This article will discuss the payment gateways in Nigeria and some of the best online payment platforms in Nigeria.
In Nigeria today, many card processing companies let small businesses accept card payments in retail stores, on the Internet and even with a cell phone. However, finding the right one for your company isn’t easy.
This article will focus on our top payment gateways in Nigeria, it will also highlight its features, all products/services are listed in no particular order.
Payment Gateways in Nigeria
1. Paystack
Paystack is a Nigerian fintech company that provides payment processing services to businesses. It was founded in 2015 by Shola Akinlade and Ezra Olubi. In 2020, Paystack was acquired by Stripe for $200 million. Paystack is headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, with offices in Ghana, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.
Paystack offers a variety of payment processing services, including online payments, mobile payments, and in-person payments. It also offers fraud prevention, settlement, and other financial services. Paystack is used by businesses of all sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises.
Documents Needed to Activate Paystack Live Payment
- Form CAC 1.1
- Memorandum and Articles of Association
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Registration Number
- Tax Identification Number
- Proof of Business Address
- Proof of Identity and Address for Directors
- Proof of Identity and Address for Shareholders that own up to 51% of your company
For Proof of Address, Paystack can accept one of the following Documents:
- Bank statement
- Utility bills (e.g electricity, water or DSTV bills)
- Tax assessment
- Letter from a government authority
Charges
Setup Fee: Free
Local Cards: 1.5% + ₦100
International Cards: 3.9% + ₦100
₦100 fee is waived for transactions less than ₦2500
Payment Method Accepted: Card, Bank account, Bank transfer, USSD, Visa QR, Mobile money, POS (coming soon)
Accepted Currencies: GHS, NGN, USD
Paystack is a popular payment processing solution for businesses in Africa. It is easy to use, affordable and has a wide range of features. If you are a business in Africa looking for a payment processing solution, Paystack is a great option to consider.
2. Flutterwave
With Flutterwave, you can accept Debit/Credit payments from customers in 154+ countries. Visa, MasterCard, Verve, all supported, your customers in the United States of America, South Africa and Nigeria can pay you directly from their bank accounts and your customers in Nigeria (M-Cash), Kenya (M-Pesa) and Ghana (soon) can pay you directly from their mobile wallets.
Documents Needed to Activate Flutterwave Live Payment
Individual account
- Valid means of ID
- Bank Verification Number
- Web URL/Social Media page
- Residential address
- Personal bank account details
- Estimated Monthly Sales
Business (Limited Entities)
- Full MEMART Document
- Directors’ IDs & BVN
- Corporate Bank Account details
- Operational Business Address
- Verifiable website URL showing business activities
- Operating License (where business is regulated)
- Estimated Monthly Sales
Business (Sole Proprietorship)
- CAC Certificate & Application for Registration for Business Name form (CAC/BN/1 or Form A)
- Proprietor’s Name, ID & BVN
- Corporate Bank Account details
- Operational Business Address
- Verifiable website URL showing business activities
NGOs
- Full CAC Documents
- Trustees’ Names, IDs & BVN
- Corporate Bank Account details
- Operational Business Address
- Verifiable website URL (where required).
- Constitution/Memorandum of Guidance
- SCUML Certificate
- Estimated Monthly Sales
Accepted IDs (coloured copies only)
Driver’s License, International Passport, Identity Card, Permanent Voter’s card
Charges
Setup: Free
Local Cards: 1.4% per transaction
International Cards: 3.8% per transaction
Payment Method Accepted: Local – Mastercard, VISA, Bank Account, USSD, Bank Transfer, POS, Visa QR
International – Mastercard, VISA, AMEX
Accepted Currency: BIF, CAD, CDF, CVE, EUR, GBP, GHS, GMD, GNF, KES, LRD, MWK, MZN, NGN, RWF, SLL, RWF, SLL, STD, TZS, UGX, USD, XAF, XOF, ZMK, ZMW, ZWD
3. VPay
VPay is a payment solution designed to help businesses in Nigeria accept payments online and through mobile applications. It integrates seamlessly with the WooCommerce platform, allowing you to accept payments via:
- Credit/Debit Cards: Visa, Mastercard, Verve
- Bank Transfer: Real-time confirmation of payments without manual reconciliation
- USSD: Mobile phone-based payment system popular in Nigeria
Features
- Easy Integration: Simple setup process with clear instructions and a user-friendly interface.
- Multiple Payment Methods: Cater to a wider customer base by offering various payment options.
- Real-time Confirmation: Get instant notifications of successful payments, eliminating the need for manual reconciliation.
- Fraud Detection: Advanced security measures to protect against fraudulent transactions.
- Detailed Reporting: Track your sales and payment performance with comprehensive reports.
- 24/7 Support: Get help from VPay’s customer support team anytime you need it.
Benefits
- Increase Sales: Offer convenient payment options to attract more customers and boost sales.
- Improve Efficiency: Automate payment processing and save time on manual reconciliation.
- Reduce Fraud: Protect your business from fraudulent transactions with advanced security features.
- Gain Insights: Track your sales performance and make informed business decisions with detailed reports.
Charges
VPay offers transparent pricing with no hidden fees. The exact pricing structure may vary depending on your transaction volume and chosen payment methods. However, you can generally expect:
- Monthly Subscription Fee: Starts at ₦1,500 per month.
- Transaction Fees: Variable depending on the payment method (e.g., 1.5% for credit/debit cards, ₦50 for bank transfers).
How to Get Started
- Sign up for a VPay account: Visit the VPay website and create a free account.
- Install the VPay plugin for WooCommerce: Download and install the VPay plugin from the WordPress plugin directory.
- Configure the plugin: Enter your VPay API credentials and enable your desired payment methods.
- Start accepting payments: You’re now ready to accept payments from your customers through your WooCommerce store!
4. VoguePay
VoguePay is a unique online payment gateway for Nigeria whose vision is to offer buyers and sellers a secure and easy-to-use means of transacting business online also VoguePay allows site owners to start accepting card payments online for their goods and services on their website without any setup fee.
Furthermore, the Gateway can process local and international Visa, Mastercard and Verve cards. The setup process is faster as customers don’t have to go thru the Interswitch Certification process.
Fees:
Merchant Verification: N1,500 (with Certificate of business registration and N2,500 )
Verification Fee: 1.5% for transactions under N2500, 1.5% + N30 for transactions above N250
Withdrawal Fee: First withdrawal of the day is free. Subsequent withdrawals attract the fee below:
Withdrawals below N50,000 = N10
Withdrawals above N50,000 = N25
Wallet-to-Wallet Transfer Fee: Free
Integration: Free (fees may apply for customisation)
Payment Methods Accepted: Visa, MasterCard, Bank Transfer, VoguePay Wallet
Accepted Currencies: Naira (N), USD ($), Euro (€), GBP UK Pound (£), Ghanaian Cedi (GHS) and South African Rand (ZAR)
5. PayU
PayU is a global fintech company with a presence in over 50 markets, including several African countries like Nigeria. PayU has local operations that span 17 markets which are Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.
They Primarily focus on payment gateway solutions for online businesses, offering various payment methods like credit/debit cards, bank transfers, mobile wallets, and local payment options. They also provide financial services like consumer credit and merchant cash advance in some markets.
They accept Local and International MasterCard, Visa, and Verve, as well as other alternative payment methods – Online electronic bank transfer (EFT) and offline, they are also being used by Facebook to collect payment in Naira
However, they have 2 packages which are as follows
Setup: It is free but their White-label package has a fee
Local Cards: not disclosed by them
International Cards: not disclosed by them
In conclusion, there are still other payment gateways in Nigeria available however we have compiled this list based on functionality and affordability, are you using a better online payment platform in Nigeria? Let us know your experience by commenting below.