Head-to-Head Specification Audit
PayFast vs Linear
E-Commerce & SaaS Businesses · South Africa
Specification Matrix
| Metric | PayFast | Linear |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $0/moBetter | $8/mo |
| API Rate Limit | 60 req/min | 600 req/minBetter |
| Target Country | South Africa | Global |
| Category | Payment Processing API | Project Management |
| Compliance (vendor-stated) | POPIA, PCI-DSS | GDPR, SOC2 |
| Hosting Regions | ZA-Cape-Town, ZA-Johannesburg | US, EU |
| 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
Linear — Key Specs
Vendor-stated- ✓Fastest issue tracker (keyboard-first)
- ✓Built for engineering teams
- ✓GitHub sync
- ✓Cycles = Sprints with zero friction
- ✓Used by best SA tech startups
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is lower-priced, PayFast or Linear?+
PayFast starts at Free plan available, which is lower than Linear at $8/mo. Verify current pricing on each vendor's website.
Which compliance frameworks do PayFast and Linear list?+
PayFast additionally lists POPIA, PCI-DSS. Linear additionally lists GDPR, SOC2. These are vendor-stated frameworks. VektorIndex has not independently audited these claims.
Does PayFast or Linear 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. Linear 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 Linear?+
Linear has a higher documented API rate limit at 600 req/min versus PayFast at 60 req/min.
Which data hosting regions do PayFast and Linear support?+
PayFast lists hosting regions: ZA-Cape-Town, ZA-Johannesburg. Linear lists hosting regions: US, EU. 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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