Paynow review
Updated September 28, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Paynow suits businesses in Zimbabwe that collect payments and pay out to banks or wallets, and it charges no monthly fee at $0. The trade-off sits in the transfer charges, which vary sharply by payment method, so cost depends on how customers pay.
Key facts
- Best for
- Zimbabwean businesses taking card, mobile money and EcoCash payments.
- Monthly fee
- $0↗
- Currencies
- 2↗
- Transfer fee
- 1% + 50c on Vpayments; 2.5% on EcoCash, OneMoney and Telecash; 3.5% + 50c on Visa and Mastercard, per transaction↗
- Legal entity
- Softwarehouse (Private) Limited↗
- Headquarters
- Zimbabwe↗
- Founded
- 2001↗
- Support channels
- Email, Phone, Help-centre↗
- Audience
- Business
- Pricing model
- No monthly fee
- Official website
- paynow.co.zw
Money transfer
Facts checked September 26, 2026, 5 sources
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- App Store
Pros and cons
Pros
- No monthly fee of $0 on the business account
- Payouts reach bank accounts and wallets through bank and wallet
- Delivery is Instant to next business day
- Support runs by email, phone and help centre
Cons
- Transfer fees differ by method: the Transfer fee is lowest on Vpayments and highest on cards
- Covers 2 currencies, so other currencies go through third parties
- Payouts cover bank and wallet only, with no card or cash payout option
Who it suits
- Businesses operating in Zimbabwe that bill in local currency
- Merchants taking payments by card, mobile money or Vpayments
- Small traders paying suppliers and staff from the same balance
Who should look elsewhere
- Plazo ES, if a euro account with a wider currency list matters more than local settlement
- Paysera, if a business wants to hold and convert several currencies at once
Fees and currency costs
The business account carries no monthly charge, at $0. Payment costs sit on each transaction instead, and they depend on how the customer pays: the Transfer fee is lowest on Vpayments, higher on mobile money wallets such as EcoCash, OneMoney and Telecash, and highest on Visa and Mastercard. The account holds 2 currencies, so anything else is converted outside the platform and the rate is not published here.
Who runs it
Paynow is operated by Softwarehouse (Private) Limited, based in Zimbabwe and trading since 2001. It is built around payments rather than deposits: money moves between merchants, customers and wallets, and there is no savings product in this profile. Help runs through email, phone and help centre, so phone and email are both available for account queries.
How Paynow compares
9.0 vs 8.7
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9.0 vs 8.0
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9.0 vs 9.1
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9.0 vs 8.7
9.0 vs 8.7
9.0 vs 8.7
9.0 vs 9.0Skrill has €0 and a wider currency choice, a better match for cross border sellers than a local payment gateway.
9.0 vs 8.7
9.0 vs 9.5
9.0 vs 9.4
9.0 vs 9.3
9.0 vs 9.2
9.0 vs 9.2
9.0 vs 9.2
9.0 vs 9.2
9.0 vs 9.2
9.0 vs 9.2
9.0 vs 9.1
9.0 vs 9.0
9.0 vs 9.0
9.0 vs 8.9
9.0 vs 8.9- 9.0 vs 8.9
9.0 vs 8.7
9.0 vs 8.5
9.0 vs 8.5
9.0 vs 8.5
9.0 vs 8.4
9.0 vs 8.3
9.0 vs 8.2
9.0 vs 8.1- 9.0 vs 8.1
9.0 vs 8.0
9.0 vs 8.0
9.0 vs 8.0
9.0 vs 9.1
Where Paynow is available
- Available
- Zimbabwe
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
Is there a monthly fee for a Paynow business account?+
No. The business account carries no monthly charge, at $0, which is the same as Plazo ES, Skrill and Paysera. You pay for payment collection instead, through the per transaction Transfer fee, so the cost depends on turnover rather than on keeping the account open.
What does it cost to take a payment?+
The Transfer fee is set by payment method: lowest on Vpayments, higher on mobile money wallets such as EcoCash, OneMoney and Telecash, and highest on Visa and Mastercard, plus a small fixed amount on Vpayments and card payments. Merchants who take mostly Vpayments pay least.
How fast does money reach my account?+
Delivery is Instant to next business day, so some payments land straight away and others clear the next business day. Payouts go to bank and wallet, covering bank accounts and mobile money wallets, which fits most Zimbabwean businesses.
How many currencies can I hold?+
The account covers 2 currencies. Any other currency is converted outside the platform, so the rate is not controlled here and the cost of holding, for example, a euro or dollar balance depends on where the conversion takes place.
How do I get help from Paynow?+
Support runs by email, phone and help centre, so you can reach the team by phone, by email or through the help centre. Phone suits payment problems on the day, while the help centre covers routine merchant setup questions.
Who runs Paynow and where is it based?+
The service is operated by Softwarehouse (Private) Limited, headquartered in Zimbabwe and trading since 2001. It is a payment platform for merchants rather than a deposit taker, so the balance is used for collecting and paying out.
Can I pay out to a card or in cash?+
Payouts cover bank and wallet, so bank accounts and mobile money wallets are supported. Card payouts and cash collection are not part of the payout set, which matters if suppliers want to be paid by card.
Is Paynow the right fit for my business?+
It is aimed at businesses in Zimbabwe, with a no monthly fee of $0 and transfers delivered Instant to next business day. Businesses that hold or convert many currencies get more from Paysera or Skrill, while euro suppliers paid abroad suit Plazo ES better.
Sources
- paynow.co.zw/Home/AboutUs checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded, Headquarters, Legal entity
“Webdev was established in 2001 and remains the market leader 'all things online'.”
- paynow.co.zw/home/businesshome checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Audience, Pricing model
“Receive online payments from as little as 1.5% + 50c depending on the payment method. Absorb the transaction fees or pass them on to the customer - you decide.”
- paynow.co.zw/Home/Fees checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Transfer fee, Fee to send 1,000
“VISA MASTERCARD 3.5% + 50c, VPAYMENTS 1% + 50c, ECOCASH ONEMONEY TELECASH 2.5%”
- paynow.co.zw/Home/MerchantTutorial checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Monthly fee
“Paynow has no signup or usage fee, the only charge is a per transaction commission.”
- paynow.co.zw/Home/Terms checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Delivery time, Payout methods, Support channels
“we will execute a Payment Order made by you via your Payment Account and credit the payment service provider of the person to whom you are sending your payment, as soon as the payment schemes...”
- topup.co.zw checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Currencies
“ZIG FX: 1.0000 ... USD FX: 26.6300”
Compiled from 6 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Licence type, Deposit protection, Currency conversion fee.