Egypt
Internet penetration
Banked population
Online shopping market value
What is a Payment Gateway and How to Choose One in Egypt
A payment gateway is a payment processing solution that handles, verifies, and securely accepts payments or sends funds between you and your customer’s bank or credit card provider. Put simply, it’s the link between your checkout page and the financial institutions, making transactions happen quickly, easily and securely.
For Egyptian sellers entering or scaling in online commerce, choosing the right gateway can have a major impact on conversion rates, customer confidence, and operational costs. Here's what to consider:
Integration & Platform Compatibility
Your payment gateway should be compatible with your payment platform — whether you are using WooCommerce, Wix, or searching for a Shopify payment gateway Egypt businesses can rely on.
- Look for plugins or native support
- Consider APIs for custom development
- See if it includes multi-channel (web + mobile app) support
Accepted Methods of Payment
Due to the fact that only 4% of Egyptians uses bank cards, it’s important to support alternative online payment methods in the country like:
- Debit cards (like Meeza)
- Cash-on-delivery
- Mobile wallets
- Installments (Buy Now Pay Later options)
The more various payment options you provide, the broader your customer base.
Local vs Global Reach
Do you need to process payments only in this region, or are you planning cross-border sales?
- Local services (like Fawry or Paymob) are great for regional reach and COD
- International platforms (like 2Checkout) support 180+ countries and 80+ currencies
Choose according to your current and future expansion plans.
Security Standards
Your gateway should be PCI DSS compliant and provide encryption, fraud prevention and secure tokenization. The most credible ones market themselves as secure payment solution providers, which undergo periodic security checks.
Fees & Transparency
Pricing varies based on:
- Setup fees (some charge up to 1,200 EGP)
- Monthly maintenance costs
- Transaction percentages + fixed processing fees
Always review the pricing page. If the online platform hides its fees, consider that a red flag.
Customer Support
In a high-stakes environment like payments, support response time matters. Choose providers that offer:
- Dedicated account managers
- 24/7 technical support
- Documentation in Arabic and English
Features for Business Owners
A good gateway isn’t just for payment collection, it should help you optimize operations. Look for:
- Dashboards with real-time analytics
- Refund and installment options
- Loyalty or rewards integration
- POS terminals (if you’re omnichannel)
Best Payment Gateway Solutions in Egypt
2Checkout
2Checkout
Amazon
Amazon Payment Services is a globally recognized top of the list payment gateway in the region, trusted by businesses for secure digital transactions. It offers installment options, recurring billing, and a user-friendly dashboard for full transaction visibility and performance tracking. Great for those looking for a payment gateway with cross-border features and online transactions in Egypt.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Setup Fee | 1,200 EGP |
| Requirements | Registered business in Egypt, local bank account |
| Accepted Methods of Payment | Visa, Mastercard, Meeza, mada, Apple Pay |
| Available in | Egypt, UAE, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar |
| Supported Currencies | EGP, USD, AED, SAR, others |
| Setup Fee1,200 EGP | |
| RequirementsRegistered business in Egypt, local bank account | |
| Accepted Methods of PaymentVisa, Mastercard, Meeza, mada, Apple Pay | |
| Available inEgypt, UAE, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar | |
| Supported CurrenciesEGP, USD, AED, SAR, others |
Pros
- Reliable infrastructure backed by Amazon
- Supports multiple payment methods and currencies
- Advanced analytics and reporting tools
Cons
- Higher onboarding fees
- No POS terminal integration
Fawry
Fawry is a prominent payment gateway in the country that provides both online and offline payment services. It allows businesses to process digital payments, offer loyalty programs as well as ticketing and bill payment services.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Setup Fee | 999 EGP |
| Requirements | Local business license, Egyptian bank account |
| Accepted Methods of Payment | Cash, Visa, Mastercard, Meeza, mobile wallets |
| Available in | Egypt |
| Supported Currencies | EGP |
| Setup Fee999 EGP | |
| RequirementsLocal business license, Egyptian bank account | |
| Accepted Methods of PaymentCash, Visa, Mastercard, Meeza, mobile wallets | |
| Available inEgypt | |
| Supported CurrenciesEGP |
Pros
- Trusted by millions of users in the region
- Extensive offline presence with 285k+ POS points
- Cash-based payment acceptance for unbanked customers
Cons
- Limited support for cross-border payments
- UI/UX is not as modern as international gateways
Khazna
Khazna is a digital financial services platform focused on the underbanked users in the region. It offers features including bill payments, salary advances, BNPL, and prepaid cards on a mobile-first approach.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Requirements | Valid Egyptian commercial registration, KYC verification |
| Accepted Methods of Payment | Prepaid card, bank transfer, wallet top-up |
| Available in | Egypt |
| Supported Currencies | EGP |
| RequirementsValid Egyptian commercial registration, KYC verification | |
| Accepted Methods of PaymentPrepaid card, bank transfer, wallet top-up | |
| Available inEgypt | |
| Supported CurrenciesEGP |
Pros
- Designed for unbanked and underbanked Egyptians
- Strong focus on financial inclusion and payroll services
- Supported by local banks and telecom operators
Cons
- Limited acceptance by international merchants
- Still developing its API and business integrations
2Checkout
2Checkout, now part of Verifone, is a global payment gateway that offers end-to-end e-commerce with subscription billing options. It supports over 87 currencies and is relied on by companies in over 180 countries, Egypt included. It integrates well with many platforms like Shopify, Wix and WooCommerce and is perfect for businesses that want to scale in both local and international markets.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Requirements | Business entity and tax registration, KYC documents |
| Accepted Methods of Payment | Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, American Express, digital wallets |
| Available in | 180+ countries including Egypt |
| Supported Currencies | USD, EGP, EUR, and 80+ others |
| RequirementsBusiness entity and tax registration, KYC documents | |
| Accepted Methods of PaymentVisa, Mastercard, PayPal, American Express, digital wallets | |
| Available in180+ countries including Egypt | |
| Supported CurrenciesUSD, EGP, EUR, and 80+ others |
Pros
- Simple setup for international payments
- Transparent, tiered pricing
- Works well for SaaS and digital product businesses
Cons
- Higher fees for digital and recurring payments
- Limited local Egyptian payment methods
Paymob Egypt
Paymob is the most advanced payment gateway enabling secure and scalable solutions for handling local and international transactions. Well-known for its robust APIs and fraud prevention capabilities, it lets merchants accept online payments through cards, mobile wallets, and POS. Paymob is a PCI DSS compliant service and offers fast onboarding with complete KYC.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Requirements | Registered Egyptian business, tax ID, bank account |
| Accepted Methods of Payment | Visa, Mastercard, Meeza, mobile wallets (Vodafone Cash, Orange Money, Etisalat) |
| Available in | Egypt |
| Supported Currencies | EGP, USD |
| RequirementsRegistered Egyptian business, tax ID, bank account | |
| Accepted Methods of PaymentVisa, Mastercard, Meeza, mobile wallets (Vodafone Cash, Orange Money, Etisalat) | |
| Available inEgypt | |
| Supported CurrenciesEGP, USD |
Pros
- Strong presence in the country and MENA
- Works with mobile wallet payments
Cons
- Limited to regional markets
- You need a technical setup to use full API
OPay
OPay is a mobile-focused Egypt payment gateway launched in Nigeria but now works in Egypt and the rest of North Africa. It supports online and offline transfers, mobile apps, QR payment tools and POS for merchants.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Requirements | Business registration, valid ID, business bank account |
| Accepted Methods of Payment | Cards, QR codes, wallets, cash-on-delivery |
| Available in | Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya |
| Supported Currencies | EGP, NGN, USD |
| RequirementsBusiness registration, valid ID, business bank account | |
| Accepted Methods of PaymentCards, QR codes, wallets, cash-on-delivery | |
| Available inEgypt, Nigeria, Kenya | |
| Supported CurrenciesEGP, NGN, USD |
Pros
- Low transaction fees
- Designed for mobile-first usage
- Works in multiple African countries
Cons
- Limited documentation in English
- Not ideal for complex e-commerce platforms
Meeza
Meeza is a national payment gateway in the country developed under the guidance of the Central Bank of Egypt to promote financial inclusion. It offers both physical and virtual cards, enabling secure online payments, ATM withdrawals, and POS transactions.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Requirements | Valid Egyptian ID, bank account with issuing bank |
| Accepted Methods of Payment | Meeza card (prepaid/debit), POS, ATM |
| Available in | Egypt |
| Supported Currencies | EGP |
| RequirementsValid Egyptian ID, bank account with issuing bank | |
| Accepted Methods of PaymentMeeza card (prepaid/debit), POS, ATM | |
| Available inEgypt | |
| Supported CurrenciesEGP |
Pros
- Backed by the government and Central Bank
- No need for foreign currency accounts
- Strong local adoption for domestic payments
Cons
- Only usable within the country
- Not ideal for cross-border transactions
FAQ
What is the best payment gateway in Egypt?
Fawry has the largest offline presence and is considered among the most reliable payment gateway providers. As a leading online payment gateway, it dominates the market in terms of reach and trust. Meanwhile, Paymob is recommended for digital businesses that prioritize easy integration and fast settlement. Both are widely recognised payment solutions in the country and part of the broader ecosystem of financial services in Egypt.
What payment methods can I use in Egypt?
Egyptians use a variety of payment methods, including mobile wallets, credit cards and cash on delivery, as well as over-the-counter payments, via Fawry. The rise of ecommerce in Egypt is also leading to the growing use of contactless and digital payments.
Which is the best payment gateway?
There’s no single payment gateway that works for everyone. Fawry is great for merchants running bricks-and-mortar stores for its national coverage. For Shopify and online-first merchants, Paymob and Accept are two of the popular payment gateways providing API customization and local currency support.
What is the most important payment application in Egypt?
Fawry is still the most popular local payment app, handling millions of transactions each month. It can process bills, recharges, and ecommerce purchases, so it's one of the main providers of online transactions in the country, and a widely-used solution to reach offline users. If you’re looking to receive payments seamlessly or need detailed payment information, Fawry remains the go-to choice for both individuals and businesses. It also highlights the variety of payment gateways offers across the market today, especially for those who plan to choose a payment gateway based on nationwide availability.
How do ecommerce platforms in Egypt accept payments securely and efficiently?
Most ecommerce platforms in the country integrate with an online payment gateway in Egypt that enables merchants to process customer transactions quickly and safely. These gateways offer multiple payment options, including mobile wallets, cards, and bank transfers, allowing businesses to serve online shoppers with maximum flexibility. To ensure smooth user experience, many platforms now rely on a payment gateway solution that supports real-time tracking, fraud prevention, and instant settlements. In addition, most gateways offer customizable payment packages tailored to the size and type of online sales, turning gateways to be your means of scaling efficiently.
What makes digital payments easier and safer for Egyptian merchants and customers?
Thanks to the growing use of digital payment methods, Egyptian merchants now offer safe and easy online transactions across different channels. By choosing gateways that support different payment methods, businesses can reach a broader audience and meet varied preferences. Fast checkout, support for pricing per transaction, and overall focus on easy online payments help both buyers and sellers feel confident using digital tools. With more consumers switching to online mobile and internet usage growing rapidly (internet penetration stands at 35.6), demand for streamlined digital payment solutions is only accelerating.
