Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 1 change this month
Wave 3.2Bronze 30 pts
A West African mobile-money app with low fees for receiving and sending money.
- Free to joinNo sign-up fee
- Only in 12 countriesCheck yours below
- Pays via Agent cash-out+1 more way to get paid
- Local, in personWork happens near you
- Since
- 2018 8 yrs
Based in- Dakar, Senegal
- Web rank
- #72,753 worldwide
Can you join Wave?
Answer two questions and we check them against Wave's sign-up rules.
Pick your country and age then press Check. Your answer shows here and in “Can I join?” below.
Wave is a mobile money where anyone can register to start earning. Fees are Free deposits and withdrawals, 1% P2P fee, earnings are typically paid out cash withdrawal at wave agents is free, timing not stated and you can withdraw via Agent cash-out and bill pay. Founded in 2018, Wave is based in Dakar, Senegal. It is available in 12 countries.
Last updated
Getting paid
What the platform takes, when you get your money and how
Not verified yet: Payment protection · Minimum payout Know the answer? Tell us
From the published fees above, before payment-processing, currency or withdrawal charges. Work out your own amount →
What people actually earn on Wave
Sourced figures from the platform, filings and independent studies
Figures published by Wave or by independent studies and surveys, as dated. Individual earnings vary widely.
What changed
Every update we made to this listing, with the page we checked
1 update · latest Nov 1, 2026
What changed
Every update we made to this listing, with the page we checked
- Payout speed added: Cash withdrawal at Wave agents is free, timing not stated source ↗
Every change we make to this listing, with the official page we checked. Recent updates across all platforms →
How complete is this profile?
We have 9 of the 17 things we track for every platform. Fees, payouts, join rules, countries and real earnings count most.
- Plain-English overview
- Minimum payout
- Payment protection
- Review ratings
- Wikipedia or reference page
- Support channels
- Mobile apps
- Social accounts
- What kind of platform it is
- Year founded
- Headquarters
- Fees
- How fast you get paid
- Withdrawal methods
- Join requirements
- Countries it accepts
- Real earnings figures
Every fact is checked against the platform's own pages. How we check →
Our rating
Worked out from the facts on this page, the same way for every platform
Strong on fees. Weaker on getting paid.
- Fees4.5
- Getting paid2.3
- Access3.0
- Track record3.0
- Proof of earnings3.0
Not a review of service quality: a score from verified fees, payouts, access, track record and earnings data. How the rating works
Achievements
30 of 100 points from 4 of 14 achievements, Bronze tier. Earned from verified facts, never paid for
Verified earningsA sourced figure for what people earn or are paid there+10
Why it matters You can judge the pay from a real number instead of the platform's own promises.
How we check We need a figure for what earners are paid, earn typically, or how many people earn, with a link to the filing, pay page or study it came from.
Wave 100K+ active merchants (2026-10)
Every platform with this badge →Free to joinNo fee to sign up+5
Why it matters Paying to join is a red flag on many work sites. This one costs nothing to start.
How we check The platform's sign-up and pricing pages show no fee to register as an earner.
Wave free
Every platform with this badge →Clear feesPublishes its cut as a percentage+5
Why it matters You can work out what you keep before you start.
How we check The platform publishes its cut as a percentage on its pricing or help pages, which we record as a range when it is tiered.
Wave 1%
Every platform with this badge →Low cutTakes 10% or less of what you earn+10
Why it matters More of every payment reaches you. Many marketplaces take 20% or more.
How we check The highest percentage the platform names in its published fees is 10% or less.
Wave 1%
Every platform with this badge →Open worldwideAccepts people from almost every country10
Why it matters Most earning platforms only take people from a handful of countries. This one lets almost anyone join.
How we check The platform's own terms or sign-up pages say it accepts people worldwide, with no more than eight countries left out.
Wave Senegal + 7 African countries
Every platform with this badge →Low payout barLets you cash out $10 or less5
Why it matters Small earnings are not left stuck in your account waiting for a high threshold.
How we check The platform's published minimum withdrawal is $10 or less, or it has no minimum.
Not earned yet: we have not verified this for Wave.
Every platform with this badge →Fast payoutsPays out instantly, daily or on demand5
Why it matters Money arrives when you need it, not weeks later.
How we check The platform says payouts are instant, same-day, daily or on demand.
Wave Cash withdrawal at Wave agents is free, timing not stated
Every platform with this badge →Payment protectionHolds or guarantees payment before you work10
Why it matters Something stops you working for nothing, such as client money held before the work starts.
How we check The platform publishes how it protects earners' payments: escrow, guaranteed pay or a dispute process.
Not earned yet: we have not verified this for Wave.
Every platform with this badge →Loved appA mobile app rated 4.5 or higher5
Why it matters A well-rated app usually means smooth day-to-day work and fewer payout problems.
How we check The platform's app is rated 4.5 or higher on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Not earned yet: we have not verified this for Wave.
Every platform with this badge →Top 10K websiteAmong the world's 10,000 most visited sites (Tranco)5
Why it matters Big platforms have more clients and buyers, and a lot to lose from treating earners badly.
How we check The site ranks in the world's 10,000 most visited on the Tranco list, a research-grade ranking.
Wave #72,753 worldwide
Every platform with this badge →10 years runningFounded at least 10 years ago5
Why it matters Platforms that have lasted a decade are less likely to vanish with your balance.
How we check Its founding year, checked against company records, is at least 10 years ago.
Wave Founded 2018
Every platform with this badge →20 years runningFounded at least 20 years ago5
Why it matters Two decades of paying people is a strong track record.
How we check Its founding year, checked against company records, is at least 20 years ago.
Wave Founded 2018
Every platform with this badge →Public companyListed on a stock exchange, with audited filings5
Why it matters Listed companies publish audited accounts, so their finances and risks are public.
How we check The company has a stock ticker on a public exchange, with filings we can read.
Not earned yet: we have not verified this for Wave.
Every platform with this badge →Fully documentedFees, payouts, countries and company details all verified15
Why it matters Everything you need to decide is verified here, not left as guesswork.
How we check Fees, payouts, minimum payout, who can join and the company details are all recorded from official pages.
Not earned yet: we have not verified this for Wave.
Every platform with this badge →
How achievements and tiers work · Open any badge for the details
Can I join Wave?
Age, countries, equipment and how sign-up works
Yes, if you live in one of 12 countries.
You have to verify your ID.
Enter your country and age in the quick check and we will tell you here whether Wave accepts you. Your answers stay on your device.
Check with my country- A government ID
- Sign upFree
- Do your first workJobs, tasks or sales
Good to know: Local mobile money with free deposits and withdrawals and 1 percent sending fee, no foreign currency receiving accounts.
Apps and support
Mobile apps, help channels, awards and press
How Wave compares
Against similar platforms in our directory
- At 1%, Wave takes a smaller cut than 11 of the 15 payment receiving platforms we track that charge a percentage fee (median 1.7%).
- Wave is the only one of the 51 payment receiving platforms we track that pays out via bill pay.
- Launched in 2018, Wave is newer than most payment receiving platforms — 43 of the 53 we track were founded earlier.
Compared with the payment receiving platforms in our directory. See them all →
Is Wave legit?
What we could verify about the company
Wave is a real, operating platform. What we could verify:
- Operating since 2018 (8 years)
- Headquartered in Dakar, Senegal
- Among the world's top 100,000 websites by traffic (Tranco rank #72,753)
Listing last updated October 2026 · how we verify platforms · Missing or out of date? Tell us
Wave in public records
Company filings, web traffic and app store data
- Website rank
- #72,753 worldwideAmong the top 100,000 sites (wave.com)
Sources: Tranco. Retrieved October 29, 2026.
Wave timeline
Founding, funding, milestones and news
-
Founded
Wave founded
Headquarters today: Dakar, Senegal
-
On FreelanceSites
Added to the FreelanceSites.net directory
Checked against its official pages before listing.
-
Milestone
100K+ active merchants
On its business page checked October 2026, the company says Wave has more than 100,000 active merchants accepting payments in person.
Source ↗ -
Milestone
1% after CFA20,000/day
As of October 2026, Wave's business page says merchants receive their first CFA20,000 of daily payments free, with a 1% fee afterward.
Source ↗ -
Milestone
Free bulk-payment receipts
As of October 2026, Wave's business page lists bulk payments at 1% for the sender and free for the recipient.
Source ↗
From the platform's own reports and press coverage we checked, plus company records on Wikidata. Know a milestone we're missing? Tell us
Guides
Step-by-step help for this platform
No step-by-step guide for Wave yet. Browse all guides or find the right way to earn for you.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Wave
How much does Wave charge?
Wave fees: Free deposits and withdrawals, 1% P2P fee. On a $100 payment that leaves you about $99, before withdrawal or conversion costs.
How do you get paid on Wave?
Wave pays out via Agent cash-out and bill pay. Timing: Cash withdrawal at Wave agents is free, timing not stated.
Which countries is Wave available in?
Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo (DRC), Gambia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Uganda. Its main focus is Senegal, Ivory Coast and Mali.
How much do people earn on Wave?
On its business page checked October 2026, the company says Wave has more than 100,000 active merchants accepting payments in person. Individual earnings vary widely.
Is Wave legit?
Yes, Wave is a real, operating platform: operating since 2018 (8 years), headquartered in Dakar, Senegal and among the world's top 100,000 websites by traffic (Tranco rank #72,753). As with any platform, check its current terms before relying on it for income.
What are the best Wave alternatives?
Similar platforms include MTN MoMo, Airtel Money, Wise and Payoneer. Compare their fees and payouts in the alternatives section below.
Compare Wave with…
Wave alternatives
More payment receiving like Payoneer
MTN MoMoMTN mobile-money service across many African markets for receiving and sending money.
Fees Tiered cash-out fees ~0.5-2%mtn.com
Airtel MoneyA wide-reach African mobile money service for receiving payments and cash-out.
Fees Varies by country, tiered cash-out feesairtel.africa
WiseA multi-currency account with local bank details in 9+ currencies - clients pay you like a local, and conversion happens at the mid-market rate.
Fees Low conversion fees at the mid-market ratewise.com
PayoneerThe freelancer favorite for international payments - receiving accounts in USD, EUR, GBP and more, connected directly to Upwork, Fiverr, Amazon, and dozens of marketplaces.
Fees Withdrawals 1.2-4% ($1.50 USD to US), 0.5% conversion, $29.95/yr if under $6Kpayoneer.com
PayPalThe most widely accepted way to get paid online - send an invoice or a PayPal.Me link and receive from almost any client in the world.
Fees Fees vary by transaction type and countrypaypal.com
SkrillA digital wallet long popular with freelancers and online workers for receiving and sending money internationally at low cost.
Fees Free to receive, 2.99% to send, 2.8% withdrawal (min EUR 3.50), 4.49% FXskrill.com