PIX, boleto and card
The three payment methods, how each one works for the buyer and for renewals, when the money becomes available (30 days after payment, with any method), the chargeback reserve (4% for 60 days, with any method), saved cards and what the platform fee has to do with it.
The community gets paid by PIX, boleto and credit card in up to 12 installments, processed by Memberfy itself. You don't open a gateway account, integrate an API or keep a contract with an acquirer: you register who receives the money and a bank account, and the platform does the rest.
Comparison
| PIX | Boleto | Credit card | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For the buyer | QR code or copy-and-paste, in the bank app | Pays at any bank or in the app | Number, expiry date and CVV; upfront or in installments |
| How long the charge is valid | 30 minutes at checkout | Due in 3 days | — |
| When access is unlocked | On payment | When it clears, within 3 business days | On approval, usually right away |
| Installments | Upfront | Upfront | Up to 12× |
| Subscription renewal | A new charge each period | A new charge each period | Automatic, on the saved card |
| Money available for payout | 30 days after payment | 30 days after payment | 30 days after payment; in installments, each installment on its own date |
| Chargeback reserve | 4% of the gross amount, for 60 days | 4% of the gross amount, for 60 days | 4% of the gross amount, for 60 days |
| Platform fee | 6.99% + US$ 1.00 | 6.99% + US$ 1.00 | 6.99% + US$ 1.00 |
The platform fee doesn't depend on the payment method. Getting paid by PIX, boleto or card doesn't change what the community pays Memberfy. See Platform fee.
How it works
Choosing the methods for each product
On each product and billing option, in the Payment & Pricing tab, check Credit Card, PIX and/or Boleto. At least one is required.
| Case | Suggestion |
|---|---|
| Low monthly fee (US$ 9, US$ 15) | All three. PIX converts very well in Brazil |
| Expensive mentoring or course (R$ 1,500) | Card (for installments) and PIX |
| A subscription you want to renew on its own | Card up front; PIX and boleto require paying every period |
| An audience without cards | PIX and boleto |
PIX
The checkout shows the QR code and the copy-and-paste code, and the same code arrives by email ("Your PIX for … is ready"). Once paid, the screen updates on its own and access is unlocked. If the code expires unpaid, the buyer gets "Your PIX for … expired" and generates another one.
Boleto
The checkout shows Open boleto and the Barcode, and the boleto arrives by email. Access starts when the boleto clears: "Access starts once it clears." Clearing takes up to 3 business days after payment.
Card
Card details never go through the community's servers: the card becomes a secure token the moment it is typed, and that token is what gets stored. The answer usually comes right away; sometimes the payment processor holds it for review ("Payment under review"), and the result arrives later.
For subscriptions, the card used for the purchase is saved and becomes the renewal card.
Saved cards
Each member keeps cards under Billing › Credit card: Add Payment adds one (Card Number, Card Holder Name, Expiry Date, CVV) and Set as default payment method chooses the one that renews subscriptions. Removing the default card without setting another one first isn't recommended. See Member billing.
When the money becomes available
Every sale enters the statement as soon as it is confirmed, first as Pending (to be released). 30 days after payment, with any method, it becomes Available for Payout. Nothing becomes available on the same day.
| Method | Becomes available |
|---|---|
| PIX | 30 days after payment |
| Boleto | 30 days after payment |
| Card, upfront | 30 days after payment |
| Card in installments | Each installment on its own date: the later of the 30 days and the installment's month |
Each sale shows Releases on … in the statement; on a sale in installments, each installment's date. See Balance and statement.
Chargeback reserve
On every sale, 4% of the gross amount is held for 60 days, with every payment method: PIX, boleto and card. That is the period in which the purchase can still be disputed (the chargeback). After that, it goes back to available on its own. It shows up as Retained (Reserve) on the dashboard and, inside the sale in the statement, as Chargeback reserve and Reserve returns on ….
Examples with numbers
A US$ 100 monthly fee, PIX. Fee US$ 6.99 + US$ 1.00 = US$ 7.99. US$ 92.01 is left, available 30 days after payment, with US$ 4.00 (4%) held for 60 days as the reserve.
A US$ 300 course, card, upfront. Fee US$ 20.97 + US$ 1.00 = US$ 21.97. US$ 278.03 is left, available in 30 days, with US$ 12.00 (4%) held for 60 days as the reserve.
In a Brazilian community, which sells in reais, a R$ 300 course in 12 installments, with the buyer paying the interest (the default). Installments only exist in reais. Fee R$ 20.97 + R$ 2.49 = R$ 23.46, and R$ 276.54 is left for the community; the buyer pays R$ 318.00, with Memberfy's installment interest (6.00%). The community's amount is split across the 12 installments, each released on its own date, one per month starting 30 days after payment; the reserve is 4% of R$ 318.00 (R$ 12.72), for 60 days. If the organization pays the interest, the community receives R$ 18.00 less. See Annual in installments.
These two cases appear as Practical Examples in the Monetization › Fees tab.
Common errors and how to fix them
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| This product has no payment method enabled. Contact the community. | Check at least one method on the option |
| Card payments are not available for this community right now. Choose another method. | Use PIX or boleto and contact the Memberfy team |
| The member says they paid the boleto and didn't get in | Clearing takes up to 3 business days |
| The PIX expired | Generate another one: the checkout code is valid for 30 minutes |
| The card was declined | The bank declined it; another card or another method |
Frequently asked questions
Does PIX have a lower fee? No. The platform fee is the same for every method.
Can I accept PIX only? Yes: check only PIX on the option.
Do installments bring the money in earlier? No: upfront, the amount becomes available in 30 days; in installments, each installment is released on its own date, one per month.
Is PIX released sooner? No. The period is the same for every method: 30 days after payment. The reserve is the same too: 4% of the gross amount, for 60 days.
Does the community see the member's card number? No. Only the brand and the last four digits, and only to the member themselves.