The verdict in three sentences
The real gateway comparison is not its rate but its 24-month total cost, integration and operations included. A gateway expensive to integrate but low-rate beats a cheap high-rate one as soon as volume climbs. Add B2B support (subscriptions, deferred payment) and maintenance to decide.
Integration and operating cost by provider
Here are the line items to model for each gateway, 2026 orders of magnitude.
| Provider | Integration (FCFA) | Setup | Monthly | Rate | Maintenance/month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pan-African aggregator | 1,500,000-2,500,000 | 150,000 | 40,000 | 2.8-3.3% | 150,000-250,000 |
| Direct mobile money | 2,000,000-3,500,000 | 100,000 | 30,000 | 1.5-2.0% | 200,000-300,000 |
| International cards | 2,500,000-4,000,000 | 300,000 | 60,000 | 2.9-3.5% | 250,000-350,000 |
| Custom hybrid solution | 3,000,000-5,000,000 | 200,000 | 50,000 | 1.8-2.5% | 300,000-400,000 |
24-month total cost across three scenarios
The ranking changes with volume. Here is an estimate of total cost (average integration + fees + monthly + maintenance) over 24 months.
| Volume/year scenario | Aggregator (3.0%) | Mobile money (1.8%) | Hybrid (2.2%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50,000,000 FCFA | 8,150,000 FCFA | 10,090,000 FCFA | 12,200,000 FCFA |
| 150,000,000 FCFA | 14,150,000 FCFA | 13,690,000 FCFA | 15,500,000 FCFA |
| 300,000,000 FCFA | 23,150,000 FCFA | 19,090,000 FCFA | 20,450,000 FCFA |
At low volume, the aggregator wins thanks to cheap integration; at high volume, direct mobile money becomes cheapest as its low rate dominates.
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Mini case study
Mr. Fotso, e-commerce director of a distribution SME in Dubai, projects 300,000,000 FCFA/year online. The 3.0% aggregator would cost about 23,150,000 FCFA over 24 months; direct mobile money at 1.8%, about 19,090,000 FCFA. Gap: 4,060,000 FCFA in favor of mobile money, despite pricier integration. At this volume, rate beats integration cost.
FAQ
Why reason in 24-month total cost? Because integration is one-off but fees are recurring. At high volume, transaction fees far outweigh integration cost.
At what volume does direct mobile money win? Around 150M FCFA/year of online revenue, its low rate offsets pricier integration. Beyond that, the gap widens sharply.
Should I combine several gateways? Often yes: mobile money for local, cards for international. A hybrid solution orchestrates both and optimizes each transaction.
Is maintenance really necessary? Yes: security updates, PCI-DSS compliance, API evolution. Budget 150,000 to 400,000 FCFA/month depending on complexity.
How long to integrate a gateway? 2 to 5 weeks for custom with reconciliation and B2B support; less for a packaged aggregator.
Let's scope your project. Give us your three volume scenarios and B2B needs, and we'll model the 24-month total cost per gateway and recommend the optimal architecture. Detailed quote within 48 h. 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.
