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Mobicred vs PayJustNow vs Payflex: which BNPL is best in South Africa?

Buy now, pay later has become a normal part of South African online checkout. Mobicred has been around longest, Payflex came in big a few years ago, and PayJustNow has carved out the four-instalments-no-interest space. They are not interchangeable.

This piece compares all three on what actually matters: cost to you, the credit check, where they work, and what happens if you miss a payment.

The quick summary

  • Mobicred: revolving credit, 3 to 12 month plans, interest charged, full credit check
  • Payflex: 4 fortnightly instalments, no interest, soft credit check
  • PayJustNow: 3 monthly instalments, no interest, no formal credit check

Mobicred

Mobicred is closest to a traditional credit facility. You apply once, get approved for a credit limit, and then use that limit to buy across thousands of SA online retailers. Each purchase becomes a fixed monthly instalment plan over 3, 6, 9, or 12 months.

  • Interest: charged at a regulated rate. Roughly bank credit-card-comparable. Not interest-free.
  • Credit check: yes, full check via credit bureaus. Approval is not automatic.
  • Where it works: very wide. Most SA online retailers either integrate directly or via PayFast.
  • Best for: bigger purchases where you genuinely want to spread cost over months and you are comfortable with the interest.
  • Watch for: missed payments hit your credit record. The longer the plan, the more interest you pay.

Payflex

Payflex splits your purchase into 4 instalments over 6 weeks. You pay 25 percent at checkout, then 25 percent every two weeks for the next 6 weeks. No interest if you pay on time.

  • Interest: zero on the standard 4-instalment product, if paid on time
  • Credit check: soft, mostly automated
  • Where it works: thousands of SA online retailers
  • Best for: small to medium purchases (R500 to R5000) you can pay off within 6 weeks
  • Watch for: late fees apply if you miss a payment. Multiple active Payflex plans add up faster than people expect.

PayJustNow

PayJustNow splits your purchase into 3 equal payments over 3 months. First payment at checkout, then one a month for two months. No interest if paid on time.

  • Interest: zero on standard product, if paid on time
  • Credit check: minimal, no formal credit-bureau check on standard signup
  • Where it works: large and growing SA retailer network, especially fashion and homeware
  • Best for: smaller purchases you can clear in 3 months without strain
  • Watch for: late payments incur fees. No credit check at signup means easier approval but also means it can be easier to over-extend.

Head-to-head: which to use when

  • Buying a R15,000 appliance: Mobicred. The longer plan and predictability matters.
  • Buying a R2,000 piece of clothing: PayJustNow or Payflex. 3 months or 6 weeks, no interest.
  • Building a credit history: Mobicred reports to credit bureaus. The others do not consistently.
  • Avoiding credit checks: PayJustNow.
  • Stacking discounts: depends on the retailer. Some apply discounts on BNPL, some do not.

The risks people underestimate

BNPL feels frictionless and that is its biggest danger. Three real risks:

  • Compounding active plans. Three Payflex plans at R500 instalments is R1500 a fortnight, which can hit hard if you forget.
  • Late fees compound. Missed instalments add fees that eat into the “no interest” benefit fast.
  • Mobicred credit limit is real debt. Treat it like a credit card, not a “spend more” mechanism.

The simple rule

Only use BNPL for things you would have bought anyway, on a timeline you can definitely afford. If you cannot pay the full amount in cash today, ask whether you actually need it. The marketing wants you to think of BNPL as free money. It is not.

Where BNPL fits at ShipItAll

We offer Mobicred at checkout on every product because it works at all price points. As Payflex and PayJustNow expand on the marketplace, we will show them too. The choice of payment method is on the buyer.