A customer is ready to buy and asks the question every Egyptian seller knows: "Can I pay with Vodafone Cash?" Another wants to pay by card. A third will only pay cash at the door. A fourth sends you an InstaPay screenshot at midnight and asks when the order ships.
Every one of those is a real payment method in Egypt, and each works differently behind the scenes. Some confirm the order on your website automatically. Some leave you checking your bank app by hand. Here is how each one works, what providers will ask you for, and how to compare them.
Payment methods customers in Egypt actually use
| Method | How the customer pays | Can your website confirm it automatically? |
|---|---|---|
| Cards (Visa, Mastercard, Meeza) | Enters card details on a secure checkout page | Yes, through a gateway |
| Mobile wallets (Vodafone Cash, Orange Cash, e& and others) | Enters the wallet number and approves in the wallet | Yes, if your gateway supports wallets |
| Fawry reference code | Gets a code at checkout, pays at a Fawry outlet or in an app | Yes, through Fawry or a gateway that supports it |
| Apple Pay and Google Pay | Pays with a phone or watch | Yes, where your gateway and the customer's bank support it |
| Instalments and buy now, pay later (valU and others) | Chooses a plan at checkout | Usually, through gateways that offer it |
| InstaPay transfer | Sends money to your bank account or payment address | Usually not. You check and confirm by hand |
| Cash on delivery | Pays the courier | Only when your courier reports it |
Meeza is Egypt's national card scheme, so many government and bank-issued debit cards are Meeza cards. Make sure your gateway accepts them. Apple Pay arrived in Egypt in late 2024, and support for phone wallets keeps expanding, so check what your provider supports today.
What a payment gateway actually does
A payment gateway sits between your website and the card networks, wallets and banks. In practice it gives you four things:
- A secure checkout. Card details are entered on the provider's page or a secure embedded form, not stored on your server.
- Many methods through one integration. Cards, wallets, Fawry codes and sometimes instalments.
- Automatic confirmation. The provider notifies your website server-to-server (usually called a webhook or callback) when a payment succeeds, so the order flips to paid on its own.
- Settlement. The money reaches your bank account after the provider's fees, on an agreed schedule.
Egyptian businesses commonly look at providers such as Paymob, Fawry, Kashier and Geidea, among others. They differ in supported methods, settlement timing, onboarding, pricing and developer tools, and all of that changes, so treat any comparison as a starting point.
What you need to open a merchant account
Every provider runs its own checks, and requirements change, so treat this as a typical list rather than a guarantee:
- A commercial register for the business
- A tax card
- A bank account in the business's name, for settlement
- ID for the owner or authorised signatory
- A live website with prices in Egyptian pounds and clear product descriptions
- Published terms, a refund policy, a privacy policy and contact details
- A short description of what you sell and expected monthly volume
Some providers offer simpler options for individuals or freelancers, usually with lower limits. If you aren't registered yet, ask what you can open today. Approval takes time, so start the paperwork while the website is still being built.
How to compare Paymob, Fawry, Kashier, Geidea and others
Fees depend on the method, your volume and your agreement, and they change. Send each provider the same questions and get the answers in writing:
- Which methods are included: cards, Meeza, which wallets, Fawry codes, Apple Pay, instalments?
- What is the fee per method, and are there setup, monthly or refund fees? Ask for the current rate sheet.
- How often is money settled to my bank, and after how many days?
- How are refunds and disputed card payments (chargebacks) handled?
- Is there clear developer documentation and a test mode?
- What support do I get when a payment fails at 11 pm on a Thursday?
- If I sell to Gulf customers, can they pay by international card, and in which currency will I be settled?
InstaPay: what you can and can't automate
InstaPay changed how Egyptians move money. Transfers are instant, and you can share a payment address, QR code or payment link that fills in your details for the sender. For a small business, that's a convenient way to get paid.
The catch is on the website side. For most small merchants, InstaPay is not wired into the store's checkout. Nothing tells your website that a transfer has arrived, so someone has to open the bank app, match the amount, name and time, and mark the order as paid by hand.
That doesn't scale past a handful of orders a day. And screenshots can be edited, so only the credit in your own account is proof of payment.
Cash on delivery and Fawry codes: the offline side
Cash on delivery
Cash on delivery is still expected in many categories. Its costs are real: collection fees, waiting for the courier to transfer your money, and parcels refused at the door. Confirm orders before shipping and consider a deposit for expensive or made-to-order items. Our online store guide for Egypt covers refusals in detail.
Some stores nudge customers towards paying online with a small discount or faster handling. That's your call; just show any cash-on-delivery fee clearly.
Fawry reference codes
A Fawry code suits customers who don't use cards. The customer places the order and gets a reference number, then pays at a Fawry outlet or through an app that supports Fawry. Your website is notified when payment arrives.
Two settings matter. The code's expiry: you choose how long it stays valid, so set something realistic and release the stock when it lapses. And the instructions: explain on the confirmation page and by message exactly where and how to pay.
Security basics for online payments
- Don't store card numbers. Use the provider's hosted or embedded checkout so card data never touches your server.
- Confirm payment server-to-server. Mark an order as paid only when your server receives and verifies the provider's notification, not because the customer landed on a "thank you" page. That page can be reached without paying.
- Verify notifications. Most gateways sign their callbacks. Your code should check that signature.
- Use HTTPS everywhere and protect admin accounts with two-factor sign-in.
Our article on website security covers the rest of the site.
Common payment mistakes
- Offering only cash on delivery and turning away customers ready to pay now.
- Choosing a provider on one headline fee, without asking about settlement time, refunds and wallet coverage.
- Treating InstaPay screenshots as proof.
- Empty policy pages, which can delay approval.
- Starting the merchant application after launch, then waiting with a finished site.
Questions people ask
What is the best payment gateway in Egypt?
There isn't one best for everyone. Pick on the methods your customers use, settlement timing, fees on your real payment mix and support. Compare two or three written offers.
Can I accept online payments without a commercial register?
Some providers have options for individuals or freelancers, usually with limits. For a full merchant account with more methods, expect to need a commercial register and tax card. Ask each provider what applies to you.
Can my website confirm Vodafone Cash payments automatically?
Yes, if you accept wallets through a payment gateway that supports them. A direct transfer to your personal wallet number is a different thing: that needs manual checking, just like InstaPay.
How much do payment gateways charge in Egypt?
It varies by provider, payment method, volume and agreement, and it changes over time. Request each provider's current rate sheet rather than relying on figures you read online.
Can customers in the Gulf pay on my Egyptian website?
Customers abroad can usually pay with international Visa or Mastercard cards through Egyptian gateways, but local methods such as Saudi Arabia's mada need a provider that supports them. If the Gulf is a main market, discuss a provider licensed there.
Your next step
List the three payment methods your customers ask for most, and send the questions above to two or three providers. Meanwhile, get your paperwork and policy pages ready.
When you know which methods you want, we can build the checkout and the automatic confirmations around them. Take a look at our services or book a short meeting.
