NALA is a mobile transfer service built around sending money from the UK, United States and Europe to African bank accounts and mobile wallets, with especially strong coverage in East and West Africa.
Reader rating
Reviewed by Klaus Thorup · 27 August 2026 · How we review providers
Is NALA a good choice?
NALA deserves a place on the shortlist for supported African destinations, especially when the recipient uses mobile money. Compare the exact rate, fee and delivery method because a bank deposit and a wallet transfer can have different prices.
Best for
- Sending to a mobile-money wallet in a supported African country
- Comparing bank deposit and mobile-wallet delivery for the same recipient
- Regular family transfers from the UK, US or Europe to Africa
Check your exact price with NALA
NALA's price depends on the sending country, destination, amount and delivery method. Some transfers have no separate fee but include a small cost in the exchange rate, while some bank or small transfers have a fixed fee. We do not place one general estimate in the comparison table because the price changes with the countries, currencies and way the money moves.
Check NALA availability (opens in a new tab)About NALA
NALA started in Tanzania before developing into an international transfer service for Africans living abroad. Its current consumer product connects senders in the UK, US and Europe with recipients across countries including Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Rwanda, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal and Nigeria.
The company says more than 500,000 people use NALA. Its practical strength is local delivery: the recipient can often receive money in a bank account or mobile wallet rather than needing another international account.
NALA also offers a business product, but the consumer app is the clearer fit for this review. Country availability, limits and delivery choices differ, so the app's final screen matters more than a single company-wide price claim.
How NALA pricing works
For Nigeria, NALA says mobile-money transfers have no separate fee except for a small margin in the exchange rate, while a bank transfer can carry a £0.99 processing charge. This is a useful example of why the delivery method must be fixed before two providers are compared.
For UK transfers below £20, NALA gives three free small transfers in a calendar month and then charges £0.65 for each additional small transfer. Other country and destination charges can be different.
Compare the amount received, not the words 'no fee'. A slightly weaker rate can cost more than a visible fixed charge, particularly on a larger transfer.
What else you get
Mobile-money delivery
NALA can send directly to popular local wallets in several African markets, which may be easier than a bank deposit for the recipient.
Regional focus
The service is built around African payment habits and local delivery partners rather than treating every destination the same way.
Transfer tracking
Status updates and delivery confirmation help the sender and recipient see where the money is in the process.
Strengths and trade-offs
Reasons to choose NALA
- Good bank and mobile-wallet coverage in supported African markets
- Most transfers are advertised as arriving within minutes
- A focused app can be simpler than a broad multi-currency account
Reasons to compare alternatives
- Not a worldwide transfer service and unavailable for many country pairs
- Fees and exchange-rate margins are not one fixed company-wide number
- The best delivery option depends on the recipient's bank or mobile wallet
Support and account checks
NALA verifies identity and can ask for more information about the sender, recipient or source of money. This is normal for regulated payment services, but it can slow an unusual transfer.
If a recipient depends on a specific mobile wallet, confirm that wallet is offered for the exact destination before funding the transfer. Local availability can change.
When to look elsewhere
Compare Remitly and WorldRemit when you need several ways for the recipient to collect the money, Wise for a transparent bank transfer, and LemFi for another Africa-focused app. Interactive Brokers is relevant only when a large conversion forms part of real investing or trading, not for sending directly to a family member's wallet.
Large investment-related exchange?
For a large currency conversion that is part of genuine investing or trading in the account, compare Interactive Brokers first: its pricing can be difficult to beat. IBKR is a brokerage, not a stand-alone transfer service; use a transfer specialist for cash pickup or a direct payment to someone else.
What to know before you use NALA
NALA is a financial technology company rather than a bank. Services are provided through regulated NALA entities and partners that differ by country.
A transfer advertised as fee-free can still include a margin in the exchange rate. Record the final local-currency amount when comparing it with Wise, Remitly or LemFi.
This page does not show a general NALA estimate because bank deposit, mobile money, sender country and destination can each change the result.
Sources
Reviewed 27 August 2026
- NALA Nigeria product and pricing page (opens in a new tab)
- NALA small-transfer fee policy (opens in a new tab)
- NALA licences and safeguarding information (opens in a new tab)
NALA vs the competition
These guides compare prices and practical product differences, so you can see which provider may suit you best.