# Abela - the money app — #getpaid instantly & cashless

> Digital money app for instant payments, transfers, and bill payments without a bank account. (iPhone/iPad app by Abela iMali Pty Ltd.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/abela-the-money-app/id1564176129 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Abela iMali Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1564176131)
- Category: Finance, Business
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.50/5 from 2 App Store ratings · 1 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 13.4 · 50 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2022-04-22
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/abela-the-money-app/id1564176129/reviews.md

## What is Abela?

Welcome to the money app! Available to everyone, NO bank account required! Sign up and get verified in minutes.
Sign Up Quickly and Easily
Joining Abela is painless and hassle-free. All you need is a phone number; your SA ID, passport, or asylum papers; and your best selfie! That’s it! We're one of the best banks for foreigners, but we work great for locals too!
Send Money Freely to Your Friends, Family, or Anyone with an SA Cell Number
Remember when you needed your friends to help you out? Link your contact book and pay them back instantly at no cost, even if they are not an Abela user!
Top Up Your Account Easily
You can top up your Abela account easily and quickly via EFT, OTT, 1Voucher, Ozow, Masterpass, SnapScan, and Zapper. You can also top up at any Pick n Pay nationwide or link an existing debit/credit card!
Get Paid Instantly
Are you running a business and hate the hassle of cash? Get paid instantly without a card machine - all you need is your smartphone and Abela!
Receive and Make Bank Transfers
Need to pay into a bank account, but you don’t have one yourself? No worries! We got you! Simply enter their details and we take care of the rest.
Withdraw Your Money Conveniently
You can withdraw your money from Abela at any time via an EFT, Instant-EFT, from any ATM, or at any Pick n Pay!
Buy Airtime, Electricity, Vouchers and Much Much More!
Get cheap airtime for yourself, or send it to a friend. Send airtime to over 150 countries. You can buy everything from your water, electricity, data, airtime, and much more! We offer you a wide variety of products and services that you can enjoy!
Send Your Money Home with Mukuru, Mama Money, Sikhona, EcoCash, ClickSendNow
Looking to send money to Zimbabwe or other destinations across the continent? No problem! It'll happen in a matter of seconds at no additional cost!
Shop Online and Offline
Want to shop online or offline? Pay by scanning your Zapper, SnapScan, or Masterpass QR code and the best part is, it’s completely FREE! Get those goodies!
Earn with Abela
Share your Abela referral code and earn for each friend who joins Abela, gets verified and loads a minimum of R100.
Get your Abela Debit Card
Shop, swipe, tap in-store or online.
FAQ's:
Can I get a bank account as a foreigner?
-Absolutely! All you need is a valid ID document (Passport or Asylum Seeker document). You do not need an SA work permit!
Can I send money to Zimbabwe from South Africa?
-Yes! Abela is the cheapest way to send money to Zimbabwe in USD.
Can I pay for DSTV?
-Yes! Simply enter your account number, ID or Smart ID and proceed to pay. No additional fees.
Can I get cheap airtime?
-Indeed you can! Enjoy cheap airtime and share it with your friends and family.
Stay tuned
Abela is growing rapidly. Keep updated on the latest features, deals and new promotions on our social media:
Instagram: @abela.app
TikTok / Twitter: @abela_app
Contact us at: hello@abela.app
Abela.app is an offering by Abela iMali (Pty) Ltd (2020/491145/07) in association with Nedbank Ltd (1951/000009/06), an authorized FSP and credit provider.

## Key features

- Instant payments and transfers
- No bank account required
- Easy top-ups via EFT, vouchers, and cards
- Receive business payments instantly
- International money transfers
- Buy airtime, electricity, and vouchers
- Referral program for earning

## Recent user reviews (1 of 1)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/abela-the-money-app/id1564176129/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Excellent

*2022-07-20*

Super easy to use, really happy with it. Payments are smooth and much easier to pay my domestic worker.

## Frequently asked questions about Abela

### Can I get a bank account as a foreigner with Abela?

Yes, foreigners can use Abela by providing a valid ID document such as a Passport or Asylum Seeker document. A South African work permit is not required.

### Can I send money to Zimbabwe from South Africa using Abela?

Yes, Abela is highlighted as a cost-effective method for sending money to Zimbabwe in USD. This service is designed to be fast and affordable.

### Can I pay for DSTV with Abela?

Yes, you can pay for DSTV through Abela by entering your account number, ID, or Smart ID. There are no additional fees for this service.

### Does Abela have ads?

Yes, Abela contains advertisements. Users may encounter ads within the application interface.

### How do I top up my Abela account?

You can top up your Abela account through various methods including EFT, OTT, 1Voucher, Ozow, Masterpass, SnapScan, Zapper, and at Pick n Pay stores. Linking an existing debit or credit card is also an option.

### What devices is Abela available on?

Abela is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices. It is designed for iOS users.

### How often is Abela updated?

The latest version of Abela is 1.7.0, and it was last updated on November 13, 2024. This indicates a relatively frequent update schedule.

### What is the user sentiment for Abela?

Abela has a high rating of 4.5 stars based on 2 ratings, suggesting positive user sentiment among its current reviewers.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.7.0 — 2024-11-13

Improved Onboarding Process
Bug Fixes
Frontend Improvements
Account Statement Improvements

### 1.6.0 — 2024-09-20

iOS Notification Fix

### 1.5.9 — 2024-09-02

- Bug fixes
- Improved Onboarding
- Improved Card Ordering
- Improved Card Replacement

### 1.5.8 — 2024-06-26

-Improved Proof of Payments
-Improved Card Replacement
-Performance Improvements
-Minor Bug Fixes

### 1.5.7 — 2024-04-18

-Card Related Improvements
-Minor Bug Fixes & overall UI/UX Improvements

## Apps similar to Abela

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [PayCentral-App](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paycentral-app/id1521347837) | — | Free | Finance |
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| [Ubank](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ubank/id1567036709) | — | Free | Finance |

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*
