How to Accept Online Payments in Kenya ( + Best Payment Methods)

Are you looking to start accepting online payments for your business in Kenya? Enabling customers to make online payments in Kenya opens up huge opportunities to grow your sales and reach. But with so many payment options available, it can be tricky to know where to begin.

In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about how to accept payments online in Kenya, including the best payment gateways, mobile money solutions, and other tools to help you receive payment seamlessly. Let’s dive in!

Why You Should Accept Online Payments in Kenya

Before we get into the specifics of how to accept online payments in Kenya, let’s discuss why it’s so important. Here are a few key benefits of enabling online payments for your Kenyan business:

Reach more customers across Kenya and beyond
Provide a convenient way for people to pay, boosting sales
Get paid faster with instant online transactions
Reduce risk by using secure payment solutions
Streamline your operations with digital payment tools

With more and more Kenyans shopping and paying bills online, the ability to accept online payments is becoming essential for businesses of all types and sizes. Luckily, there are plenty of great solutions to help you get started.

Top Payment Gateways to Accept Online Payments in Kenya

A payment gateway is a service that enables you to securely accept card payments and other types of online payment. It acts as the middleman between your website/app and the customer’s bank.

Here are some of the best payment gateway providers that allow you to accept online payments in Kenya:

Pesapal

Pesapal is a popular payment service provider based in Kenya. They offer a range of tools to help businesses accept payments online, including:

Customizable checkout pages
Payment links you can share anywhere
Plugins for major e-commerce platforms
Invoicing and recurring billing
POS payment solutions

Pesapal supports all major credit cards like Visa and Mastercard, as well as mobile wallets like M-Pesa. Their fees start at 2.3% + 50 KES per transaction.

DPO Group

DPO Group is another leading online payment gateway operating across Africa. Their platform allows you to accept card, mobile money, and bank transfer payments.

Key features of DPO include:

Easy integration with websites and apps
Detailed transaction reports and analytics
Multi-currency processing
Fraud monitoring and chargeback management

DPO Group offers customized pricing based on your business needs and transaction volume.

Cellulant

Cellulant is a digital payments company serving 35 African countries, including Kenya. Their Tingg payment gateway enables you to accept a variety of payment types, such as:

Mobile money like M-Pesa
Bank transfers and direct debits
Visa, Mastercard, and Union Pay
Prepaid cards and vouchers

The Tingg online checkout is designed to reduce friction and abandonment. Cellulant also provides useful merchant tools like transaction monitoring, settlement reports, and customer analytics.

How to Accept M-Pesa Payments Online in Kenya

M-Pesa is by far the most popular mobile money service in Kenya, with over 30 million users. Being able to accept M-Pesa payments online is a must for many Kenyan businesses.

The good news is that the major payment gateways discussed above, like Pesapal and DPO Group, have already integrated M-Pesa into their platforms.

So by signing up with them, you can automatically start accepting M-Pesa online payments in Kenya.

Alternatively, you can integrate directly with the M-Pesa API to build your own custom payment flow. This requires more technical know-how but gives you full control.

Safaricom provides documentation and support to help developers implement M-Pesa on websites and apps.

Some key things to keep in mind when accepting M-Pesa payments online:

Clearly display the M-Pesa Buy Goods number for your business
Ensure the payment details are correct before the customer confirms
Verify payment receipts against your Safaricom portal
Settle any disputes or refunds promptly to build trust

With the right integration, accepting M-Pesa can be a seamless part of your online payment process. It’s familiar and accessible to a huge portion of Kenyan consumers.

Other Ways to Accept Online Payments in Kenya

Beyond the major gateways and M-Pesa, there are a few other notable options for accepting online payments in Kenya:

Direct bank integrations – Some Kenyan banks like Equity and Cooperative offer APIs to connect your website/app directly for accepting payments. This can streamline the experience for customers who use those banks.
Escrow services – For high-value transactions like real estate, vehicles, or B2B sales, using an escrow service adds trust on both sides. Examples in Kenya include Pesapal Escrow and Escrow Kenya.
Crypto payments – A small but growing number of businesses are starting to accept cryptocurrency payments using coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum. BitPesa is one option that allows you to receive crypto payments and withdraw to M-Pesa or your bank account.

The right mix of payment options will depend on your customer preferences, business model, and technical resources.

The key is to make it as easy and secure as possible for people to pay you online.

How to Choose the Right Online Payment Provider for Your Kenyan Business

With multiple payment gateways and methods to choose from, how do you decide which ones to use? Here are some factors to consider:

Supported payment types – Look for a provider that accepts the payment methods your target customers prefer to use, whether that’s cards, mobile money, bank transfers, or others.
Fees and pricing – Compare the costs of different providers, including setup fees, monthly charges, and per-transaction rates. Strike a balance between affordability and quality of service. Remember, paying slightly more for a reliable platform can pay off in the long run.
Ease of integration – Consider how much technical work will be required to implement the payment gateway on your site or app. Some providers offer plugins, hosted checkout pages, and no-code tools to make it easier.
Pay-out options – Check how soon you’ll be able to access your funds after a sale, and whether the provider supports the payout methods you need (e.g. bank transfers, mobile wallet, etc.)
Customer support – Look for a provider with responsive customer service in case any issues arise. Test out their support channels before signing up.
User reviews – Research what other Kenyan businesses are saying about different payment providers. Read reviews on trusted sites and ask for recommendations in your network.

Taking the time to carefully evaluate your options will help you find the best online payment solution for your specific needs.

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Start Accepting Online Payments in Kenya Today

In summary, accepting online payments in Kenya is essential for any business looking to grow and succeed in the digital age. By using trusted payment gateways like Pesapal, DPO Group, and Cellulant, you can securely accept a variety of payment methods like cards, mobile money, and bank transfers.

Enabling popular options like M-Pesa is also key for tapping into the huge mobile payments market in Kenya. And don’t forget about alternative solutions like direct bank integrations, escrow services, and cryptocurrency.

To get started, research the different providers and create a short list based on your specific requirements. Test out the integration process and pay-out times with small transactions first. Then launch your new payment options to your customers and start reaping the benefits!

With the right online payment setup, you’ll be able to reach more customers, get paid faster, and take your Kenyan business to the next level.

The tools are out there – now it’s up to you to put them to work.