Payments overview
The payment rails PaidFast supports, how customers pay, and how payments are recorded and reconciled.
PaidFast is built to help you get paid faster. Every invoice can carry a secure payment link, and customers pay through the rails they already use — with the payment recorded against the invoice automatically.
#Supported payment methods
| Method | Best for | Doc |
|---|---|---|
| Pesapal | Cards & mobile money across East Africa | Pesapal |
| Manual / offline | Cash & bank transfers you record yourself | Record a manual payment |
Online checkout through Pesapal (cards and mobile money) is a Starter feature. On the Free plan, every pay link still works: it offers manual payment confirmation, for cash, bank transfer, or mobile money the customer pays you directly and you confirm.
PaidFast doesn't collect payments on your behalf. When a customer pays, the money settles directly to your own payment account with the provider (your own Pesapal account, or your bank or mobile-money account for manual payments) — PaidFast never holds or receives your funds. It generates the payment link, then records the payment against the invoice once the provider confirms it.
#How a customer pays
- You send an invoice with a payment link.
- The customer opens the link and lands in the customer portal.
- They pay online through Pesapal, or tell you they've paid you directly.
- PaidFast verifies the payment with the provider, marks the invoice Paid (or Partially paid), and issues a receipt.
#How payments are recorded
- Online payments are confirmed server-side with the provider before the invoice is updated — so a status only changes when the money is real.
- Payments are locked to the invoice currency, so a customer always pays exactly what they were billed.
- Partial payments reduce the outstanding balance and keep the invoice open for the remainder.
- You can also record payments manually for cash or bank transfers made outside PaidFast.
#Reconciliation
Use the Overview page for your paid/outstanding/overdue totals and the Activity feed to see individual payments as they land. Each payment links to its invoice and receipt.
#Reminders
Turn on automated reminders so PaidFast chases overdue invoices for you until they're paid.