Head-to-Head Specification Audit
PayFast vs Sweep
E-Commerce & SaaS Businesses · South Africa
Specification Matrix
| Metric | PayFast | Sweep |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $0/mo | Custom pricing |
| API Rate Limit | 60 req/minTie | 60 req/minTie |
| Target Country | South Africa | European Union |
| Category | Payment Processing API | ESG & Sustainability Reporting |
| Compliance (vendor-stated) | POPIA, PCI-DSS | CSRD, ESRS, GRI, TCFD, CDP, ISO 14064 |
| Hosting Regions | ZA-Cape-Town, ZA-Johannesburg | EU-West, US-East |
| Native Integrations | 6 listedBetter | 5 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
Sweep — Key Specs
Vendor-stated- ✓Verdantix Green Quadrant Leader 2026 — highest ranked ESG platform
- ✓Automated Scope 1, 2, 3 emissions calculation across supply chain
- ✓Pre-mapped to ESRS, GRI, TCFD, CDP frameworks
- ✓Supplier engagement module for Scope 3 data collection
- ✓Carbon reduction pathway modelling built-in
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is lower-priced, PayFast or Sweep?+
Sweep uses custom pricing. PayFast starts at Free plan available. Contact Sweep directly for a quote.
Which compliance frameworks do PayFast and Sweep list?+
PayFast additionally lists POPIA, PCI-DSS. Sweep additionally lists CSRD, ESRS, GRI, TCFD, CDP, ISO 14064. These are vendor-stated frameworks. VektorIndex has not independently audited these claims.
Does PayFast or Sweep 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. Sweep 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 Sweep?+
Both PayFast and Sweep have the same documented API rate limit of 60 requests per minute. Verify current limits on each vendor's developer documentation.
Which data hosting regions do PayFast and Sweep support?+
PayFast lists hosting regions: ZA-Cape-Town, ZA-Johannesburg. Sweep lists hosting regions: EU-West, US-East. 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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