M-Pesa Paybill charges in 2026 (Mgao, Business, and Customer tariffs)
The Lipa na M-Pesa service has simplified personal and business transactions in Kenya. The mobile money transfer service offers convenience at a fee. Discover the M-Pesa Paybill charges in 2026 below.
This article lists fees for making payments using a Safaricom Paybill number. The charges differ depending on the Paybill tariff you use. There is a Mgao Tariff, where a customer and a business share the total transaction cost; a Business Tariff, where a business pays nothing but the customer pays all charges; and a Customer Tariff, where the business incurs full charge while the customer pays nothing.
What are the M-Pesa Paybill charges in 2026?
Since its inception in 1993, Safaricom has launched many innovative products, the most outstanding being the M-Pesa mobile money transfer service. The M-Pesa Paybill service enables businesses to collect payments from customers. Below are the different Lipa na M-Pesa Paybill charges for Mgao, Business, and Customer tariffs:
Mgao Tariff Paybill charges
In the Mgao Tariff, the customer and business split the Paybill transaction fees equally. Below are the 2026 Safaricom Paybill transaction charges for this tariff:
| Bands (KES) | Business fee (KES) | Customer fee (KES) | Total fee (KES) |
|---|
Business Tariff M-Pesa Paybill charges
In the Business Tariff, the business pays nothing while the customer pays all charges. Below are the 2026 Safaricom Paybill transaction charges for this tariff:
| Bands (KES) | Business fee (KES) | Customer fee (KES) | Total fee (KES) |
|---|
Customer Tariff M-Pesa transaction charges
In the Customer Tariff, the customer pays nothing, but the business pays all charges. Below are the 2026 M-Pesa Paybill transaction charges for this tariff:
| Bands (KES) | Business fee (KES) | Customer fee (KES) | Total fee (KES) |
|---|
Quick Paybill fee calculator
Estimate Paybill fees instantly using official 2026 Safaricom tariffs.
Fees for sending money to Safaricom users, Pochi La Biashara, and Business Till
A person pays the following charges when transferring money to fellow Safaricom users or when paying through Pochi La Biashara or a Safaricom Business Till number:
| Bands (KES) | M-Pesa fees (KES) |
|---|
M-Pesa charges for sending money to other mobile money users
A Safaricom subscriber can send money to mobile money users on other networks or non-Safaricom accounts using *334#, their phone's SIM toolkit, or the Safaricom mobile app. The person pays the following fees:
| Bands (KES) | M-Pesa fees (KES) |
|---|
M-Pesa withdrawal charges at a Safaricom M-Pesa agent
Safaricom shortened the M-Pesa cash withdrawal process. Dial *334#, select the withdrawal option, and follow the prompts to withdraw money at an agent. You cannot withdraw less than KES 50 at an M-Pesa agent outlet. The following M-Pesa charges chart shows the current fees:
| Bands (KES) | M-Pesa fees for withdrawing from an agent (KES) |
|---|
M-Pesa withdrawal charges at an ATM
Safaricom M-Pesa withdrawal charges at an ATM are as follows:
| Bands (KES) | Safaricom withdrawal charges (KES) |
|---|
Are M-Pesa transactions free?
Free M-Pesa transactions include:
- All M-Pesa deposits.
- M-Pesa registration.
- Buying airtime through M-Pesa.
- Change M-Pesa PIN.
- M-Pesa balance inquiry.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the latest M-Pesa transaction charges for 2026?
Safaricom's 2026 tariffs are banded by amount and service. This page lists the official Paybill bands for Mgao, Business, and Customer tariffs and updates the tables from the 2026 rate file.
Do Paybills have transaction fees?
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.
What are the business charges for M-Pesa Paybill?
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.
Which is better between Paybill and Till number?
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.
How do M-Pesa tariffs work?
M-Pesa tariffs are banded by amount. Each band has a fixed fee, not a percentage, and the payer depends on the Paybill tariff (Business, Customer, or Mgao).
Is Paybill free?
Small bands (Ksh 1-100) are free in most tariffs. Beyond that, fees apply based on the band and whether the customer, business, or both share the charge.
What are the benefits of using Paybill?
Paybill lets businesses collect payments with account references, improves reconciliation, supports automated posting, and provides clear payment audit trails.
How much does it cost to send Ksh 10,000 via M-Pesa Paybill?
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 each pays Ksh 54 (total Ksh 90).
Is Paybill the same as a business number?
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.
What is the limit of Paybill in M-Pesa?
The standard M-Pesa per-transaction limit is Ksh 250,000, and the daily limit is Ksh 500,000. Paybill transactions follow the same platform limits.
What is the maximum M-Pesa transaction limit?
The standard maximum per transaction is Ksh 250,000 with a daily limit of Ksh 500,000 for most personal accounts, subject to Safaricom policies.
How does M-Pesa calculate its charges?
M-Pesa uses fixed fee bands by amount and service. You locate your amount band and apply the listed charge; there is no percentage calculation.
What are the transaction fees?
Transaction fees vary by service. For Paybill, the fee is determined by the tariff type and the amount band shown in the tables on this page.
How to become an M-Pesa agent?
Apply through Safaricom with a registered business, meet capital and float requirements, and complete KYC checks. Safaricom provides the agent onboarding steps and training.
What are the new M-Pesa charges for 2026 in Kenya?
Safaricom's 2026 tariffs remain aligned with the official published bands. This page pulls the 2026 Paybill rate file and keeps the tables current for Mgao, Business, and Customer tariffs.
M-Pesa GlobalPay
M-Pesa GlobalPay enables international online payments via a virtual Visa card in the M-PESA app. Charges are applied as an FX markup on the KES amount, not flat bands.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| FX markup | 3.5% of KES amount (includes 20% excise) |
| Per-transaction limit | Ksh 150,000 |
| Daily limit | Ksh 300,000 |
Important: FX markup is not refunded if a transaction is reversed. Always confirm limits and availability inside the M-PESA app.
DISCLAIMER
DISCLAIMER: This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility! M-Pesa Paybill charges in 2026 (Mgao, Business, and Customer tariffs)