Paystack vs Polar
Paystack or Polar for your paid community?
Both work with Ubunya: members who pay are let in automatically, and lose access when their membership ends. Here's how they differ on fees, payment methods, tax and payouts.
The short answer
Choose Paystack if
- Registered businesses in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana or South Africa that want cards and mobile money in one place.
- You'd rather be the seller yourself and keep tax in your own hands.
- Your members pay with M-Pesa.
Choose Polar if
- Developers and creators who want tax handled and can use Stripe payouts in their country.
- You want Polar to handle sales tax and VAT as the merchant of record.
Side by side
| Paystack | Polar | |
|---|---|---|
| Handles sales tax and VAT (merchant of record) | No, you do | Yes |
| 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. | 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, M-Pesa, Airtel Money, mobile money, Apple Pay, bank transfer, USSD, Pesalink, EFT | cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Link, Amazon Pay, Cash App Pay, WeChat Pay |
| Recurring billing | Subscriptions by card (and direct debit in Nigeria); M-Pesa and mobile money can't auto-renew. | Subscriptions by card or wallet. |
| Who can sign up as a seller | Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Rwanda | Countries supported by Stripe Connect Express, including Kenya and Nigeria |
| Payouts | Local bank account or M-Pesa (Kenya), usually after 2 working days | Bank account via Stripe Connect Express |
| Free test mode | Yes | Yes |
| Connecting it to Ubunya | Paste your secret key, then paste our webhook URL into Paystack. Paystack's signature is checked with your key. | Paste an organisation access token, then add our webhook in Polar and paste its secret. |
| Prices on your community | Your Paystack plans. Each yearly plan can also be paid once with M-Pesa or mobile money. | Your Polar products, subscription or one-time. |
| Renewals in Ubunya | Cards renew automatically. Mobile money pays one year at a time. | Renews automatically. |
| Members' billing page | Paystack's subscription page: change card, cancel. | Polar's customer portal. |
From Paystack's and Polar's own websites, checked November 2026. Prices change; check theirs before you sign up. Compare all 11 providers.
Questions
Which handles tax, Paystack or Polar?+
Polar is a merchant of record and handles VAT and sales tax for you; with Paystack you're the seller and tax is yours to handle.
Can members pay with M-Pesa on Paystack or Polar?+
Paystack: yes. Polar: not that we could find on its website.
Can I use Paystack or Polar with Ubunya?+
Yes, both. Connect your own account under Manage → Payments. Paystack: Paste your secret key, then paste our webhook URL into Paystack. Paystack's signature is checked with your key. Polar: Paste an organisation access token, then add our webhook in Polar and paste its secret.
What happens when a member stops paying?+
Their access stays until the end of what they paid for, plus the grace days you set (three by default). Then the community closes to them. Staff never lose access.
More comparisons
Charge for your community with the account you already have
Connect it under Manage → Payments. Paying members are let in automatically.