Express Pay
Express Pay is a Ghanaian payment gateway and eCommerce marketplace processing card and mobile money payments for 200+ merchants, serving consumers with bill payment, remittance, and POS services as a Visa Payment Technology Provider.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersAccra, Ghana
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Express Pay does
Express Pay Ghana Limited is a Ghanaian payment gateway and eCommerce marketplace founded in 2012 and headquartered in Accra. The company operates as an official Visa Payment Technology Provider (PTP) and the leading Visa eCommerce processor in Ghana, processing payments across all major international card networks (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover) and integrating with all four major Ghanaian mobile money operators (MTN, AirtelTigo, Telecel, Vodafone).
The platform is built on PCI DSS compliant infrastructure and offers a modular suite of REST APIs (Merchant API, Merchant Direct API, Tokenization API, Invoice API, Bill Payment Services API) for merchant integration, alongside consumer-facing channels including Android/iOS mobile apps, Android POS devices, USSD (*246#), and QR code payments. Notable technical features include facial recognition-based payment security and scheduled/recurring payment automation. The company has expanded into remittance, enabling UK-to-Ghana transfers for airtime, data, and utility purchases.
Express Pay serves 200+ merchant businesses across airtime, internet, utilities, travel, and insurance sectors, with named enterprise customers including MTN, Vodafone, AirtelTigo, Telecel, DSTv, GOtv, Ghana Water, Surfline, iBurst, and 10 partner banks (Absa, Cal, Ecobank, Fidelity, First Atlantic, First National, GT, Stanbic, Standard Chartered, GCB). Revenue is generated primarily through transaction-based convenience fees (capped at GHS 10 for select Visa card transfers) and POS hardware sales. Distribution combines an API-first product-led growth motion with enterprise field sales for corporate bulk payment customers, and the company has remained privately held with no disclosed external funding.
Express Pay firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Express Pay
- Legal name
- Express Pay Ghana Limited
- Website
- https://expresspaygh.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Express Pay is a Ghanaian payment gateway and eCommerce marketplace processing card and mobile money payments for 200+ merchants, serving consumers with bill payment, remittance, and POS services as a Visa Payment Technology Provider.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Express Pay industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Payment Gateway Services
- NAICS
- Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320), Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (52232)
- SIC
- Finance Services (6199)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Merchant Payment Gateways (API/Hosted Checkout) (FSAMACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Embedded Payments (Pay-ins, Pay-outs, Wallets) (FSAGALAB), Alternative Payment Methods (APMs) & Local Rails (ACH/SEPA/UPI, etc.) (CRAFALAG), Recurring Billing, Subscriptions & Tokenized Payments (CRAFALAH)
Keywords
Where Express Pay is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Accra
- HQ country
- Ghana
- HQ region
- Africa
Markets served
Express Pay business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Payment Processing Fees: Express Pay charges convenience fees for payment transactions. Transfer fees are capped at GHS 10 for select Visa card transactions. The platform processes payments across multiple channels including card, mobile money, and USSD.
- Merchant API/SDK Integration Services: Revenue generated from merchant integration services, providing businesses with API access to accept payments on their platforms
- POS Device Services: Revenue from providing Android POS devices to merchants for in-person payment acceptance
- Bill Payment Services: Processing fees from bill payments for services including airtime, internet (Surfline, Vodafone broadband), TV subscriptions (DSTv, GOtv), school fees, and hotel reservations
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Capped Visa Transfer Fee |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
Express Pay product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Express Pay is a Ghana-based payment gateway and eCommerce marketplace provider. For merchants, it offers a PCI DSS compliant payment platform with REST APIs (Merchant API, Direct API, Tokenization API, Invoice API, Bill Payment API) supporting card networks (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover) and mobile money wallets (MTN, AirtelTigo, Telecel, Vodafone), plus Android POS devices, USSD, and QR code payment acceptance. For consumers, it provides a mobile app enabling airtime top-up, internet bill payments, TV subscriptions, school fees, hotel reservations, money transfers, and remittance from the UK.
Product overview
Express Pay is a Ghana-based eCommerce marketplace and payment gateway provider offering a modular platform architecture. As an official Visa Payment Technology Provider (PTP) and leading Visa eCommerce processor in Ghana, the platform combines consumer-facing services with merchant API products. The core offering includes Merchant APIs (Merchant API, Merchant Direct API, Tokenization API, Invoice API) enabling businesses to accept payments, alongside Bill Payment Services for processing utility, airtime, and subscription payments. Consumer features include Scan to Pay (QR), POS devices, USSD, Bulk Payments, Send Money, Airtime Top Up, and Scheduled Payments. The platform supports mobile money (MTN, AirtelTigo, Vodafone), major card networks (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover), and GH-Link, serving over 200 merchants across airtime, internet, utilities, travel, and insurance sectors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Merchant API Payment processing API that allows merchants to accept payments through Express Pay's hosted payment page using a redirect-based checkout flow. Supports card networks and mobile money providers for Ghanaian and online merchants.
- Merchant Direct API Direct payment processing API enabling PCI-compliant merchants to process payments on their own site without redirecting to Express Pay's hosted checkout page.
- Tokenization API Card tokenization service that generates tokens associated with customer payment methods, enabling faster checkout and recurring payments without merchants storing raw card details.
- Invoice API API that allows merchants to create digital invoices with open (any amount) or specific (fixed amount) payment options for collecting payments from customers.
- Bill Payment Services API API enabling payment providers to query account details, packages and prices, initiate payments, and check transaction status for various billers including airtime, internet, TV subscriptions, and utilities.
- Point of Sale (POS) Devices Android-based POS terminals capable of accepting mobile money, NFC payments via mobile phones and NFC-enabled cards, and traditional card payments for in-person merchant transactions.
- USSD Payment Service Unstructured Supplementary Service Data payment solution accessible via dial code (*246#) across all mobile networks in Ghana, enabling merchants to receive payments offline.
- Bulk Payments Corporate service enabling businesses to pay hundreds of suppliers simultaneously via file upload and single-click execution, with reporting and account summary views.
- Remittance Service International money transfer service enabling customers in the United Kingdom to send money to Ghana for airtime, data bundles, and utility payments.
Quantifiable outcome
- Processing payments from all major international card networks (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover) and mobile money providers
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Express Pay
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Express Pay technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature8 records
Express Pay partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Visa Inc.coreExpress Pay is an official Visa Payment Technology Provider (PTP) and the leading Visa eCommerce processor in Ghana. This partnership enables expressPay to process Visa card transactions and provides official recognition from Visa for payment technology services.
- Absa Bank GhanacorePartner bank included in the capped Visa transfer fee program where transfers using Absa Bank Visa cards on expressPay have fees capped at GHS 10 maximum.
- Cal BankcorePartner bank included in the capped Visa transfer fee program where transfers using Cal Bank Visa cards on expressPay have fees capped at GHS 10 maximum.
- EcobankcorePartner bank included in the capped Visa transfer fee program where transfers using Ecobank Visa cards on expressPay have fees capped at GHS 10 maximum.
- Fidelity BankcorePartner bank included in the capped Visa transfer fee program where transfers using Fidelity Bank Visa cards on expressPay have fees capped at GHS 10 maximum.
- First Atlantic BankcorePartner bank included in the capped Visa transfer fee program where transfers using First Atlantic Bank Visa cards on expressPay have fees capped at GHS 10 maximum.
- First National BankcorePartner bank included in the capped Visa transfer fee program where transfers using First National Bank Visa cards on expressPay have fees capped at GHS 10 maximum.
- GT BankcorePartner bank included in the capped Visa transfer fee program where transfers using GT Bank Visa cards on expressPay have fees capped at GHS 10 maximum.
- Stanbic BankcorePartner bank included in the capped Visa transfer fee program where transfers using Stanbic Bank Visa cards on expressPay have fees capped at GHS 10 maximum.
- Standard Chartered BankcorePartner bank included in the capped Visa transfer fee program where transfers using Standard Chartered Bank Visa cards on expressPay have fees capped at GHS 10 maximum.
- GCBcorePartner bank included in the capped Visa transfer fee program where transfers using GCB Visa cards on expressPay have fees capped at GHS 10 maximum.
- MTN Mobile MoneycoreMobile money payment integration enabling MTN customers to make and receive payments through expressPay platform including airtime top-up and money transfers.
- AirtelTigo MoneycoreMobile money payment integration enabling AirtelTigo customers to make and receive payments through expressPay platform including airtime top-up and money transfers.
- Telecel CashcoreMobile money payment integration enabling Telecel customers to make and receive payments through expressPay platform including airtime top-up and money transfers.
- Vodafone CashcoreMobile money payment integration enabling Vodafone customers to make and receive payments through expressPay platform including airtime top-up and money transfers.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Express Pay competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hubtel: Hubtel is a Ghana-based payment aggregator and business commerce platform offering merchant APIs, mobile money, bill pay, and POS services. It is the closest domestic competitor to Express Pay, serving Ghanaian merchants and consumers with an overlapping product set including APIs, mobile money rails (MTN, AirtelTigo, Vodafone, Telecel), and bill payment.
- Flutterwave: Flutterwave is a Pan-African payment gateway that provides merchant APIs for card and mobile money acceptance across multiple African countries including Ghana. It directly competes with Express Pay in the Ghana merchant payment gateway category with similar API-first, multi-payment-method architecture.
- Cellulant: Cellulant is an Africa-focused digital payments platform providing payment APIs for merchants and banks across multiple African countries, with bill payment aggregation being a core capability. It is a direct peer to Express Pay in the bill payment aggregation and merchant API space, operating at scale across the continent.
- Chipper Cash: Chipper Cash is a Pan-African mobile payments platform offering cross-border transfers, mobile money, and merchant payment services across multiple African markets including Ghana. It overlaps with Express Pay in the consumer cross-border and merchant payments category and represents a direct peer in UK-Ghana and similar remittance lanes.
- Paystack: Paystack (owned by Stripe) is a leading African online payment gateway serving Nigerian, Ghanaian, and South African merchants with card and mobile money acceptance APIs. It is one of Express Pay's direct competitors in the Ghana eCommerce merchant acceptance space with comparable hosted-checkout and developer-led GTM.
- DPO Group (Direct Pay Online): DPO Group is a Pan-African payment service provider offering online payment processing and merchant acquiring across multiple African markets including Ghana. It competes directly with Express Pay in the multi-country African merchant payment gateway category with similar card and mobile money acceptance products.
- Zeepay: Zeepay is a Ghana-based fintech operating in mobile money, international remittance, and bill payment services with strong presence across African diaspora corridors. It overlaps with Express Pay's bill payment and UK-to-Ghana remittance products and is among the most direct Ghana-based peers in terms of category and geography.
Broad incumbents
- Interswitch: Interswitch is one of Africa's largest payment platforms, providing payment processing, card issuing, and merchant acquiring across multiple African countries including Ghana. As a broad incumbent operating a wider portfolio of payments services, it competes with Express Pay at the upper end of enterprise merchant accounts in Ghana while also offering capabilities far beyond Express Pay's scope.
- Onafriq (formerly MFS Africa): Onafriq (formerly MFS Africa) is a leading Pan-African payment hub connecting mobile money operators, banks, and merchants across Africa, providing cross-border payments and digital wallet connectivity. It is a broad incumbent peer to Express Pay through its aggregations of mobile money rails and cross-border remittance channels serving Ghana.
- MTN MoMo API: MTN MoMo is the dominant mobile money platform in Ghana operated by MTN, with a growing merchant API gateway offering for businesses to accept MoMo payments directly. It is both a Core partner and a structural competitor to Express Pay, since MTN can disintermediate third-party gateways by routing volume through its own proprietary merchant APIs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Express Pay social profiles
Digital presenceExpress Pay compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Express Pay financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Express Pay leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Express Pay funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Express Pay M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Express Pay
What does Express Pay do?
Express Pay is a Ghana-based payment gateway and eCommerce marketplace provider. For merchants, it offers a PCI DSS compliant payment platform with REST APIs (Merchant API, Direct API, Tokenization API, Invoice API, Bill Payment API) supporting card networks (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover) and mobile money wallets (MTN, AirtelTigo, Telecel, Vodafone), plus Android POS devices, USSD, and QR code payment acceptance. For consumers, it provides a mobile app enabling airtime top-up, internet bill payments, TV subscriptions, school fees, hotel reservations, money transfers, and remittance from the UK.
Is Express Pay a public or private company?
Express Pay is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Express Pay founded?
Express Pay was founded in 2012. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Express Pay based?
Express Pay is headquartered in Accra, Ghana, in the Africa region.
How does Express Pay make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Payment Processing Fees are the primary driver. The others are merchant API/SDK Integration Services, POS Device Services and bill Payment Services.
Who are Express Pay's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hubtel, Flutterwave, Cellulant, Chipper Cash, Paystack, DPO Group (Direct Pay Online) and Zeepay. Broad incumbents are Interswitch, Onafriq (formerly MFS Africa) and MTN MoMo API.
Does Express Pay have an API?
Yes. Express Pay offers a REST API enabling merchants to accept payments through their platform. The API supports multiple payment methods including mobile money (MTN, AirtelTigo, Vodafone) and card payments (Visa, MasterCard). APIs include: Merchant API (redirect-based checkout), Merchant Direct API (on-site processing for PCI-compliant merchants), Tokenization API (for recurring payments), Invoice API (dynamic invoice creation), and Bill Payment Services API (QUERY, PAY, STATUS operations). Both sandbox (https://sandbox.expresspaygh.com) and live endpoints are available. All queries are POST requests with application/x-www-form-urlencoded content type. Developer documentation is at expresspaygh.com/developers/docs.
What industry is Express Pay in?
Express Pay's product category is Payment Gateway Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAMACAA, Merchant Payment Gateways (API/Hosted Checkout), with a secondary code of FSAGALAB, Embedded Payments (Pay-ins, Pay-outs, Wallets). Its NAICS code is 522320 and its SIC code is 6199.