M-Pesa Charges 2026: Fee Brackets, Scenarios & How to Pay Less
See the full M-Pesa fee brackets for 2026 including send money, withdraw, Paybill, Buy Goods, Fuliza, and M-Shwari, along with scenarios to help you cut costs.
If you've ever sent KES 9,800 and wondered why the fee felt high, you're not alone. M-Pesa's fee brackets are easy to miss until you're in the moment—especially with recent 2026 changes that introduced temporary caps and merchant fee cuts. In this guide, I break down the current M-Pesa charges in Kenya, show you exactly how much each transaction type costs, and walk through real scenarios so you can plan smarter and avoid surprise deductions.
Last Updated: August 2026
How M-Pesa Fees Work (and Why Brackets Matter)
M-Pesa fees are tiered by transaction amount and transaction type. The four core transaction types you'll use most are:
- Send Money – to another M-Pesa number (registered or unregistered)
- Withdraw (Cash Out) – at an agent or ATM
- Lipa na M-Pesa: Paybill – utilities, banks, schools, government
- Lipa na M-Pesa: Buy Goods (Till) – shops, restaurants, fuel stations
The key insight: the same KES amount can cost different fees depending on the channel you choose. For example, sending KES 10,000 to a person costs up to KES 100, but paying the same KES 10,000 into a bank via Paybill is typically free to you as the sender.
Send Money Charges in 2026 (Registered vs Unregistered)
Sending to a registered M-Pesa user is cheaper than sending to an unregistered number (who redeems via SMS voucher at an agent). Below are the 2026 brackets widely published for person-to-person transfers.
| Amount (KES) | Registered User Fee | Unregistered User Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – 100 | Free | Free |
| 101 – 500 | 7 | 18 |
| 501 – 1,000 | 13 | 22 |
| 1,001 – 1,500 | 23 | 35 |
| 1,501 – 2,500 | 33 | 55 |
| 2,501 – 3,500 | 53 | 77 |
| 3,501 – 5,000 | 57 | 88 |
| 5,001 – 7,500 | 78 | 105 |
| 7,501 – 10,000 | 90 | 115 |
| 10,001 – 15,000 | 100 | 145 |
| 15,001 – 20,000 | 105 | 163 |
| 20,001 – 35,000 | 108 | 180 |
| 35,001 – 50,000 | 108 | 197 |
| 50,001 – 250,000 | 108 | 222 |
Why this matters: From KES 20,001 up to the single-transaction ceiling, the registered-user fee is flat at KES 108. If you're going to pay KES 108 anyway, consolidating into one larger transfer often costs less than splitting into multiple smaller ones.
Note: M-Pesa limits and tariffs are periodically revised by Safaricom and the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK). For live confirmation, check Safaricom's M-Pesa terms or dial *334# → My Account → Transaction Costs.
Withdrawal (Cash Out) Charges in 2026
Withdrawing cash from an agent or ATM has its own fee schedule, separate from send-money fees.
| Amount (KES) | Withdrawal Fee |
|---|---|
| 1 – 100 | Free |
| 101 – 500 | 11 |
| 501 – 1,000 | 22 |
| 1,001 – 1,500 | 33 |
| 1,501 – 2,500 | 33 |
| 2,501 – 3,500 | 35 |
| 3,501 – 5,000 | 55 |
| 5,001 – 7,500 | 77 |
| 7,501 – 10,000 | 88 |
| 10,001 – 15,000 | 99 |
| 15,001 – 20,000 | 105 |
| 20,001 – 35,000 | 108 |
| 35,001 – 50,000 | 111 |
| 50,001 – 250,000 | 111 |
Practical tip: If you frequently withdraw large amounts, consider transferring to your bank via Paybill (usually free to you) and using your bank's ATM/debit card, which can be cheaper than repeated agent cash-outs.
Lipa na M-Pesa: Paybill Charges (Utilities, Banks, Schools)
This is where M-Pesa shines for cost control: Paybill payments are free to the sender in most cases. Whether you're paying KPLC (888880), depositing into Equity (247247), or settling school fees, you typically pay KES 0 in M-Pesa transaction fees.
The merchant or institution may pay Safaricom a processing fee on their side, but that is not passed on to you as the sender. This makes Paybill the most cost-effective way to move money between M-Pesa and bank accounts, or to settle recurring bills.
Paybill vs Send Money: The Smart Arbitrage
Many Kenyans overpay by using "Send Money" when they should be using Paybill. Example: topping up a family member's bank account at KCB, Co-op, or NCBA.
- Send Money KES 10,000: up to KES 100 fee
- Paybill to Bank KES 10,000: KES 0 fee (to you)
Do that twice a month and you've saved KES 2,400 per year—without changing your behavior, just your channel.
Lipa na M-Pesa: Buy Goods (Till Numbers) Charges
Paying at shops, restaurants, and fuel stations via a Buy Goods till number is also free to the buyer. You pay no fee when scanning a till at a supermarket or restaurant; the merchant bears a small processing cost.
This makes Buy Goods one of the most financially sensible payment methods in Kenya—especially compared to some card payments that may carry charges depending on the card and terminal.
2026 Merchant Fee Cuts: What Changed for Businesses (and You)
In early August 2026, Safaricom announced targeted reductions to merchant-facing M-Pesa tariffs under its "Pata More" push, including:
- Transactions up to KES 200 are now free, doubling the previous KES 100 threshold.
- For certain business transfer bands (e.g., Till → M-Pesa or Till → Paybill), charges were cut by up to 50% for small businesses.
- A temporary cap of KES 50 was introduced for specific business payment bands (e.g., KES 2,501–250,000) for a 90-day window from early August 2026.
These changes primarily affect businesses collecting payments or moving funds from a till, but they indirectly benefit consumers through lower operating costs for small merchants and potentially reduced pass-through charges in some setups.
| Transaction Range (KES) | Indicative Charge (3-month promo from 1 Aug 2026) |
|---|---|
| 1 – 200 | Free |
| 201 – 500 | 7 |
| 501 – 1,000 | 13 |
| 1,001 – 1,500 | 23 |
| 1,501 – 2,500 | 33 |
| 2,501 – 250,000 | 50 (capped for certain business transfer types) |
Source: 2026 merchant tariff revisions reported by multiple Kenyan business outlets.
Fuliza M-Pesa: How the Overdraft Fees Work
Fuliza is M-Pesa's overdraft facility that lets you complete a transaction when your balance is short. It has two charges:
- A one-off access fee when you draw on the overdraft
- A daily maintenance fee that accrues for every day the balance remains outstanding, with bands that increase as the owed amount grows
A government excise duty applies on top of these fees. Because the maintenance fee is daily, a small balance carried for several days can end up costing more than the convenience was worth. The practical rule: treat Fuliza as a same-day or next-day bridge, not a loan.
Exact access fees, daily bands, and excise rates change periodically, so confirm the live tariff with Safaricom before relying on Fuliza for planning.
M-Shwari Charges (NCBA Bank via *456#)
M-Shwari, operated by NCBA Bank and accessible via *456#, has a different structure from Fuliza.
- Saving (locking funds): Free
- Withdrawing savings to M-Pesa: Free
- Loan fee: 7.5% one-time facilitation fee on the loan amount (charged upfront)
- Loan term: 30 days — if not repaid, a 7.5% rollover fee applies
Example: A KES 5,000 M-Shwari loan costs KES 375 for 30 days. If you roll it over, you pay another KES 375. Unlike Fuliza, the fee is fixed—not daily—making it more predictable for planned short-term borrowing.
M-Pesa Global (International Transfers) Charges
Sending money internationally via M-Pesa Global is significantly more expensive than domestic transfers. Fees vary by destination country and amount, but generally range from 1–4% of the transaction value.
For many corridors, dedicated remittance services (e.g., Wise, Sendwave, WorldRemit) often offer better total rates than M-Pesa Global when you factor in fees and exchange rate margins.
M-Pesa Daily and Transaction Limits (2026)
Limits are set by the Central Bank of Kenya and Safaricom and are revised from time to time. The commonly cited 2026 limits for personal wallets are:
| Limit Type | Amount (KES) |
|---|---|
| Maximum single transaction | 250,000 |
| Maximum daily send limit | 500,000 |
| Maximum M-Pesa wallet balance | 500,000 |
| Minimum Send Money amount | 1 |
| Minimum Withdraw amount | 50 |
Note: Business and Global accounts can have different limits approved by Safaricom. Always confirm the current limit on the Safaricom M-Pesa terms page or by dialling *334# before relying on it for a large transfer.
Real Scenarios: What You Actually Pay in 2026
Here are practical, real-life scenarios to show how the brackets play out.
Scenario 1: Sending KES 9,800 to a Friend (Registered)
- Channel: Send Money
- Fee: KES 90 (from the 7,501–10,000 band)
- Total debit from your M-Pesa: KES 9,890
Optimization: If you were sending KES 10,500 instead, you'd jump to the 10,001–15,000 band and pay KES 100. If you can consolidate multiple transfers into one above KES 20,000, your fee caps at KES 108, which can be cheaper per shilling sent.
Scenario 2: Topping Up a Family Member's Bank Account (KES 15,000)
- Wrong channel: Send Money to their M-Pesa, then they withdraw or transfer to bank
- Fee: up to KES 105 (15,001–20,000 band) + possible withdrawal fees
- Right channel: Paybill to their bank (e.g., Equity 247247, KCB 522522)
- Fee: KES 0 to you
Annual impact: Doing this twice a month saves roughly KES 2,520 per year versus using Send Money.
Scenario 3: Withdrawing KES 20,000 for Rent
- One withdrawal: KES 108 fee (20,001–35,000 band)
- Three withdrawals of KES 7,000: 3 × KES 77 = KES 231
Optimization: Plan fewer, larger withdrawals where possible to reduce total fees.
Scenario 4: Paying KPLC and Water Bills (KES 4,500 + KES 2,200)
- Channel: Paybill for each (KPLC 888880; water authority Paybill)
- Fee: KES 0 for each payment
Avoid: Sending money to a cousin who says "I'll pay your bill." You'd pay send-money fees, and they might pay withdrawal fees—double leakage.
Scenario 5: Using Fuliza for a KES 1,200 Shortfall
- Access fee: one-off (varies by band)
- Daily maintenance fee: accrues per day until repaid
- Excise duty: applied on fees
If you repay within 24 hours, total cost is manageable; if you carry it for a week, the daily fees can surprise you.
5 Ways to Reduce Your M-Pesa Fees (Without Changing Habits)
You don't need to overhaul your life—just tweak channels and timing.
-
Use Paybill for Bank Deposits
Never use Send Money to deposit into a family member's bank account. Every major bank has a Paybill number; the transfer is free to you. -
Consolidate Transactions Above KES 20,000
Since the registered-user fee caps at KES 108 from KES 20,001 upwards, one larger transfer often costs less than multiple smaller ones. -
Pay Bills Directly via Paybill
Use Paybill for KPLC, water, NHIF, NSSF, and school fees. Avoid sending money to a person who will then pay on your behalf—you pay twice. -
Repay Fuliza Immediately
Fuliza daily fees add up fast. Set a reminder to repay within 24 hours whenever you use it. -
Withdraw in One Large Amount
Three withdrawals of KES 3,000 cost 3 × KES 35 = KES 105; one withdrawal of KES 9,000 costs KES 88. Plan withdrawals to minimize the number of transactions.
Tool Integration: Use the M-Pesa Transaction Cost Calculator
If you send money often, run a small business, or manage household bills, guessing the fee band is how money leaks. On ToolBase, the Kenya M-Pesa Transaction Cost Calculator lets you:
- Enter any amount and transaction type (send, withdraw, Paybill, Buy Goods)
- See the exact fee based on current brackets
- Compare scenarios (e.g., one large transfer vs multiple small ones)
Pair this article with the calculator to test your own numbers before you transact. It's especially useful for planning monthly remittances, rent payments, or business settlements where small fee differences compound quickly.
For more everyday money tools, see ToolBase's currency converter and personal budget template to keep your cash flow and cross-border calculations in one place.
Are M-Pesa Fees Going Up in 2026?
Safaricom's core person-to-person fee structure has been broadly stable since the 2022 tariff revision, with periodic adjustments and targeted merchant fee cuts. In 2026, the notable changes are the temporary business fee caps and reduced merchant tariffs announced in early August.
While the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) and CBK continue to review mobile money pricing, no permanent across-the-board reduction for personal send-money fees has been announced for 2026 at the time of writing. For the most current official fee schedule, always check the Safaricom M-Pesa terms and conditions page or dial *334# → My Account → Transaction Costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it free to receive money on M-Pesa?
Yes—M-Pesa does not charge the recipient any fee. Only the sender pays the transaction fee.
Why did my Paybill payment fail but the money left my M-Pesa?
If a Paybill payment fails after funds are deducted, the money is typically reversed automatically within 24 hours. If not, call Safaricom on 0722 000 100 with your M-Pesa transaction ID.
Does M-Pesa charge for checking balance?
No—dialling 3340# to check your M-Pesa balance is free.
What is the cheapest way to send KES 50,000 via M-Pesa?
If the recipient has a bank account, use Paybill—it is free. If sending directly to M-Pesa, the fee is KES 108 for KES 50,000, which is the flat maximum fee for registered user transfers.
This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Consult a qualified professional for your specific situation.