The shift to cashless payment systems in South African schools is more than just a digital trend. It’s a move toward efficiency, accountability, and safer transactions. As parents and schools look for more secure and convenient ways to handle school fees, meals, uniforms, events, and more, cashless platforms have quickly become an essential part of school operations.

In today’s fast-paced world, managing payments without the reliance on physical cash is becoming increasingly important. Cashless payment systems not only mitigate the risks associated with lost or stolen money but also enhance budgeting, record-keeping, and overall transaction speed. These platforms enhance convenience and provide schools with better control over finances and greater transparency, ensuring that parents and administrators have peace of mind.

Whether you’re a principal, bursar, IT manager, or school administrator looking to streamline payment processes, this guide will help you compare eight of the top cashless payment systems used in schools across South Africa. Each platform offers unique features designed to meet schools’ needs, making it easier to decide the most suitable solution for your school.

1. SnapScan

SnapScan is a widely adopted mobile payment application in South Africa, facilitating cashless transactions through QR code scanning. Its simplicity and integration capabilities make it suitable for schools seeking to manage ad-hoc payments efficiently.

Features:

• Enables QR code-based payments for events, meals, or merchandise
• Integrates easily into existing systems
• Parents can use SnapScan through their phones
• Instant transaction notifications and digital receipts

Limitations:

• Limited support for comprehensive student-account integration
• Minimal customisation options specifically tailored for schools
• Not designed for regular, recurring fees management

Best For: Schools requiring a straightforward solution for one-off payments such as fundraisers, tuckshops, or uniform sales.

2. Sticitt

Sticitt is a cashless payment platform designed for schools, especially for younger learners. It enables contactless, category-controlled spending for meals and events, helping schools reduce cash handling and simplify parental oversight. With the recent launch of their prepaid Mastercard linked to student accounts, children can now spend both on‑campus and at external merchants, strengthening user integration and expanding the platform’s utility. Schools benefit from enhanced financial visibility and account-based management.

Features:

• Dedicated Sticitt App and Parent Wallet
• Enables contactless payments at tuck shops and events
• Allows for predefined spending categories (e.g., only meals or books)
• Administrative tools for monitoring and managing expenditures

Limitations:

• Limited point-of-sale (POS) hardware support
• Focuses primarily on tuckshop and cafeteria payments

Best For: Primary and preparatory schools lseeking to streamline tuckshop spending with enhanced parental control.

3. Karri

Karri is a mobile application designed to facilitate secure and rapid school payments, allowing parents to make direct payments to educational institutions. Backed by Nedbank, it simplifies the collection of various school-related fees.

Features:

• Seamless collection of school fees, donations, outings, events, etc.
• Real-time payment tracking for schools
• In-app creation and management of payment requests
• Backed by Nedbank

Limitations:

• Doesn’t offer a full suite of POS or meal-based tracking
• No integration with broader school management platforms
  

Best For: Simplifying school fee collection, events, and donation drives.

4. SnackPay

SnackPay is a cashless tuckshop and canteen payment system designed specifically for schools. Designed to reduce queues and eliminate cash exchange during peak hours, it streamlines lunch ordering through pre-payment and mobile access.

Features:

• Learners can pre-order and pay for meals via the SnackPay app
• Minimisation of queues and cash handling
• Provision of POS hardware and merchant support
• Parental access to monitor and manage children’s spending

Limitations:

• Primarily focused on meal and tuckshop transactions
• Limited capabilities for broader school fee management
  

Best For: Schools seeking to modernise their canteen or tuckshop operations with pre-order capabilities

5. Lunchcard

Lunchcard is a purpose-built app for meal payments and tuckshop management. It offers NFC-enabled cards for quick tuckshop transactions, giving parents peace of mind with spending limits and purchase visibility, all managed through an easy-to-use app.

Features:

• Account top-ups via app or electronic funds transfer (EFT)
• NFC cards for student payments at tuckshops
• Daily spending limits and detailed purchase histories
• Administrative dashboard for bursars and caterers
  

Limitations:

• Focuses primarily on meal payments, not encompassing general school fees
• Requires compatible POS hardware

Best For: High schools with on-site cafeterias or outsourced catering.

6. TapTuck

TapTuck provides a tap-based cashless payment system using NFC tags linked to student accounts. This platform effectively assists schools in eliminating cash transactions for items like food and uniforms while enabling parents to manage and monitor their children’s spending.

Features:

• Students use NFC-enabled tags to make payments
• Parents fund student accounts via the TapTuck app
• Offers low balance alerts and daily spend controls
• Compatibility with school tuckshops and uniform shops
  

Limitations:

• Primarily focused on transactional payments (tuckshop, canteen, merchandise)
• Limited integration with school fee invoicing or general admin systems

Best For: Schools aiming for a seamless tap-to-pay system for on-campus purchases

7. Allxs

Allxs offers an enterprise-grade cashless payment ssystem for schools, universities, and other institutions. It combines access control, real-time analytics, and integrated POS solutions. Allxs supports multiple payment channels and student verification through smart ID cards.

Features:

• Smart student ID cards or mobile app for transactions
• POS system for meals, events, uniforms, and transport
• Real-time analytics and reporting for administrators
• Customisable rules for student spending, top-ups, and item access
  

Limitations:

• Setup may require a more complex integration
• Designed for medium to large schools or institutions
  

Best For: Educational institutions requiring an advanced, configurable, all-in-one payment and access control system.

8. Eezipay

Eezipay is an all-in-one cashless payment system platform designed specifically for educational institutions. From tuition and hostel fees to canteen meals and event payments, it consolidates various financial transactions into a centralised, cloud-based system.

This school-first cashless payment system includes powerful tools like QR scanning, mobile top-ups, POS hardware integration, and real-time reconciliation. With tailored onboarding and a parent-friendly app, it’s built to support both operational and financial workflows from day one.

Features:

• Covers a wide range of payment categories: school fees, meals, uniforms, books, events, hostel, laundry
• Offers cloud-based dashboards for bursars and finance teams
• Supports QR, mobile, and card payments
• Integrated POS hardware for on-site use
• Parent app for top-ups, statements, and payment history
• Real-time reporting and reconciliation
  

Limitations:

• Custom rollout and onboarding required, which includes training and support
  

Best For: Schools and tertiary institutions needing an end-to-end, scalable payment system that simplifies both parent and admin workflows.

Final Thoughts: Which Cashless School App Is Right for You?

Selecting the appropriate cashless payment system is a strategic decision that impacts the efficiency and security of school financial operations. As more schools shift to cashless schooling, the question isn’t if your institution will adopt it but when, and which platform will help you do it best.

Throughout this comparison, you’ve explored the offerings of solutions like Lunchcard, SnackPay, and TapTuck. However, if your school requires more than just lunch payments and account top-ups, it’s essential to consider a partner that provides comprehensive end-to-end school payment solutions. This should include not only lunch and meal payments but also school fees, uniforms, books, events, as well as services like hostel accommodations and laundry.

That’s where Eezipay stands out.

Why Schools Are Choosing Eezipay:

• All-in-One Simplicity: Unified login, dashboard, and solution
• Flexible Payment Options: Support for cards, QR codes, apps, and EFT
• Cloud-Based & Secure: Real-time access with robust security protocols
• Smart Reporting for Bursars: Immediate insights into payments
• Tailored for Education:  Designed specifically for educational institutions
  

Whether you’re a principal looking to streamline school operations, a bursar seeking efficient workflows, or an IT Manager exploring scalable solutions, Eezipay positions your school at the forefront of modern payment systems.

For a deeper dive into how these solutions compare side-by-side, read our 7 Awesome Cashless School Apps In South Africa – The Ultimate Comparison.

Ready to take the next step?
Ready to see a cashless payment system in action? Book a 15-minute discovery call with our team or download our free Cashless Campus Guide below to start simplifying school payments today.

By integrating a system like Eezipay, your school can gain better financial oversight, reduce admin workload, and improve the parent experience — all while staying ahead in a digitally connected world.