Head-to-Head Specification Audit
PayFast vs Clerk
E-Commerce & SaaS Businesses · South Africa
Specification Matrix
| Metric | PayFast | Clerk |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $0/moBetter | $25/mo |
| API Rate Limit | 60 req/min | Not confirmed |
| Target Country | South Africa | Global |
| Category | Payment Processing API | Authentication & Identity |
| Compliance (vendor-stated) | POPIA, PCI-DSS | SOC2, GDPR, CCPA |
| Hosting Regions | ZA-Cape-Town, ZA-Johannesburg | US-East, EU-West |
| Native Integrations | 6 listed | 7 listedBetter |
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
Clerk — Key Specs
Vendor-stated- ✓Drop-in React components for sign-in, sign-up, and user profile — 15-minute integration
- ✓Multi-tenancy with Organizations built-in — no custom RBAC required for B2B SaaS
- ✓Passkey, WebAuthn, and magic link support included on all plans
- ✓Webhooks on every auth event for syncing users to Supabase, Stripe, or your database
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is lower-priced, PayFast or Clerk?+
PayFast starts at Free plan available, which is lower than Clerk at $25/mo. Verify current pricing on each vendor's website.
Which compliance frameworks do PayFast and Clerk list?+
PayFast additionally lists POPIA, PCI-DSS. Clerk additionally lists SOC2, GDPR, CCPA. These are vendor-stated frameworks. VektorIndex has not independently audited these claims.
Does PayFast or Clerk 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. Clerk 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 Clerk?+
Available information does not support a direct comparison of API rate limits for these tools. Check each vendor's developer documentation.
Which data hosting regions do PayFast and Clerk support?+
PayFast lists hosting regions: ZA-Cape-Town, ZA-Johannesburg. Clerk lists hosting regions: US-East, EU-West. 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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