NALA's public pricing shows why the way a recipient gets the money must be part of every comparison. For Nigeria, NALA says mobile-money transfers carry no separate fee other than a small margin in the exchange rate. A bank transfer can have a £0.99 processing charge.
The exchange-rate margin is not published as one fixed percentage. That means the fee table answers only part of the price question. A live quote must supply the final naira amount.
1,855.84Published price findings
| Situation | Published charge | What remains to check |
|---|---|---|
| Nigeria mobile money | No separate fee, small margin in rate | Live exchange rate and NGN delivered |
| Nigeria bank transfer | £0.99 processing charge, plus rate margin | Live exchange rate and NGN delivered |
| UK transfer below £20 | First three each month free, then £0.65 | Whether the exact destination is covered by the rule |
| Transfer above £20 | No change under the small-transfer policy | Destination and delivery pricing still apply |
The small-transfer policy and Nigeria bank fee come from separate public notices. Do not assume they stack, replace one another or apply to every destination. The transfer review screen should show the fee for the exact route.
What £0.99 means at different amounts
A fixed fee matters most on a small transfer:
| Pounds sent | £0.99 as a share of amount |
|---|---|
| £20 | 4.95% |
| £100 | 0.99% |
| £500 | 0.20% |
| £1,000 | 0.10% |
This table does not include the exchange-rate margin. It simply shows why a bank-processing fee that looks small can dominate a £20 transfer and become minor at £1,000.
Bank or mobile money
Price is not the only difference. A bank deposit suits a recipient who keeps and spends money through a bank account. Mobile money may be more useful for a recipient who pays bills, shops or transfers locally through a phone wallet.
Do not send to the cheaper method if it creates another withdrawal charge or inconvenient extra step for the recipient. Ask what they actually use.
Our NALA review covers account fit and supported markets. Compare NALA with LemFi for another Africa-focused app, or NALA with WorldRemit when cash and wider delivery choices matter.
How to capture the live result
Enter £100 and £1,000 in NALA, using the same recipient and delivery method. Record the fee, customer exchange rate, NGN received and arrival estimate. Repeat with one alternative within five minutes.
The final local amount reveals the rate margin. A “no fee” mobile transfer can still cost more than a bank transfer with a visible £0.99 fee if the customer rate is weaker.
Frequently asked questions
Does NALA charge for Nigeria transfers
NALA says mobile-money transfers have no separate fee other than a small exchange-rate margin. Its Nigeria page lists a £0.99 bank-processing charge for bank transfers.
What is NALA's small-transfer fee
For affected UK transfers below £20, the first three in a calendar month are free. A £0.65 charge applies to further small transfers. Confirm that the rule covers the selected destination.
Is mobile money cheaper than bank deposit
It has a lower published separate fee in the Nigeria example, but the live exchange rate and any recipient-side costs still matter.
Why is there no NALA percentage in the main calculator
NALA's rate margin and fees vary by sender country, destination and delivery. A single percentage would not represent all supported transfers.
Sources: NALA Nigeria pricing and delivery (opens in a new tab), NALA UK small-transfer fee (opens in a new tab), NALA help centre (opens in a new tab). Checked 27 August 2026.