Compare payment providers
Take membership payments with the provider that suits your members
A Ubunya community connects its own payment account. When someone pays they're let in; when their membership ends, the community closes to them. Here is how the 11 providers you can connect compare.
Which one should you pick?
Your members are in Kenya or East Africa
Pesapal and IntaSend take M-Pesa and Airtel Money directly. Each payment buys a month or a year and members pay again when it ends. Paystack takes M-Pesa too, and renews automatically for members who pay by card.
Pesapal · IntaSend · Paystack
Your members are in Nigeria, Ghana or South Africa
Paystack covers local cards, bank transfer and mobile money, with card subscriptions that renew on their own.
Paystack
You sell worldwide and want tax handled for you
A merchant of record sells to your members on your behalf and files VAT and sales tax in every country. You get one payout and no tax registrations.
Dodo Payments · Creem · Lemon Squeezy · Paddle · Polar
You already have a Stripe account
Stripe has the widest card coverage and the most control. You are the seller, so tax is yours to handle unless you add Stripe Tax.
Stripe
All providers side by side
| Provider | Handles sales tax and VAT (merchant of record) | Card fee | Members can pay with | Recurring billing | Who can sign up as a seller |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | No, you do | 2.9% + 30¢ (US cards). Plus 1.5% for international cards and 1% if currency conversion is needed. Billing adds 0.7% on subscriptions. Optional Managed Payments (merchant of record) adds 3.5%. | cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Link, Klarna, ACH Direct Debit, UPI, Pix, bank payments, stablecoins | Subscriptions through Stripe Billing, mainly by card, wallet or bank debit. | About 44 countries self-serve; Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and Côte d'Ivoire are served through Paystack instead |
| Paystack | No, you do | 2.9% local cards, 3.8% international cards, 1.5% M-Pesa (Kenya). Kenya rates shown; other countries have their own rates. Transfers out cost KES 20–350 depending on amount and destination. | cards, M-Pesa, Airtel Money, mobile money, Apple Pay, bank transfer, USSD, Pesalink, EFT | Subscriptions by card (and direct debit in Nigeria); M-Pesa and mobile money can't auto-renew. | Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Rwanda |
| Pesapal | No, you do | Not published. Pesapal charges a per-transaction fee but publishes no rates; ask their sales team. | cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex), M-Pesa, mobile money, mobile banking | Recurring payments by Visa or Mastercard only; the payer approves the schedule on Pesapal's page. | Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
| IntaSend | No, you do | 3% (M-Pesa and mobile money). KSh 100 per M-Pesa payout. Its pricing page says it doesn't process card payments, though its developer docs describe cards. | M-Pesa, Airtel Money, MTN Mobile Money, Orange Money, bank transfer, Pesalink | Has subscription plans in its API, but those charge cards, which its site says it doesn't process; mobile money can't auto-renew. | Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, DRC |
| Dodo Payments | Yes | 4% + 40¢ (US cards). Plus 1.5% for international cards, 0.5% for subscriptions, 3% for PayPal or BNPL. $5 fee on payouts under $1,000; $25 for USD SWIFT payouts. | cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna, ACH, SEPA, UPI, Pix, iDEAL, WeChat Pay, GCash | Subscriptions by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay and some local methods (UPI, Pix, GCash); others are one-time only. | 177 countries; not Kenya or Nigeria (new sign-ups) |
| Creem | Yes | 3.9% + 40¢. No extra fee for international cards. Payout fee is 7 USD/EUR or 1%, whichever is higher. | cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay | Subscriptions by card or wallet. | 87 countries, including Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa |
| Lemon Squeezy | Yes | 5% + 50¢. Plus 1.5% outside the US, 1.5% for PayPal, 0.5% for subscriptions. 1% payout fee to non-US banks; PayPal payouts 3% (max $30) outside the US. Owned by Stripe, which is moving it toward Stripe Managed Payments. | cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Alipay, WeChat Pay, Cash App Pay, bank debits | Subscriptions by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or PayPal. | PayPal payouts in 200+ countries; bank payouts in a shorter list that includes Kenya |
| Polar | Yes | 5% + 50¢ (free plan). Plus 1.5% for non-US cards. Paid plans lower the rate (e.g. 3.8% + 40¢ for $20/month). Stripe payout fees apply: $2/month, 0.25% + 25¢ per payout, plus currency conversion. | cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Link, Amazon Pay, Cash App Pay, WeChat Pay | Subscriptions by card or wallet. | Countries supported by Stripe Connect Express, including Kenya and Nigeria |
| Paddle | Yes | 5% + 50¢. Custom pricing for products under $10. Payouts are free for most countries; some pay a $15 SWIFT fee. | cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, bank transfer, Alipay, WeChat Pay, UPI, Pix, iDEAL, BLIK | Subscriptions by card, PayPal and wallets. | Most countries except sanctioned ones |
| Kelviq | Yes | 3.5% + 40¢ (2.9% + 40¢ on your first $5,000). Plus 1.5% for non-US cards and 0.7% on subscription renewals. | cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, SEPA, iDEAL, UPI | Subscriptions by card and wallets; UPI AutoPay in India. | 90+ countries, including Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa |
| Gumroad | Yes | 10% + 50¢ (direct sales). 30% for sales through Gumroad Discover. PayPal payouts cost 2%. Whether card processing is extra wasn't confirmed. | cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal | Memberships renew automatically by card or PayPal. | Most countries; bank payouts in 100+ (including Kenya), PayPal elsewhere |
Stripe
- Handles sales tax and VAT (merchant of record)
- No, you do
- Card fee
- 2.9% + 30¢ (US cards). Plus 1.5% for international cards and 1% if currency conversion is needed. Billing adds 0.7% on subscriptions. Optional Managed Payments (merchant of record) adds 3.5%.
- Members can pay with
- cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Link, Klarna, ACH Direct Debit, UPI, Pix, bank payments, stablecoins
- Recurring billing
- Subscriptions through Stripe Billing, mainly by card, wallet or bank debit.
- Who can sign up as a seller
- About 44 countries self-serve; Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and Côte d'Ivoire are served through Paystack instead
Paystack
- Handles sales tax and VAT (merchant of record)
- No, you do
- Card fee
- 2.9% local cards, 3.8% international cards, 1.5% M-Pesa (Kenya). Kenya rates shown; other countries have their own rates. Transfers out cost KES 20–350 depending on amount and destination.
- Members can pay with
- cards, M-Pesa, Airtel Money, mobile money, Apple Pay, bank transfer, USSD, Pesalink, EFT
- Recurring billing
- Subscriptions by card (and direct debit in Nigeria); M-Pesa and mobile money can't auto-renew.
- Who can sign up as a seller
- Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Rwanda
Pesapal
- Handles sales tax and VAT (merchant of record)
- No, you do
- Card fee
- Not published. Pesapal charges a per-transaction fee but publishes no rates; ask their sales team.
- Members can pay with
- cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex), M-Pesa, mobile money, mobile banking
- Recurring billing
- Recurring payments by Visa or Mastercard only; the payer approves the schedule on Pesapal's page.
- Who can sign up as a seller
- Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe
IntaSend
- Handles sales tax and VAT (merchant of record)
- No, you do
- Card fee
- 3% (M-Pesa and mobile money). KSh 100 per M-Pesa payout. Its pricing page says it doesn't process card payments, though its developer docs describe cards.
- Members can pay with
- M-Pesa, Airtel Money, MTN Mobile Money, Orange Money, bank transfer, Pesalink
- Recurring billing
- Has subscription plans in its API, but those charge cards, which its site says it doesn't process; mobile money can't auto-renew.
- Who can sign up as a seller
- Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, DRC
Dodo Payments
- Handles sales tax and VAT (merchant of record)
- Yes
- Card fee
- 4% + 40¢ (US cards). Plus 1.5% for international cards, 0.5% for subscriptions, 3% for PayPal or BNPL. $5 fee on payouts under $1,000; $25 for USD SWIFT payouts.
- Members can pay with
- cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna, ACH, SEPA, UPI, Pix, iDEAL, WeChat Pay, GCash
- Recurring billing
- Subscriptions by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay and some local methods (UPI, Pix, GCash); others are one-time only.
- Who can sign up as a seller
- 177 countries; not Kenya or Nigeria (new sign-ups)
Creem
- Handles sales tax and VAT (merchant of record)
- Yes
- Card fee
- 3.9% + 40¢. No extra fee for international cards. Payout fee is 7 USD/EUR or 1%, whichever is higher.
- Members can pay with
- cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay
- Recurring billing
- Subscriptions by card or wallet.
- Who can sign up as a seller
- 87 countries, including Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa
Lemon Squeezy
- Handles sales tax and VAT (merchant of record)
- Yes
- Card fee
- 5% + 50¢. Plus 1.5% outside the US, 1.5% for PayPal, 0.5% for subscriptions. 1% payout fee to non-US banks; PayPal payouts 3% (max $30) outside the US. Owned by Stripe, which is moving it toward Stripe Managed Payments.
- Members can pay with
- cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Alipay, WeChat Pay, Cash App Pay, bank debits
- Recurring billing
- Subscriptions by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or PayPal.
- Who can sign up as a seller
- PayPal payouts in 200+ countries; bank payouts in a shorter list that includes Kenya
Polar
- Handles sales tax and VAT (merchant of record)
- Yes
- Card fee
- 5% + 50¢ (free plan). Plus 1.5% for non-US cards. Paid plans lower the rate (e.g. 3.8% + 40¢ for $20/month). Stripe payout fees apply: $2/month, 0.25% + 25¢ per payout, plus currency conversion.
- Members can pay with
- cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Link, Amazon Pay, Cash App Pay, WeChat Pay
- Recurring billing
- Subscriptions by card or wallet.
- Who can sign up as a seller
- Countries supported by Stripe Connect Express, including Kenya and Nigeria
Paddle
- Handles sales tax and VAT (merchant of record)
- Yes
- Card fee
- 5% + 50¢. Custom pricing for products under $10. Payouts are free for most countries; some pay a $15 SWIFT fee.
- Members can pay with
- cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, bank transfer, Alipay, WeChat Pay, UPI, Pix, iDEAL, BLIK
- Recurring billing
- Subscriptions by card, PayPal and wallets.
- Who can sign up as a seller
- Most countries except sanctioned ones
Kelviq
- Handles sales tax and VAT (merchant of record)
- Yes
- Card fee
- 3.5% + 40¢ (2.9% + 40¢ on your first $5,000). Plus 1.5% for non-US cards and 0.7% on subscription renewals.
- Members can pay with
- cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, SEPA, iDEAL, UPI
- Recurring billing
- Subscriptions by card and wallets; UPI AutoPay in India.
- Who can sign up as a seller
- 90+ countries, including Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa
Gumroad
- Handles sales tax and VAT (merchant of record)
- Yes
- Card fee
- 10% + 50¢ (direct sales). 30% for sales through Gumroad Discover. PayPal payouts cost 2%. Whether card processing is extra wasn't confirmed.
- Members can pay with
- cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal
- Recurring billing
- Memberships renew automatically by card or PayPal.
- Who can sign up as a seller
- Most countries; bank payouts in 100+ (including Kenya), PayPal elsewhere
Fees and features from each provider's own website, checked November 2026. Providers change their prices; check theirs before you sign up.
Common questions, answered
Is Stripe available in Kenya?
Stripe doesn't sign up businesses registered in Kenya and points them to Paystack, which it owns. How to take card and M-Pesa payments for a paid community in Kenya with Paystack, Pesapal or IntaSend.
Taking membership payments in Kenya
The payment gateways a Kenyan community can use to charge for membership: M-Pesa, Airtel Money and cards with Paystack, Pesapal and IntaSend. Fees, payouts and how renewals work.
Taking membership payments in Nigeria
How a community in Nigeria can charge for membership: Paystack for local cards, bank transfer and USSD, and merchant-of-record options that accept Nigerian sellers for international buyers.
Alternatives to Stripe for a paid community
Alternatives to Stripe for charging for a community: merchants of record that handle tax (Dodo, Creem, Lemon Squeezy, Paddle, Polar, Kelviq), African gateways with M-Pesa (Paystack, Pesapal, IntaSend), and Gumroad.
Questions
Is Stripe available in Kenya?+
Not for businesses registered in Kenya. Stripe directs Kenyan businesses to Paystack, which Stripe owns. Paystack takes cards, M-Pesa and Airtel Money and pays out to Kenyan bank accounts or M-Pesa.
What is the best payment gateway in Kenya for a membership?+
For M-Pesa, Paystack, Pesapal and IntaSend all work. Paystack also renews card subscriptions automatically; Pesapal and IntaSend are Kenyan and built around M-Pesa.
Which payment gateway is best in Nigeria?+
For members in Nigeria, Paystack: local cards, bank transfer and USSD, with automatic renewals by card. For international members, a merchant of record that accepts Nigerian sellers, such as Creem, Kelviq or Polar.
What is a merchant of record?+
The company that legally sells to your customer: it takes the payment, handles VAT and sales tax in every country, deals with refunds and chargebacks, and pays you. Paddle, Lemon Squeezy, Dodo Payments, Creem, Polar, Kelviq and Gumroad are merchants of record; Stripe isn't.
What is a cheaper alternative to Stripe?+
For tax handled for you, Creem (3.9% + 40¢) and Kelviq (from 2.9% + 40¢) cost less than Paddle or Lemon Squeezy (5% + 50¢). Stripe itself starts at 2.9% + 30¢ but leaves tax to you.
Head to head
Charge for your community with the account you already have
Connect it under Manage → Payments. Paying members are let in automatically.