Independent directory. VektorIndex is not affiliated with or sponsored by any listed vendor. All specifications are sourced from official vendor documentation.
Head-to-Head Specification Audit
Shopify vs PayFast
E-Commerce Developers · South Africa
Specification Matrix
| Metric | Shopify | PayFast |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $29/mo | CustomBetter |
| API Rate Limit | 2 req/min | 60 req/minBetter |
| Target Country | South Africa | South Africa |
| Category | E-Commerce Platform | Payment Processing API |
| Compliance | GDPR, CCPA, PCI-DSS | POPIA, PCI-DSS |
| Hosting Regions | US, EU, AU | ZA-Cape-Town, ZA-Johannesburg |
| Native Integrations | 7 listedBetter | 6 listed |
Shopify — Key Specs
- ✓Storefront API supports headless commerce with any frontend framework
- ✓Checkout extensibility via UI Extensions — no more checkout.liquid hacks
- ✓Built-in ZAR currency support and PayFast/Peach Payments gateway integration
- ✓Webhooks for 50+ event types with automatic retry on delivery failure
PayFast — Key Specs
- ✓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
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cheaper, Shopify or PayFast?+
PayFast starts at $0/mo, which is lower than Shopify at $29/mo.
Which tool is better for compliance — Shopify or PayFast?+
Both support PCI-DSS. Shopify additionally supports GDPR, CCPA. PayFast additionally supports POPIA.
Is Shopify or PayFast compliant with South Africa's POPIA?+
PayFast supports POPIA compliance. Shopify does not list POPIA as a supported framework.
Which has a higher API rate limit — Shopify or PayFast?+
PayFast has a higher API rate limit at 60 requests per minute. Shopify: 2 req/min. PayFast: 60 req/min.
Which tool is better suited for South Africa?+
Shopify is evaluated for E-Commerce Developers in South Africa with hosting regions: US, EU, AU. PayFast has hosting regions: ZA-Cape-Town, ZA-Johannesburg. For data residency in South Africa, check each vendor's data processing agreements.
Data last verified: 11 June 2026