Direct Pay vs. Initiate Pay: All You Need to Know

The Fapshi API offers two powerful methods for collecting payments: Direct Pay and Initiate Pay. Each serves distinct use cases, balancing control, ease of integration, and user experience. This article breaks down the differences, benefits, and ideal scenarios for using Direct Pay and Initiate Pay, helping you choose the right approach for your application. Whether you're building a custom payment flow or need a quick solution, Fapshi's API has you covered. For more details, check the official Fapshi API documentation.

Understanding Direct Pay

Direct Pay allows developers to initiate payments directly from a user's mobile wallet without redirecting them to an external page. With this method, you have full control over the payment form and user experience, building a seamless checkout process within your application. However, this comes with the responsibility of handling validations, user input, and the payment flow on your end. The Fapshi backend processes the transaction, ensuring security and reliability, while you manage the front-end experience.

Key Features of Direct Pay

• Full Customization: Design the payment form to match your brand and user interface.
• No Redirects: Users stay within your app or website, creating a frictionless experience.
• Developer Responsibility: You handle input validation, error handling, and transaction status verification.
• Use Case Flexibility: Ideal for apps requiring tailored payment flows, such as in-app purchases or integrated checkout systems.

How It Works

1. Your application collects payment details (e.g., phone number, amount) via a custom form.
2. The app sends a payment request to Fapshi's API using your apiuser and apikey for authentication.
3. Fapshi processes the request and prompts the user to confirm the transaction on their mobile wallet.
4. Upon completion, you receive a transId (transaction ID) with a status code of 200 for successful requests or a 4XX code with an error message for failures.
5. You can use the transId to check the transaction status (SUCCESSFUL or FAILED) via the API or receive updates through a configured webhook.

Note: Direct Pay transactions do not expire, and their final state is either SUCCESSFUL or FAILED. Ensure secure handling of credentials, as misuse may lead to account suspension per Fapshi's Terms & Conditions.

Understanding Initiate Pay

Initiate Pay simplifies the payment process by providing a prebuilt, Fapshi-hosted checkout page. Users are redirected to this page to complete their payment, and Fapshi handles the entire payment flow, including validations and user prompts. This method is ideal for developers who want a quick, low-effort integration without building a custom payment interface.

Key Features of Initiate Pay

• Prebuilt Checkout: Fapshi provides a ready-to-use payment page, reducing development time.
• Simplified Integration: Minimal coding required—just generate a payment link and redirect users.
• Fapshi Handles Flow: The platform manages validations, user prompts, and transaction processing.
• Less Control: You rely on Fapshi's checkout design, which may limit customization.

How It Works

1. Your application sends a payment request to Fapshi's API with details like the amount and user's phone number.
2. Fapshi generates a unique payment link and returns it in the API response.
3. You redirect the user to the Fapshi-hosted checkout page.
4. The user completes the payment on their mobile wallet via the hosted page.
5. Fapshi notifies you of the transaction status (SUCCESSFUL or FAILED) via a webhook (if configured) or through a status check using the transId.

Note: Like Direct Pay, Initiate Pay transactions are processed securely, and you must protect your API credentials to avoid misuse.

Comparing Direct Pay and Initiate Pay

Both methods leverage Fapshi's robust backend for secure payment processing, but they differ in control, complexity, and integration effort. Here's a detailed comparison:

Best Use Cases: When to Use Direct Pay vs. Initiate Pay

Choosing between Direct Pay and Initiate Pay depends on your application's needs, development resources, and desired user experience. The table below outlines the best scenarios for each method:

Pros and Cons

Direct Pay

Pros:

• Seamless user experience with no redirects.
• Full control over the payment form and branding.
• Flexible for complex or unique payment flows.

Cons:

• Requires more development effort to build and maintain the payment form.
• Developers are responsible for input validation and error handling.
• Higher risk of errors if not implemented correctly.

Initiate Pay

Pros:

• Quick and easy to integrate with minimal coding.
• Fapshi handles the entire payment flow, reducing developer workload.
• Ideal for rapid prototyping or small-scale projects.

Cons:

• Limited customization, as the checkout page follows Fapshi's design.
• Redirects may disrupt the user experience or increase drop-off rates.
• Less suitable for apps requiring a fully integrated payment process.

Getting Started

To implement either method, start by reviewing the Preliminary Knowledge section in the Fapshi API documentation. Ensure you have your apiuser and apikey ready for authentication, and test in the sandbox environment before going live. For Direct Pay, focus on building a secure, user-friendly payment form, and for Initiate Pay, generate and test payment links. If you encounter issues, contact support@fapshi.com or join the Fapshi Slack developer community for assistance.

Conclusion

Direct Pay and Initiate Pay cater to different needs in the payment integration spectrum. Direct Pay is best for developers who prioritise a tailored, in-app payment experience and have the resources to build and manage a custom checkout flow. Initiate Pay is perfect for those seeking a fast, low-effort solution with a prebuilt checkout page. By understanding your business requirements—such as customisation, development time, and user experience—you can choose the method that best aligns with your goals. Explore the Fapshi API documentation to dive deeper and start integrating today.