
Paystack vs Flutterwave (2025): Which Gateway Converts Better in Nigeria?
When it comes to running an eCommerce store in Nigeria, choosing the right payment gateway can make or break your business. As the Nigerian digital economy continues to expand, two leading players, Paystack and Flutterwave, stand out in the world of online payments. Both platforms offer unique features, pricing models, and customer experiences that can significantly impact conversion rates, user experience, and your bottom line.
In this post, we’ll take a deep dive into the key differences between Paystack vs Flutterwave in 2025. We’ll compare fees, chargebacks, settlement times, checkout UX, mobile performance, and more, to help Nigerian businesses make an informed decision when choosing their preferred payment gateway.
Key Comparison Factors for Paystack vs Flutterwave
Both Paystack and Flutterwave are highly popular choices in Nigeria, and both platforms have carved out a strong presence in the global payment processing space. However, they offer different experiences and features that can appeal to different types of e-cmmerce stores. Let’s break down the most important factors you need to consider when choosing between the two.
1. Fees, Chargebacks & Settlement Times
When it comes to fees, chargebacks, and settlement times, these three factors are crucial for any eCommerce store. Let's look at how Paystack and Flutterwave stack up.
Paystack Fees:
- Transaction Fees: Paystack charges a flat rate of 1.5% per transaction for local payments.
- Chargebacks: Paystack’s chargeback fees are typically around NGN 5,000 for Nigerian cards, and they offer support for handling chargeback disputes.
- Settlement Times: Paystack offers next-day settlements for Nigerian businesses, meaning your funds will be available for withdrawal the next business day.
Flutterwave Fees:
- Transaction Fees: Flutterwave charges around 1.4% per transaction for local payments.
- Chargebacks: Flutterwave’s chargeback fee is about NGN 5,000, similar to Paystack.
- Settlement Times: Flutterwave also provides next-day settlements, which means funds are available for businesses on the following day.
Verdict on Fees:
While both gateways charge a similar rate for local payments, Flutterwave has a slightly lower transaction fee at 1.4% compared to Paystack’s 1.5%. However, this difference may not be significant enough to make a major impact on your business. Both platforms have similar chargeback and settlement policies.
2. Checkout UX & Mobile Performance
The user experience (UX) during checkout is crucial for conversion. A smooth, intuitive checkout process leads to better sales, while a frustrating one can drive potential customers away. Additionally, mobile performance is vital since many Nigerians shop via mobile phones.
Paystack UX:
- Checkout Customization: Paystack’s checkout can be customized to match the branding of your store, offering a seamless experience for your customers. The platform also supports multiple languages, including local Nigerian languages.
- Mobile Performance: Paystack’s mobile payment experience is optimized for quick and easy transactions on mobile devices, which is important for a large mobile user base in Nigeria.
Flutterwave UX:
- Checkout Customization: Flutterwave offers a fully customizable checkout that allows for a seamless integration with your website. You can adjust the look and feel of the checkout page to match your branding.
- Mobile Performance: Flutterwave’s mobile checkout experience is also optimized, with smooth, quick payment options for mobile users. It’s fast and responsive, which is essential for shoppers on smartphones.
Verdict on UX:
Both Paystack and Flutterwave provide user-friendly checkout experiences, but Paystack slightly edges ahead in terms of the depth of customization available for your store’s checkout page. In terms of mobile performance, both platforms perform well, so there’s no clear winner here.
3. Integration with Shopify & WooCommerce
For Nigerian e-commerce store owners using platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, the ability to easily integrate with payment gateways is key.
Paystack Integration:
- Shopify: Paystack integrates seamlessly with Shopify, offering a reliable payment solution for Shopify stores in Nigeria. The integration is quick and simple, and Paystack provides full documentation to help you set up.
- WooCommerce: Paystack also supports WooCommerce integration, with a plugin available for easy setup. The plugin ensures your WooCommerce store can accept local and international payments.
Flutterwave Integration:
- Shopify: Flutterwave offers a Shopify integration that works smoothly and provides a reliable payment experience for customers on Shopify. Setting up the payment gateway is straightforward.
- WooCommerce: Flutterwave also integrates easily with WooCommerce, offering a plugin that enables simple installation and setup to accept payments on your website.
Verdict on Integration:
Both Paystack and Flutterwave offer easy integration with Shopify and WooCommerce. If you're already using one of these platforms for your Nigerian store, both gateways will work smoothly. However, Paystack’s integration is known for being a bit more seamless for Shopify users, while Flutterwave is excellent for both platforms.
4. Which Gateway Converts Better on Mobile?
With mobile usage in Nigeria being extremely high, choosing a gateway that offers a smooth and fast mobile checkout process is crucial.
Paystack:
- Paystack’s mobile checkout experience is responsive and optimized for Nigerian shoppers. The interface is easy to navigate, and payments can be completed in just a few taps.
Flutterwave:
- Flutterwave also delivers a highly optimized mobile experience, allowing users to complete transactions quickly. The mobile payment experience is fast, secure, and very reliable.
Verdict on Mobile Conversion:
Both Paystack and Flutterwave provide an excellent mobile experience. However, Paystack is often cited as being slightly more optimized for mobile users, making it a slightly better option for mobile-focused businesses.
5. Best for Subscription Payments
Subscription-based businesses often need a reliable gateway that can manage recurring billing with minimal friction.
Paystack Subscription Payments:
- Paystack supports recurring billing, which is excellent for businesses offering subscription services. Setting up recurring payments is easy, and Paystack integrates well with subscription management systems.
Flutterwave Subscription Payments:
- Flutterwave also supports subscription payments, and it offers a “Subscription API” that allows you to set up recurring billing and manage subscriptions effectively.
Verdict on Subscription Payments:
Both Paystack and Flutterwave support subscription payments, but Paystack offers a slightly more comprehensive approach with its recurring billing options.
People Also Ask (PAA)
1. Which gateway is better in Nigeria, Paystack or Flutterwave?
Answer: Both are excellent choices, but Paystack is generally preferred for Shopify integration and mobile UX, while Flutterwave offers slightly better fees and a robust subscription payment solution.
2. Which gateway has lower fees in Nigeria?
Answer: Flutterwave has slightly lower fees, charging 1.4% per transaction, compared to Paystack’s 1.5%.
3. Which payment gateway works best with Shopify in Nigeria?
Answer: Paystack works seamlessly with Shopify, providing a smooth payment experience for Nigerian stores on this platform.
4. Which payment gateway converts better on mobile in Nigeria?
Answer: Both platforms offer great mobile performance, but Paystack is often considered more optimized for mobile users, offering a smoother checkout experience.
5. Which gateway is best for subscription payments in Nigeria?
Answer: Both gateways support subscription payments, but Paystack offers a more comprehensive recurring billing system, making it ideal for subscription-based businesses.
Conclusion: Which Payment Gateway Should You Choose in Nigeria?
Choosing between Paystack and Flutterwave for your Nigerian store in 2025 boils down to your specific business needs.
- Paystack is an excellent choice for businesses looking for smooth Shopify integration and mobile optimization.
- Flutterwave, on the other hand, offers lower fees and robust support for subscription payments, making it perfect for businesses with recurring billing models.
Ultimately, both platforms are strong contenders in the Nigerian payment gateway space. By analyzing your specific needs, including fees, UX, and integration, you can make a more informed decision that drives better results for your business.
Ready to streamline your payment processes?
Start using the best payment gateway for your Nigerian store today! Explore Paystack or Flutterwave, and boost your e-commerce sales with seamless payments!