How to Accept Online Payments on Your Website in Africa

If you're running a business in Africa and want to start accepting payments through your website, it's never been easier. The continent has seen a major shift from cash and barter systems to advanced digital payments, driven by innovations like mobile money and payment gateways that support online transactions.

The rise of platforms like Flutterwave, Paystack, DPO, Pesapal, Hubtel, PAPSS and Interswitch has made it simple for African businesses to get paid online, whether locally or globally.

Here’s how you can set up online payments on your website:

1. Choose a Payment Provider

Start by selecting a payment gateway that supports your country, currency, and target market. Below are some of the top providers in Africa:

Flutterwave

Flutterwave has become one of the most recognized payment platforms in Africa, operating in over 30 countries. It’s a strong choice for businesses that want flexibility in how they get paid. Whether you’re selling products on your website, offering subscription services, or sending out invoices, Flutterwave allows you to accept payments via cards, bank transfers, and mobile money. It also offers features for recurring payments and global payouts. For developers and agencies, its documentation is solid, making it easy to integrate with modern tech stacks.

Works in 33 African countries and globally.

Key Features:

• Accept cards, bank transfers, mobile money
• Supports subscriptions and recurring payments
• Developer-friendly with robust documentation

Set up:
Go to Flutterwave Docs

Paystack

Originally built for Nigerian businesses and now expanding across the continent, Paystack is known for its simplicity and reliability. It allows you to receive payments from customers via cards, bank transfers, USSD, and mobile money. Paystack’s backend is clean and intuitive, making it a favorite among small businesses and startups. After its acquisition by Stripe, it has also gained strong international support and trust. If you need to go live quickly and want minimal friction, Paystack is a great starting point, especially in countries like Nigeria and Ghana.
Great for Nigeria, Ghana, and growing in other regions.

Key Features:

• Accept cards, bank transfers, USSD, and mobile money
• Fast setup and clean dashboard
• Owned by Stripe, so it's globally backed

Set up:
Start Here

DPO (Direct Pay Online)

DPO is designed for businesses that need to serve customers across multiple African countries. It supports Visa, Mastercard, and mobile money, and it’s well integrated with e-commerce platforms like WooCommerce and Magento. DPO stands out for its strong security protocols. It’s PCI DSS Level 1 certified, which is crucial for businesses that process large volumes or handle sensitive payment information. If you're working in industries like travel, hospitality, or retail with a regional focus, DPO can help unify your payment process across borders.
Operates in over 20 African countries.

Key Features:

• Accept Visa, Mastercard, mobile money
• Works with online stores and POS devices
• PCI DSS certified (high security)

Set up:
Integration Guide

Pesapal

Pesapal is especially popular in East Africa, including Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. It bridges the gap between online and offline payments by supporting mobile money platforms like M-Pesa and Airtel Money, as well as card payments. It’s widely used by small businesses, hotels, schools, and tour companies. Pesapal’s integration tools are practical for local businesses looking to digitize without abandoning their existing payment habits. It’s also friendly to non-technical users, which makes it approachable for business owners managing their own websites.
Popular in East Africa.

Key Features:

• Accept M-Pesa, Airtel Money, Visa, Mastercard
• Works online and offline
• Well-suited for SMEs and tourism businesses

Set up:
Visit Pesapal Developers

Hubtel

If you're based in Ghana, Hubtel is one of the best options available. It supports mobile money from all major telcos, along with bank and card payments. But Hubtel goes beyond just payment processing. It also offers built-in tools for sending invoices, managing delivery logistics, and handling customer interactions. This makes it ideal for businesses that operate both online and offline. Whether you’re running a retail shop, a service-based company, or an e-commerce platform, Hubtel provides a well-rounded ecosystem for growth.
Ideal for businesses in Ghana.

Key Features:

• Accept mobile money, cards, and bank transfers
• Comes with tools for billing, delivery, and invoicing
• Good fit for ecommerce and service businesses

Set up:
Hubtel Developer Portal

Interswitch

As one of the oldest fintech players in Africa, Interswitch brings infrastructure-grade solutions that power banks, large enterprises, and government agencies. Its payment gateway is used for everything from utility payments to full-scale e-commerce. It also created the Verve card, a widely accepted alternative to Visa and Mastercard in Nigeria. If you’re building a high-volume or enterprise-grade site and need stability and local integrations, Interswitch is a reliable option that covers both web and in-person transactions.
A veteran Nigerian provider with wide reach.

Key Features:

• Offers online and POS payment systems
• Provides the Verve card and Quickteller services
• Strong infrastructure for large-scale operations

Set up:
Interswitch Gateway

PAPSS (Pan-African Payment and Settlement System)

PAPPS is a centralized African payment platform developed by Afreximbank to make cross-border payments faster and easier within the continent. It allows businesses to receive payments from customers in other African countries directly in their local currency, eliminating the need for USD conversions or third-party intermediaries. This reduces costs, shortens settlement times, and supports seamless trade across borders. PAPPS is especially useful for businesses targeting pan-African customers or working within AfCFTA markets.
Learn more at PAPSS - Make instant and secure cross-border payments in local currencies across Africa

2. Integrate with Your Website

Depending on your website platform (like WordPress, Next.js, or Shopify), you can:

• Use official plugins (many payment providers offer one)
• Embed payment links or checkout buttons
• Use their APIs if you’re building a custom solution

If you’re using a platform like Next.js or React, most of these services provide clear developer documentation or SDKs you can plug in with just a few lines of code.

3. Test and Go Live

Once integrated, test the checkout with sandbox/test credentials. Ensure it works on both desktop and mobile, launch it publicly and start accepting payments.