Payment Gateway Comparison in Morocco 2026

Introduction: why choosing the right gateway matters

The Moroccan e-commerce market surpassed 18 billion dirhams in online transactions in 2025, according to Bank Al-Maghrib data. This continued growth has led to a proliferation of payment solutions available to merchants. Yet choosing the right payment gateway remains a complex exercise: offerings differ on fees, technical capabilities, supported payment methods, and integration quality.

A poor choice can be costly. Declining conversion rates due to a poorly optimized checkout, hidden fees that erode margins, or a cumbersome integration that delays launch by several weeks. This comparison aims to give you a clear and factual view of the four main payment gateways in Morocco in 2026: CMI, Chari Pay (ChariBaaS), Payzone, and AmanPay.

Overview of payment gateways in Morocco

The online payment landscape in Morocco is structured around several players. The Centre Monetique Interbancaire (CMI) plays a central role: it is the national switch connected to all 19 Moroccan banks and processes nearly all card transactions in the country. Other players position themselves either as alternatives or as orchestration layers on top of CMI.

Since 2024, the emergence of Maroc Pay (the national QR code payment scheme) has reshuffled the landscape. Merchants now seek gateways capable of handling both traditional bank cards and QR code payments, all through a unified interface.

The four gateways we compare represent the most common options for a Moroccan e-merchant in 2026.

CMI: the national standard

The Centre Monetique Interbancaire is the historic and essential player in online payment in Morocco. Created in 2004 by Moroccan banks, CMI acts as both the acquirer and processor for the majority of card transactions in the country.

Strengths:

• Connected to all 19 Moroccan banks, ensuring the best acceptance rate for local cards
• Supports Visa, Mastercard, and CMI (the domestic network) cards
• 3D Secure 2.0 compliant with Bank Al-Maghrib requirements
• Recognized and approved by Moroccan financial institutions
• Largest acceptance network in the country

Weaknesses:

• Legacy API (proprietary protocol, limited documentation)
• No testing sandbox: developers must test in production with real amounts
• More complex and longer technical integration
• Basic merchant dashboard with limited reporting features
• No native Maroc Pay support via the e-commerce gateway
• Settlement delays that can reach D+3 to D+5

CMI remains essential for anyone wanting to accept Moroccan bank cards online. However, its technical approach has not evolved at the same pace as modern developer expectations.

Chari Pay (ChariBaaS): the modern approach

Chari Pay is the payment gateway developed by Chari Money SA, a company licensed by Bank Al-Maghrib as a payment institution. Launched with an "API-first" philosophy, it targets businesses seeking fast integration and advanced features.

Strengths:

• Modern REST API with complete and interactive documentation (OpenAPI/Swagger)
• Testing sandbox with simulated data to validate integration before going live
• Multi-channel support: bank cards (via CMI on the backend), Maroc Pay (QR code), and wallets
• Unified dashboard with real-time analytics, refund management, and accounting exports
• Pre-built plugins for Shopify and WooCommerce
• Payment orchestration: intelligent routing to the best gateway based on card type
• Accelerated settlement at D+1 for qualified merchants
• Technical support in French, Arabic, and English

Weaknesses:

• Newer market player than CMI
• Acceptance network still expanding for certain specific use cases
• Requires an account with Chari Money SA

Chari Pay stands out through its developer experience and its ability to aggregate multiple payment methods under a single API. For e-merchants who want to move fast and have modern tools, it is a top-tier option.

Payzone: multi-channel for high volumes

Payzone is a player positioned in the high-volume merchant segment. Present in Morocco for several years, Payzone offers multi-channel payment solutions covering e-commerce, in-store payment, and recurring billing.

Strengths:

• Specialized in high transaction volumes with tiered pricing
• Multi-channel solution: online, in-store, by phone
• Support for recurring payments and subscriptions
• Integration with certain ERPs and management tools
• International card acceptance with competitive rates

Weaknesses:

• API less documented than current standards
• No public testing sandbox
• Merchant dashboard with limited features compared to modern solutions
• No native Maroc Pay support
• Better suited for large enterprises than startups or SMEs
• Potentially lengthy onboarding process

Payzone suits businesses with significant transaction volumes seeking negotiated rates and multi-channel coverage.

AmanPay: simplicity for small e-merchants

AmanPay targets small and medium e-merchants with a value proposition focused on simplicity. With over 2,500 active merchants, AmanPay offers quick integration and support tailored to less technical merchants.

Strengths:

• Simple and fast integration, suited for non-developers
• Over 2,500 active merchants in Morocco
• Intuitive merchant interface
• Personalized support for small e-merchants
• Reduced setup fees

Weaknesses:

• Limited API features compared to CMI or Chari Pay
• No Maroc Pay
• No testing sandbox
• Limited checkout customization options
• Basic reporting
• Less suited for high volumes or advanced technical needs

AmanPay is a good choice for a merchant starting out in e-commerce who prioritizes simplicity over feature richness.

Full comparison table

How to choose your payment gateway

Choosing the right gateway depends on several criteria specific to your business. Here is a structured decision framework.

Transaction volume. If you process more than 10,000 transactions per month, Payzone or Chari Pay offer the best tiered pricing. For small volumes (less than 500 transactions/month), AmanPay or Chari Pay are more suited thanks to zero setup fees.

Desired payment methods. If you need to accept both bank cards and Maroc Pay, only Chari Pay offers both through a single integration. For cards only, CMI offers the best acceptance rate on Moroccan cards.

Technical level of your team. If you have a development team, Chari Pay offers the best experience with its REST API, Swagger documentation, and sandbox. If you have no developers, AmanPay or Chari Pay plugins for Shopify and WooCommerce are the simplest options.

Budget. Compare the total cost: setup fees + monthly subscription + per-transaction fees. A slightly higher per-transaction rate but with zero setup fees can be more economical for small volumes.

Settlement speed. If your cash flow is tight, Chari Pay's D+1 settlement can make a significant difference compared to D+5 from some competitors.

Integration comparison

The integration experience varies considerably between gateways. Here is what you can expect.

CMI. CMI integration relies on a proprietary protocol with redirection to the hosted payment page. Documentation is provided as PDF upon contract signing. There is no sandbox: testing is done in production with real amounts. Expect 2 to 4 weeks for a complete integration, more if your team is unfamiliar with the protocol.

Chari Pay. Chari Pay integration follows modern standards: REST API documented on Swagger, sandbox accessible from registration, webhooks for real-time notifications. The technical documentation is available online. Integration can be completed in 1 to 3 days for an experienced developer. Shopify and WooCommerce plugins allow setup in a few hours with no code.

Payzone. Payzone integration goes through a prior commercial process. Technical documentation is provided after contract signing. The protocol is proprietary. Expect 2 to 3 weeks for integration.

AmanPay. AmanPay integration is designed to be simple. An integration kit with code examples is provided. Integration typically takes 3 to 5 days. However, customization options are limited.

For projects requiring 3D Secure 2.0, all gateways support it, but Chari Pay and CMI offer the most robust implementations.

How ChariBaaS can help

ChariBaaS, the Banking-as-a-Service platform from Chari Money SA, offers Chari Pay as an integrated payment solution. The main advantage is orchestration: Chari Pay acts as an abstraction layer that intelligently routes transactions to the best gateway based on card type, amount, and historical conversion rate.

In practice, this means you integrate a single API and automatically benefit from optimal routing:

• Moroccan cards are routed to CMI for optimal acceptance rates
• Maroc Pay payments are processed directly
• International cards are routed to the processor offering the best conversion rate

This approach eliminates the need to integrate and maintain multiple gateways in parallel. You get a single dashboard, a single accounting reconciliation flow, and a single point of contact for support.

To discover how Chari Pay can integrate with your platform, consult our API documentation or contact our team.

Conclusion

The payment gateway market in Morocco in 2026 offers options suited to every merchant profile. CMI remains the essential foundation for Moroccan bank cards. Chari Pay positions itself as the most complete and modern solution, combining cards, Maroc Pay, REST API, and intelligent orchestration. Payzone suits high-volume multi-channel operations. AmanPay meets the needs of small merchants who prioritize simplicity.

The best choice depends on your specific context: volume, budget, technical level, and desired payment methods. Whatever your decision, make sure your gateway supports 3D Secure 2.0, offers adequate reporting tools, and provides settlement timelines compatible with your cash flow.