Integrate Wave Checkout into WooCommerce: 2026 technical guide

The verdict in three sentences

Wave has no official WooCommerce plugin in 2026, but its *Aggregated Merchant* API allows a clean Checkout integration in a few hundred lines. You create a payment session server-side, redirect the buyer to the Wave URL, then confirm the order via a signed webhook received in under 3 seconds. Budget a dev ticket of 250,000 to 450,000 FCFA and 3 to 5 days to ship a production store.

Self-hosted vs aggregator: which to choose

Two paths exist. The self-hosted route calls the Wave API directly from your WooCommerce server: zero middleman, lowest fees, but you own webhook signature checking and idempotency. The aggregator (PayDunya, Naboo, etc.) exposes a ready-made plugin but adds a margin on every transaction.

For a store past ~2,000,000 FCFA in monthly volume, self-hosted becomes profitable: the fee savings repay the dev ticket within a few months.

The technical flow in practice

The core of the integration is four server-side steps. When the WooCommerce cart is confirmed, you call POST /v1/checkout/sessions with the amount, currency (XOF) and your return URLs. Wave returns a wave_launch_url and a session id that you store on the order.

When the checkout.session.completed webhook arrives, you verify the signature, mark the WooCommerce order completed and trigger fulfilment. Never confirm an order on the browser redirect alone: it can be abandoned even though payment succeeded, or the reverse.

Mini case study

Awa, who runs a cosmetics shop in Dakar, does 3,500,000 FCFA in monthly WooCommerce sales. Self-hosted at 1% fees, she pays 35,000 FCFA in Wave commissions. With an aggregator at 2.5%, she would pay 87,500 FCFA — 52,500 FCFA more per month. Her 400,000 FCFA dev ticket therefore pays for itself in under 8 months, after which she saves over 600,000 FCFA a year.

FAQ

Does Wave have an official WooCommerce plugin in 2026?

No. You must use the Aggregated Merchant API self-hosted, or a third-party aggregator that provides a plugin. Direct development stays the cheapest route over the medium term.

How much does integration cost?

Between 250,000 and 450,000 FCFA for a tested self-hosted integration, webhook and failure handling included. An aggregator drops to 100,000 – 200,000 FCFA but then takes a per-transaction margin.

What are Wave's merchant-side fees?

Roughly 1% merchant cash-in in 2026 (ballpark, confirm per your contract). Settlement typically lands T+1 on your Wave Business account.

What if the customer closes the browser after paying?

Nothing is lost: the signed webhook confirms payment server-side in under 3 seconds, independently of the browser. The session itself expires after 30 minutes if payment never completed.

How long to get the store live?

3 to 5 business days self-hosted once your Wave Business account is verified, versus 1 to 2 days via an already-connected aggregator.

Let's talk about your project. We integrate Wave Checkout into your WooCommerce store, webhook and tests included, in 3 to 5 days. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.