Paystack has integrated Zap as a payment option on Paystack Checkout, allowing users to complete online payments directly through the Zap app. The update went live in December 2025 and marks a quieter reset for Zap after a turbulent launch earlier in the year.
Zap is Paystack’s consumer payments app. At launch, it focused on peer to peer transfers, aiming to make bank transfers faster and simpler for individuals. The new checkout integration extends Zap beyond transfers and positions it as a way to pay merchants online.
How “Pay With Zap” Works
With the update, users checking out on websites that use Paystack can now select “Pay with Zap” as a payment option. On desktop, the checkout displays a QR code that users scan with the Zap app. On mobile, users are redirected straight into the app to approve the payment.
Once authorised, the transaction completes instantly. Users do not need to copy account numbers, switch between apps, or upload proof of transfer.
Reducing Friction in Bank Transfers
For consumers, the change focuses on speed and convenience. Bank transfers already power a large share of online payments in Nigeria, but the process often involves multiple steps and delays. Zap reduces that friction by handling authorisation inside one interface and confirming payment in real time.
In a brief product update, Paystack said the checkout rollout is part of its effort to make “paying online as simple as sending money,” while operating within its existing payments infrastructure.
A Shift After Regulatory Questions
The integration follows regulatory scrutiny earlier in 2025, when Zap’s standalone operation raised questions around licensing requirements for consumer wallets. During that period, access to the app was limited while Paystack reviewed how Zap fit into its broader product stack.
By integrating Zap into Paystack Checkout, the company aligns the app more closely with its core role as a payments processor. Rather than positioning Zap as an independent wallet, the update embeds it within Paystack’s licensed checkout flow.
What It Means for Merchants
For merchants, the change requires no additional setup. Businesses already using Paystack Checkout automatically gain access to the Zap payment option where supported. Zap appears alongside existing payment methods, giving customers another way to complete transactions without merchants modifying their integration.
Repositioning Zap Inside Paystack’s Ecosystem
The update also reshapes how Zap is positioned going forward. Instead of standing alone as a transfers app, Zap now functions as part of Paystack’s wider ecosystem, connecting consumers directly to online merchants.
That shift gives Zap users a reason to keep the app installed beyond peer to peer payments. It also allows Paystack to build Zap gradually around everyday checkout behaviour rather than introducing new standalone financial products.
Paystack has not announced new features or market expansions tied specifically to the update. For now, the focus appears to be on stabilising Zap’s role within checkout flows and improving everyday usability. The December rollout signals a more incremental approach to expanding Zap, centred on payments users already make.
