The verdict in three sentences
Free Money (Yas) is no afterthought: with an estimated base of ~3 million subscribers in Senegal, it captures a slice of customers that neither Wave nor Orange Money covers 100 %. Its merchant fees of 1 to 1.5 % sit between Wave (the cheapest) and Orange Money (the priciest), with an acceptable T+1/T+2 settlement. For a serious online business, the real strategy is not to pick one wallet, but to enable all three and cover 95 % of Senegalese wallets.
Free Money / Yas: what the merchant must know
Free Money is the mobile money service of Free Senegal (ex-Tigo), rebranded Yas as part of the group's 2025-2026 rebranding. For a merchant, the offer revolves around a merchant account (pro wallet) and a collection API, usually consumed through an aggregator rather than directly.
| Criterion (2026 estimate) | Free Money / Yas |
|---|---|
| Senegal subscriber base | ~3 million |
| Merchant collection fee | 1 % to 1.5 % |
| Settlement (payout to account) | T+1 to T+2 |
| Transaction cap | ~1,000,000 FCFA |
| Daily wallet cap | ~2,000,000 FCFA |
| Integration | API via aggregator |
| Refund | API or manual depending on aggregator |
| In-person QR code | Yes |
The figures above are 2026 orders of magnitude; exact caps depend on the account's KYC level and the negotiated commercial agreement.
Why enable it alongside Wave and Orange Money
The beginner merchant's reflex is to integrate only Wave (low fees, strong brand). That is a coverage mistake: some customers own only Free Money, out of habit or because it is their telecom operator. Refusing this wallet means refusing the sale.
| Combination | Estimated SN market coverage | Weighted average fee |
|---|---|---|
| Wave only | ~55-65 % | ~1 % |
| Wave + Orange Money | ~85 % | ~1.5 % |
| Wave + OM + Free Money | ~95 % | ~1.4 % |
| All 3 + card/Stripe (diaspora) | ~98 % | variable |
The jump from 85 % to 95 % coverage is exactly where carts get abandoned for lack of a payment method. Out of 100 orders, recovering even 5 to 8 extra sales easily pays for the third provider's integration.
Mini case study
Awa runs an online cosmetics shop in Dakar: 300 orders/month, average basket 18,000 FCFA, i.e. 5,400,000 FCFA in monthly revenue. With Wave + OM only, she estimates losing 6 % of sales for lack of the right wallet, i.e. ~18 orders (~324,000 FCFA) going to a competitor. By adding Free Money (1.2 % fee), she recovers most of those sales. Net gain: roughly +300,000 FCFA/month in revenue, for near-zero extra fee cost. The decision is obvious.
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FAQ
Are Free Money and Yas the same thing?
Yes. Yas is the new commercial brand of Free Senegal rolled out in 2025-2026; the Free Money service is part of this ecosystem. For the merchant, the account and API stay the same, only the branding changes.
What are the exact merchant fees?
Expect 1 % to 1.5 % depending on your volume and the aggregator. Above a certain monthly volume (say 10 to 15 million FCFA), a lower negotiated rate is possible.
Can I integrate Free Money without an aggregator?
It is technically possible via a direct agreement, but most merchants go through an aggregator that bundles Wave, OM and Free into a single API, for +0.5 to 1 % fee and an integration of a few days rather than several weeks.
How long until I receive the money?
Settlement is usually T+1 to T+2 business days to your account. Watch this delay in your cash flow if your margins are tight.
Does Free Money work outside Senegal?
The Free/Yas wallet is Senegalese; to collect in other UEMOA countries, Wave offers better regional coverage (see our cross-border guide).
Let's talk about your project. We integrate Free Money, Wave and Orange Money into a single tested, compliant checkout. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
