Answers to the Most Asked M-Pesa Questions

Safaricom's 2026 tariffs are banded by amount and service. For the exact fee, locate your amount band in the relevant table (send money, withdrawal, paybill, or ATM) and use the listed charge.

M-Pesa uses fixed fee bands, not percentage rates. Once you know your amount, you match it to the band and apply the stated charge for that service.

Yes. The official Safaricom tariffs listed on this site are shown as total charges that include the 20% excise duty.

M-Pesa is Safaricom's mobile money service that lets you send, receive, and pay for services using your phone.

Use the calculator or the tables on this site to match your amount to the correct band and see the exact fee.

Yes. Examples include M-Pesa registration, deposits, balance inquiry, PIN change, and sending Ksh 1-100 to registered users. Some services are free depending on tariff type.

*234# is Safaricom's main M-Pesa USSD menu for sending money, paying bills, buying goods, and other services.

*334# provides quick access to M-Pesa services, including Fuliza and payments, depending on Safaricom's current menu setup.

Safaricom uses amount bands to keep fees predictable. Each band has a fixed fee that applies to all amounts within that range.

Yes. Safaricom's published tariffs apply nationwide, so the fee for a band is the same across the country.

Rates change when Safaricom publishes new tariffs. This site updates tables whenever official rates change.

Pochi la Biashara is a business wallet product that follows the Send Money (P2P) tariff structure.

You can request a reversal by forwarding the confirmation message to 456. Safaricom will guide you through the process.

No. You can use USSD codes like *234# or *334# without internet access.

The rate data on this site is based on Safaricom's published tariffs. For the original source, check Safaricom's official M-Pesa tariff pages.

Yes. Paybill fees depend on the tariff: Business tariff charges the customer, Customer tariff charges the business, and Mgao splits the fee between both parties.

In the Business tariff, the business pays nothing and the customer covers the full fee. In the Customer tariff, the business pays the full fee while the customer pays zero. In Mgao, both share the fee equally.

Small bands (Ksh 1-100) are free in most Paybill tariffs. Beyond that, fees apply based on the band and who pays the charge.

Paybill supports account references and structured reconciliation, making it better for billing. Till numbers are simpler for retail and are free for customers, while merchants pay a capped merchant fee.

For the Ksh 7,501-10,000 band, the total Paybill fee is Ksh 90. In Business tariff the customer pays Ksh 90, in Customer tariff the business pays Ksh 90, and in Mgao the fee is shared between both parties (total Ksh 90).

A Paybill number is a business number for collections that typically requires an account reference. A Till number is for retail payments without account references and follows a different fee model.

Your business selects a tariff (Business, Customer, or Mgao) based on who should pay the fees. Safaricom or your aggregator helps configure this.

Yes. For higher bands, the total Paybill fee is capped according to the official tariff tables (e.g., Ksh 108 in the highest band).

Yes. Customers can use the calculator or check the Paybill tariff bands to estimate the fee in advance.

Yes. Paybill payments count toward the standard M-Pesa per-transaction and daily limits.

The payment can still go through, but reconciliation may fail. Contact the business with proof of payment for correction or reversal guidance.

Yes, reversals are possible in some cases by forwarding the confirmation message to 456. The recipient must not withdraw the funds for best chances.

Yes. The tariff bands are standardized. What differs is the tariff type chosen by the business.

Yes. Businesses must register and meet Safaricom or aggregator requirements to obtain a Paybill number.

Paybill enables account references, better reconciliation, automated posting, and clear payment audit trails for finance teams.

Agent withdrawal fees are banded by amount and range from Ksh 11 to Ksh 309 for Ksh 50 to Ksh 250,000. Withdrawals below Ksh 50 are not allowed.

ATM withdrawal fees are banded and range from Ksh 35 to Ksh 203 for Ksh 200 to Ksh 35,000. ATM withdrawals below Ksh 200 are not allowed.

The minimum agent withdrawal amount is Ksh 50.

The minimum ATM withdrawal amount is Ksh 200.

The maximum per-transaction ATM withdrawal amount is Ksh 35,000.

Cash withdrawals involve agent liquidity and operational costs, so fees are generally higher than digital transfers.

Avoid multiple small withdrawals and use Till or Paybill where possible to pay directly without cashing out.

Yes. Withdrawals count toward your daily M-Pesa transaction limit.

Yes, you can withdraw at any licensed M-Pesa agent with sufficient float.

The M-Pesa ATM fee is set by Safaricom, but some banks may add their own ATM charges. Check with your bank.

Yes. Agent withdrawal bands and fees are standardized across Kenya.

Reversals for withdrawals are limited. If you have an issue, contact Safaricom immediately with the confirmation message.

Agent withdrawals are generally faster for higher amounts; ATMs are convenient for smaller, cardless withdrawals.

Yes, most ATMs operate 24/7, but availability depends on the bank's network.

No. You can check fees using this site or the M-Pesa menu at no cost.

The standard maximum per transaction is Ksh 250,000. Limits can vary by account type, so always confirm within the M-Pesa menu if unsure.

The standard daily transaction limit is Ksh 500,000 for most personal accounts. This total is shared across transactions in the day.

The standard M-Pesa wallet balance limit is Ksh 500,000.

The maximum ATM withdrawal per transaction is Ksh 35,000.

The maximum daily ATM withdrawal limit is Ksh 35,000.

The minimum agent withdrawal amount is Ksh 50.

The minimum ATM withdrawal amount is Ksh 200.

Yes. Paybill transactions follow the standard M-Pesa per-transaction and daily limits.

Yes. Send Money transactions are governed by the same per-transaction and daily limits.

Use the M-Pesa menu on your line to view limits. Business and special accounts may have different thresholds.

Standard limits are set by Safaricom and regulators. In some cases, enhanced KYC or special account types may allow higher thresholds.

Yes. Daily limits reset every 24 hours based on Safaricom's system clock.

Reversals may restore available limits once they are processed by Safaricom.

Yes. Bank deposits are subject to the same M-Pesa wallet and transaction limits.

Yes. GlobalPay has its own per-transaction and daily limits as set by Safaricom.

Yes. Sending to Airtel Money or T-Kash is harmonized with M-Pesa to M-Pesa rates in 2026, so the same bands apply.

Transfers to unregistered users are currently disabled for fraud prevention, so you must send to registered recipients.

From the M-Pesa side, transfers to bank are free. Receiving banks may charge Ksh 0-50 depending on the bank.

Bank to M-Pesa fees vary by bank. Some banks offer free deposits while others charge a small fee.

GlobalPay lets customers pay internationally using a virtual Visa card. A 3.5% FX markup applies on the KES amount.

No. The FX markup is not refunded if a transaction is reversed.

Sending to other networks follows the same per-transaction and daily limits used for M-Pesa transfers.

Transfers are typically instant, but timing can vary based on the receiving network's systems.

Yes. You can send to bank accounts via Paybill or the Send to Bank option, subject to bank availability.

Deposits and withdrawals between M-Pesa and KCB M-Pesa are free on the M-Pesa side.

Yes. M-Shwari deposits and withdrawals are free on the M-Pesa side.

Receiving networks may apply their own fees depending on their tariff structure.

Yes. M-Pesa GlobalPay supports international card payments, and Global transfers are available in select corridors.

Most bank transfers are near-instant, but processing times depend on the receiving bank.

Yes. International transfers still follow M-Pesa platform limits and any GlobalPay-specific limits.

Use the correct transaction type, stay within lower bands when possible, avoid cash withdrawals when a Till or Paybill is suitable, and repay Fuliza quickly to minimize daily fees.

Yes. Customer payments to Till numbers are typically free, while withdrawals carry fees.

Some businesses use Customer tariff where the business pays the fee. Ask the business which tariff they use.

Use Paybill for bills to ensure proper reconciliation. Sending money directly may not capture your account reference.

Yes. Multiple transactions can add up. Consolidate payments when possible to reduce total fees.

ATM withdrawals can be cheaper for some bands but have lower limits. Check the ATM and agent tables for your amount.

Businesses can choose the tariff type that best matches their pricing strategy and consider Mgao for shared fees.

Yes. Buy Goods/Till payments are typically free for customers, with the merchant paying a capped fee.

Yes. Repay quickly to avoid daily maintenance fees and excise charges after day one.

No. Rates are harmonized with M-Pesa to M-Pesa tariffs in 2026.

If your bank offers free deposits, a bank transfer can avoid M-Pesa charges for certain flows.

No. The channel does not change the fee. Charges depend on the transaction type and amount band.

Yes. Deposits into M-Pesa are free for customers.

Yes. Paying directly via Paybill or Till avoids withdrawal charges and is more traceable.

Use the calculators on this site to compare send, withdraw, and Paybill fees before you transact.