Did you know that around two billion people around the globe use mobile payments? If you are currently looking into transferring money to a loved one that lives in Kenya, but want to make sure that you don’t lose your hard-earned money by using a shady online app, you are in the right place. We have put together the guide below to share the top options to safely send money to Kenya.
Read on to learn more.
Paysend
An easy option to send money is by downloading the Paysend app on your smartphone. You can send money to Kenya with Paysend anytime and from anywhere. The app is available on the Google Play Store, the App Store, and AppGallery as long as you have a mobile phone that has smartphone capabilities.
With the app, you can also track the transfers that you make. Paysend is a great option because they offer 24/7 support. If anything were to happen or if you have questions, someone can answer them at any time.
As of the writing of this post transferring money to a bank account is free. Keep in mind that this will remain fee-free until April 1, 2023.
You can also transfer money to either a digital wallet or to Mastercard cards. The great thing is that the fees are very nominal. For example, if you are sending money from the U.S. the fee is only $2. The fee is fixed, so you won’t have to worry about unexpected charges.
Another bonus of using Paysend is that you will experience instant processing. Most transfers are sent within a few seconds right to the recipient. You also don’t have to worry about security because all the transfers are certified by Mastercard, Visa, the FCA, and China UnionPay.
Wise
Another option to send money to Kenya is with Wise. A pro of opting for Wise is that they do not have hidden fees, so you will always know upfront what fees you will be paying. Wise also doesn’t hike up their exchange rates, so you don’t have to worry about paying a ton for exchanging from one currency to the other.
The process is also pretty user-friendly. You start your transfer by either sending the money from your bank account, or with a credit or debit card. Then, Wise will give you the real and fair mid-market exchange rate. Once you choose to continue your loved one or the recipient will get the money, you sent in their Kenyan Shilling currency straight from Wise’s local bank account in Kenya.
Sending money with Wise will cost a flat fee of $5.39 plus 0.68% of the amount that is converted. The percentage will be disclosed to you before you send the money.
The speed of the transfer will vary. It will sometimes be instant, or it can take around 24 hours or sometimes same-day delivery. You can keep track of your transfer right on the Wise app on your phone.
WorldRemit
You can also opt to use WorldRemit to send money to Kenya. You will need to set up a free account on your laptop or desktop. Or you can download the free app to create an account.
Once your account is set up, you will choose Kenya as the receiving country and enter the amount of money you are sending. WorldRemit will show you what their exchange rate and fees are upfront before you move forward with sending the money.
If you agree with the fees and exchange rate, then you will enter the details of the person receiving the money. Last but not least, you will choose how to send the money, either with a credit card, a debit card, or a bank transfer.
A bonus of this option is that if the recipient doesn’t have a phone or a bank account to receive the money, you can choose the cash pickup option. You just have to find a pickup location near the recipient and they can pick their money up in person with a valid identification card.
As of the writing of this post, the company is offering zero fees for the first three transfers for new customers.
Small World
One last option worth mentioning is Small World. There are six ways to send money including:
- Bank deposit
- Mobile top-up
- Cash pickup
- Home delivery
- Mobile wallet
- Cash card reload
A pro is that Small World offers same-day or instant service. They are also a regulated financial service company, so you have peace of mind that you are doing a secure transfer. Small World is an expert at what they do because they handle more than 1 million transactions every single month.
Once you set up your account, you can send money to your recipient in Kenya. You can keep track of the transfer via the app or on your computer. When you do your first transfer online, you don’t have to pay a fee. After your first transfer, the fees are always disclosed before you send your money, so you also don’t have to worry about any hidden charges.
Ready to Send Money to Kenya With Confidence?
Now that you have our list of the top ways to send money to Kenya, you can make an informed decision on which method you want to try. Make sure that the service you choose is available in your country of origin and also make sure that your recipient is aware of how they will receive the money you send to ensure they do receive it.
Choosing a provider that is reputable and highly rated will give you reassurance and peace of mind that there is someone to help you if something were to go wrong. Please keep in mind that usually when you opt for bank transfers these can take a few days (depending on your bank and the recipient’s bank).
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