Paystack API
Payments · Banking & Fintech · Nigeria
Paystack is Nigeria's most widely adopted payment gateway API and is a subsidiary of Stripe, the global payments infrastructure company that acquired Paystack in 2020. Founded in 2015 by Shola Akinlade and Ezra Olubi, Paystack was part of Y Combinator's 2016 batch and quickly became the default payment choice for Nigerian developers and businesses.
Paystack API Highlights
A Stripe company, Paystack is one of the most widely adopted developer-friendly payment gateways in Africa with 99.9% uptime and instant local settlements.
Bearer Token (Secret Key from Paystack Dashboard)
Rate limited contact Paystack for exact limits
Nigeria
Ghana
South Africa
Kenya
Côte d’Ivoire
EgyptPaystack API is best for:
Nigerian businesses of all sizes from solo developers to enterprises needing Nigeria's best-documented payment API with the widest developer ecosystem, comprehensive payment methods, and full-feature parity between test and live environments.
- Local cards:1.5% + ₦100, capped at ₦2,000 (waived for ≤₦2,500)
- International cards:3.9% + ₦100
- Transfers:₦10 (≤₦5K), ₦25 (₦5K ₦50K), ₦50 (>₦50K)
- Volume discounts >₦10M/month
- No setup/monthly fees
Paystack API Core Features & Capabilities
Paystack API Supported Webhook Events
Events carry an x-paystack-signature header: an HMAC SHA512 hash of the request body signed with your secret key. Always verify the signature before processing.
| Event Name | Trigger & Description |
|---|---|
charge.success | A payment/charge was successfully completed and captured. |
charge.dispute.create | A customer logged a dispute/chargeback against a transaction. |
transfer.success | A transfer/payout to a bank account or recipient completed successfully. |
transfer.failed | A transfer attempt failed and funds were returned to your balance. |
transfer.reversed | A previously completed transfer has been reversed. |
subscription.create | A customer successfully enrolled in a recurring subscription plan. |
subscription.disable | A customer or merchant cancelled/disabled an active subscription. |
customeridentification.success | Customer identification (BVN/Bank account) check passed successfully. |
customeridentification.failed | Customer identification check failed. |
dedicatedaccount.assign.success | A dedicated virtual bank account was assigned to a customer. |
refund.processed | Refund was successfully settled back to customer payment method. |
invoice.payment_failed | Payment attempt for a subscription invoice failed. |
Required Access Documents for Paystack API
- CAC Registration CertificateRequiredCertificate of Incorporation or Business Name Registration from CAC required for full account activation.
- Director BVN and Government IDRequiredBVN and valid government-issued ID for directors CBN KYC requirement.
- Business Bank AccountRequiredActive Nigerian bank account in business name for NGN settlement.
- Business DescriptionRequiredNature of business, products/services, and expected monthly volume reviewed for compliance before live activation.
Different Paystack API use cases
- E-commerce Checkout:Integrate the Paystack API into your online store to accept card, bank transfer, and USSD payments from Nigerian shoppers with a seamless checkout flow.
- Subscription Billing:Use the Paystack API to automate recurring billing for SaaS products, newsletters, and membership platforms on weekly, monthly, or annual cycles.
- Marketplace Payment Splitting:Leverage Paystack split payment feature to automatically distribute revenue between vendors and your platform with configurable percentages.
- Payroll and Bulk Transfers:Send salaries, commissions, or refunds to thousands of bank accounts simultaneously using the Paystack Transfers API in a single API call.
- Donation and Crowdfunding Platforms:Power donation pages and fundraising campaigns by embedding Paystack payment links or the inline popup for zero-friction giving from Nigerian supporters.