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Payfast vs rano.
Payfast is one of South Africa's longest-running online gateways, with plugins for most shop platforms. Here’s what the same sale costs on each, from Payfast’s published rates with VAT added so both sides compare like for like.
Published rates
The headline prices. As published, checked 11 October 2026.
| Payfast | rano (VAT included) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cards | 3.2% + R2.00 excl. VAT | Cost + 1% + R0.50, about 1.93% + R0.50 on a local debit card |
| Pay by bank | 2%, minimum R2.00 excl. VAT | R2.50 flat, PayShap or EFT |
| Monthly fee | None on this plan | None |
Payfast quotes its rates excluding VAT, and offers lower rates above R50,000 a month.
Source: Payfast’s published pricing. rano’s prices are the planned early-access prices; your fees are confirmed in your merchant agreement.
By sale size
What one sale costs. VAT included on both sides.
| Sale | Payfast, card | rano, debit card | Payfast, bank | rano, PayShap or EFT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R 50 | R 4.14 8.28% | R 1.47 2.94% | R 2.30 4.60% | R 2.50 5.00% |
| R 150 | R 7.82 5.21% | R 3.40 2.27% | R 3.45 2.30% | R 2.50 1.67% |
| R 400 | R 17.02 4.25% | R 8.22 2.05% | R 9.20 2.30% | R 2.50 0.63% |
| R 1,500 | R 57.50 3.83% | R 29.45 1.96% | R 34.50 2.30% | R 2.50 0.17% |
| R 5,000 | R 186.30 3.73% | R 97.00 1.94% | R 115.00 2.30% | R 2.50 0.05% |
Where rano costs more: bank payments under R 109, because our fixed part is bigger than Payfast’s percentage on a small sale. Above that, the gap grows with every rand.
Where Payfast is the better choice
- Payfast processes live payments today; rano is in early access and doesn't yet.
- Payfast offers recurring billing and saved cards through its form integration. rano's PayFast-compatible switch handles once-off payments only.
- Payfast has ready-made plugins for most shop platforms and a wider range of payment methods.
Where rano is different
- Every payment itemises the bank, card network and our fee
- A flat R2.50 for PayShap and EFT, whatever the amount
- No monthly, setup or exit fees
- A full test mode with simulated banks and cards
- Accepts Payfast’s integration, so switching is a few lines
Questions
Payfast or rano?
Is rano cheaper than Payfast?
On a R400 sale by card, Payfast’s published rate comes to R 17.02 and rano’s to R 8.22, VAT included. By bank it’s R 9.20 against rano’s flat R 2.50. rano costs more on bank payments under R 109, These are published rates; Payfast may offer you a negotiated rate.
Does rano take live payments yet?
Not yet. rano is in early access: merchants can build against a full test mode now, and live payments start once our sponsor bank is in place and we’re registered as a payment provider. Payfast takes live payments today.
Can I move from Payfast to rano?
Yes. rano accepts Payfast’s integration format, so you point your existing code at rano and change your keys. The switching guide lists exactly what is and isn’t supported. You can run both side by side while you move.
Why does rano show the fee split on every payment?
So you can check it. Every rano payment lists what the customer’s bank, the card network and the acquiring bank took, and what we took. Payfast, like most gateways, quotes one blended rate.
More comparisons
Other South African gateways.
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