Govchain vs SwiftReg vs Company Partners: Honest 2026 Review
OurPower - Last verified 2026-05-03
Why we can write this honestly
OurPower does not sell company registrations. We have no affiliate deal with any of these services. Govchain, SwiftReg, and Company Partners cannot publish neutral comparisons of each other - they'd be selling against themselves. We can.
Headline pricing
- BizPortal direct (CIPC official): R175 (with name) / R125 (without). 1-3 working days.
- SwiftReg: R590 - cheapest service. 1 director + 1 shareholder included; R100 each extra (prices change - check their site).
- Govchain: R950 - includes name reservation, CoR14.3, SARS tax, BEE EME affidavit, share certs (prices change - check their site).
- Company Partners: not publicly listed. Pricing on phone consultation.
- Register Company: R985 starter / R1,450 essentials (prices change - check their site).
- Regfield: R250-R650 depending on package (prices change - check their site).
What each one is good at
- Govchain: cleanest modern UX. Transparent pricing on the website. Free tools like name-search. Strongest if you value not-being-on-the-phone.
- SwiftReg: cheapest service. 2010-era ASPX site. Owns the SERP through age + backlinks. Phone-call sales cycle. Solid if you want a known brand at minimum cost.
- Company Partners: aggressive on industry-specific packages (CIDB, PSIRA, NHBRC tender packages). Price gate via phone. Good if you need bundled sector compliance.
- Register Company: middle-tier. Two clean pricing tiers. Free BEE template is a content-marketing magnet.
- Regfield: relatively new. Modern UX. CSD package particularly cheap (R250).
What each one is weak at
- Govchain: priciest entry point. Heavy upsell into their R995/month "Pro" bookkeeping plan (prices change - check their site).
- SwiftReg: dated UX, phone-call gate for add-ons, .aspx site that looks 2010.
- Company Partners: hidden pricing means you can't compare without a sales call.
- Register Company: middle-tier in everything; doesn't lead on any dimension.
- Regfield: less established; fewer reviews on SA forums.
Hidden costs to watch for
- BEE affidavit: free at police station, but services charge R150-R450 to commission and template.
- Beneficial ownership filing: free at CIPC, but services charge R250-R550.
- VAT registration: free at SARS, but services charge R750-R1,750.
- Annual return: R100 at CIPC, but services charge R270-R600.
- Banking referral: "included" usually means a cold introduction, not a guaranteed account.
Which one for you
- Want minimum price + can DIY: BizPortal direct (R175). It's not as scary as the services imply.
- Want cheapest hand-holding: SwiftReg (R590). Phone-friendly.
- Want clean UX + transparent pricing: Govchain (R950). Likely worth the premium if you'd otherwise spend hours figuring out the post-CIPC chain.
- Want sector compliance bundled (security/construction/transport): Company Partners or Regfield.
- Want shelf company (urgent): SwiftReg or Shelf Company Warehouse.
Frequently asked questions
Is BizPortal harder than the services say it is?
Less hard than the services imply, but the post-CIPC chain (SARS, UIF, BO, AR) is genuinely confusing. The services' value is largely in that chain, not the CIPC step.
Do these services have affiliate programs?
Some do (Govchain has one, SwiftReg occasionally). We do not currently use them; this comparison is unaffiliated.
Has any of them been the subject of complaints?
Reddit threads occasionally mention sales pressure with Company Partners. SwiftReg/Govchain have generally clean track records on SA forums.
Tools to help
Related guides
General guidance for South African company registration. Not legal or tax advice. CIPC fees and SARS rules change - figures verified 2026-05-03. Sources: CIPC, SARS, BizPortal.