Comparison

Switch by Sterling vs Zap by Paystack

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Switch by Sterling

This financial service app allows for seamless international money transfers, bill payments, and access to savings accounts, investment plans, lending, and insurance. It aims to help users achieve a financially healthy lifestyle with transparent pricing and secure fund management.

Highlights
  • International money transfers
  • Multi-currency savings accounts
  • Investment plans
  • Lending and insurance products
  • Bill payments (airtime, cable, internet)
  • Money requests
  • Secure fund management
Features
Read full description

Switch by Sterling is a free, easy to use financial service application for sending money across borders. Switch gives you access to multi-currency savings accounts, investment plans, lending and insurance products at the best rates, with no extra costs. Download the Switch by Sterling app and begin your journey to a financially healthy lifestyle and future. With Switch by Sterling, you can: ** Send money seamlessly Send money across borders at no extra charge. Send to Switch users for free and to other Nigerian bank accounts for 25 Naira or less. ** Pay your bills with ease Buy airtime, and pay for your cable and internet services locally and internationally. ** Plan for the future Get access to amazing insurance packages. For as low as 3,500 monthly, you get insured for up to 1.2 million yearly. ** Request money Request and receive money with just one link. ** Keep your money safe Switch by Sterling Bank Plc is approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria. All your funds are held in the bank and insured by the Nigeria Deposits Insurance Corporation (NDIC). ** Increase your wealth through investments With Switch, you can invest in various sectors, stock exchange, bonds, real estate, etc. We offer profitable returns on investments.

About

Zap by Paystack

Send money to any bank account in Nigeria with ease. Enjoy a fast, secure, and reliable platform for all your transfer needs. The app offers a hassle-free onboarding process for a seamless start.

Highlights
  • Seamless onboarding
  • Fast bank transfers
  • Secure transactions
  • Reliable platform
  • Send money to any Nigerian bank
Features
Read full description

Zap is built by Paystack to do one thing well: make spending effortless, reliable and organized, every single time. Backed by the infrastructure powering thousands of Nigeria's most trusted businesses. Here's what that looks like in practice.
 NO BLOAT. JUST CLEAN, FAST PAYMENTS • Zap is designed to be clutter-free. No unnecessary screens, no confusing menus, just a clean, super-fast payment experience that gets out of your way.
 FINALLY KNOW WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES • Zap automatically categorises your spending and surfaces insights about your financial habits. See patterns, track what matters, and stop guessing at the end of the month.
 PAY LIKE A LOCAL WITH APPLE PAY • Visiting Nigeria? Use Apple Pay to send money to any Nigerian bank account. No local bank account needed, no currency conversion hassle. Pay like a local from the moment you land. PAY A WIDE RANGE OF BILLS • With Zap, you can buy data and airtime, pay for electricity, renew DSTV, get Apple and PlayStore gift cards, and top up your XBOX, PS5, and mobile games without leaving the Zap app. PAY THE SAME PEOPLE FASTER • Zap remembers everyone you pay. Repeat any transfer in two taps without re-entering account numbers. SCAN TO PAY • Point your camera at any account number, whether on a payment decal, receipt, invoice, or phone screen, and Zap reads the digits and finds the bank for you. No more typing long numbers or second-guessing. ALL YOUR BANKS, ONE APP • Connect whichever banks you use and move money from them without switching apps. 
 PAY AT ANY PAYSTACK CHECKOUT • Zap works natively at thousands of Paystack-powered businesses across Nigeria. Pay directly from Zap with just a few taps. It’s faster than any other payment method. FAST, RELIABLE AND SECURE EVERY TIME • Built on Paystack's infrastructure, every transfer is encrypted and protected. Your money moves securely, and when it lands, you'll know immediately. Zap is not a bank. Deposits are held with our licensed banking partner. Zap is a product of Paystack Payments Limited, licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Screenshots

Switch by Sterling4 screens
Zap by Paystack4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Zap by Paystack at 4.3 against Switch by Sterling's 2.8. Zap by Paystack also leads on review sentiment (62% vs 36%) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 weeks). Switch by Sterling's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Zap by Paystack holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 21 and 24 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of Switch by Sterling's written reviews are positive against 62% of Zap by Paystack's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Switch by Sterling ships an update every 6 weeks, Zap by Paystack every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Switch by Sterling versus Zap by Paystack: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSwitch by SterlingZap by Paystack
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.8 (21 ratings)4.3 (24 ratings) — better
Positive reviews36.4% of reviews61.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2124 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS14.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size48 MB59 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperSterling Bank PlcPaystack Payments Limited

Customer experience

Switch by Sterling

All ratings18 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral11.1%
Negative55.6%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive36.4%
Neutral9.1%
Negative54.5%

Zap by Paystack

All ratings24 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive61.5%
Neutral7.7%
Negative30.8%

In-app purchases

None

Switch by Sterling

No in-app purchases

None

Zap by Paystack

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Switch by Sterling free?
Switch by Sterling is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Zap by Paystack free?
Zap by Paystack is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Switch by Sterling or Zap by Paystack?
Zap by Paystack is rated higher. Switch by Sterling averages 2.8 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while Zap by Paystack averages 4.3 from 24 ratings.
Do Switch by Sterling or Zap by Paystack have ads?
Zap by Paystack shows ads; Switch by Sterling does not.
Which is updated more often, Switch by Sterling or Zap by Paystack?
Switch by Sterling ships an update every 6 weeks, and Zap by Paystack every 2 weeks. Most recently, Switch by Sterling was updated on October 13, 2026 and Zap by Paystack on September 23, 2026.

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