The verdict in three sentences
Free Money (Yas brand) is Senegal's third payment rail: neither Wave nor Orange Money captures 100 % of wallets, and 10 to 15 % of buyers prefer Free. Adding Free Money to a checkout that already has Wave and OM earns 5 to 8 conversion points because you stop losing the customer who only holds that balance. The integration cost, 200,000 to 350,000 FCFA in 2026 (roughly 305 to 535 EUR), pays back within weeks once monthly volume exceeds 1.5 million FCFA.
Free Money vs Wave vs Orange Money: the third rail's place
Merchants reflexively stop at Wave and OM. That is a coverage mistake: one buyer in eight pays more readily with Free, especially in certain areas and age brackets. Here are the 2026 orders of magnitude.
| Operator | Estimated market share | Merchant fee | Settlement | API documentation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wave | 55-60 % | 1.0 % | D+1 | Good |
| Orange Money | 25-30 % | 1.5-2.0 % | D+2 | Fair |
| Free Money (Yas) | 10-15 % | ~1.5 % | D+2 | Limited |
| Cards / other | 3-5 % | 2.5-3.5 % | D+2 to D+7 | Variable |
The takeaway is simple: Wave dominates volume, but Free Money's 10 to 15 % are sales you lose today if your payment page doesn't offer it.
Direct integration or via an aggregator
The Free Money API is less documented than Wave's, which lengthens direct development. Going through an aggregator (InTouch, PayDunya, CinetPay) pools the effort but adds a margin on fees.
| Criterion | Direct Free integration | Via aggregator |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 integration ticket | 200,000 - 350,000 FCFA | Included in a multi-operator plan |
| Fee per transaction | ~1.5 % | ~2.0-2.5 % |
| Time to production | 3 to 5 weeks | 5 to 10 days |
| Reconciliation | To be built | Unified, single report |
| Third-party dependency | Low | High |
In short: direct integration if you have high volume and a technical team; an aggregator if you want all three operators fast and debt-free.
Mini case study
Fatou runs an online cosmetics store in Dakar. She sells 4,500,000 FCFA a month with Wave and OM only, average basket 15,000 FCFA. She estimates 8 % of visitors drop off for lack of Free Money. By adding it, she recovers +6 conversion points, roughly 270,000 FCFA of extra monthly sales. The 300,000 FCFA integration ticket is therefore recouped in a little over a month, then it is net gain every month.
Become a Kolonell referral partner
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Do you know merchants who sell online without Free Money? The Kolonell referral (apporteur d'affaires) program pays you for every project signed thanks to you. The 2026 scale is clear and pays with no cap.
| Type of referred project | Sale commission | Recurring |
|---|---|---|
| Showcase site | 15 % | +5 % |
| E-commerce | 12 % | - |
| Marketplace | 10 % | - |
| Institutional | 8 % | - |
An e-commerce deal at 2,000,000 FCFA earns you 240,000 FCFA. You talk, we deliver, you get paid.
FAQ
Is Free Money worth it if I already have Wave and OM?
Yes once you exceed 1.5 million FCFA in monthly volume. Free's 10 to 15 % market share represents real sales lost today, and the 5 to 8 recovered conversion points quickly cover a 200,000 to 350,000 FCFA ticket.
How long does a direct Free Money integration take?
Allow 3 to 5 weeks for a direct integration because the API is less documented. Via an aggregator, time to production drops to 5 to 10 days.
What are the real per-transaction fees?
Around 1.5 % directly with Free Money, versus 2.0 to 2.5 % through an aggregator that adds its margin. Settlement happens at D+2.
Can I offer all three operators without tripling the work?
Yes, through a single API such as InTouch: one integration covers Wave, OM and Free. You save about 50 % of development time against a third-party dependency to weigh.
Let's talk about your project. We add Free Money to your store and measure the conversion gain together. 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.
