Yoco’s payment gateway lets South African online stores accept card payments directly on WooCommerce, Wix and similar platforms, alongside the company’s better-known in-person card machines. For a small business choosing between payment providers in 2026, the practical questions are what it costs, what platforms it supports, and how quickly funds settle into your bank account.
What the Yoco payment gateway does
For a small business that started out selling only in person, adding an online payment option is often the point where a side project starts operating like a proper retail or service business. Customers increasingly expect to be able to pay by card, or complete a purchase, without needing to visit in person or arrange an EFT manually, and a gateway is what makes that possible on your own website rather than only through a marketplace or social media checkout.
The gateway is Yoco’s online payments product, built for businesses that sell through their own website rather than only in person. It plugs into common e-commerce platforms so a customer can pay by card at checkout without being redirected to a separate banking page, and it sits alongside Yoco’s card machine range for businesses that also take payments face to face.
Yoco’s current card machine pricing
For businesses that also need in-person card payments, Yoco’s card machine range is priced from around R699 for the entry-level Yoco Khumo, with a receipt-printing version and a countertop touchscreen device (Neo Touch) at higher price points. Machines carry a monthly connectivity fee, charged only in months the device is used, on top of the once-off hardware cost. Because pricing and models change, always confirm current prices and transaction fees directly on Yoco’s own site before committing.
How the gateway fits into a small business’s payment setup
A small retailer or service business often needs three things: a way to take card payments in person, a way to take them online, and a single view of settlements across both. Running the card machine and the payment gateway from the same provider, rather than stitching together two separate systems, reduces reconciliation work and gives one place to check settlement timing and transaction fees.
What to check before switching payment providers
- Settlement time: how many business days after a sale the funds land in your bank account.
- Transaction fees: the percentage charged per card transaction, which can vary by card type and monthly turnover.
- Platform compatibility: whether your specific website platform (WooCommerce, Wix, Shopify or a custom build) is supported.
- Refund and dispute handling: how refunds are processed and how card disputes (chargebacks) are handled.
- Contract terms: whether there is a minimum contract period or early cancellation cost.
Weighing up a single provider against separate online and in-person systems
Some businesses deliberately run different providers for online and in-person payments, often because they found a better rate for one channel elsewhere or already had an existing relationship with a bank’s own point-of-sale system. This can make sense if the cost difference is significant, but it comes at the cost of reconciling two separate settlement reports and two support relationships if something goes wrong. For a small business without a dedicated finance function, the time saved by a single, unified view of both online and in-person sales is often worth more than a small difference in transaction fees, though it is still worth comparing actual numbers for your own sales mix rather than assuming either option is automatically better.
What a growing online store should watch as volumes increase
As online sales volume grows, the transaction fee percentage matters more in absolute terms, and it becomes worth periodically checking whether your current provider’s rate is still competitive against alternatives, particularly if your monthly card turnover has grown substantially since you first signed up. It is also worth checking whether your provider offers any volume-based fee reductions once you cross certain monthly turnover thresholds, since these are not always advertised upfront and may need to be requested directly.
Where payment gateways sit under South African law
Payment service providers operating in South Africa fall under oversight connected to the Payments Association of South Africa and the South African Reserve Bank’s National Payment System framework, which governs how card and electronic payments are cleared and settled. This does not mean every provider is identical: fees, settlement speed and support still vary meaningfully between them, so compare actual terms rather than assuming all providers are interchangeable.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Yoco payment gateway used for?
It allows a business’s own website, built on platforms such as WooCommerce or Wix, to accept card payments directly at checkout, rather than only in person through a card machine.
How much does a Yoco card machine cost in 2026?
Entry-level devices start at around R699, with higher-specification machines priced higher, plus a monthly connectivity fee charged only in months the device is used. Confirm current pricing on Yoco’s own site, as prices change.
Can I use Yoco for both online and in-person payments?
Yes, Yoco offers both a payment gateway for online sales and a range of physical card machines, which can be managed together.
What should I compare between payment gateway providers?
Transaction fees, settlement time, platform compatibility, refund and dispute handling, and contract terms are the main factors to compare before switching.
Are South African payment gateways regulated?
Card and electronic payment clearing in South Africa operates within the National Payment System framework overseen in connection with the South African Reserve Bank and the Payments Association of South Africa, though individual providers still set their own fees and terms.
How long does it take to set up a payment gateway on my website?
This varies by platform and provider, but most established gateways offer plugins or integrations for common platforms like WooCommerce and Wix that can be set up within a day, provided your business and banking details are already verified with the provider.
For background on how card payments are cleared and settled in South Africa, see the South African Reserve Bank’s National Payment System pages.
Originally published in February 2021. Updated September 2026 to refresh the article as a general guide to the gateway and current card machine pricing, rather than a launch announcement. Confirm current prices and fees directly with Yoco before signing up.
