TapAPI is tap to pay for everyday South Africa. Your wristband or Magic tag is your card: tap it on the shop’s phone, type your PIN, and you have paid. No bank card, no airtime and no phone of your own needed.
Every payment takes a tap and your PIN. The money moves the moment you pay.
Put money in with cash at any TapAPI shop, or from your bank. The fee is shown in rand before you pay.
Tap your wristband or Magic tag on the shop’s phone, or let the shop scan the barcode on your SA Smart ID.
Your PIN approves the payment. The tap itself is free, for you and for the shop.
Waterproof, no battery, protected by your PIN. R75 once. About the wristband.
A sticker tag for the back of your phone cover. Tap it to pay. R49.99.
Verify your SA Smart ID once, free, in your wallet or at any TapAPI shop. After that the shop scans the barcode and you type your PIN. It works when your phone is flat.
Spazas, stalls, salons, taxis and tuck shops take TapAPI payments on the Android phone they already own.
An Android phone that can tap (NFC), a wallet with your ID checked, and the Shop Terms. No tapping phone? A Windows counter PC can be the till with a once-off R499 kit.
Pay as you use: R95 once to open your shop and R25.25 for each day a till is used; a day with no taps costs nothing. No card machine to rent and no cut of any sale. Open a TapAPI shop.
Yes. Nothing is charged on the tap itself, not to the person paying and not to the shop. Loading your wallet and sending money to a bank have fees, shown in rand before you confirm. Every fee.
No. Your wristband, Magic tag or SA Smart ID does the paying, on the shop’s phone. You only type your PIN.
Every payment needs your PIN, so the wristband alone cannot pay. A lost wristband can be blocked and your money stays in your wallet.
TapAPI tills take TapAPI wristbands, Magic tags and verified SA Smart IDs. Card payments are only for shops TapAPI approves, under the Shop Terms.
At any TapAPI shop: spazas, stalls, taxis, salons, tuck shops and events. Find a shop near you, or nominate the shops you use on the home page.