Top DusuPay Alternatives You Should Know for Payment Processing in Africa

As the digital economy across Africa continues to grow, businesses are seeking faster, more secure, and scalable ways to accept and make payments. While DusuPay has served many companies in fintech, forex, remittances, and gaming, its limitations in coverage, flexibility, and speed have opened the door for more advanced platforms.

Whether you're a startup, an enterprise, or a multinational expanding into African markets, here are the top DusuPay alternatives you should know each with its own strengths, ideal use cases, country coverage, and technology stack.

List of top Dusupay alternatives

1. ElemiPay

2. Flutterwave

3. Paystack

4. Direct Pay online

1. Elemi Pay – A Developer-Friendly Payment API Built for Africa

Elemi Pay is a modern payments platform built by Elemitech, tailored for businesses looking to collect and disburse funds across multiple African countries. It’s ideal for high-volume and API-first businesses such as fintechs, crypto platforms, gaming providers, and digital marketplaces.

Key Strengths:

• All-in-One API: One unified API for both collections (from mobile money, cards, and bank transfers) and payouts (to banks and mobile wallets).

• Wide African Coverage: Supports payment operations in:

  • Uganda – MTN, Airtel, Visa/Mastercard

  • Kenya – M-PESA, Airtel Money, Online Banking

  • Nigeria – Online Banking, Cards

  • South Africa – Visa, Mastercard, Online Banking

  • Rwanda, Ghana, Tanzania, South Sudan – Mobile Money

• Flexible Settlement Options:

  • Weekly settlements

  • Pay out to international bank accounts or USDT wallets for crypto-first companies.

• White Label & Dashboard Support:

  • Suitable for PSPs, aggregators, and forex or betting companies needing branded payment portals.

• High-Volume Ready: Designed to handle millions of transactions monthly with high reliability.

Weaknesses:

• Newer to the market compared to legacy players like Flutterwave.

  
  

Use Cases:

• Forex and Crypto platforms

• Betting and Gaming companies

• Fintech APIs & Wallets

• eCommerce with high transaction frequency

• Cross-border SaaS and digital services

2. Flutterwave – Scalable Payments with Global Reach

Founded in 2016, Flutterwave has become a household name in Africa's fintech ecosystem. With over 1 million businesses using its platform, Flutterwave offers a feature-rich environment for accepting online and offline payments.

Key Strengths:

• 30+ Country Coverage: Operates across West, East, Central, and Southern Africa and expanding into North America, Europe, and the Middle East.

• Multiple Payment Channels:

  • Mobile Money (M-PESA, MTN, Airtel)

  • Cards (Visa, Mastercard, Verve)

  • USSD

  • Bank Transfers

• POS Solutions: Offers point-of-sale devices for merchants.

• Flutterwave Store: E-commerce storefront for small businesses to sell without a website.

• Marketplace Tools: Ideal for aggregators and platforms managing sub-merchants.

Weaknesses:

• Support Issues: Slow customer service has been a persistent complaint on platforms like Twitter and Trustpilot.

• Chargeback Handling: Chargeback reversals can be slow and lack transparency.

• Payout Functionality: Not as robust or flexible as Elemi Pay for automated mass payouts.

Use Cases:

• SMEs and online sellers

• Marketplaces and platforms onboarding multiple merchants

• International brands selling into Africa

• Nonprofits receiving donations in local currencies

3. Paystack – Best for Startups and Developers in West Africa

Paystack, now a part of Stripe, is known for its elegant developer experience and deep integration with banks in Nigeria and Ghana. It focuses primarily on payment collections, with limited payout capabilities.

Key Strengths:

• Stripe-Level Developer Experience: Clean, well-documented APIs for developers to get up and running in hours.

• Smooth Onboarding: Quick account setup, with instant access for businesses in supported countries.

• Subscription Billing: One of the few African platforms offering native support for recurring payments.

• Fraud Detection: Machine learning-based fraud protection integrated at the gateway level.

Weaknesses:

• Limited Geographic Coverage:

  • Fully operational only in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, and Kenya (recent expansion).

• No Payouts or Disbursements: Primarily focused on collection rather than sending funds.

• Limited B2B Customization: Not ideal for aggregators or platforms needing white-label solutions.

Use Cases:

• Nigerian startups and SaaS platforms

• Freelancers and creators

• Subscription businesses

• E-commerce platforms operating in supported regions

4. Direct Pay Online (DPO) – Ideal for Tourism and Hospitality

DPO Group is one of the oldest online payment processors in Africa, with a stronghold in East and Southern Africa. It is known for catering to tourism and hospitality businesses like hotels, travel agencies, and airlines.

Key Strengths:

• Multi-Currency Support: Accepts payments in USD, EUR, GBP, and local African currencies.

• Tailored for Travel: Provides booking engine integrations, invoicing, and fraud protection tools for the tourism industry.

• POS Devices: Supports in-person transactions at hotels and lodges.

• eCommerce Plugins: WordPress, Shopify, Magento, and more.

Weaknesses:

• High Fees: Setup and transaction costs can be high for small businesses.

• Dated User Interface: Less modern than Flutterwave or Paystack for self-serve users.

• Limited Developer Focus: Not ideal for API-first businesses or fintechs.

🧠 Use Cases:

• Safari and travel agencies

• Hotels, guesthouses, and tour operators

• Luxury retail and airline operators in East Africa

• NGOs requiring card payments and recurring donations

Comparison Table

Feature	Elemi Pay	Flutterwave	Paystack	DPO Group
Payment Channels	Mobile Money, Bank, Card	Mobile Money, Bank, Card, USSD	Card, Bank Transfer	Card, Bank, Mobile Money
Payout/Disbursement Support	✅ Yes	⚠️ Limited	❌ No	✅ Yes
Settlement Options	Weekly, Bank or USDT	Daily/Weekly, Bank	Bank only	Bank
Developer Tools	Strong, API-first	Excellent	Excellent	Moderate
Country Coverage	10+ African Countries	30+ Countries	4 Countries	12+ Countries
White Label Solutions	✅ Yes	⚠️ Limited	❌ No	⚠️ Limited
Ideal For	API-heavy fintechs	SMEs, eCommerce, NGOs	Startups in West Africa	Tourism, Travel, Hotels

🔍 How to Choose the Right DusuPay Alternative

When selecting the best alternative to DusuPay, consider the following:

• What countries do you want to operate in?If you need coverage in Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Nigeria, and beyond—Elemi Pay or Flutterwave are your best options.

• Do you need payouts or just collections?If your business requires both collecting and sending money (e.g., forex, gaming, affiliate networks), Elemi Pay is better suited.

• Do you need a plug-and-play setup or developer customization?Use Paystack for easy web-based integrations, or Elemi Pay for full backend control and automation.

• Is your business in tourism or travel?DPO Group offers industry-specific tools for hotels, airlines, and tour companies.

Final Thoughts

Africa's payment ecosystem is evolving, and relying solely on one gateway like DusuPay can limit your growth. With platforms like Elemi Pay, Flutterwave, Paystack, and DPO, businesses now have more tailored options depending on their vertical, tech needs, and country presence.

Our Recommendation

For businesses seeking a reliable, API-first, pan-African payment solution with both collection and payout capabilities, Elemi Pay is the most versatile DusuPay alternative in 2025.

Ready to Scale Across Africa?

Book a free consultation with the Elemi Pay team today and explore how to integrate mobile money, bank transfers, and card payments seamlessly into your platform.

Contact us on sales@elemitech.com