A Namibian website can take payment in three ways: a bank transfer the customer makes themselves, a card payment handled by a payment provider's gateway, or payment on delivery or collection. Bank transfer costs nothing to set up but needs someone to match each payment. A payment provider automates this for a fee on each sale. Choose by how many sales you expect, your profit margin and who will check the payments.
The three ways compared
| Way to be paid | How it works | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer (EFT) | The customer pays into your bank account and sends proof of payment. | Few orders, higher-value sales, businesses with thin margins. | Someone must check each payment before releasing the order. Customers may pay late or send false proof. |
| Card payment through a provider | The customer pays on a secure page run by the provider. The money is settled to your bank account. | Online stores with regular orders, and customers who expect to pay by card. | The provider charges a fee on each sale and sets its own approval and settlement rules. |
| Pay on delivery or collection | The customer pays in cash or by card when the order arrives or is collected. | Local shops and deliveries in one town. | No money before you deliver. Returns and no-shows are your risk. |
Payment providers in Namibia
A payment provider connects your checkout to the card networks and the banks. We have not tested any provider for you, so check current details with each one. These are examples from public sources, reviewed on 5 October 2026:
- PayToday. Its business page offers a payment gateway that connects to an online store, and a WooCommerce plugin for online shops built on WooCommerce.
- DPO Group. The Bank of Namibia lists it as a national payment system participant under the name Virtual Card Services Namibia (DPO). In 2018 it received a payment facilitator licence from the Payments Association of Namibia and said it offers online payment products to businesses.
Other providers are also licensed. The Bank of Namibia keeps the list of participants and the Payments Association of Namibia lists its current service providers, both linked below. Prices, supported cards and settlement times change, so we do not quote them here.
Questions to ask a payment provider
- Are you licensed in Namibia, and can I see it on the Bank of Namibia or Payments Association list?
- What is the fee on each sale, and are there set-up or monthly fees?
- Which cards and wallets can my customers use?
- How many days until the money reaches my bank account?
- What happens with refunds and disputed payments?
- Does it connect to the way my website or store is built?
- Is the account in my business name, so I control it?
What a web developer does
A developer connects the provider to your checkout, tests it with test payments, and makes sure an order is marked as paid only when the provider confirms it. The developer should never store card numbers on your website, because the provider's secure page takes them. You, not the developer, should hold the provider account.
On our online stores, provider fees are listed separately from the build price, and we tell you before we quote whether a provider works with your platform. See online stores and prices.
Common questions
Do I need a payment gateway to sell online in Namibia?
No. Many Namibian businesses take orders on a website and are paid by bank transfer or on delivery. A gateway helps when you have regular orders and customers who expect to pay by card.
Is it safe to take card payments on my website?
It is safe when the card details are entered on the provider's secure page, not on your own page. Ask your developer to confirm that no card numbers are stored on your site.
Who pays the payment provider's fee?
The business pays, usually as a fee on each sale. Some businesses add it to their prices. Ask each provider for its current fees in writing.