Top Direct Pay Online Alternatives You Should Know

Direct Pay Online (DPO) has been a major player in the African payments space, especially in tourism, hospitality, and traditional commerce. But as digital businesses expand and expectations rise, more companies are looking for faster, cheaper, and more flexible alternatives.

The African payments market is exploding. Mobile money transactions alone hit $701 billion in 2023, and the continent's fintech sector is growing at 20% annually. This growth means businesses need payment processors that can keep up with demand, offer competitive rates, and provide reliable service across multiple countries.

In this comprehensive guide, we break down five strong alternatives to DPO ElemiPay, DusuPay, Flutterwave, Paystack, and Pesapal looking at their features, pricing, country coverage, and who they're best suited for.

Why Consider DPO Alternatives?

Common Pain Points with Traditional Payment Processors

Many businesses face similar challenges with older payment systems:

• High Transaction Fees: Some processors charge 4-7% per transaction, eating into profit margins.

• Limited Settlement Options: Getting paid only in local currency or waiting weeks for international transfers.

• Poor API Documentation: Developers waste time figuring out integration instead of building features.

• Restricted Industries: Many processors won't work with betting, forex, or crypto businesses.

• Geographic Limitations: Coverage gaps mean losing customers in key markets.

What Modern Businesses Need

Today's digital businesses require payment processors that offer:

• Real-time transaction processing

• Multiple settlement currencies (including USD and crypto)

• Developer-friendly APIs with clear documentation

• Support for high-risk industries

• Competitive pricing that scales with volume

• 24/7 customer support

• Strong fraud protection and compliance

1. ElemiPay - Best for High-Risk Industries

ElemiPay is built for businesses that need to move money across borders quickly especially in high-risk sectors like betting, gaming, forex, crypto, and remittances. It's not your average payment processor. ElemiPay supports fast collections across Africa and settles to either global bank accounts or USDT wallets.

Features

• Local payment collection via mobile money, card, and bank

• Weekly or on-demand settlements to USD or crypto

• White-label support for fintechs and platforms

• Single API for all payment channels

• PCI-certified for compliance

• Real-time transaction monitoring

• Anti-fraud systems with machine learning

• Multi-language customer support

Countries Covered

Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Zambia, and expanding to 15+ African markets

Pricing Structure

• Collections: 1.5% – 6% depending on method and volume

• Payouts: Flat per-transaction fee (custom by country and payout method)

• No setup fees or monthly charges

• Volume discounts available for businesses processing $50k+ monthly

Integration Process

ElemiPay offers multiple integration methods:

• REST API with comprehensive documentation

• SDK libraries for popular programming languages

• WordPress and Shopify plugins

• No-code solutions for non-technical users

Setup typically takes 24-48 hours after document verification.

Customer Support

• 24/7 live chat support

• Dedicated account managers for high-volume clients

• Developer support via Slack and email

• Comprehensive knowledge base and tutorials

Best For

Betting platforms, forex brokers, global fintechs, remittance apps, and crypto exchanges looking for reliable African rails with flexible settlement.

Case Study: A Nigerian betting platform switched from DPO to ElemiPay and reduced transaction costs by 40% while adding USDT settlements, allowing them to hedge against naira volatility.

2. DusuPay - Best for Cross-Border Payouts

DusuPay focuses on helping global companies pay and get paid in Africa and emerging markets in Asia. It works well for international payroll, vendor payments, and marketplaces doing cross-border trade.

Features

• Payments and payouts in 30+ African countries

• API integrations for platforms and marketplaces

• Dashboard for manual transactions

• Local collections in both mobile money and bank transfers

• Compliance with local regulations in each market

• Multi-currency wallet management

• Automated reconciliation and reporting

Countries Covered

Africa: Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi, Ethiopia

Pricing Model

DusuPay uses tiered pricing based on:

• Transaction volume (monthly)

• Countries of operation

• Payment methods used

• Settlement frequency

Typical rates range from 2-5% for collections and $2-15 per payout transaction.

Enterprise Features

• Custom pricing for high-volume clients

• Dedicated relationship managers

• SLA guarantees for transaction processing

• White-label solutions

• Advanced reporting and analytics

API Capabilities

DusuPay's API supports:

• Real-time payment processing

• Webhook notifications

• Batch processing for payouts

• Transaction status tracking

• Currency conversion at competitive rates

3. Flutterwave - Best for SMEs and E-commerce

Flutterwave is one of the most widely used payment gateways in Africa. It's popular with SMEs, online stores, and platforms looking for fast onboarding and good developer tools. Flutterwave also supports international collections and payouts to bank accounts and wallets.

Core Features

• Collect via card, bank, mobile money, and USSD

• Instant virtual card issuing for online payments

• In-store POS terminals and online checkout

• Accepts both local and international payments

• Integrates with major e-commerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce

• Subscription billing and recurring payments

• Invoice generation and payment links

Advanced Capabilities

• Fraud detection using AI and machine learning

• Multi-currency settlements

• Split payments for marketplaces

• Escrow services for high-value transactions

• QR code payments for retail

• USSD payments for feature phone users

Countries Covered

Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia, Rwanda, Egypt, Cameroon, Senegal, and expanding across francophone Africa

Pricing Breakdown

• Local Collections: 1.4%

• International Cards: 3.8%

• Mobile Money: 2-2.5% (varies by country)

• Bank Transfers: 1.4%

• USSD: ₦50 flat fee

Volume discounts available for businesses processing over $10k monthly.

Developer Experience

Flutterwave is known for:

• Comprehensive API documentation

• Multiple SDKs (PHP, Node.js, Python, etc.)

• Sandbox environment for testing

• Webhook support for real-time notifications

• Active developer community and support

Integration Options

• Direct API integration

• Pre-built plugins for popular platforms

• Mobile SDKs for iOS and Android

• Payment links for quick setup

• Hosted payment pages

Best For

E-commerce stores, content creators, freelancers, and small to mid-sized businesses operating in multiple African markets.

4. Paystack - Best for SaaS and Recurring Billing

Paystack is known for its developer-first approach and clean APIs. It's ideal for startups, subscription businesses, and SaaS platforms that need modern tools for managing payments, recurring billing, and subscriptions.

Key Features

• Accept payments via card, bank transfer, and USSD

• Advanced subscription and billing management

• Powerful APIs with excellent documentation

• Real-time dashboard for monitoring and analytics

• Built-in fraud detection and chargeback support

• Split payments for multi-vendor platforms

• Payment links and invoicing tools

Subscription Management

Paystack excels in recurring billing with:

• Flexible billing cycles (daily, weekly, monthly, annually)

• Proration and billing adjustments

• Failed payment retry logic

• Dunning management for overdue accounts

• Customer portal for self-service

• Subscription analytics and cohort analysis

Countries Covered

Full Coverage: Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa Beta/Limited: Kenya, Côte d'Ivoire

Paystack is gradually expanding but focuses on depth over breadth in their current markets.

Pricing Structure

• Local Transactions: 1.5% + ₦100 (₦100 waived for transactions under ₦2,500)

• International Cards: 3.9%

• Bank Transfers: 1.5% (capped at ₦2,000)

No setup fees, monthly charges, or hidden costs.

Developer Tools

• RESTful API with comprehensive documentation

• SDKs for multiple programming languages

• Webhook system for real-time events

• Sandbox environment for testing

• Transaction logs and debugging tools

• Postman collection for easy API testing

Analytics and Reporting

Paystack provides detailed insights:

• Transaction success rates

• Customer behavior analytics

• Revenue forecasting

• Chargeback and dispute tracking

• Custom report generation

• Export capabilities for accounting

Best For

SaaS companies, digital product businesses, startups, and any business offering recurring billing or subscription services.

5. Pesapal - Best for East African Businesses

Pesapal is widely used across East Africa and is particularly strong in hospitality, education, and events. It offers both online and offline payment tools and supports industry-specific features like hotel booking integrations.

Comprehensive Features

• POS terminals for on-site payments

• School fee and utility payment systems

• Airline and hotel booking integrations

• E-commerce checkout and invoicing

• Recurring payments for subscriptions

• Multi-currency support (USD, EUR, local currencies)

• Mobile app for merchant management

Industry-Specific Solutions

Education Sector:

• Student portal for fee payments

• Installment payment plans

• Bulk student registration

• Integration with school management systems

Hospitality:

• Hotel booking system integration

• Event ticketing solutions

• Restaurant POS systems

• Tourism package payments

Utilities and Government:

• Bill payment platforms

• Tax collection systems

• License fee processing

• Government service payments

Countries Covered

Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Malawi, with strong market presence and local partnerships

Pricing Model

• Average of 3.5% per transaction

• Enterprise pricing available for hotels, schools, and high-volume merchants

• Custom rates for government and NGO clients

• No monthly fees for small businesses

Integration Support

• API documentation in multiple languages

• WordPress and Drupal plugins

• Mobile money USSD integration

• POS terminal deployment

• Custom integration support

Local Market Expertise

Pesapal's advantages include:

• 15+ years of East African market experience

• Strong relationships with local banks and telcos

• Understanding of regulatory requirements

• Local customer support teams

• Swahili language support

Best For

Hotels, schools, NGOs, and businesses that require both online and offline payment options in East Africa.

Detailed Comparison Analysis

Transaction Processing Speed

Provider	Processing Time	Settlement Time	Instant Payouts
ElemiPay	Real-time	Weekly/On-demand	Yes (USDT)
DusuPay	2-24 hours	1-3 days	Limited
Flutterwave	Real-time	T+1 to T+3	Yes
Paystack	Real-time	T+1 to T+2	Yes
Pesapal	2-24 hours	T+2 to T+5	No

Final Recommendations

Direct Pay Online has served many East African businesses well, but the payment landscape has evolved significantly. Modern alternatives offer better pricing, broader coverage, and more advanced features.

Quick Decision Guide:

• Need crypto settlements or work in high-risk industries? Choose ElemiPay

• Expanding across Africa with complex payout needs? Choose DusuPay

• Want the most comprehensive African coverage and features? Choose Flutterwave

• Building a SaaS or subscription business? Choose Paystack

• Operating primarily in East Africa with offline needs? Choose Pesapal

The African payments market is growing rapidly, and choosing the right payment processor can significantly impact your business success. Take time to evaluate options thoroughly, but don't let analysis paralysis prevent you from upgrading from outdated systems.

Looking for help implementing any of these payment solutions? Most providers offer free consultation and integration support to help businesses migrate successfully https://app.trembi.com/meeting/MPC1742295937038