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Mobile Money in Africa: Orange Money, Wave and M-Pesa Explained
Everything you need to know about mobile money in Africa. How it works, fees, and how to send money from Europe to mobile wallets.
In summary
Everything about Orange Money, Wave and M-Pesa. How to send money to a mobile wallet from Europe, countries covered, fees and delivery times.
Mobile money has revolutionized money transfers in Africa. With over 800 million accounts worldwide — 600 million in sub-Saharan Africa — it is the most popular way to send and receive money on the continent. [Source: GSMA]
What is Mobile Money?
Mobile money lets you send, receive and store money using just a mobile phone — no bank account required. All you need is a phone number and an ID.
Main Services in Francophone Africa
**Orange Money** — Available in 18 African countries including Senegal, Ivory Coast, Mali, Cameroon and Madagascar. Over 80 million users.
**Wave** — Direct competitor to Orange Money in Senegal and Ivory Coast. Very low fees, simple interface. Over 10 million users.
**M-Pesa** — Leader in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique). Over 50 million users. Expanding into Francophone Africa.
How to Send Money to Mobile Wallets from Europe
Fee Comparison (100€ to Orange Money Senegal)
Use TransfertCompare to find the best provider for sending to Orange Money, Wave or M-Pesa.
Charles Parenteau
Fondateur de TransfertCompare. Expert en transferts d'argent internationaux et en fintech. Je compare les solutions pour vous aider à économiser sur chaque envoi.En savoir plus →