What is M-Pesa? 📱
M-Pesa is Kenya's leading mobile money service with over 30 million users. Your recipient can receive, store, and spend money directly from their phone - no bank account needed.
✅ M-Pesa Benefits
- • Instant delivery - Money arrives in minutes
- • No bank required - Just a phone number
- • Widely accepted - Pay bills, buy goods
- • Cash withdrawal - 40,000+ agents nationwide
📋 What You Need
- • Recipient's M-Pesa phone number
- • Recipient's full name (as registered)
- • Your ID and payment method
- • Transfer provider account
Best Providers for M-Pesa Transfers
1. Sendwave
Best for M-Pesa
Best for: M-Pesa specialists with $0 fees and instant delivery.
- ✅ Zero transfer fees
- ✅ Direct to M-Pesa wallet
- ✅ Instant delivery
Delivery Time
Instant - 5 minutes
Transfer Limits
$1 - $7,500 per transfer
2. Remitly
Most Reliable
Best for: First-time senders and guaranteed delivery.
- ✅ First transfer free
- ✅ 99.9% success rate
- ✅ Money-back guarantee
Delivery Time
Express: Minutes
Regular Fees
$2.99 (after first transfer)
Step-by-Step: Sending to M-Pesa
Choose Your Provider & Sign Up
Select Sendwave (cheapest) or Remitly (most reliable). Create an account with your email and verify your identity with a driver's license or passport.
Enter Transfer Details
- • Amount: How much you want to send (USD)
- • Recipient country: Select Kenya
- • Delivery method: Choose "M-Pesa Mobile Wallet"
Add M-Pesa Recipient Details
- • Full name: Exactly as registered with M-Pesa
- • Phone number: Include country code (+254)
- • Relationship: Select your relationship to recipient
Review & Pay
Review all details carefully, then pay with your debit card, credit card, or bank transfer. Most providers accept all major US banks.
- • US debit/credit cards
- • Bank transfer (ACH)
- • Apple Pay (some providers)
- • Debit card: Instant
- • Credit card: Instant
- • Bank transfer: 1-3 days
Track & Confirm Delivery
You'll receive SMS and email confirmations. Your recipient gets an M-Pesa SMS when money arrives in their wallet - usually within 5 minutes.
Common Issues & Solutions
❌ Transfer Failed or Delayed
Common causes:
- Name doesn't match M-Pesa registration exactly
- Phone number entered incorrectly
- Recipient's M-Pesa wallet is full (KES 300,000 limit)
- M-Pesa system maintenance
✅ Solution: Contact provider support - they'll refund or resend
📱 Recipient Can't Find Money
Tell them to:
- Check M-Pesa balance: Dial *334# or check M-Pesa app
- Look for SMS confirmation from M-Pesa
- Wait 15 minutes - sometimes there's a delay
- Contact Safaricom if still missing after 1 hour
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send to any Kenyan phone number?
No, only phone numbers registered with M-Pesa can receive transfers. Most Kenyan phones have M-Pesa, but your recipient needs to confirm their number is registered.
What are M-Pesa transfer limits?
M-Pesa wallets can hold up to KES 300,000 (~$2,300). Daily transaction limits vary by account verification level, typically KES 140,000-500,000 per day.
How does the recipient withdraw cash?
Recipients can withdraw cash at 40,000+ M-Pesa agents across Kenya or use M-Pesa ATMs. They can also pay bills, buy airtime, or send money to others directly from their M-Pesa wallet.
Ready to Send Money to M-Pesa?
Start your instant M-Pesa transfer with $0 fees
Send to M-Pesa Now →