Wave vs Orange Money in Mali
Rates verified 20 June 2026 from operator schedules and momocalc data.
Wave vs Orange Money: which is cheaper in Mali in 2026?
Sending in Mali, Wave is free (vs 1% Orange). On withdrawals, both charge 1%, but Orange caps lower (FCFA4,500) than Wave (FCFA5,000) — Orange wins on large cash-outs. Rates verified 20 June 2026; use the calculator below to compare your amount.
Comparison table
| Fee | WAVWave | ORGOrange |
|---|---|---|
| Send / domestic transfer | Free | 1% (cap FCFA4,500) |
| Withdrawal (cash-out) | 1% (cap FCFA5,000) | 1% (cap FCFA4,500) |
| Merchant payment | Free (customer side) | Free (customer side) |
| Cross-border UEMOA transfer | ~1.5% | ~1.5% |
| Fee cap | FCFA5 000 | FCFA4 500 |
| Government levy | 1% | 1% |
Which is cheaper?
To SEND, Wave is cheapest (free). To WITHDRAW, the operators tie on rate (1%), but Orange Money caps lower (1% (cap FCFA4,500)) than Wave (1% (cap FCFA5,000)) — Orange wins on large cash-outs. The Mobile Money Withdrawal Levy applies equally to both.
Calculate your exact cost
Pick the operator, operation and amount to compare live.
Worked example: FCFA50,000 a month
| Operator | Send/mo | Withdraw/mo | Withdraw/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wave | Free | FCFA1,000 | FCFA12,000 |
| Orange | FCFA500 | FCFA1,000 | FCFA12,000 |
Government levy
Mobile Money Withdrawal Levy
Levy activeMali applies a 1% State levy on mobile money cash withdrawals (retrait), paid by the customer withdrawing. It was introduced by Ordinance n°2025-008/PT-RM of 7 February 2025, effective 5 March 2025, to fund basic infrastructure and social development. A separate 10% tax applies to airtime/data top-ups.
Effective since 2025-03-05
Source: Ordonnance n°2025-008/PT-RM du 7 février 2025 (DGI Mali) ; KPMG TaxNewsFlash ; maliweb · verified 2026-06-20
Which to choose for your use
In Mali the decision turns on the 1% State levy that hits every withdrawal whoever you use, so the gap really opens up on sending — free on Wave versus 1% on Orange. Orange Money and Moov lean on long-established agent networks; newer Wave bets on zero send fees. Favour Wave to send, and avoid splitting withdrawals to keep the levy down.