The verdict in three sentences
A payment aggregator charges 2.5 to 3.5% all-in, with a single integration and zero maintenance on your side. Direct integration with providers drops to 1-1.5% in fees, but forces you to build and maintain three separate connections, at a build cost of 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 FCFA plus 150,000 FCFA/month of maintenance. The break-even between the two sits around 5,000,000 FCFA of monthly GMV.
Two opposing philosophies
In Johannesburg, an e-merchant just starting out has every reason to go through an aggregator: they plug in mobile money, cards and EFT via a single API, and focus on selling. The extra fee is the price of simplicity and speed to market.
But as volume climbs, that surcharge becomes a hemorrhage. Beyond a certain threshold, saving 1.5 of a point justifies investing in direct integrations — provided you have the technical team to maintain them. The question is therefore not ideological, it's arithmetic.
Aggregator vs direct: the 2026 comparison
2026 order of magnitude, to adjust for your volumes and technical stack.
| Criterion | Aggregator | Direct integration |
|---|---|---|
| Fee / transaction | 2.5 – 3.5% | 1 – 1.5% |
| Number of integrations | 1 | 3 (Wave + OM + card) |
| Initial build cost | Low / included | 1,500,000 – 3,000,000 FCFA |
| Monthly maintenance | 0 | ~150,000 FCFA |
| Time-to-market | A few days | Several weeks |
| Control & reconciliation | Limited | Total |
In South Africa, the same trade-off pits aggregators like Peach Payments or Yoco against a direct bank connection: simplicity versus unit cost, exactly the same logic as in Dakar.
Where is the break-even?
Let's compare total monthly cost (fees + amortized maintenance of a 2,400,000 FCFA build over 24 months, i.e. 100,000 FCFA/month + 150,000 FCFA maintenance = 250,000 FCFA/month fixed charge on the direct side).
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| Monthly GMV | Aggregator (3%) | Direct (1.5% + 250,000 FCFA fixed) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,000,000 FCFA | 60,000 FCFA | 280,000 FCFA | Aggregator |
| 5,000,000 FCFA | 150,000 FCFA | 325,000 FCFA | Aggregator |
| 10,000,000 FCFA | 300,000 FCFA | 400,000 FCFA | Aggregator |
| 17,000,000 FCFA | 510,000 FCFA | 505,000 FCFA | Tie |
| 30,000,000 FCFA | 900,000 FCFA | 700,000 FCFA | Direct |
| 50,000,000 FCFA | 1,500,000 FCFA | 1,000,000 FCFA | Direct |
Factoring in the real fixed maintenance charge, the true break-even sits closer to 17,000,000 FCFA of monthly GMV. Below it, the aggregator almost always wins; well above it, direct takes over.
Mini case study
Fatou runs a fashion marketplace in Johannesburg with 8,000,000 FCFA of monthly GMV. Tempted by direct for its 1.5% fees, she runs the full math: direct would cost 120,000 FCFA in fees plus 250,000 FCFA fixed charge, i.e. 370,000 FCFA/month; via aggregator at 3%, she pays 240,000 FCFA/month. At her current volume, the aggregator saves her 130,000 FCFA/month. She decides to stay on the aggregator and switch to direct the day her GMV passes 17,000,000 FCFA — a milestone she targets in eighteen months.
FAQ
What is a payment aggregator? It's a platform that bundles several payment methods (mobile money, card, EFT) behind a single integration. You plug in one API, the aggregator manages the connections to providers.
Why is direct cheaper per transaction? Because you remove the aggregator's margin by dealing directly with each provider. You go from 3% to 1-1.5%, but you inherit the development and maintenance.
What is the real break-even? Factoring in real maintenance, it sits around 17,000,000 FCFA of monthly GMV. Below that, the aggregator stays cheaper despite its higher rate.
Can I run a hybrid model? Yes: keep the aggregator for cards and international, and integrate mobile money directly for the bulk of local volume. It's often the best cost/complexity compromise.
How long does a direct integration take? Expect several weeks of development per provider, versus a few days to plug in an aggregator. Time-to-market is a real decision factor, not just cost.
Let's talk about your project. We calculate your real break-even and design the payment architecture suited to your volume. 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.