Payments Blog

What Is 3D Secure Payment and How Does It Work

At Pesapal, we've integrated 3D Secure into our payment gateway to give you peace of mind with every purchase. Here, we explain what 3D Secure is, how it works, and why you should care.

So, What Is 3D Secure?

3D Secure is an authentication protocol for preventing fraud during online card payments. Think of it as a security checkpoint between you and your bank. When you pay online, 3D Secure confirms that you are making the transaction, not a fraudster, with your card details.

The "3D" in 3D Secure refers to the three domains involved in the verification process:

1. The card issuer (like your bank)
2. The merchant (where you're shopping)
3. The 3DS infrastructure (which securely facilitates the authentication)

How Does It Work? 

When you try to pay for something online using your card, here's what usually happens with a 3D Secure-enabled system like Pesapal:

1. You enter your card details, just like any regular online checkout.
2. You will be redirected to a secure page provided by your card issuer.
3. You verify your identity by entering a One-Time Password (OTP) sent to your phone or through biometric verification (fingerprint or face recognition).
4. If your credentials match, the transaction is approved, and you'll be redirected back to the merchant site with a successful payment message.

If anything doesn't match or looks suspicious, the transaction is denied—protecting your money and identity.

Why You Should Care About 3D Secure

When you're making purchases or receiving them online, especially for high-ticket items, 3D Secure gives you confidence. Here's how it benefits you:

• Peace of mind: You'll never wake up to unexpected charges.
• Stronger protection: Even if someone gets hold of your card info, they can't complete a transaction without your verification.
• Fewer disputes: Transactions that go through 3D Secure are less likely to result in chargebacks or fraud claims.
• Compliance: Many card issuers and regulators now require 3DS to meet security standards.

Is There a Downside?

Some customers find the extra verification step adds a few seconds to check out, which may increase friction in the buyer journey. For merchants, this friction could result in lower conversion rates, for your e-commerce transactions. But in exchange, you're getting top-tier security, and most of us are happy to make that trade-off.

Pesapal's 3D Secure experience is smooth and optimized, so you'll barely notice the extra step. You'll simply get an OTP or prompt, enter it, and your payment sails through.

Pesapal Makes 3D Secure Simple.

As a payment gateway trusted by thousands of businesses across Africa, Pesapal offers 3D Secure payments by default—no special setup is needed. Whether you're selling or buying online, you get real-time protection every time.

Our system works seamlessly with major card networks like Visa and Mastercard and supports secure checkout experiences across websites, mobile apps, and payment links.

If you're shopping online or running an online store, you want to know your transactions are safe. With 3D Secure and Pesapal, you can fully control your payments. It's one extra step that adds a whole lot of protection. Next time you see a prompt asking you to verify your purchase, smile. That's 3D Secure working for you.