A payment gateway is a piece of technology that connects customers, merchants, and payment processors in a safe way to make digital payments. This enables businesses take payments online without worrying about fraud. Payment gateways assist businesses in Africa, especially in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), process payments, get money online, and employ new digital payment methods on mobile, card, and other payment rails.
According to our ratings, NOWPayments is the best way to pay in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It makes it easy to accept crypto payments and provides good support for international payments with cheap fees. Businesses in Kinshasa and all throughout the country can easily accept bitcoin payments. This is fantastic for payments that traverse borders and for global payment systems in 2026.
In 2026, it will be crucial to pick the correct payment gateway because the Democratic Republic of Congo’s payment system is swiftly evolving toward mobile and digital solutions. A payment service provider should be able to handle payments from persons in different countries as well as payments from people in the same nation. With the correct payment processor, businesses can effortlessly take payments, customers can select how to pay, and transaction fees are cheaper. As e-commerce grows in Africa, a secure payment gateway is necessary to ensure that payments go through smoothly, trust grows, and business expands.
Here’s a list of payment gateways in the Democratic Republic of the Congo:
- NOWPayments
- Flutterwave
- Paystack
- Interswitch
- Remita
What We Considered When Choosing the Best Payment Gateway: Our Selection Criteria
We wanted to find Africa’s best payment gateway, especially for companies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. To achieve this result, we took a close look at various factors that could impact how payments work in the real world by 2026, keeping our analysis objective. Our goal was to assess how well each payment gateway handles modern digital transactions. For instance, sending and receiving money online or through mobile devices should be smooth, both within Africa and across its borders.
We believe that these three factors were the most significant for businesses in Kinshasa and across the Democratic Republic of the Congo:
- Supported Cryptocurrencies and Conversion: It is crucial for businesses to accept cryptocurrency payments, facilitate international transactions, and offer a wider array of payment options that enable customers globally to make payments with ease.
- Integration tools: They play a crucial role in quickly building a modern payment gateway that brings together applications, APIs, and payment links. This means businesses can process payments quickly and easily, steering clear of the usual technical headaches.
- Fee Structure and Transparency: It’s vital to create clear transaction fee models to help cut costs in the African market, especially for cross-border payments and various payment methods. This has a direct impact on your bottom line.
The table below displays the performance of each gateway in these three key areas. We will discuss in more detail how each supplier performed in these areas.
| Payment Gateway | Supported Payment Methods | Integration Tools | Transaction Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOWPayments | Cryptocurrencies (350+), stablecoins (USDT, USDC), payment links for global payment acceptance | API, e-commerce plugins (WooCommerce), payment widget and payment button, POS | 0.5% per crypto transaction |
| Flutterwave | Card payments (Visa, Mastercard), mobile money, bank transfer, local payment methods across Africa | API, SDKs, payment links, mobile & web app tools | 1.4% local card payments |
| Paystack | Cards, bank transfer, USSD, mobile money (selected African countries) | API, developer libraries, payment pages, plugins | 1.5% + ₦100 (local transactions) |
| Interswitch | Cards, bank accounts, USSD, POS and enterprise payment rails | API, enterprise integration tools, POS systems | ≈1.5% per transaction |
| Remita | Cards, bank transfer, mobile money, bulk and government payments | API, invoicing tools, payment collections platform | ≈1.0% per transaction |
NOWPayments as the best payment gateway in Congo
NOWPayments is the best crypto payment gateway in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for accepting crypto payments. It lets people pay with bitcoin in a smooth and modern way. As one of the best payment service providers, it works with payment platforms all over the world and helps businesses in Kinshasa and the rest of the DRC deal with the problems that come with using traditional payment systems. This payment processor is very helpful in Africa, where it is becoming more and more important to be able to make payments across borders and with different methods. As the financial landscape changes in 2026, NOWPayments is the best way to accept crypto payments in Africa.
Supported Payment Methods. Businesses that want to stop using the most common local banking methods can use NOWPayments to pay with a variety of cryptocurrencies. Merchants can take payments from customers all over the world because there are so many ways to pay. This also means they do not have to depend on card payments or wire transfers as much. The platform makes it easier for African e-commerce to accept payments by letting people pay with bitcoin. This is a great payment gateway for African businesses that want to reach customers all over the world and give them a lot of ways to pay.
- Number of Currencies: 300+
- Stablecoins: ✅ USDT, USDC
Integration Tools. NOWPayments has rolled out new connection methods that make it easier for businesses of all sizes to accept payments. By leveraging APIs, e-commerce plugins, payment links, and point-of-sale systems, merchants can quickly set up a payment gateway that works seamlessly in Africa and around the globe. These solutions allow businesses to process payments swiftly and effortlessly, and they can be implemented in no time. This modern payment gateway lets you handle transactions in the DRC flexibly, adapting and growing alongside your business.
- API: ✅ Full REST API
- E-commerce Plugins: WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento
- Payment Tools: ✅ Payment links, invoices
- POS System: ✅
Transaction Fees. When it comes to transaction fees, people appreciate that NOWPayments keeps things clear and fair. They make sending money a breeze! For the first 60 days, new partners can enjoy zero network fees on USDT TRC20 deposits. Plus, accepting cryptocurrency payments has never been more affordable. This is fantastic news for freelancers, merchants, and businesses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that sell goods and services online. NOWPayments really shines as one of Africa’s top payment gateways, mainly because of its competitive rates. Their main goals are to make payments easier and to drive profitability.
- Processing Fee: 0.5%
- Network Fee (USDT TRC20): 0% for first 60 days (new partners)
Flutterwave
Flutterwave is a leading payment gateway in Africa, allowing businesses to easily accept payments from customers in their own countries and regions. It’s widely used across many African nations, and businesses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo count on it for their payment management. Flutterwave is a great choice for companies wanting to handle payments locally, as it supports credit cards, mobile money, and bank transfers. By 2026, getting paid in Africa is still looking like a solid option.
Supported Payment Methods. Flutterwave works with a variety of digital payment methods that are popular among people in Africa. These options make it easier for businesses to receive payments through credit cards, mobile money, and bank transfers. This way, businesses can connect with customers who prefer using payment methods they know and trust. However, it’s worth noting that the platform doesn’t support cryptocurrencies or any other payment forms.
- Number of Currencies: 30+
- Traditional Cards: ✅ Visa, Mastercard
- Bank Transfer: ✅
Integration Tools. When it comes to integration tools, Flutterwave is a game-changer. They offer a range of resources that make it super easy for businesses to set up payment systems. With their APIs and SDKs, connecting apps and websites becomes a breeze, allowing stores to quickly implement payment options. Plus, businesses can accept payments without the hassle of creating their own payment links and checkout processes. These tools are a lifeline for Africa’s growing payment systems, giving them exactly what they need to thrive.
- API: ✅
- E-commerce Plugins: WooCommerce, Shopify
- Payment Tools: ✅ Payment links
- POS System: ❌
Transaction Fees. The fees that Flutterwave charges for transactions are similar to those of other African payment services. Payments made within the same country and payments made across borders have different fees. This idea is good for businesses that work in Africa, but they need to keep an eye on their costs. Merchants can better plan how to accept payments when prices are clear.
- Processing Fee: 1.4% (local cards)
- Conversion Fee: Included
- International Fee: Varies
Paystack as payment gateway in Congo
Paystack is a new payment gateway that people say is simple to use and dependable for processing digital payments. Many African businesses that like to use cards and bank-based payment systems use gateways like Paystack. It lets businesses safely take payments while still making sure customers have fun. Most of the time, companies that work in the DRC’s regional payment systems use it.
Supported Payment Methods. Paystack only works with a few traditional payment methods that work with most banks. There are many ways to pay, such as with a card, a bank transfer, or USSD. There are not many ways to pay, but the service is very reliable. You can not pay with cryptocurrency or any other way on the site.
- Number of Currencies: 10+
- Stablecoins: ❌
- Traditional Cards: ✅ Visa, Mastercard
- Bank Transfer: ✅
Integration Tools. Paystack has tools that make it easy for developers to add ways to pay. Adding payment options to apps and websites is simple for businesses. Hosted payment pages make it easy for businesses to get paid without having to deal with complicated technology. This means that Paystack is a good way for people in Africa to buy things online.
- API: ✅
- E-commerce Plugins: WooCommerce
- Payment Tools: ✅ Payment pages
- POS System: ❌
Transaction Fees. Merchants can easily understand Paystack’s fee structure. It is easy to find out how much the fees will be, which helps businesses save money. Sending money to other countries costs more than doing business in the same country. This pricing plan is good for companies that want to sell in their own country or region.
- Processing Fee: 1.5% + fixed fee
- International Fee: Higher rates apply
Interswitch as payment gateway in Congo
Interswitch is a well-known payment processor that has been around for a long time and is very popular in business and institutional payment systems. It gives banks and big companies in Africa the basic payment infrastructure and payment rails they need. Interswitch is more concerned with security, dependability, and scale than with flexibility. It works best for big stores in the DRC, not for small businesses.
Supported Payment Methods. Interswitch accepts regular payment methods like bank transfers and credit cards. It does not give you a lot of options for how to pay; instead, it focuses on following the rules and being stable. You cannot pay with cryptocurrency or any other method. This method works for big companies that need to pay their bills.
- Number of Currencies: Limited
- Stablecoins: ❌
- Traditional Cards: ✅
- Bank Transfer: ✅
Integration Tools.Interswitch makes tools for connecting complex payment systems at the business level. Banks, governments, and big stores usually use these methods. Usually, integration requires both technical know-how and legal contracts. This makes it harder to set up than newer payment gateways.
- API: ✅
- E-commerce Plugins: ❌
- Payment Tools: ❌
- POS System: ✅
Transaction Fees.People who use Interswitch a lot have to talk about the fees a lot. The price depends on the number of transactions, the type of business, and the situation. This setup is great for big payment processors that deal with a lot of transactions. It might not be as clear how much things cost for smaller businesses.
- Processing Fee: ~1.5%
- Monthly/Setup Fee: Varies
Remita as payment gateway in Congo
Remita is a well-established payment gateway and payment service provider that focuses on bank-based digital payments and large-scale collections across Africa. It is widely used by enterprises, institutions, and government-related organizations, making it a trusted payment processor within the African market. For businesses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Remita offers a structured approach to payment acceptance through formal banking channels. In the broader payment landscape of 2026, it is best suited for organizations that prioritize reliability and compliance over flexibility.
Supported Payment Methods. Remita uses some old-fashioned digital payment methods that rely on banks. Businesses can now take payments through credit cards, bank transfers, or mobile banking thanks to these technologies. Institutions have enough payment options, even though they do not have as many as today’s systems. You cannot pay with cryptocurrency or any other kind of money on the site.
- Number of Currencies: Limited
- Stablecoins: ❌
- Traditional Cards: ✅ Visa, Mastercard
- Bank Transfer: ✅
Integration Tools. When it comes to integration tools, Remita shines with its user-friendly and well-organized options for payment systems. Businesses can easily connect Remita with their payment and operational systems using its APIs. These tools are fantastic for collecting payments, issuing invoices, and handling legal transactions. However, small businesses might find that integrating can be a bit more technical compared to using simpler payment gateways.
- API: ✅
- E-commerce Plugins: ❌
- Payment Tools: ✅ Invoicing, bulk payment collections
- POS System: ❌
Transaction Fees. Remita charges different fees based on the type and amount of the transaction. People usually talk about fees ahead of time, and they can be different for schools, businesses, or the government. This structure is good for big companies that do a lot of business. For smaller businesses, the cost structure may not be as clear as it is for modern payment gateways.
- Processing Fee: Varies by transaction type
- International Fee: Varies
Conclusion
We examined the top five payment gateways in Africa for businesses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). These companies are called NOWPayments, Flutterwave, Paystack, Interswitch, and Remita, respectively. Different payment organizations address various aspects of the African payment landscape, including traditional card and bank systems as well as payment systems for enterprises. However, not all of them are equally effective in processing payments in the DRC. Kinshasa and other parts of the country need more and more payment gateways, global payment platforms, and other payment options that local banks can not provide. This is why picking the right payment method for long-term growth in 2026 is a good idea.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s best payment gateway is NOWPayments because it focuses on cryptocurrency payments, makes transactions easier, and has a payment system that works all over the world. It works with a lot of different cryptocurrencies and has simple tools for making payment links and clear transactions. For example, new partners can add USDT TRC20 to their accounts without having to pay any fees to the network. This is the best option because it is cheap and can be changed. These benefits make it especially useful for freelancers, online sellers, and businesses that want to get paid by clients in Africa and other parts of the world. If you are a business in the DRC and want a modern, strong payment gateway that will work until 2026, NOWPayments is the best choice.