Flutterwave Send App: Powering A New Era of Remittances Across Africa

The African diaspora sends billions of dollars home each year, making remittance a lifeline for millions of families across the continent.

Reports reveal that in 2024, Africans sent a record $56 billion in remittances back to sub-Saharan Africa, which signified a significant increase compared to previous years. Yet, despite the importance, sending money back home remains a cumbersome and challenging process for many Africans in the diaspora.

One of the most pressing challenges facing remittance flows to Africa is the prohibitively high cost of transactions. Sub-Saharan Africa has consistently ranked as the most expensive region in the world to send money to. On average, it costs 7–9% of the amount sent, far above the global average of 6% and well above the UN Sustainable Development Goal target of 3%. For a family receiving $200, this could mean losing $14 to $18 in fees, money that could have gone toward necessities.

These costs are driven by a combination of factors such as lack of competition, reliance on traditional brick-and-mortar agents, exchange rate markups, and regulatory hurdles. Many international remittance service providers have not innovated in a way that benefits African recipients, keeping fees inflated and options limited.

In addition to high costs, slow transaction speeds are another major obstacle. Many traditional remittance services take multiple days to complete a transfer. For recipients who depend on this income for day-to-day survival, such delays can be devastating.

Delays often occur because of multiple intermediaries, manual verification processes, and settlement delays between banks and financial institutions. In rural areas, recipients may also have to travel long distances to reach an agent or bank branch to access their funds, adding time, cost, and inconvenience to the process.

Another significant challenge is the limited reach of banking services across many African nations. While urban populations might have relatively easy access to financial institutions, rural and underserved communities often do not. According to the African Development Bank, more than 60% of adults in Sub-Saharan Africa remain unbanked.

This financial exclusion means many recipients are forced to rely on informal channels or cash-based systems, which are riskier, less secure, and harder to track. In places where mobile money adoption is low or where cash pickup locations are scarce, access to remitted funds becomes a major challenge.

Send App Addressing The Remittance Challenge in Africa

The Send App, launched in 2021 by fintech unicorn Flutterwave, serves Africans in the diaspora, enabling them to seamlessly send money to families, friends, and businesses back home and beyond.

Since its launch, the app has been fulfilling its mission of providing a fast, transparent, and secure way for the Africans Diaspora to bridge the distance, strengthen the bonds and connect with home.

Send App, which was recently launched in Ghana this year, has also expanded to several African countries which include Malawi, Egypt, Senegal, and Zambia, with local licenses ensuring compliance and seamless integration with mobile money platforms.

Key Features of the Send App

Global Reach and Multi-Currency Support

Send App supports transfers to over 30 countries, including African nations like Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Senegal, Malawi, and Egypt, as well as European countries such as Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, and Spain. Users can send money in more than 30 currencies, making it versatile for global transactions.

Speed

In 2024, 98% of transactions on the app, was completed in under five minutes, making it one of the fastest remittance solutions available.

Multiple Transfer Options

Recipients can receive funds via local bank accounts, mobile money wallets, or cash pick-up locations, offering flexibility based on the recipient’s preferences and regional infrastructure.

Payment Methods

Users can fund transfers using debit cards, credit cards, bank transfers, Apple Pay, or Google Pay (Google Pay is web-only). Once payment is confirmed, transactions are processed instantly.

User-Friendly Interface

The app is praised for its intuitive navigation, making it easy to initiate and track transfers. Features like real-time exchange rate updates, an activity section for transaction tracking, and a voucher/referral code section enhance the user experience.

Security and Compliance

Powered by Flutterwave’s ISO 27001 & 22301-certified infrastructure, Send App ensures robust security, exceeding industry standards. It complies with PCI DSS and includes partnerships with institutions like Nigeria’s EFCC to combat fraud. Flutterwave emphasizes that it never requests sensitive information like card details or OTPs via unofficial channels.

Swap Integration

In February 2025, Send App integrated Swap, allowing Nigerian users to exchange Naira for foreign currencies (USD, GBP, EUR) and send money abroad within the same app. This eliminates the need for multiple platforms, streamlining currency exchange and transfers.

Send App Competitive Edge

With a deep understanding of African diaspora needs, Send App stands out in a crowded remittance market that includes big players like World Remit, Wise, and Sendwave, amongst others.

The app supports unique remittance use cases, such as sending funds for “Bride Price,” which saw an 86.37% increase in such transactions, from February to March 2024, reflecting its alignment with African traditions.

Conclusion

Flutterwave’s Send App is more than a money transfer tool; it’s a bridge connecting Africans worldwide to their roots. With its robust features, expanding reach, and commitment to security, it empowers users to send money quickly and reliably, reinforcing Flutterwave’s mission to unite Africa through payments.

By combining technology, affordability, and convenience, the app is redefining the remittance experience, bringing Africa one step closer to a financially inclusive and interconnected future.