M-PESA Charges (2026): The Complete Guide to Safaricom Fees & Tariffs
For millions of Kenyans, M-PESA is more than just a mobile money platform—it is the financial engine that powers daily life. From paying for morning coffee and commuting to settling supplier invoices and receiving salaries, understanding the exact M-PESA charges can save you thousands of shillings every year.
Whether you are a customer trying to stretch your monthly budget or a business owner looking to optimize your transaction costs to serve customers better, staying updated on Safaricom’s latest tariffs is essential. In 2026, Safaricom has introduced significant updates, including lower fees for Pochi La Biashara, higher account limits, and adjusted transaction bands.
In this comprehensive guide, we break down all the current M-PESA rates for 2026. We will cover the costs of sending money, withdrawing from agents and ATMs, using Lipa Na M-PESA (Buy Goods and Paybill), and the daily charges associated with the Fuliza overdraft facility.
The Quick Answer: M-PESA Limits and Highlights for 2026
If you are just looking for the most important numbers, here is a quick summary of the current M-PESA landscape in Kenya:
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Free Transactions: Sending money is completely free for amounts between KES 1 and KES 100.
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Maximum Send Fee: The highest charge you will incur for sending money to a registered M-PESA user is KES 108 (applicable for amounts from KES 20,001 up to KES 250,000).
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Maximum Withdrawal Fee: Withdrawing cash at an M-PESA agent caps at a fee of KES 309 for amounts over KES 50,000.
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Pochi La Biashara: As of August 2026, paying a Pochi La Biashara merchant is free up to KES 200, with a maximum capped fee of just KES 50 for larger amounts.
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Account Limits: You can hold a maximum of KES 500,000 in your M-PESA wallet.
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Transaction Limits: You can send up to KES 250,000 in a single transaction, with a daily transaction limit of KES 500,000.
1. M-PESA Send Money Charges (To Registered Users)
Sending money to family, friends, or informal business partners is the most common M-PESA transaction. Safaricom applies a tiered fee structure based on the amount you are sending.
All standard mobile money transfer fees currently include a 15% Excise Duty (reduced from 20% by the Finance Act 2023). The table below shows the final amount deducted from your balance when you send money to another registered Safaricom M-PESA user.
| Amount Range (KES) | Transaction Fee (KES) |
| 1 – 49 | Free |
| 50 – 100 | Free |
| 101 – 500 | 7 |
| 501 – 1,000 | 13 |
| 1,001 – 1,500 | 23 |
| 1,501 – 2,500 | 33 |
| 2,501 – 3,500 | 52 |
| 3,501 – 5,000 | 57 |
| 5,001 – 7,500 | 78 |
| 7,501 – 10,000 | 90 |
| 10,001 – 15,000 | 100 |
| 15,001 – 20,000 | 105 |
| 20,001 – 250,000 | 108 |
Note: Sending money to unregistered users or users on other networks (like Airtel or Telkom) may incur different charges, though interoperability has largely standardized sending fees across local networks.
How Businesses Can Leverage Free Transfers
For micro-businesses, the free band up to KES 100 means customers paying for small items (like a quick snack, fare, or a single fruit) via direct transfer face zero friction. However, as the transaction size grows, customers start feeling the pinch. This is where dedicated merchant tills come in handy to acquire and retain customers.
2. M-PESA Withdrawal Charges
While Kenya is rapidly moving toward a cashless economy, cash is still king in many sectors. If you need physical cash, you have two primary options: withdrawing from an authorized M-PESA agent or using an ATM.
Agent Withdrawal Tariffs
Agent withdrawals are typically the most convenient and cost-effective way to get cash. The minimum amount you can withdraw is KES 50.
| Amount Range (KES) | Agent Withdrawal Fee (KES) |
| 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 Tariffs
If there are no open agents nearby, or if you prefer the privacy of an ATM, you can withdraw funds directly from participating bank ATMs (like KCB, Equity, or NCBA) using the M-PESA menu on the machine. ATM withdrawals start at a minimum of KES 200.
| Amount Range (KES) | ATM Withdrawal Fee (KES) |
| 200 – 2,500 | 35 |
| 2,501 – 5,000 | 69 |
| 5,001 – 10,000 | 115 |
| 10,001 – 35,000 | 203 |
Note: The maximum you can withdraw at an ATM in a single transaction is KES 35,000. For larger amounts, you must perform multiple transactions or visit an agent.
3. Lipa Na M-PESA: Buy Goods vs. Paybill Charges
For businesses in Kenya, offering a seamless payment method is crucial for customer acquisition and retention. Safaricom provides two main Lipa Na M-PESA solutions: Buy Goods (Till Number) and Paybill.
Buy Goods and Services (Business Till)
The Buy Goods till is ideal for retail stores, supermarkets, online businesses, and restaurants.
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Customer Charges: Paying into a standard Buy Goods till is 100% FREE for the customer.
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Merchant Charges: Safaricom charges the business owner a small commission to facilitate the payment. The merchant fee is typically 0.55% of the transaction value, and it is capped at KES 200. Furthermore, any collections of KES 200 and below are free for the merchant.
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Exceptions: The only time a customer pays a fee on a Buy Goods till is at authorized fuel stations, where the transaction cost is passed on to the buyer due to the low margins in the petroleum industry.
Paybill Numbers
Paybill is a payment collection service designed for utilities (like KPLC or water boards), schools, hospitals, and regular billings.
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Unlike Buy Goods, Paybill charges depend on the tariff selected by the business.
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Customer Pays: The business can choose to have the customer bear the transaction cost (which scales similarly to the send money tariff).
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Business Pays: The business can absorb the cost, making it free for the customer to pay their bills.
Business Tip: When customers don’t have to worry about transaction fees, they are more likely to buy from you. Removing payment friction is one of the easiest ways to close a sale. If you are a Kenyan business looking to expand your reach and increase your sales even further, listing your services on a verified platform is the next step.
4. Pochi La Biashara Fees (August 2026 Update)
Pochi La Biashara (Swahili for “Business Wallet”) is a specialized M-PESA account tailored for informal business owners—such as mama mbogas, boda boda riders, and street vendors. It separates business funds from personal funds while operating on the same SIM card.
In August 2026, Safaricom announced a massive reduction in Pochi La Biashara transaction fees to encourage more Kenyans to use digital payments for small, everyday purchases instead of reverting to cash.
The New Pochi La Biashara Customer Charges
These reduced tariffs make it significantly cheaper for customers to pay small merchants:
| Amount Range (KES) | Pochi Transfer Charge (KES) |
| 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) |
Why this matters:
Previously, sending KES 10,000 to a Pochi merchant cost the customer KES 90. Under the new 2026 tariff, it costs a flat KES 50. Even better, the free payment band was doubled from KES 100 to KES 200, covering a huge percentage of daily micro-purchases like vegetables and transport fare.
For the merchants themselves, moving money out of the Pochi wallet is also now capped at KES 50, providing massive relief and allowing small businesses to keep more of their profits.
5. Fuliza M-PESA Charges Explained
Fuliza is Safaricom’s continuous overdraft service that allows you to complete M-PESA transactions even if you have insufficient funds in your wallet. While incredibly convenient for emergencies, Fuliza comes with daily fees that can quickly add up if the balance is not cleared.
How Fuliza Fees Work
When you use Fuliza, Safaricom charges two types of fees:
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Access Fee: A one-off 1% fee charged immediately on the amount you borrow.
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Daily Maintenance Fee: A daily fee applied every night at midnight on your outstanding balance, which includes a 20% Excise Duty.
Fuliza Daily Maintenance Tariffs (Including Tax)
| Outstanding Balance (KES) | Tariff | 20% Excise Duty | Total Daily Charge (KES) |
| 0 – 100 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 101 – 500 | 2.50 | 0.50 | 3.00 |
| 501 – 1,000 | 5.00 | 1.00 | 6.00 |
| 1,001 – 1,500 | 18.00 | 3.60 | 21.60 |
| 1,501 – 2,500 | 20.00 | 4.00 | 24.00 |
| 2,501 – 70,000 | 25.00 | 5.00 | 30.00 |
Example: If you Fuliza KES 2,000 to pay a supermarket bill, you will immediately pay a KES 20 access fee. If you take 5 days to deposit money and clear the balance, you will be charged KES 24 every night. Over 5 days, that’s KES 120 in maintenance fees, bringing the total cost of the KES 2,000 overdraft to KES 140.
Pro Tip: To minimize Fuliza charges, always top up your M-PESA account as soon as possible to stop the daily maintenance fees from accumulating.
6. M-PESA Business Limits and B2C Charges
Safaricom has increased M-PESA account limits to accommodate the growing digital economy. For businesses processing high volumes, knowing these limits is vital for cash flow management.
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Maximum Account Balance: KES 500,000
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Daily Transaction Limit: KES 500,000
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Per-Transaction Limit: KES 250,000
B2C (Business to Customer) Payments
For employers paying salaries, organizations distributing petty cash, or businesses handling customer refunds, the M-PESA Business Hub offers Bulk Payment (B2C) services.
Through a dedicated shortcode, a business can dispatch thousands of payments instantly. B2C charges depend on the selected tariff model but are generally structured so that the business pays the transfer fee on behalf of the customer, allowing the employee or supplier to receive the full intended amount without deductions.
7. How to Check and Manage Your M-PESA Charges
Keeping track of what you spend on transaction fees is the first step to financial health.
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Via USSD: You can dial
*334#to access the main M-PESA menu. Under the “My Account” section, you can request an M-PESA statement to see a breakdown of your transactions and fees. -
Via the M-PESA App: The easiest way to visualize your charges is through the official Safaricom M-PESA smartphone app. The app features a “Spend” tracker that categorizes your expenses, clearly separating your actual transfers from the transaction fees.
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Fee Confirmation: Always look at the payment confirmation screen before entering your PIN. Whether you are using the app or the SIM toolkit, Safaricom now explicitly displays the exact fee that will be deducted before you authorize the payment.
What to Do If You Send Money to the Wrong Number
Mistakes happen. If you accidentally send money to the wrong person, Safaricom’s Hakikisha feature gives you a 25-second window to cancel the transaction by replying with any letter or number.
If the transaction goes through, immediately forward the M-PESA confirmation SMS to 456. Safaricom will freeze the funds in the recipient’s account and initiate a reversal process. Keep in mind that reversal requests do not refund the initial transaction charges, so you will still lose the sending fee.
8. Practical Tips to Save Money on M-PESA Fees
If you find yourself spending over KES 1,000 a month purely on M-PESA charges, here are practical lifestyle and business changes you can make to cut costs:
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Pay via Buy Goods (Till Number): Instead of sending money to a business owner’s personal number (which attracts a sending fee), ask if they have a Till Number. Paying to a standard Buy Goods till is free for you.
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Consolidate Your Transfers: Sending KES 500 four times in a week will cost you KES 28 (7 x 4). Sending a bulk KES 2,000 once will cost you just KES 33. While the difference seems small, consolidating larger amounts saves you massive percentages in fees over the year.
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Use Pochi La Biashara for Small Vendors: Take advantage of the new 2026 tariff. If you are paying the local shopkeeper or boda rider, sending via Pochi is completely free for amounts up to KES 200.
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Avoid ATM Withdrawals When Possible: ATMs offer great convenience late at night, but they charge a premium. A KES 2,500 withdrawal at an ATM costs KES 35, while an agent withdrawal for the same amount costs KES 29.
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Clear Fuliza Promptly: Never let a Fuliza loan drag on for weeks. The daily maintenance fee is heavily taxed, and clearing your balance within 24 hours stops the clock on those charges.
9. Conclusion: Embracing the Digital Economy
Understanding M-PESA charges in 2026 empowers you to make smarter financial decisions. Safaricom’s recent move to cap Pochi La Biashara fees at KES 50 and extend free payments up to KES 200 proves that the future of Kenyan commerce is entirely digital.
For ordinary users, avoiding unnecessary withdrawal fees and taking advantage of free transaction bands can lead to significant annual savings. For businesses, adopting dedicated tills (Buy Goods or Pochi) isn’t just about organizing finances—it’s a critical customer service tool.
When you remove the burden of transaction fees from your buyers, you make it incredibly easy for them to choose your business over the competition.
Are you a Kenyan business owner, freelancer, or agency looking to maximize your visibility and attract paying clients from all 47 counties? Providing excellent payment options is just the beginning.
Disclaimer: The tariffs and limits mentioned in this guide are based on Safaricom’s official published rates as of August 2026. Transaction fees are subject to change based on Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) regulations and updates to the Finance Act. Always confirm charges on your M-PESA prompt before completing a transaction.
Official Sources & References:
Tags: M-PESA Charges, Safaricom Tariffs 2026, Pochi La Biashara fees, Fuliza charges, Lipa na M-PESA, Business Tips Kenya, Mobile Money Rates
