M-Pesa Charges and Limits (2025)
Whether you're sending cash to loved ones, paying for daily essentials, or growing your business. Understand M-Pesa charges and make the most of every transaction.
Sending Money
M-Pesa facilitates the transfer of funds between individuals and to businesses, each with its own tiered charging structure.
- To Registered M-Pesa Users, Pochi La Biashara, and Business Tills: These represent standard person-to-person (P2P) transfers and person-to-business (P2B) payments where the recipient is an M-Pesa registered user or a business operating with a Pochi La Biashara or Business Till. The charges are tiered based on the amount transacted.
- To Other Registered Mobile Money Users: M-Pesa also enables transfers to users on other mobile money platforms (e.g., Airtel Money). The charges for these inter-operator transfers are identical to those for sending money within the M-Pesa ecosystem, reflecting a harmonized pricing structure for such transactions.
The following table details the charges for sending money:
M-Pesa Send Money Charges (KSh)
| Transaction Range (KSHS) | Transfer to M-Pesa Users, Pochi La Biashara and Business Till to Customer | Transfer to Other Registered Mobile Money Users |
|---|---|---|
| 1 - 49 | Free | Free |
| 50 - 100 | Free | Free |
| 101 - 500 | 7 | 7 |
| 501 - 1,000 | 13 | 13 |
| 1,001 - 1,500 | 23 | 23 |
| 1,501 - 2,500 | 33 | 33 |
| 2,501 - 3,500 | 53 | 53 |
| 3,501 - 5,000 | 57 | 57 |
| 5,001 - 7,500 | 78 | 78 |
| 7,501 - 10,000 | 90 | 90 |
| 10,001 - 15,000 | 100 | 100 |
| 15,001 - 20,000 | 105 | 105 |
| 20,001 - 35,000 | 108 | 108 |
| 35,001 - 50,000 | 108 | 108 |
| 50,001 - 250,000 | 108 | 108 |
Withdrawing Cash
Getting physical cash from M-Pesa service has different charges depending on the withdrawal method.
- From M-Pesa Agents: This is the most common method for cash withdrawals. The charges are based on the amount and are generally higher than those for sending money, reflecting the operational costs incurred by M-Pesa agents. The minimum withdrawal amount at an M-Pesa agent outlet is KSh 50.
- From ATMs: M-Pesa also offers the convenience of withdrawing cash from selected bank ATMs. The tariff structure for ATM withdrawals differs from agent withdrawals.
The following table outlines the charges for withdrawing cash:
M-Pesa Withdrawal Charges (Agent & ATM, KSh)
| Transaction Range (KSHS) | Withdrawal from M-Pesa Agent |
|---|---|
| 50 - 100 | 11 |
| 101 - 500 | 29 |
| 501 - 1,000 | 29 |
| 1,001 - 1,500 | 29 |
| 1,501 - 2,500 | 29 |
| 2,501 - 3,500 | 52 |
| 3,501 - 5,000 | 69 |
| 5,001 - 7,500 | 87 |
| 7,501 - 10,000 | 115 |
| 10,001 - 15,000 | 167 |
| 15,001 - 20,000 | 185 |
| 20,001 - 35,000 | 197 |
| 35,001 - 50,000 | 278 |
| 50,001 - 250,000 | 309 |
ATM Withdrawal Tariff (KSHS)
| Min | Max | Charge (Kshs) |
|---|---|---|
| 200 | 2500 | 35 |
| 2501 | 5000 | 69 |
| 5001 | 10000 | 115 |
| 10001 | 35000 | 203 |
Lipa Na M-Pesa (Pay Bill & Buy Goods)
Lipa Na M-Pesa is M-Pesa's payments platform, enabling customers to pay for goods and services directly from their mobile phones.
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Customer Charges for Buy Goods (Till Number): Customer payments of KSh 200 and below, have no charges. Generally, customers incur no fees when making payments using Lipa na M-Pesa Buy Goods, with the notable exception of payments made at fuel stations, where specific charges may apply.
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Business Charges for Buy Goods (Till Number): Businesses receiving payments via a Buy Goods Till are charged a maximum of 0.55% of the transaction amount, capped at KSh 200 per transaction.
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Pay Bill Charges: Standard Paybill charges apply for payments directed to utility tills (Customer-to-Business, C2B). While specific customer charges for Pay Bill transactions are not explicitly, they are typically free for the customer, with the business or utility absorbing the transaction cost or operating under a pre-negotiated fee structure.
The following table summarizes the charges for Lipa Na M-Pesa (Buy Goods):
Lipa Na M-Pesa (Buy Goods) Charges (KSh)
| Transaction Range (KSHS) | Customer Charge (Payer) | Business Charge (Recipient) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 - 200 | Free | Free (for business) |
| 201 - 40,000 | Free (except fuel stations) | 0.55% (capped at KSh 200) |
| 40,001 - 250,000 | Free (except fuel stations) | KSh 200 (fixed cap) |
| Note: For payments at fuel stations, customer charges may apply. |
M-Pesa Global Transfers
M-Pesa Global is a service that facilitates international money transfers, allowing users to send and receive funds across borders. This service integrates with various international remittance platforms, including Western Union, PayPal, and Alipay.
For sending money via M-Pesa Global, specific tiered tariffs apply. For instance, when sending money through Western Union, the minimum amount that can be sent is KSh 101, with a maximum of KSh 150,000. Receiving funds from abroad via Western Union through M-Pesa is free of charge.
The following table outlines the charges for sending money via M-Pesa Global (Western Union):
M-Pesa Global (Western Union) Sending Charges (KSh)
| Min (KSh) | Max (KSh) | Tariff (KSh) |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | 5,000 | 100 + Forex rates |
| 5,001 | 20,000 | 250 + Forex rates |
| 20,001 | 35,000 | 350 + Forex rates |
| 35,001 | 150,000 | 500 + Forex rates |
M-Pesa to Bank & Bank to M-Pesa Transfers
M-Pesa offers robust integration with traditional banking services, enabling seamless transfers between M-Pesa accounts and bank accounts.
- M-Pesa to Bank: This service typically operates via the PayBill functionality, where customers utilize a bank's designated business number and their personal bank account number as a reference for the transaction. The charges for M-Pesa to Bank transfers are generally aligned with the "Transfer to Other Registered Mobile Money Users" charges, as detailed in the general M-Pesa tariffs. However, specific charges may vary depending on individual agreements between Safaricom and the respective banks.
- Bank to M-Pesa: Conversely, users can transfer funds from their traditional bank accounts directly to their M-Pesa accounts. To utilize this service, customers are usually required to register for mobile banking with their specific bank. The fees for these transfers are often determined by the bank initiating the transfer, rather than by Safaricom.
Free M-Pesa Services
M-Pesa offers several essential services free of charge, these complimentary services include:
- All Deposits: Users can deposit money into their M-Pesa accounts without incurring any charges.
- M-Pesa Registration: The process of registering for an M-Pesa account is entirely free.
- Buying Airtime through M-Pesa: Purchasing airtime for oneself or others via M-Pesa does not incur any transaction fees.
- M-Pesa Balance Enquiry: Checking one's M-Pesa account balance is a free service.
- Change M-Pesa PIN: Users can change their personal identification number (PIN) without charge.
- Customer payments of KSh 200 and below for Lipa na M-Pesa Buy Goods: Small value payments for goods are free for the customer.
- Receiving funds from abroad via Western Union: Recipients of international remittances through Western Union via M-Pesa do not pay any fees to receive their funds.