From M-Pesa to PayPal: Best Online Payment Options in Kenya (2025)
With the rapid growth of e-commerce and digital services, having reliable online payment options in Kenya is more important than ever. Whether you're sending money, shopping online, or receiving international payments, 2025 offers several great platforms to choose from.
M-Pesa
Kenya’s most popular mobile money service remains at the top in 2025. M-Pesa allows you to send and receive money, pay for goods and services, and even access loans and savings—all from your phone. Its integration with online platforms and paybill/till number services makes it ideal for businesses and everyday transactions.
M-Pesa Global also allows users to receive payments from abroad and withdraw them directly to their mobile wallet. You can even link M-Pesa to PayPal for cross-border payments.
Airtel Money
Airtel Money is another mobile wallet offering fast transfers, utility payments, and airtime purchases. It’s gaining popularity for its lower fees and strong presence in underserved areas. In 2025, Airtel is pushing for more integration with online merchants and platforms.
PayPal
For international payments, PayPal remains one of the best options for Kenyans. You can link it to your M-Pesa account through the PayPal Mobile Money service powered by Thunes. This allows seamless withdrawals from PayPal to M-Pesa and vice versa. Freelancers, e-commerce store owners, and international buyers/sellers use PayPal for its global trust and buyer protection.
Pesapal
Pesapal is a growing local player in the Kenyan digital payment space. It allows businesses to accept payments via M-Pesa, Airtel Money, Visa, and MasterCard. Pesapal is widely used by hotels, schools, and e-commerce websites. It also has a point-of-sale (POS) system ideal for small businesses.
Chipper Cash
Chipper Cash is a rising fintech platform in Kenya and across Africa. It offers free peer-to-peer transfers, airtime purchases, and the ability to invest in stocks and cryptocurrencies. Chipper also allows users to send money across borders cheaply, making it ideal for families with loved ones abroad.
Equitel (EazzyPay)
Equity Bank’s Equitel and EazzyPay services combine banking and mobile payments. Users can send money, pay bills, and access bank services through their phones. EazzyPay is also integrated with QR code payments for retail businesses, which is becoming more popular in 2025.
Tingg by Cellulant
Tingg provides a payment gateway for businesses to receive money from multiple channels, including mobile money, cards, and banks. It’s designed for merchants and service providers looking for flexibility and scale.
Bank Cards (Visa & MasterCard)
Traditional debit and credit cards are still in use, especially for online shopping. More Kenyan banks are improving card security with multi-factor authentication and tokenization to make online transactions safer in 2025.
Crypto Wallets (Emerging Trend)
Though not yet mainstream, cryptocurrency wallets like Binance, Coinbase, and Trust Wallet are gaining traction in Kenya. More young users and freelancers are adopting crypto for international transactions, trading, and investments.
Conclusion
Kenya's digital payment landscape in 2025 offers plenty of options—from local mobile money services like M-Pesa to global platforms like PayPal and Chipper Cash. Choosing the best one depends on your needs: local vs. international payments, business vs. personal use, or mobile vs. bank-linked solutions.
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