mixed strategy: gateway for most, debit orders for major donors. |
Adumo Online | Tokenised recurring/subscriptions | Recurring + subscriptions productised | Alternative enterprise stack. |
Yoco Gateway | One-off cards (no native recurring) | Simple online card rates from ~2.95% ex VAT; no monthly | Small teams needing easy card checkout. |
Ozow (Pay by Bank) | Donor-driven repeats (no native recurring) | 1.5% standard; NGO Social: 0% processing | Low-cost bank-app donations and links. |
SnapScan | Donor-driven repeats (QR) | Up to ~2.95% ex VAT; no monthly | Events/social campaigns; QR-friendly donors. |
Note: We’ve included SnapScan in the table above because it’s excellent for donor-initiated repeats and events; limited NPO-only recurring may be available on request.
What actually reduces churn (beyond your gateway)
Tokenise & notify: Use gateways with tokenisation and set friendly pre-debit emails 3–5 days before charge. (All top gateways above support tokenisation for card recurring.)
Offer an EFT/QR fallback: Keep a SnapScan or EFT link handy when a donor’s card fails—your CRM can auto-send it.
Route big monthlies to debit orders: If you add debit orders (e.g., via Netcash), your net on R500+ gifts usually improves thanks to flat fees.
Setup recipes (copy-paste practical)
WordPress (GiveWP or Charitable)
Payfast plugin → enable Subscriptions in Payfast; create monthly/annual forms.
Add Paystack or Peach for A/B testing conversion on card recurring.
WooCommerce Subscriptions (memberships/child sponsorships)
Netcash Pay Now plugin supports Subscriptions; tokenise cards; combine with debit orders for VIP donors.
Custom app/site
Paystack Subscriptions API for plan-based billing; Peach for mixed card/EFT checkout.
Conclusion on the top 10 payment gateways for donations
For recurring donations, prioritise gateways with native subscriptions, tokenisation, and solid plugin support.
If you want speed and simplicity, launch with Payfast.
If you need flexibility or you’re building custom flows, short-list Peach Payments and Paystack.
For enterprise control, DPO PayGate and PayU South Africa are safe picks.
If you prefer one provider for gateway + debit orders, Netcash is compelling.
Add SnapScan links for donor-initiated repeats and events—and review your fees yearly as providers tweak pricing. The right gateway stack keeps renewals smooth, reduces involuntary churn, and maximises net income for your mission.
Not sure which gateway is right for your nonprofit?
We’ll review your CMS (WordPress/WooCommerce/Shopify/custom), average gift size and donor mix, then send a 1‑page plan covering recommended gateways, fee impacts, and next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Civil Society Organisations
1. What makes philanthropy in South Africa unique?
Philanthropy in South Africa is unique due to its deep roots in the philosophy of Ubuntu, which emphasizes generosity and interconnectedness. This has created a strong culture of individual and community giving. Today, this is blended with a growing trend towards strategic philanthropy, where donations are treated as investments designed to achieve measurable, long-term social impact rather than just short-term charity.
2. What is the role of Corporate Social Investment (CSI) in South African philanthropy?
Corporate Social Investment (CSI) is a major force in the South African philanthropic landscape, with companies investing billions of rands annually (approximately R12.7 billion in 2024). It goes beyond compliance, with a significant focus on education, which receives nearly half of all CSI spend. CSI also includes non-cash donations like employee volunteering and pro bono services, playing a crucial role in funding and supporting the NPO South Africa ecosystem.
3. How is strategic philanthropy changing funding for NPOs in South Africa?
Strategic philanthropy is shifting how funding for NPOs works by moving beyond simple donations. It focuses on models like impact investing South Africa and venture philanthropy, which seek measurable social returns. This means philanthropic capital is now used more as a "catalyst" to de-risk innovative social enterprises, provide long-term mentorship, and attract larger, more conventional investments, ultimately helping NPOs achieve greater scale and financial sustainability.
4. What are the most effective ways for individuals to engage in philanthropy in South Africa?
Individuals can engage in South African philanthropy in several effective ways. Beyond direct donations, high-impact engagement includes skills-based volunteering, where professionals offer their expertise (e.g., legal, financial, marketing) to NPOs. Another powerful method is collective giving, where resources are pooled with others through informal groups like Stokvels or formal online crowdfunding platforms, amplifying the impact of smaller individual contributions.
