Sendwave fees, rates and limits (2026)
Sendwave is built for small, frequent mobile-wallet sends — there is no up-front fee, so a £50 top-up isn't punished by a flat charge. It's app-only and wallet-focused. Because it earns on the exchange-rate margin rather than a fee, always compare its rate to the mid-market benchmark. Owned by Zepz (the same group as WorldRemit).
Where Sendwave sends: the routes we cover
Coverage is checked route by route from each provider's own site — see the "will Sendwave work for your route?" check below.
How much does Sendwave cost? The fee anatomy
Sendwave charges no up-front fee on most routes — it earns entirely on the exchange-rate margin. That makes it excellent for small wallet top-ups (no flat fee to erode a small amount) but means the whole cost is in the rate. Margins move daily; compare the app's quote to the live mid-market rate above before sending — the gap is the real cost.
See what the recipient gets (🇰🇪 Kenya → 🇹🇿 Tanzania):
Sendwave delivery & speed
Sendwave delivers to mobile wallets fast — usually within minutes — which is its whole point. It's wallet-first; bank and cash options are narrower than the legacy networks. One thing to remember: the destination wallet has its own operator caps (M-Pesa, EcoCash, MTN MoMo each limit a single receipt), so a large send may need splitting even where Sendwave itself allows it. For a recipient who spends from the wallet by QR or bill-pay, that's rarely a problem; for someone who wants cash, factor the wallet's own cash-out fee on top.
Sendwave limits & KYC
Per-transfer and periodic limits apply by market and verification level; the wallet payout itself has operator caps (e.g. M-Pesa limits). Check the cap for your route in the app.
Is Sendwave safe? Regulation & trust
Is Sendwave safe? Sendwave is owned by Zepz (the group behind WorldRemit; Zepz completed the Sendwave acquisition in February 2021). In the UK it is operated by WorldRemit Ltd, an FCA-authorised EMI (registration 900891); in the US it is a FinCEN-registered MSB. It is an Electronic Money Institution (EMI), not a bank: there is no deposit insurance (no FSCS), but customer funds are safeguarded in segregated accounts, held separately from the company's own money — the regulatory alternative to deposit protection.
Will Sendwave work for your route?
Works if : you're sending FROM the US, UK or EU TO a mobile wallet — Sendwave is wallet-first and fast, with no up-front fee (the cost sits in the margin). see the routes above →
- Prefer to send from a browser, not your phone? Sendwave is app-only — there's no full web send flow. Wise has a full web flow →
- Need a bank deposit or cash pickup? Sendwave is wallet-first, with thinner bank and cash coverage than the legacy networks. WorldRemit reaches bank & cash →
- Want to see exactly what you pay? Sendwave's "no up-front fee" doesn't mean free — the whole cost sits in the exchange-rate margin. Wise shows a separate visible fee →
- Sending UK→Sierra Leone? It's not on Sendwave's send list (2026). See who covers Sierra Leone →
Frequently asked questions
Is Sendwave really free?
There's no up-front fee, but Sendwave earns on the exchange-rate margin — so it's not free, the cost is in the rate. Compare its rate to the mid-market rate.
Who owns Sendwave?
Sendwave is owned by Zepz, the same group that owns WorldRemit.
Does Sendwave have a website or is it app-only?
Sendwave is app-only for sending — there's no full web send flow.
What's the difference between Sendwave and WorldRemit?
They share an owner (Zepz). Sendwave is the leaner, no-fee, wallet-first app for small frequent sends; WorldRemit is the broader network with cash pickup, bank and more routes. Pick Sendwave for a quick wallet top-up, WorldRemit for reach.