LOANS APPS IN KENYA
Looking for Loans apps in Kenya? Lucky, you. Kenya has many options for you to access instant loan apps online, that offer immediately processed loans.
Though there are many options out there, here we will highlight the 10 most popular Loans Apps in Kenya that make it the process of borrowing and repayment as simple as possible.
Featured are mobile loan apps, p2p borrowing sites, as well as mobile-based solutions.
Keep in mind that these services mostly provide micro-loans. Although they are quick and unsecured, the downside is that they are often small, but with a good repayment history you gradually gain access to bigger loans.
The loans disbursed range from Sh.1,000 up to Sh.1,000,000. If you are looking for a business loan.
MSHWARI
First on the list is the most common, but often abused micro-borrowing platform. You automatically qualify for Mshwari Loan once you have been active on Mpesa for at least six months. The platform has been around since 2012 and it has certainly served many Kenyans well. The best part about Mshwari Loan is that the loans are instant, only limited by your loan limit.
The minimum loan amount is Sh.100 and you can gradually raise your Mshwari loan limit to Sh.20,000. Your loan limit is determined by Safaricom, based on your Mpesa transaction history and past loan repayments.
All mshwari loans have a repayment duration of 30 days at a flat 7.5% interest rate. If you default on an Mshwari loan, the repayment period is extended by an additional 30 days while an additional 7.5% facilitation fee is applied. Thereafter, you will lose access to Mshwari for 30 days for late loan repayment.
- Eligibility: Be a registered & active Mpesa user for over (6 months)
- Minimum loan amount: Sh. 50
- Maximum loan amount: Sh. 1,000,000
- Repayment duration: 30 days
- Loan Interest: 7.5%
KCB MPESA LOAN
KCB Mpesa Loan is one of the favourites, in fact, I prefer it to Mshwari. To qualify, you only need to have an active Mpesa account. You can find the KCB Mpesa menu under the loans and savings option in Mpesa. The service is facilitated by KCB bank, but it is separately managed from the usual KCB accounts. You can have a KCB Mpesa even if you are a current customer of the bank.
The minimum loan amount issued is usually Sh.100. However, as compared KCB often offers much better loan limits compared to Mshwari. Plus, it is much easier for your loan limit to increase, with the maximum amount issued pegged at Sh.1,000,000.
Their repayment structure is preferred since they charge 1.16% per month with a one off negotiation fee of 2.5%. The cost for the one month loan is 3.66% with excise duty applicable on fees.
Eligibility: Be a registered & active Mpesa user for over (6 months)
- Minimum loan amount: kshs 50
- Maximum loan amount: kshs. 1,000,000
- Repayment duration: 1 – 3 months.
Loan Interest: 1.16% per month with a one off negotiation fee of 2.5%. The cost for the one month loan is 3.66% with excise duty applicable on fees.
BRANCH LOAN
Branch are one of the best providers of micro MPESA-loans. Branch works exclusively through a mobile app, though their mobile apps seems to invade ones privacy as it works by accessing your Facebook account.
The other providers on this list require you to have an android phone to make it easy for the app to gain access to your Mpesa transaction messages. These are used to determine your eligibility and loan limit.
You will have to start by accessing the minimum loan amount offered at Sh.1000. Each successful repayment increases your loan limit while lowering your interest rate. Branch is one of the best mobile loan app providers and is highly recommended.
The repayments must be completed through 3 equal weekly installments.
- Access Branch loans by downloading the Branch App from the Play Store
- Eligibility: Be a Registered and active Mpesa user, Facebook account, and access of more SMS and Mpesa transaction messages on your phone.
- Minimum loan amount: kshs.1000
- Maximum loan amount: Sh.20,000
- Repayment duration: 3 equal weekly installments
SAIDA LOAN APP
Saida is a Mobile app, that is very similar to Branch and Tala, although it is difficult to qualify for their loans. To be eligible, you need to be very active on Mpesa/Airtel Money and make transactions every two days; make and receive calls/sms daily; proof of income that is enough to allow you to pay back the loan.
- To access Saida, download the app from the Fill in your mobile number and wait for an invitation to access loans.
- Minimum loan amt: shs.600
- Maximum loan amt: Sh.15,000
- Repayment duration: 30 days
- Loan interest rate: 10%
ZIDISHA
Zidisha is a p2p lending platform. Peer-to-peer lending, sometimes abbreviated P2P lending, is the practice of lending money to individuals or businesses through online services that match lenders directly with borrowers.
Zidisha is a non-profit organization that connects borrowers from Kenya and across Africa, with lenders from North America and Europe.
- Minimum loan amount: $100
- Maximum loan amount: $10,000
- Repayment duration: weekly or monthly installments
- Loan interest rate: None.
TALA INSTANT MOBILE LOANS
Tala was the the first instant mobile loans app launched in Kenya as Mkopo Rahisi in 2014. To access Tala loans , you need to have an android smartphone as well as an active Facebook account.
To start, simply download the Tala App from the Google PlayStore. Launch the app and link your Facebook account and you will be ready to start using the service.
Before borrowing a loan, you will be asked a few personal questions that will determine whether you qualify for a loan. However, the app mainly depends on reading your mpesa transaction history to determine whether you will be allowed access to Tala loans.
The minimum loan amount offered is Sh.500, while it can increase to Sh.50,000 on the back of a good repayment history. You are supposed to pay the loan back in 3 weekly installments while the interest rate is pegged at 15%.
- Minimum loan amt: ksh.500
- Maximum loan amt: kshs.50,000
- Repayment duration: 3 equal weekly installments
- Loan interest rate: 15%
KIVA
Kiva is a p2p borrowing platform that is quite similar to zidisha, although it does not work quite as well as Zidisha locally.
- Minimum loan amt: Dependent on lenders
- Maximum loan amt: Dependent on lenders
- Repayment duration: Not specified
- Loan interest rate: 34% (varies by country and partner)
- Loan disbursement mode: via PayPal/Kiva account
KOPA CHAPAA
Kopa Chapaa is Airtel’s Version of Mshwari although it has been around since 2012. While Mshwari loans are facilitated by CBA Bank, Kopa Chapaa is facilitated by Faulu Bank. To be eligible for the loan, you must have been an airtel money user for at least 6 months.
The minimum amount disbursed is Sh.500 while the maximum is Sh.100,000. However, the loan has a surprisingly short repayment duration of 10 days. I believe that this is a very major drawback since KCB Mpesa offers an option of paying back the loan in up to 3 months.
- Eligibility: Be an active Airtel Money User
- Minimum loan amt: kshs.500
- Maximum loan amt: kshs.10000
- Repayment duration: 10 days
PESA PATA
This service facilitated by Paddy Micro-investments is one of the lesser known, but still highly efficient provider of micro-loans in Kenya. Pesa pata has been around since 2012. To be eligible for the service, the only requirement is that you must be an active Mpesa user, along with an active Facebook account.
To use Pesa Pata, download the and install the App from the Playstore, and send in your loan application fro the App. However, you will be required to pay a Sh.100 processing fee before your loan is approved/declined.
The loan interest rate is one of the highest at 30% while you are expected to make weekly repayments via Mpesa.
PESA NA PESA (PNP)
Pesa na pesa goes last on the list because it requires physical registration with the company, but this is done only once. Also, you have to provide a form of collateral when borrowing larger loans.
- Minimum loan amt: kshs 500
- Maximum loan amt: kshs. 10,000
- Repayment duration: 10 days
- Loan interest rate: 10%
AIRTEL MFANISI
M-Fanisi the mobile based bank account that is available to only Airtel Money registered customers, bundles Loans, Savings and Fixed deposit options in the initial offer. ‘M-Fanisi’, is offered to Kenyans through Airtel who would like to have quick easy access to loans.
Airtel M-Fanisi offers:
- 7 to 30 days loans at 3% to 7.5% one-off facilitation fees respectively.
- Fixed deposit account for a period up to a maximum of 12 months and earn attractive interest of up to 11.25% p.a.
- Savings account and earn interest of 7% p.a.
- Money transfers in and out of the M-Fanisi to Airtel Money for FREE.
To apply for M-Fanisi using your Airtel Account follow the steps below:-
- Dial *222*3#and select M-Fanisi.
- Accept the product terms and conditions.
- Confirm your registration details.
- Then enter your Airtel Money PIN to activate.