When it comes to setting up a shop, selecting the right payment gateway is a pivotal decision that impacts everything from customer experience to your bottom line. In Malaysia, with our rapidly developing digital economies and rise of cashless payments, it’s important for businesses to catch-up to the ever-evolving trends.
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ToggleToday, we will provide an in-depth comparison of Curlec and Paydibs, two leading local payment providers in the scene.
We’ll explore their features, pricing, and suitability for various business models, aiming to help you make an informed choice for your payment processing needs.
Paydibs is a rising star in the payment gateway scene in Malaysia. The award-winning payment provider offers flexible solutions to businesses, from those operating purely online to those with physical brick and mortar stores or even operating vending machines!
One of the most notable features for Paydibs is their seamless integration with popular e-commerce platforms such as WooCommerce and Magento, alongside SDKs and APIs for mobile app developers.
Merchants also benefit from real-time portal access for efficient transaction tracking and management with the Smart Payment Terminal.
This focus on competitive pricing, efficient payouts, and consistent support positions Paydibs as a strong contender, particularly for businesses seeking reliable and responsive service.
Paydibs’ Main Packages Overview:
Feature | Online Package | Terminal Package (Rent) | Terminal Package (Buy) | Mobile App Package |
Ideal for | E-commerce websites, online service providers | Physical stores, businesses needing a POS device | Physical stores, businesses needing a POS device | Businesses on the go, mobile transactions |
Signup Fee | Free (local merchants); USD 120.00 (foreign merchants) | Free | Free | Free |
Yearly Fees | RM300 (waivable if sales > RM360,000/year) | N/A | RM120 (Yearly Connection Fee) | Free (Yearly Maintenance Fee) |
Hardware Costs | N/A | RM40/month (All-In-One Smart Terminal) | RM480 (One-time purchase for Smart Terminal) | N/A |
Refundable Deposit | Not applicable | RM500 | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Supported Payment Options | Online Banking (FPX), Credit/Debit Card, E-Wallet & QR Payment, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), International Payment | Credit/Debit Card, E-Wallet & QR Payment, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), International Payment | Credit/Debit Card, E-Wallet & QR Payment, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), International Payment | E-Wallet & QR Payment, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) |
Curlec, backed by the global payment giant Razorpay, has established itself as a robust and versatile payment gateway in Malaysia. Initially known for its expertise in recurring payments, Curlec has evolved to offer a full spectrum of payment acceptance methods, catering to a wide array of businesses.
One of Curlec’s core strengths lies in its commitment to providing flexible payment options. It allows businesses to accept payments through:
Curlec offers a tiered pricing structure designed to accommodate businesses of various sizes and transaction volumes. One notable aspect of their pricing is the absence of an annual fee across all their plans, which is really attractive for businesses.
Here’s a breakdown of their main packages:
Feature | Basic Plan | Premium Plan | Enterprise Plan |
One-time Setup Fee | RM 99.00 | RM 999.00 | Personalised Pricing |
Annual Fee | No Annual Fee | No Annual Fee | No Annual Fee |
Domestic Card Rate | 2.40% per transaction | 2.00% per transaction | Contact Sales for custom rates |
Foreign Card Rate | 3.30% per transaction | 2.00% per transaction | Contact Sales for custom rates |
FPX Rate | 1.50% or RM 1 per transaction (whichever is greater) | 1.50% or RM 1 per transaction (whichever is greater) | Contact Sales for custom rates |
Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) | 6.00% per transaction | 5.00% per transaction | Contact Sales for custom rates |
E-Wallet Rate | 1.50% per transaction | 1.30% per transaction | Contact Sales for custom rates |
Ideal For | Businesses starting out, lower upfront cost | Businesses seeking better rates, higher transaction volumes | Businesses with transaction volumes over RM 1 Million |
The Premium plan offers notably better transaction rates, particularly for card payments, both domestic and international, making it appealing for growing businesses with increasing transaction volumes.
Read more: Paydibs vs iPay88: The Right Payment Gateway for Malaysian SMEs
When comparing Curlec and Paydibs, it becomes clear that both offer compelling payment solutions, yet they cater to slightly different priorities. Here’s a comparative look at their key aspects:
Feature | Curlec | Paydibs |
Primary Focus | Online businesses, recurring payments, high volume | Online stores, physical retail, mobile businesses (diverse packages) |
Setup Fees | RM99 (Basic), RM999 (Premium), Personalised (Enterprise) | Free (local online), Free (Terminal/Mobile) |
Annual Fees | None | RM300 (Online – waivable), RM120 (Terminal Buy), Free (Mobile) |
Domestic Card Rate | 2.40% (Basic), 2.00% (Premium) | Not explicitly stated in provided info (variable by transaction type for online/terminal) |
International Card Rate | 3.30% (Basic), 2.00% (Premium) | Not explicitly stated in provided info (variable by transaction type for online/terminal) |
FPX Rate | 1.5% or RM1 (consistent) | Included in Online Package (rate not specified) |
E-wallet Rates | 1.50% (Basic), 1.30% (Premium) | Included in all packages (rate not specified) |
BNPL Support | Atome, GrabPay (with specific rates) | Atome, GrabPay (with specific rates) |
Physical POS / Terminal | Integrations available with third-party POS | Dedicated Terminal (Rent/Buy) and Mobile App packages |
Developer Tools | APIs, Plugins (WooCommerce, Shopify), SDKs | APIs, WooCommerce, Magento, SDKs for mobile |
Recurring Payments | Strong dedicated features, core offering | Available, part of online payment methods |
Global Card Saving | Yes | Not explicitly detailed |
Disclaimer: The information regarding pricing, features, and specific details for Curlec and Paydibs in this article is based on publicly available data and information provided up to May 2025. Payment gateway offerings, fees, and terms can change. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please refer directly to the official websites of Curlec and Paydibs.
While fees are a significant factor, a comprehensive decision involves looking at several other elements.
Both provide strong support for FPX, credit card, local e-wallets options like Touch ‘n Go, GrabPay and Boost. BNPL options are also readily available with Atome and Paylater. Overall, both payment gateway providers meet the needs of every Malaysian business.
Both gateways offer APIs and plugins for popular e-commerce platforms like WooCommerce. However, businesses with custom platforms or those needing extensive mobile app integration should evaluate the quality and documentation of each provider’s SDKs and APIs.
Both offer merchant dashboards for transaction tracking and 24/7 support channels like hotline and ticketing.
However, Paydibs’real-time transaction reports provide much needed information to merchants. Paired with an accounting software, this simplifies daily operations and makes it easier for businesses to manage their finances effectively.
Curlec, backed by Razorpay, excels in recurring payments, online-first setups, and tiered pricing that rewards higher transaction volumes.
Paydibs offers flexible packages for Malaysian businesses, including those in retail or street vendor setups. With free signup for local merchants and dedicated payment terminals, it’s ideal for SMEs starting out.
But if you think neither of the payment machines in this blog really interest you, why not check out our Top 10 Payment Gateways in Malaysia guide to see which one suits your business best?
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Paydibs is often suitable for startups due to its free setup for local online merchants and no upfront cost for terminal rent.
Both Paydibs and Curlec offer seamless API integration with WooCommerce, and Curlec also provides specific plugins for Shopify, making setup straightforward for these platforms.
Yes. Paydibs offers dedicated Terminal and Mobile App packages for physical stores, while Curlec primarily focuses on online payments but can integrate with third-party POS systems.
Both Curlec and Paydibs are PCI DSS compliant, indicating high standards for payment data security and fraud prevention measures.
Details on package switching policies (upgrade/downgrade processes, associated fees) would need to be directly confirmed with each provider through their customer service channels.
Both providers have established procedures to manage chargebacks and disputes in line with payment network rules, with specific processes and potential fees outlined in their respective merchant agreements.