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PayPal vs Wave
PayPal and Wave are both payment receiving platforms. On a $1,000 payment you keep about $970.10 on PayPal and $990 on Wave, before withdrawal or currency-conversion costs.
Updated · from each platform’s published fees and payout terms · how we verify
Key differences
- On a $1,000 payment you keep about $970.10 on PayPal and $990 on Wave, before withdrawal or currency-conversion costs.
- Only PayPal offers Bank transfer and Debit card. Only Wave offers Agent cash-out and bill pay.
- PayPal is the older platform — founded in 1998, 20 years before Wave (2018).
- PayPal is based in United States, Wave in Senegal.
- Wave focuses on Senegal, Ivory Coast and Mali, while PayPal operates internationally.
Which should you choose?
Choose PayPal if…
- You want to withdraw via Bank transfer and Debit card.
- You prefer a long track record (since 1998).
Choose Wave if…
- Keeping more of each payment matters most — its fee is lower.
- You want to withdraw via Agent cash-out and bill pay.
- You live in Senegal, Ivory Coast or Mali.
Side by side
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PayPal
The most widely accepted way to get paid online - send an invoice or a PayPal.Me link and receive from almost…
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Wave
A West African mobile-money app with low fees for receiving and sending money.
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|---|---|---|
| Type | Payment receiving like Payoneer | Payment receiving like Payoneer |
| Category | Payments | Payments |
| Vetted | No | No |
| Work from home | Yes | No |
| Fees | US domestic goods/services payments 2.99%, other fees vary by payment type and country | Free deposits and withdrawals, 1% P2P fee |
| Payout speed | Standard bank transfer free, Instant Transfer 1.75% (max $25) | Cash withdrawal at Wave agents is free, timing not stated |
| Withdraw via | Bank transfer, Debit card | Agent cash-out, bill pay |
| Availability | 200+ markets | Senegal + 7 African countries |
| Local to | — | Senegal, Ivory Coast, Mali |
| Founded | 1998 | 2018 |
| Headquarters | San Jose, United States | Dakar, Senegal |
| Stock ticker | NASDAQ: PYPL | — |
| Popularity | 68 views · 1 likes | 40 views · 0 likes |
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, PayPal or Wave?
On a $1,000 payment you keep about $970.10 on PayPal and $990 on Wave, before withdrawal or currency-conversion costs.
How fast do PayPal and Wave pay out?
PayPal: Standard bank transfer free, Instant Transfer 1.75% (max $25). Wave: Cash withdrawal at Wave agents is free, timing not stated.
Where are PayPal and Wave available?
PayPal: 200+ markets. Wave: Senegal + 7 African countries.