How to accept payments on Shopify in South Africa

Shopify Payments isn’t available in South Africa, so South African Shopify stores accept payments by installing a local payment provider app from the Shopify App Store. The app you choose controls which payment methods appear at checkout, how fast you’re paid and what you pay per transaction. The quickest option is to accept Shopify payments with Stitch Express, which adds card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Capitec Pay and Pay Later to your Shopify checkout.

What you need before you start

• A Shopify store on any plan
• A registered South African business or sole proprietorship
• Your business and identity documents for verification (KYC)
• A South African bank account for withdrawals

How to set up Shopify payments in South Africa: step by step

1. Create a Stitch Express account. Sign up for Stitch Express and add your business details.
2. Get verified. Upload the documents requested for your business type. Verification takes a maximum of one business day.
3. Install the Stitch Express app. Add Stitch Express from the Shopify App Store and connect it to your account.
4. Activate your payment methods. In Shopify’s payment settings, activate the Stitch Express methods you want to offer.
5. Customise your checkout. Use the Stitch Express Checkout app to reorder, rename and show or hide payment methods.
6. Run a test order and go live. Place a test purchase and confirm it appears in your dashboard.
7. Automate withdrawals. Set up automatic withdrawals to your bank account.

How to optimise your Shopify checkout

• Put Apple Pay and Google Pay first, because one-tap wallets convert best on mobile
• Rename methods clearly so customers recognise them instantly
• Show Pay Later on higher-value carts using rules based on cart value or product
• Add your logo and business name to the payment selection screen for brand continuity
• Avoid card forms that add friction; read why Shopify secure fields can hurt conversion

Stitch Express: the Shopify payment app built for South African stores

Stitch Express is trusted by Shopify brands such as The North Face, Timberland, Haus by Hertex and Sealand, and it was built specifically for South African Shopify stores.

The payment methods South Africans want. You can add Apple Pay to Shopify with Stitch, add Google Pay to Shopify with Stitch, accept Capitec Pay on Shopify with Stitch, accept card payments on Shopify with Stitch and offer Pay Later on Shopify with Stitch.

Full control of your checkout. The Stitch Express Checkout app, which carries Shopify’s “Built for Shopify” status, lets you reorder, rename and conditionally display payment methods.

Subscriptions built in. Sell repeat orders with Shopify subscriptions from Stitch Express, where customers choose their order frequency and Stitch handles the recurring payments.

Online and in store. Stitch Express was the first payments provider in South Africa to offer a fully integrated Shopify POS solution, so you can take in-person payments on Shopify POS with Stitch.

Refunds, withdrawals and security. Process refunds from your Shopify admin with no refund fee, withdraw sales whenever you need to, and rely on ISO 27001 and PCI DSS Level 1 certification with 3D Secure on every card payment.

Transparent Shopify pricing. Stitch Express pricing for Shopify stores (excl. VAT):

Stores processing over R200,000 a month can get custom Shopify pricing from Stitch. Enterprise Shopify businesses can get a custom build, 24/7 support and a dedicated client success team.