WI
Wise
Mid-market FX, transparent fees. UK, US, EU, AU, CA.
Visit WisePayPal vs Sendwave: which is right for you?
PayPal and Sendwave both handle US/UK/EU diaspora sends to Kenya, but they exist for different jobs. PayPal is a wallet for receiving payments, with withdraw-to-M-PESA bolted on through a partner service. Sendwave is a purpose-built remitter with a near-zero flat fee. For pure send-to-M-PESA, Sendwave wins on cost almost every time.
PayPal
remittance
The global wallet that accepts inbound personal payments. Withdraws to M-PESA via the Safaricom service.
Sendwave
remittance
The mobile-app remitter built for the African diaspora, with a near-zero flat fee model.
Which is better for what
Quick guide by use case. Pick the row that matches your situation.
For sending money to family on M-PESA
Sendwave is built for this. Near-zero fee, tighter FX, instant delivery. PayPal stacks two fee layers on the same flow.
Sendwave
For receiving freelance or client income
PayPal is the standard rail clients pay through, even if it is expensive. Sendwave does not handle inbound business payments.
PayPal
For tiny sends (USD 10 to 50)
Sendwave's near-zero flat fee makes tiny sends viable. PayPal's percentage and FX margin destroy the value at this size.
Sendwave
For receiving USD and holding it
PayPal can hold USD in the wallet up to 30 days. Sendwave is send-only, no balance.
PayPal
At a glance
| PayPal | Sendwave | |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | remittance | remittance |
Compare remittance
Test PayPal and Sendwave for yourself
A small first transfer or loan application is the fastest way to see real all-in cost for your specific case.
SW
Sendwave
Diaspora-Africa specialist. Often cheapest under $200.
Visit SendwaveLF
Lemfi
Strong UK-Kenya corridor, mobile-first app.
Visit LemfiWR
WorldRemit
Wider receive options including bank deposit and cash pickup.
Visit WorldRemitRE
Remitly
US-focused remittance with promotional FX for first transfers.
Visit RemitlyWU
Western Union
Legacy provider with the widest cash-pickup network for non-M-PESA family.
Visit Western UnionTT
TapTap Send
Africa-focused mobile app with fee-free transfers on many corridors.
Visit TapTap SendNL
NALA
East-Africa-focused app with strong UK and US corridor coverage.
Visit NALAMG
MoneyGram
Global legacy provider with deep cash-pickup network across Kenya.
Visit MoneyGramRM
Ria Money Transfer
Cash + digital, Walmart and many US retailers as sending points.
Visit Ria Money TransferCC
Chipper Cash
Pan-African app, originally peer-to-peer across Africa, now with diaspora sends.
Visit Chipper CashSK
Skrill
E-wallet first, used for international transfers and online betting payouts.
Visit SkrillSV
Sendvalu
Germany-based, EU-to-Africa corridors with cash-pickup partner network.
Visit SendvaluCommon questions
Is Sendwave really cheaper than PayPal for Kenya?
Yes, by a wide margin on send. On USD 100 a recipient typically nets KES 12,800 via Sendwave vs around KES 12,000 to KES 12,500 via PayPal withdraw-to-M-PESA.
Can Sendwave receive money?
No. Sendwave is send-only. If you need to receive money on PayPal, then move it to M-PESA, see our PayPal-to-M-PESA guide.
Which is faster to M-PESA?
Sendwave is instant or near-instant. PayPal withdraw via the Safaricom service takes 2 to 3 business days.
Can I have both?
Yes, and most diaspora Kenyans do. PayPal for inbound client work, Sendwave for outbound family transfers.
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