Mobile Money Fees in 2026: Wave vs Orange Money (Côte d’Ivoire & Senegal)
Mobile Money has become the everyday wallet of West Africa. But fees aren’t the same from one operator or country to the next — and a small percentage adds up fast. This guide explains how Wave and Orange Money charge in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal, and how to keep more of your money.
How Mobile Money fees work
Operators charge on three operations: cash-out (withdrawal), transfer (sending to another number) and deposit. The fee is usually a percentage of the amount, sometimes capped. Receiving money from a merchant is generally free.
Côte d’Ivoire: the cash-out costs
In Côte d’Ivoire, sending money is largely free, but withdrawing cash costs about 1% (Wave caps it at 5,000 FCFA). Orange Money adds a small stamp duty on certain deposits. So the expensive moment is taking the money out.
Senegal: the transfer costs
Senegal is the opposite: withdrawals are free, but sending money costs — about 1% on Wave and 0.8% on Orange Money. Knowing this lets you pick the cheaper operator for what you do most.
How to pay less
Compare operators for your exact operation and amount, keep money in the wallet when withdrawals are the costly part, and prefer free merchant payments over cash-out when possible. Our calculator shows the exact fee for any amount.