The Zero-Fee Battle
If you send money from the UK to Nigeria, you've probably heard of both Sendwave and TapTap Send. They share an appealing headline: zero transfer fees. But as any experienced sender knows, "free" doesn't always mean cheapest.
Both services make their money through the exchange rate margin — the difference between the mid-market rate and the rate they offer you. The provider with the tighter margin gives your recipient more Naira, even when both charge zero fees.
So which one actually delivers more? Let's break it down.
Company Backgrounds
TapTap Send
TapTap Send was founded in 2018 by former employees of the nonprofit GiveDirectly. Their mission was to make money transfers to Africa as cheap as possible. Based in London, they've focused on a small number of corridors to keep costs low and rates competitive.
Sendwave
Sendwave was founded in 2014 and quickly gained popularity across Africa. In 2021, it was acquired by Zepz, the same parent company that owns WorldRemit. Despite the acquisition, Sendwave has maintained its independent branding and zero-fee model.
Exchange Rates Compared
This is where the real difference lies. Based on our monitoring of rates across multiple transfers:
- TapTap Send margin: approximately 0.8% over mid-market
- Sendwave margin: approximately 1.0% over mid-market
On a £500 transfer, that 0.2% difference translates to roughly:
- TapTap Send: ~£4.00 in hidden margin cost
- Sendwave: ~£5.00 in hidden margin cost
Your recipient gets approximately ₦2,000–₦3,000 more through TapTap Send on a £500 transfer.
Over a year of monthly £500 transfers, that's an extra ₦24,000–₦36,000 for your family.
Of course, rates fluctuate daily. To see which provider is cheaper right now, check live rates on AfriLoop.
Delivery Speed
Both providers offer instant delivery to Nigeria, and in practice, transfers through both services arrive within seconds to minutes. There's no meaningful difference in speed — both are excellent.
Delivery Methods
Here's where the two services are identical for Nigeria:
| Feature | TapTap Send | Sendwave |
|---------|-------------|----------|
| Bank Transfer | ✅ | ✅ |
| Mobile Money | ❌ | ❌ |
| Cash Pickup | ❌ | ❌ |
Both only support bank transfers in Nigeria. If you need cash pickup, you'll need to look at WorldRemit or Remitly instead.
For other countries like Ghana and Kenya, both providers also support mobile money delivery.
App Experience
TapTap Send App
TapTap Send's app is clean and minimal. It's designed to do one thing well — send money quickly. The interface is straightforward: choose amount, select recipient, confirm. First-time setup including ID verification takes about 10 minutes.
Sendwave App
Sendwave's app is similarly simple. One notable feature is the speed of repeat transfers — you can send money to a saved recipient in under 30 seconds. The app also shows the exchange rate prominently on the home screen, so you can check rates without starting a transfer.
Both apps are well-rated on the App Store and Google Play.
Coverage Beyond Nigeria
If you also send money to other African countries, the coverage differs:
| Country | TapTap Send | Sendwave |
|---------|-------------|----------|
| Nigeria | ✅ | ✅ |
| Ghana | ✅ | ✅ |
| Kenya | ✅ | ✅ |
| South Africa | ❌ | ❌ |
| Zimbabwe | ❌ | ❌ |
For South Africa and Zimbabwe, you'll need providers like Wise, WorldRemit, or Mukuru.
Sending Limits
Both services have similar limits for verified UK accounts:
- TapTap Send: up to £10,000 per transfer
- Sendwave: up to £5,000 per transfer (£10,000 with enhanced verification)
If you regularly send large amounts, TapTap Send's higher standard limit is an advantage.
Security and Regulation
Both providers are authorised and regulated by the FCA in the UK. Your money is protected under UK financial regulations, and both services use bank-level encryption.
Which Countries Favour Which Provider?
Looking at our data across all corridors:
- Nigeria: TapTap Send typically gives more Naira
- Ghana: Very close, TapTap Send slightly ahead on most days
- Kenya: TapTap Send usually edges Sendwave
TapTap Send's tighter margin tends to win across all shared corridors, though the gap narrows on some days.
The Verdict
For UK-to-Nigeria transfers, TapTap Send is the better choice between these two providers. Both charge zero fees, but TapTap Send consistently offers a tighter exchange rate margin, meaning your family receives more Naira.
That said, neither is always the absolute cheapest option. LemFi often beats both with an even tighter margin of around 0.3%. The best approach is to compare all providers on AfriLoop before every transfer — it takes 10 seconds and could save your family thousands of Naira.
Our Ranking for Nigeria (Value for Money):
- LemFi — Best rate, zero fees
- TapTap Send — Great rate, zero fees
- Sendwave — Good rate, zero fees
- Wise — Transparent fee, near mid-market rate
Compare them all live on AfriLoop →
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*Rates mentioned are indicative and change daily. Always check live rates on AfriLoop before sending money.*