Compare money transfer to & from Kenya

By the Rateweb editorial team · How we rate · Product details checked 26 Jul 2026

Compare services for sending money to Kenya on the only number that matters: the shillings your recipient actually receives. Every service charges in two places — an upfront fee and an exchange-rate margin — and "zero fee" apps simply move the cost into the rate. Receiving into an M-Pesa wallet is free; a withdrawal fee applies only when converting to cash. Figures below are each provider's published pattern as at July 2026 — always confirm the live quote in the app for your exact amount.

💸 What it costs to send money to Kenya Benchmark · Q3 2025

Fees quietly eat remittances. Sending US$200 to Sub-Saharan Africa costs 8.78% on average — versus a 6.49% global average. Remittances are about 4.6% of Kenya's GDP — US$4.8bn in 2024, the most of any East African country. That gap is exactly why comparing pays.

US$
at the 8.78% regional average ≈ US$17.56 in fees. Beat that with an option below.
From United States
Kenya's single largest source. On a USD-to-shilling transfer the exchange-rate margin is usually the bigger cost — check it, not just the fee.
From United Kingdom
A major corridor with a large Kenyan community; app-based transfers have widened choice and pushed costs down.

Source: World Bank Remittance Prices Worldwide (remittanceprices.worldbank.org), Q3 2025. A dated quarterly benchmark, not a live quote — the table below carries current provider details. Full corridor breakdown →

⭐ Ratings & awards are Rateweb's independent editorial opinion — how we rate.

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6 results
Real mid-market rate

Wise

The transparency benchmark: the actual mid-market exchange rate with the fee shown up front (typically ~0.5–1% all-in), paying straight to M-Pesa in minutes.
★★★★★
4.6/5 · How we rate
Mid-market rate + transparent fee, ~0.5–1% all-in
Pricing
Direct to M-Pesa, or bank account
Payout
M-Pesa often in minutes; bank 1–2 working days
Speed
Free to receive; M-Pesa withdrawal fees only if cashing out
Receiving Cost
inbound
Direction
Pros
  • No exchange-rate markup — the real rate
  • Fast to M-Pesa
  • Best value on larger transfers
Cons
  • Needs card/bank to fund (not for cash senders)
  • Conversion can take up to ~2 days before payout
Visit Wise Full details & review →
Zero fee

Sendwave

Zero-fee, margin-priced app sending straight to M-Pesa — consistently competitive for smaller family remittances, built for diaspora corridors.
★★★★☆
4.3/5 · How we rate
No flat fee; the cost is in the exchange-rate margin
Pricing
Direct to M-Pesa
Payout
Minutes
Speed
Free to receive
Receiving Cost
inbound
Direction
Pros
  • No flat fee, fast, wallet-native
  • Direct to M-Pesa — recipient needs no account
  • Good for recurring small amounts
Cons
  • The margin is the price — compare shillings received
  • Fewer payout options than the big networks
Visit Sendwave Full details & review →
Choice of speed

Remitly

Pick your speed: near-instant Express for a small fee, or free Economy over 1–3 days. FCA/FinCEN-licensed, delivering to M-Pesa, Airtel Money and banks.
★★★★☆
4.2/5 · How we rate
Express small flat fee; Economy free — cost sits in a ~1–3.7% margin
Pricing
M-Pesa, Airtel Money, bank accounts
Payout
Express: minutes. Economy: 1–3 business days
Speed
Free to receive
Receiving Cost
inbound
Direction
Pros
  • Near-instant Express option
  • Heavily regulated (FCA/FinCEN)
  • Flexible payout methods
Cons
  • Margin often above mid-market-rate rivals
  • Economy is slower
Visit Remitly Full details & review →
Widest payout

WorldRemit

A large, established operator with the broadest payout choice — M-Pesa, Airtel Money, bank, cash pickup, even airtime. Often zero fee, but watch the ~1.5–3% rate margin.
★★★★☆
4.0/5 · How we rate
~$0.99–4.99 fee (often $0 by bank/debit) + ~1.5–3% margin
Pricing
M-Pesa, Airtel Money, bank, cash pickup, airtime
Payout
M-Pesa in minutes
Speed
Free to receive
Receiving Cost
inbound
Direction
Pros
  • Most payout options
  • Fast to M-Pesa; often zero fee
  • Established, regulated operator
Cons
  • Margin can exceed Wise on larger amounts
  • "Zero fee" still carries a rate markup
Visit WorldRemit Full details & review →

M-Pesa Global

Safaricom's own cross-border service — send and receive between M-Pesa and partners abroad, straight from the M-Pesa menu, no third-party app.
★★★★☆
4.0/5 · How we rate
Safaricom tariff + FX — confirm the current rate in the menu
Pricing
M-Pesa wallet directly
Payout
Minutes
Speed
Free to receive to the wallet
Receiving Cost
inbound
Direction
Pros
  • Native to M-Pesa — no extra app
  • Direct wallet-to-wallet
  • Backed by Safaricom
Cons
  • Corridor coverage varies
  • Compare the all-in rate against the apps
Visit M-Pesa Global Full details & review →
Widest cash pickup

Western Union

The reach play: the widest cash-pickup network for recipients who need physical cash — usually the priciest all-in of the options here.
★★★★☆
3.8/5 · How we rate
Fee + margin, typically the priciest all-in — get a full quote first
Pricing
Cash pickup nationwide, plus M-Pesa and banks
Payout
Minutes for cash pickup
Speed
Free to receive; cash paid at agent
Receiving Cost
inbound
Direction
Pros
  • Unmatched cash-pickup coverage
  • Works when the recipient has no wallet
  • Trusted, long-established global brand
Cons
  • Usually the most expensive way to send
  • Agent hours/liquidity vary
Visit Western Union Full details & review →

Ratings are Rateweb's editorial opinion. Product details can change — always confirm with the provider before applying. Rateweb may earn a commission on some applications. This is general information, not financial advice.

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