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Fygaro is probably the most recognised name in payment gateways in Jamaica right now, and for good reason. Its partnership with the Jamaican government helped thousands of small businesses take their first card payment online. If you are selling through WhatsApp or Instagram with no website, this platform is a solid starting point.
But if you have outgrown it — or you are about to — this post explains exactly why, and what most Jamaican merchants switch to instead.
What Fygaro actually is (and what it isn’t)
It gives you a storefront, payment links, invoicing, and a gateway — all bundled into a monthly subscription. That bundle is the product’s strength and its limitation at the same time.
As a payment gateway, it works through your acquiring bank rather than processing directly. You get access to card payments without having to set up the banking relationship yourself, which is why onboarding is fast.
The tradeoff: you do not own the infrastructure. Your checkout lives on Fygaro’s platform. Your storefront lives on Fygaro’s platform. Your subscription pays for access to both — and that bill never goes away.
The Fygaro limitations that push merchants to look elsewhere
Monthly subscription on top of processing fees. Fygaro plans run roughly US$10–15 per month depending on tier. That is on top of whatever transaction fees your bank gateway charges. It is not a large number, but it is a recurring cost that builds you no asset and scales with nothing — you pay it whether you process ten orders or a thousand.
Hosted checkout. When a customer clicks ay on a store, they leave your domain to complete the transaction. Every redirect is a drop-off risk. Merchants who move to an on-site checkout consistently see fewer abandoned carts.
Transaction fees on failed payments. Fygaro’s bank gateway billing counts declined transactions, authorizations, and reversals — not just completed sales. If your store sees a normal volume of card declines, you are paying for those too.
Platform lock-in. Your product catalogue, your storefront, your payment links — they all live inside Fygaro. Growing past the platform means migrating all of it, and migrations cost time and money.
What to look for in a Fygaro alternative
Before switching, get clear on what you actually need from a payment gateway in Jamaica.
- A direct merchant account. This means the acquiring relationship is between you and your bank — NCB, Scotiabank Jamaica, JMMB, or First Global — not between you and a platform. It gives you better rates, faster settlements, and real account control.
- On-site checkout. Customers stay on your domain for the entire purchase. No redirect, no interruption, no reason to second-guess.
- No platform subscription. You should be paying your bank a processing rate, not renting access to your own checkout every month.
- Local support. Someone who knows Powertranz, knows Jamaican bank configurations, and is reachable in your time zone.
CaribPay — The Fygaro alternative built for WooCommerce stores in Jamaica
CaribPay is WebHead’s WooCommerce payment gateway, built specifically for Caribbean merchants processing through Powertranz (formerly First Atlantic Commerce). It does one job: connect the WordPress store you already own to the merchant account your bank already approved — with a checkout that never leaves your domain.
What you get with CaribPay:
- Direct Powertranz integration — no aggregator between you and your acquirer
- On-site checkout — customers pay without ever leaving your website
- JMD and USD processing with settlement direct to your local bank
- Full WooCommerce support: refunds, subscriptions, authorize-and-capture, order management
- No monthly platform fee — you pay your bank, not a software subscription
- Local support in Jamaica, from the team that built it
What you need first: A Powertranz merchant account through your bank. NCB, Scotiabank Jamaica, JMMB, and First Global all work with Powertranz. Approval typically takes a few weeks. WebHead can walk you through the paperwork.
Best for: retailers, service businesses, tour operators, and wholesalers with a WooCommerce store who want to own their checkout and pay their bank directly — not a platform.
Fygaro vs CaribPay
| Fygaro | CaribPay | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Hosted commerce platform | WooCommerce gateway plugin |
| Merchant account | Platform-facilitated | Yours, direct with your bank |
| Checkout location | Hosted / redirect | On your site |
| Monthly platform fee | Yes (~US$10–15/month) | None |
| Processor | Via Fygaro platform | Powertranz, direct |
| JMD settlement to local bank | Yes | Yes |
| You own the storefront | No | Yes |
| Local Jamaican support | No (Panama) | Yes |
How to switch from Fygaro to CaribPay
- Start the merchant account first. Contact your bank’s merchant services team about Powertranz. Approval takes a few weeks and goes faster if you already have account history with them.
- Set up your WooCommerce store. If your catalogue lives in Fygaro, products and images export cleanly and re-import into WooCommerce.
- Install and test CaribPay. Your Powertranz credentials go straight into the plugin. Test across every card type and currency before going live.
- Run both briefly in parallel. Keep your Fygaro payment links active for a short overlap so nothing in flight breaks, then cancel the subscription.
- WebHead handles the full migration for clients — merchant account paperwork, WooCommerce build, CaribPay setup, and go-live testing.
Book a migration call with WebHead →
Frequently asked questions
Is Fygaro a good payment gateway for Jamaica?
For micro businesses and sole traders selling through social media or messaging, yes. For merchants with a WooCommerce store doing consistent volume, a direct Powertranz integration gives better control, lower total cost, and no platform dependency.
What is Powertranz?
Powertranz is the current brand of First Atlantic Commerce, the dominant Caribbean payment processor since 1998. It is integrated with banks across Jamaica and the wider region. WiPay also runs on top of Powertranz as an aggregator.
Do I need a merchant account to switch from Fygaro?
Yes — a direct Powertranz integration requires your own merchant account from your bank. WebHead can guide you through the application process with NCB, Scotiabank Jamaica, JMMB, or First Global.
Can I accept both JMD and USD with CaribPay?
Yes. Powertranz processes in multiple currencies and settles in JMD and USD to your local bank account. Confirm your currency configuration with your acquiring bank during setup.
Talk to WebHead about CaribPay →
