So what you’re saying is that even though Shopify payments isn’t available in South Africa, and therefore isn’t an option for us, we would still need to pay the additional 5% transaction fee even though we have no choice but to select a 3rd party payment provider? Please correct me if I’m wrong.
Topic summary
Main issue: Whether the $5 Shopify Starter plan supports integrating third‑party payment gateways in South Africa, where Shopify Payments is unavailable.
Key update: A Shopify staff member states Starter does allow third‑party gateways and charges a 5% transaction fee per purchase when using them. Starter is positioned for social sellers (selling via social/media apps rather than a full storefront). Links to Starter features and the South Africa supported gateway list were provided.
Concerns raised:
- Users question paying the 5% fee despite having no access to Shopify Payments in South Africa.
- A user reports Paystack integration prompts that at least the Basic plan is required, creating confusion about Starter compatibility.
Unanswered questions / action needed:
- Clarification on which specific gateways are compatible with Starter in South Africa (e.g., Paystack) and whether some require the Basic plan.
- Guidance on whether to add gateways via Apps vs Payment settings for Starter.
- Confirmation on whether the 5% fee is unavoidable for third‑party gateways on Starter.
Status: No resolution yet; multiple users are awaiting confirmation and a definitive gateway list for Starter.