M-Pesa From the US to Kenya (2024)

Most Kenyans will probably agree that M-Pesa is the best way to send and receive money, pay for goods and services, access loans and savings, and even get insurance in Kenya. And given that everything happens directly on your smartphone, it's probably the most convenient way too!

Services like Remitly, WorldRemit, and Western Union let you send money from the USA to Kenya via M-Pesa. Find the cheapest and fastest service using Monito's live comparison tool below. 👇

Key Facts About M-Pesa

Compare M-Pesa transfer providers

Option 1: Digital Platforms

The best way to send money from the USA to Kenya via M-Pesa is to choose a digital money transfer platform. There are two excellent options (Remitly and WorldRemit) and one good option (XE Money Transfer) to compare here. Each offers M-Pesa payouts in Kenya and supports transfers from dozens of countries around the globe, including from the USA.

To get started, you must sign up on one of these platforms (the process usually is quick, easy, and free) and choose M-Pesa as your delivery method. You'll then be able to enter your recipient's mobile number and name and then make a bank or card transfer from your local currency to their M-Pesa account in Kenyan shillings at excellent exchange rates. (What's more, the money normally arrives in Kenya in only a few minutes!)

We go through each option in more detail below:

Remitly

Remitlyis a US-based remittance platform that's usually the fastest and cheapest way to send money to Kenya. It supports transfers from the USA to Kenya from many countries worldwide, including the US, UK, EU, and Australia.

Monito Score 2023

• Customer Satisfaction 9.4

Go to Remitly 🡪

• Average Cost From the US to Kenya: -1.3%
• M-Pesa Limits:USD 2,999 within 24 hours, USD 10,000 within 30 days, and USD 18,000 within 180 days
• More Info:See our fullRemitly revieworvisit their website.

WorldRemit

WorldRemitis a UK-based online remittance provider that offers another excellent way to send money from the USA to someone's M-Pesa account in Kenya.

Monito Score 2023

• Customer Satisfaction 9.0

Go to WorldRemit 🡪

• Average Cost From the US to Kenya:3.2%
• M-Pesa Limits:KES 150,000 (approx. USD 1,250)
• More Info:See our fullWorldRemit revieworvisit their website.

XE Money Transfer

The world's oldest online money transfer company, XE Money Transfer is widely-known in the world of currency exchange. It often offers the best way to transfer money internationally regarding the number of foreign currencies and countries it covers.

Monito Score 2023

• Customer Satisfaction 7.8

Go to XE 🡪

• Average Cost From the US to Kenya: 1.7%
• M-Pesa Limits: None
• More Info: See our full XE review or visit their website.

Option 2: Legacy Platforms

In addition to the savvy online options we discussed above, using a traditional player like Western Union or MoneyGram is another good alternative to sending money from the USA to Kenya with M-Pesa.

Although legacy platforms are usually more expensive than online platforms, they usually still offer decent exchange rates, and the cheaper option will depend on how much you're sending and the country you're sending to Kenya from. That's why we recommend you compare money transfer providers before every new transfer to Kenya.

Let's go over the leading platforms in this category:

Western Union

Western Union is the largest and oldest money transfer operator on the globe, offering money transfers from the USA to Kenya via M-Pesa from dozens of countries across the globe.

Monito Score 2024

• Customer Satisfaction 8.9

Go to Western Union

• Average Cost From the US to Kenya: Approx. 3.8%
• M-Pesa Limits: Approx. USD 2,000
• More Info: See our full Western Union review or visit their website.

MoneyGram

After Western Union, MoneyGram is the second-largest money transfer operator in the world and also offers money transfers from the USA to Kenya via M-Pesa from many countries worldwide.

Monito Score 2023

• Customer Satisfaction 9.4

Go to MoneyGram

• Average Cost From the US to Kenya: 2.1%
• M-Pesa Limits: None
• More Info: See our full MoneyGram review or visit their website.

Small World

Often the cheapest of the legacy operators for transfers to Kenya, Small World is another well-known alternative for sending money, and it supports transfers from the USA to M-Pesa as well as other mobile wallets.

Monito Score 2023

• Customer Satisfaction 8.5

Go to Small World

• Average Cost From the US to Kenya: 1.8%
• M-Pesa Limits: None
• More Info: See our full Small World review or visit their website.

Option 3: Banks

If you live in the USA but keep a bank account in Kenya, it's sometimes possible to convert foreign currency to shillings and deposit it into somebody's M-Pesa account. For example, Equity Bank offers this service to residents in some countries abroad, including in America.

While it can make sense if you frequently receive money into your Kenyan bank account and don't mind paying slightly higher fees, it's not a good option if you want to save money, as costs can quickly amount to more than 5% of the total transaction amount. You can learn more about the high costs of using your bank to send money abroad in our dedicated explainer.

Instead, we recommend choosing a provider on this list like Remitly or comparing money transfer providers in real-time below to find the best deal for your specific transfer:

FAQ About M-Pesa in Kenya

• 🌍 How do I send money to Kenya via M-Pesa?

  To send money to Kenya via M-Pesa, you'll need to find a third-party money transfer platform, sign up (the process is usually quick, easy, and free) and then choose M-Pesa as your delivery method. You'll then be able to enter your recipient's mobile number and name and then make a bank or card transfer from your local currency to their M-Pesa account in Kenyan shillings at excellent exchange rates. (What's more, the money typically arrives in Kenya in only a few minutes!)

• 🇺🇸 Can I send money from the USA to Kenya via M-Pesa?

  Yes, you can send money from the USA to Kenya via M-Pesa. On average, the best money transfer provider for this corridor is Remitly.

• 🇬🇧 Can I send money from the UK to Kenya via M-Pesa?

  Yes, you can send money from the UK to Kenya via M-Pesa. On average, the best money transfer provider for this corridor is Remitly.

• 🇶🇦 Can I send money from Qatar to Kenya via M-Pesa?

  Yes, you can send money from Qatar to Kenya via M-Pesa. On average, the best money transfer provider for this corridor is WorldRemit.

• 📥 How can I receive money from the USA to Kenya?

  If you live in Kenya and are receiving money from the USA, ask your sender to visit Monito.com to compare the best deals in real time. That way, you can be sure that you'll receive the largest amount of money after the USD to KES conversion is complete, regardless of whether you're receiving money into your bank account, as cash, or into your M-Pesa account.

• 🗽 Is M-Pesa available in the USA?

  No, M-Pesa is not available in the USA, only in Kenya and several other African countries. However, sending money from the USA to somebody's M-Pesa wallet in Kenya is still possible. Use Remitly, which almost always offers the cheapest exchange rates for these transfers!

• ✅ Can you send money from the USA to Kenya via M-Pesa?

  Yes, it is easy to send money from the USA to Kenya via M-Pesa. To get the job done, you'll need to find a third-party money transfer platform, sign up (the process is usually quick, easy, and free) and then choose M-Pesa as your delivery method. You'll then be able to enter your recipient's mobile number and name and then make a bank or card transfer from your local currency to their M-Pesa account in Kenyan shillings at excellent exchange rates. (What's more, the money typically arrives in Kenya in only a few minutes!)

• 🧭 In which counties is M-Pesa available?

  The M-Pesa mobile wallet is available in the following countries:

  • Kenya
  • Tanzania
  • South Africa
  • Afghanistan
  • Lesotho
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Ghana
  • Mozambique
  • Egypt
  • Ethiopia

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Why Trust Monito?

You’re probably all too familiar with the often outrageous cost of sending money abroad. After facing this frustration themselves back in 2013, co-founders François, Laurent, and Pascal launched a real-time comparison engine to compare the best money transfer services across the globe. Today, Monito’s award-winning comparisons, reviews, and guides are trusted by around 8 million people each year and our recommendations are backed by millions of pricing data points and dozens of expert tests — all allowing you to make the savviest decisions with confidence.

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