M-Pesa Charges: Fees and Limits in 2026

M-Pesa charges 2026: Current transaction fees, withdrawal costs, free services, and money transfer rates. Official Safaricom pricing, limits, and cost-saving tips for Kenya's leading mobile money service.

Free M-Pesa Services

Not every M-Pesa action costs money. Several essential services are completely free of charge, making the platform accessible and affordable for everyday use. Before worrying about fees, it is worth knowing what you can do at zero cost:

• All deposits to M-Pesa accounts — Whether you deposit cash at an agent or receive money from another user, deposits are always free.
• M-Pesa registration — Opening a new M-Pesa account costs nothing. You only need a valid Kenyan National ID or Passport at an agent outlet, or a Foreign Passport/Military ID/Foreigner Certificate at a Safaricom Shop.
• Buying airtime through M-Pesa — Purchasing Safaricom airtime for yourself or others via M-Pesa has no transaction fee whatsoever.
• M-Pesa balance enquiry — Checking how much money you have in your M-Pesa wallet is free at any time.
• Changing your M-Pesa PIN — Resetting or updating your personal identification number carries no charge.
• Sending KSh 1 to KSh 100 — Small person-to-person transfers of KSh 100 or below to registered M-Pesa users are completely free.

Key Transaction Limits and Policies

M-Pesa imposes several limits on accounts and transactions to ensure security and regulatory compliance. Knowing these limits prevents failed transactions and helps you plan larger payments or withdrawals.

Account Limits

Important Policies

• No direct agent deposits to others — Direct deposits to another M-Pesa customer's account at agent outlets are not permitted. You must deposit to your own account first, then send to the recipient.
• Self-reversal — If you send money to the wrong number, you can initiate a self-reversal by forwarding the transaction confirmation SMS to 456.
• Agent registration documents — Only Kenyan Passports and National IDs are accepted for registration at agent outlets.
• Safaricom Shop registration — Foreign Passports, Military IDs, and Foreigner Certificates can only be used for registration at Safaricom Shops and Care Desks.

M-Pesa Withdrawal Charges

Withdrawing physical cash from your M-Pesa account is one of the most common transactions on the platform, and the charges vary depending on how and where you withdraw. There are two main withdrawal methods available:

• From M-Pesa Agents — This is the most popular cash-out method across Kenya. Agent withdrawal charges are tiered based on the amount you withdraw and tend to be higher than send-money fees, reflecting the operational costs incurred by agents. The minimum withdrawal at an agent outlet is KSh 50. Charges range from KSh 11 for the smallest amounts up to KSh 309 for withdrawals above KSh 50,000.
• From ATMs — M-Pesa also allows cashless ATM withdrawals at selected bank ATMs. The minimum ATM withdrawal is KSh 200 and the maximum is KSh 35,000. ATM withdrawal charges have a different tier structure from agent withdrawals, ranging from KSh 35 to KSh 203.

Understanding which tiers your withdrawal falls into can save you money. For example, agent withdrawals from KSh 101 to KSh 2,500 all cost a flat KSh 29 — so withdrawing KSh 2,500 costs the same as withdrawing KSh 200. But if you withdraw KSh 2,600, the fee jumps to KSh 52.

→ View the complete M-Pesa Withdrawal Charges table

M-Pesa Charges for Sending Money

M-Pesa enables the transfer of funds between individuals (person-to-person) and to businesses (person-to-business), each with a tiered charging structure based on the amount being sent. The platform supports several transfer destinations:

• To Registered M-Pesa Users, Pochi La Biashara, and Business Tills — These are standard P2P and P2B transfers where the recipient is within the Safaricom M-Pesa ecosystem. Charges start at KSh 7 for amounts between KSh 101 and KSh 500, and gradually increase to a maximum cap of KSh 108 for amounts above KSh 20,000.
• To Other Registered Mobile Money Users — M-Pesa also supports cross-network transfers to users on other platforms such as Airtel Money. The charges for these inter-operator transfers are identical to those for sending money within M-Pesa, reflecting a harmonised pricing structure.

A key cost-saving feature is that all transfers of KSh 100 or below are completely free. The maximum send-money charge is capped at KSh 108 regardless of the amount sent, up to the KSh 250,000 per-transaction limit.

→ View the complete M-Pesa Send Money Charges table

Lipa na M-Pesa Paybill Charges and Limits (2026)

Lipa na M-Pesa Paybill is the payment system used by organisations, utilities, schools, landlords, and other entities to collect payments from customers. One of its most important features is that organisations can choose how transaction charges are applied — giving businesses the flexibility to manage costs, enhance customer experience, and maintain a competitive edge.

There are three distinct tariff models available to Paybill holders:

Business Bouquet Tariff

Under this model, the customer bears the full cost of transaction charges while the business pays nothing. This is a customer-funded payment model ideal for utilities, essential service providers, and businesses operating on tight margins that want to eliminate payment processing costs entirely. Customer charges range from KSh 5 (for KSh 101–500) up to a maximum of KSh 108 (for amounts above KSh 45,000). Transactions of KSh 100 or below are completely free for both parties.

Customer Bouquet Tariff

The reverse of the Business Bouquet — under this model, the business absorbs all transaction charges, enabling customers to make payments completely free. Customers pay exactly the invoiced amount with no deductions. This model is designed to enhance customer satisfaction by removing payment barriers. Business charges follow the same tier structure (KSh 5 to KSh 108) but are borne entirely by the organisation.

Mgao (Shared) Tariff

The Mgao Tariff is a hybrid pricing structure where both the customer and the business share the cost of transaction charges. For smaller transactions (KSh 101–1,000), the customer bears 100% of the minimal charges. As transaction values increase beyond KSh 1,000, the business progressively takes on a larger percentage of the fees. For example, at the KSh 3,501–5,000 tier, the split shifts to roughly 47% customer / 53% business. For transactions above KSh 45,000, the customer's share is capped at just KSh 24, with the business paying the remaining KSh 84.

→ View the complete Lipa na M-Pesa Paybill Charges and Limits tables (all three tariff models)

Lipa na M-Pesa Buy Goods (Business Till Number) Charges and Limits (2026)

Lipa na M-Pesa Buy Goods allows customers to pay merchants directly using a Business Till Number. This is the system used at shops, supermarkets, restaurants, and other retail outlets across Kenya. The pricing model is merchant-focused, meaning charges are primarily borne by the business to encourage customer adoption of cashless payments.

For Customers Making Payments

The general rule is straightforward: customers pay nothing when using Lipa na M-Pesa Buy Goods. There are no charges for any amount, whether you are buying groceries worth KSh 50 or electronics worth KSh 100,000. The one notable exception is fuel station payments, where customers do incur fees due to special regulatory considerations and industry-specific agreements with Safaricom. Fuel station charges range from KSh 7 (for KSh 101–500) to KSh 108 (for amounts above KSh 10,000), with payments of KSh 100 or below being free.

For Businesses Receiving Payments

Businesses are charged a collection fee of 0.5% of the transaction amount, capped at a maximum of KSh 200 per transaction. Collections of KSh 200 and below are completely free for the merchant. This means a business receiving a KSh 10,000 payment pays KSh 50 in fees, while a KSh 40,000 or higher payment always costs exactly KSh 200 (the cap). Safaricom previously charged 1% but reduced this to 0.5% to encourage digital payment adoption.

Outgoing Transactions from a Business Till

When businesses make payments from their till — to other tills, to mobile numbers, or to paybills — different charges apply. Payments to other business tills are charged at 0.27% (capped at KSh 200), payments to mobile numbers follow standard send-money rates, and payments to paybills depend on the receiving organisation's tariff. Withdrawal options include agent withdrawals (KSh 11–309), bank transfers via RTS (0.27% capped at KSh 200), and ATM withdrawals (KSh 33–45).

→ View the complete Lipa na M-Pesa Buy Goods (Till Number) Charges and Limits

M-Pesa Fuliza Charges and Fee Structure

Fuliza is M-Pesa's personal overdraft facility that allows you to complete M-Pesa transactions even when your wallet balance is insufficient. When you run short during a send-money transaction, bill payment, or Buy Goods purchase, Fuliza automatically tops up the difference so the transaction goes through. The borrowed amount is then recovered from subsequent deposits into your M-Pesa account.

Fuliza has two cost components:

• Access Fee (1%) — A one-time fee charged at the point of accessing Fuliza. For example, if you access KSh 1,000 through Fuliza, you pay KSh 10 upfront.
• Daily Maintenance Fees — Applied at midnight on the day following access, based on your outstanding balance. These range from KSh 0 (for balances of KSh 100 or below) to KSh 30 per day (for balances of KSh 2,501–70,000), inclusive of the 20% Excise Duty that is added to the base tariff.

There is a special offer for small borrowings: if you access KSh 1,000 or less, you receive a three-day grace period with no daily maintenance fees. If you repay within those three days, you only owe the 1% access fee — making Fuliza very affordable for small, short-term needs.

→ View the complete M-Pesa Fuliza Charges and Fee Structure

Fuliza for Business (Fuliza ya Biashara) Cost Structure and Charges

Fuliza ya Biashara is the business version of the Fuliza overdraft service, designed for M-Pesa business accounts (Till and Paybill holders). It provides businesses with short-term working capital when their M-Pesa business account balance is insufficient to cover outgoing payments. The facility supports overdraft amounts up to KSh 400,000 depending on the business's transaction history and credit profile.

The cost structure differs significantly from the personal Fuliza product:

• Access Fee (2%) — A daily access fee of 2% is charged for each disbursement, but only after a 48-hour interest-free grace period expires. This means if you repay within 48 hours, you avoid the access fee entirely.
• Daily Maintenance Fees — These vary based on the outstanding balance and range from KSh 0 (for amounts under KSh 1,000) to KSh 250 per day (for amounts between KSh 70,001 and KSh 400,000).

Repayment Terms

• Maximum repayment period: 29 days with daily fees accruing throughout.
• Extended repayment period: Up to 91 days total.
• CRB listing: Non-payment after 91 days results in a listing with the Credit Reference Bureau, which will affect your business credit score.

→ View the complete Fuliza for Business (Fuliza ya Biashara) Charges

Cost-Saving Tips

Understanding M-Pesa's fee structure allows you to make smarter decisions about how and when you transact. Here are practical ways to minimise your costs:

1. Take advantage of free small transfers. All person-to-person transfers of KSh 100 or below are free. If you are sending a small amount, keep it at or under KSh 100 to avoid any charge.
2. Pay merchants via Buy Goods instead of sending money. Lipa na M-Pesa Buy Goods payments are free for customers at all amounts (except fuel stations). If a business has a Till Number, always use it rather than sending money to a personal number, which incurs charges above KSh 100.
3. Withdraw within optimal fee bands. Agent withdrawals from KSh 101 to KSh 2,500 all cost a flat KSh 29. Avoid withdrawing just above a tier boundary — withdrawing KSh 2,600 costs KSh 52, but KSh 2,500 only costs KSh 29. Plan your withdrawal amounts to fall within cheaper bands.
4. Consolidate withdrawals. Making fewer, larger withdrawals is generally cheaper per shilling than making many small ones. Calculate the total you need and withdraw in one go where possible.
5. Compare agent vs. ATM withdrawal costs. For some amounts, ATM withdrawals may be cheaper or more convenient. For instance, withdrawing KSh 2,500 costs KSh 29 at an agent but KSh 35 at an ATM — the agent is cheaper. But for KSh 3,000, the agent charges KSh 52 while the ATM charges KSh 69 — the agent is still cheaper. Always compare before deciding.
6. Repay Fuliza as quickly as possible. Daily maintenance fees add up fast. For personal Fuliza, take advantage of the 3-day grace period for amounts of KSh 1,000 or less. For Fuliza ya Biashara, repay within 48 hours to avoid the 2% access fee entirely.
7. Go cashless wherever you can. Every time you withdraw cash to pay a merchant who accepts M-Pesa, you are paying an unnecessary withdrawal fee. Paying directly via M-Pesa (Buy Goods or Paybill) saves you the withdrawal charge.
8. Choose the right Paybill tariff for your business. If you operate a business, carefully consider which tariff model — Business Bouquet, Customer Bouquet, or Mgao — best suits your transaction volumes, average transaction sizes, and customer expectations. The right choice can significantly reduce your overall costs.

Quick Links to Detailed Charge Pages