Shopify claims 4.8 million merchants worldwide in 2026, but zero native integration for Senegal. No XOF currency in Shopify Payments, no Wave on the gateway list, no Orange Money. Yet dozens of Dakar stores have been running on Shopify since 2024. Here is how they do it.
TL;DR
- Shopify has no official XOF gateway, but accepts XOF as display currency
- 3 viable local gateways: PayDunya, CinetPay, IntouchPay via Shopify app
- Manual gateway for Wave and Orange Money (off-platform payment + validation)
- Senegal shipping rules: Dakar zones / regions / international, XOF rates
- Total cost Shopify Basic + local apps: XOF 32,000 to 45,000 per month
The Shopify reality in Senegal, 2026
Shopify Plus reached the African market via Lagos and Cairo, but Dakar still has no Shopify Payments. To sell online in Senegal with Shopify, you tinker. The good news: the app store ecosystem already contains everything needed.
Why pick Shopify anyway
- 48h setup vs 3 weeks for a custom WooCommerce
- Premium themes already mobile-optimized (critical on 3G)
- Multi-channel inventory: Instagram Shop, TikTok Shop, marketplaces
- Automatic backups: no OVH server panic
- 24/7 support in French for Advanced plan subscribers
Setting currency and language
In Settings > General, pick XOF (West African CFA) as store currency. Shopify accepts XOF as display but does not capture XOF natively — every transaction routes through EUR or USD in backend, then your local gateway converts to XOF for the user.
| Setting | Recommended value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Store currency | XOF | Local price display |
| Capture currency | EUR | Shopify Payments compatible |
| Primary language | French | 95% of Senegal traffic |
| Secondary language | English | US/UK diaspora |
| Time zone | GMT+0 (Dakar) | Consistent reporting |
| Weight unit | Kilograms | SN carriers standard |
Installing local payment gateways
Option 1 — PayDunya via Shopify app
PayDunya publishes an official app in the Shopify App Store since 2023. Merchant fee: 2.5% per transaction. Activation in 5 days post-KYB. Covers Wave, Orange Money, Free Money, Moov, local Visa/MasterCard cards.
Option 2 — CinetPay App Bridge
CinetPay offers a Shopify App Bridge integration. Fees: 2.2% to 3%. Pan-African coverage (12 countries), ideal if you target Ivory Coast + Senegal. Activation: 7 to 10 days.
Option 3 — Manual gateway (Wave / OM direct)
To save the 2.5% intermediary cost, enable a manual payment method in Shopify. The customer orders, gets your Wave Business details (+221 XX XXX XX XX), pays off-platform, you validate the order manually. Suitable for baskets above XOF 50,000.
Shipping rules and delivery zones
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The Shopify Shipping module accepts custom zones. Typical config for Senegal:
- Zone 1 — Dakar Plateau / Almadies / Mermoz: XOF 2,000, D+1 delivery
- Zone 2 — Dakar suburbs (Pikine, Guediawaye, Rufisque): XOF 3,500, D+2
- Zone 3 — Regions (Thies, Saint-Louis, Mbour): XOF 5,000 to 8,000, D+3 to D+5
- Zone 4 — Southern regions (Casamance): XOF 10,000 to 15,000, D+5 to D+7
- Zone 5 — International (diaspora): real-time DHL / La Poste rate
Connect Yango Delivery or Glovo via their Shopify app to automate fee calculation across Dakar.
Real monthly total cost
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify Basic | USD 25 (~XOF 16,000) | XOF 192,000 |
| PayDunya app | free (transaction fees) | — |
| Yango Delivery app | free | — |
| Premium theme | USD 180 one-shot | — |
| Domain .sn or .com | XOF 12,000/year | XOF 12,000 |
| Monthly fixed | ~XOF 16,000 | ~XOF 204,000 |
| Transaction fees XOF 5M/month | XOF 125,000 (2.5%) | XOF 1,500,000 |
FAQ
Q: Is Shopify Payments available in Senegal in 2026?
A: No, still not. Only 23 countries accept Shopify Payments — Senegal is not on the list. You must go through PayDunya, CinetPay or a manual gateway.
Q: Can Wave be accepted directly on Shopify?
A: Not via a native app (Wave has not published an official Shopify app). The method used: route through PayDunya which aggregates Wave + OM + cards, or build a manual gateway for high-value baskets.
Q: How much does a complete Shopify e-commerce site cost in Senegal?
A: Shopify Basic plan (USD 25/month) + premium theme (USD 180 one-shot) + PayDunya/CinetPay integration (XOF 50,000 to 150,000 setup) + custom design (XOF 300,000 to 800,000 at Kolonell). Total v1 budget: XOF 500,000 to 1,200,000.
Q: Shopify vs WooCommerce for Senegal, which to pick?
A: Shopify if you want to ship fast and have no in-house developer (48h setup). WooCommerce if you have a tighter long-term budget and a WordPress dev (saves XOF 200,000/year on subscriptions).
Conclusion
Shopify in Senegal works, but requires specific configuration the official docs do not cover. Kolonell installs Shopify with local gateways in 7 days, custom theme included. Request a free quote or message 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.