How to send money from US to Kenya
Best right now: Instarem. $100.00 gets KSh12,980.00 (1 USD = 129.80 KES). Refreshed 9 Nov, 00:03.
Who pays the most on $100.00 today
- Send moneyInstaremBest dealExchange rate129.80−0.09% vs mid-marketTotal fees$0.09Recipient getsKSh12,980.00
The exchange rate Instarem uses is 129.80, which is 0.09% lower than the mid-market rate of 129.92. That adds $0.09 as a hidden exchange-rate markup.
They charge no transfer fee.
Altogether, this transfer costs you $0.09 compared with the mid-market rate.
Save up to $9.40 compared with Wise - Go to AfriChangeAfriChangeExchange rate129.40−0.40% vs mid-marketTotal fees$0.40Recipient getsKSh12,939.57
The exchange rate AfriChange uses is 129.40, which is 0.40% lower than the mid-market rate of 129.92. That adds $0.40 as a hidden exchange-rate markup.
They don't publish a separate transfer fee for this amount.
Altogether, this transfer costs you $0.40 compared with the mid-market rate.
- Go to PesaPesaExchange rate129.10−0.63% vs mid-marketTotal fees$0.63Recipient getsKSh12,910.00
The exchange rate Pesa uses is 129.10, which is 0.63% lower than the mid-market rate of 129.92. That adds $0.63 as a hidden exchange-rate markup.
They charge no transfer fee.
Altogether, this transfer costs you $0.63 compared with the mid-market rate.
- Go to TapTap SendTapTap SendExchange rate129.06−0.66% vs mid-marketTotal fees$0.66Recipient getsKSh12,906.00
The exchange rate TapTap Send uses is 129.06, which is 0.66% lower than the mid-market rate of 129.92. That adds $0.66 as a hidden exchange-rate markup.
They don't publish a separate transfer fee for this amount.
Altogether, this transfer costs you $0.66 compared with the mid-market rate.
- Go to LemFiLemFiExchange rate129.05−0.67% vs mid-marketTotal fees$0.67Recipient getsKSh12,905.00
The exchange rate LemFi uses is 129.05, which is 0.67% lower than the mid-market rate of 129.92. That adds $0.67 as a hidden exchange-rate markup.
They charge no transfer fee.
Altogether, this transfer costs you $0.67 compared with the mid-market rate.
- Go to NalaNalaExchange rate128.86−0.82% vs mid-marketTotal fees$0.82Recipient getsKSh12,885.52
The exchange rate Nala uses is 128.86, which is 0.82% lower than the mid-market rate of 129.92. That adds $0.82 as a hidden exchange-rate markup.
They don't publish a separate transfer fee for this amount.
Altogether, this transfer costs you $0.82 compared with the mid-market rate.
- Go to OAPayOAPayExchange rate128.00−1.48% vs mid-marketTotal fees$1.48Recipient getsKSh12,800.00
The exchange rate OAPay uses is 128.00, which is 1.48% lower than the mid-market rate of 129.92. That adds $1.48 as a hidden exchange-rate markup.
They charge no transfer fee.
Altogether, this transfer costs you $1.48 compared with the mid-market rate.
- Go to RemitlyRemitlyExchange rate127.96−1.51% vs mid-marketTotal fees$1.51Recipient getsKSh12,796.00First transfer: KSh13,212.00
The exchange rate Remitly uses is 127.96, which is 1.51% lower than the mid-market rate of 129.92. That adds $1.51 as a hidden exchange-rate markup.
They charge no transfer fee.
Altogether, this transfer costs you $1.51 compared with the mid-market rate.
First-transfer offer: new customers get 132.12, so your recipient would get KSh13,212.00 on your first transfer. We rank on the standard rate, which is what you'll get every time after that.
- Go to SendwaveSendwaveExchange rate128.20−1.32% vs mid-marketTotal fees$1.81Recipient getsKSh12,757.27First transfer: KSh12,821.88
The exchange rate Sendwave uses is 128.20, which is 1.32% lower than the mid-market rate of 129.92. That adds $1.32 as a hidden exchange-rate markup.
They also charge a transfer fee of $0.49.
Altogether, this transfer costs you $1.81 compared with the mid-market rate.
First-transfer offer: new customers get 128.85, so your recipient would get KSh12,821.88 on your first transfer. We rank on the standard rate, which is what you'll get every time after that.
- Go to GreyGreyExchange rate128.81−0.86% vs mid-marketTotal fees$1.85Recipient getsKSh12,752.19
The exchange rate Grey uses is 128.81, which is 0.86% lower than the mid-market rate of 129.92. That adds $0.85 as a hidden exchange-rate markup.
They also charge a transfer fee of $1.00.
Altogether, this transfer costs you $1.85 compared with the mid-market rate.
- Go to Send AppSend AppExchange rate126.91−2.32% vs mid-marketTotal fees$2.32Recipient getsKSh12,691.00
The exchange rate Send App uses is 126.91, which is 2.32% lower than the mid-market rate of 129.92. That adds $2.32 as a hidden exchange-rate markup.
They charge no transfer fee.
Altogether, this transfer costs you $2.32 compared with the mid-market rate.
- Go to XoomXoomExchange rate124.89−3.87% vs mid-marketTotal fees$6.75Recipient getsKSh12,115.29
The exchange rate Xoom uses is 124.89, which is 3.87% lower than the mid-market rate of 129.92. That adds $3.76 as a hidden exchange-rate markup.
They also charge a transfer fee of $2.99.
Altogether, this transfer costs you $6.75 compared with the mid-market rate.
- Go to Western UnionWestern UnionExchange rate128.07−1.42% vs mid-marketTotal fees$7.33Recipient getsKSh12,040.00
The exchange rate Western Union uses is 128.07, which is 1.42% lower than the mid-market rate of 129.92. That adds $1.34 as a hidden exchange-rate markup.
They also charge a transfer fee of $5.99.
Altogether, this transfer costs you $7.33 compared with the mid-market rate.
- Go to WiseWiseExchange rate129.95+0.02% vs mid-marketTotal fees$9.49Recipient getsKSh11,759.18
Wise's rate of 129.95 is 0.02% better than the mid-market rate of 129.92, so there's no hidden markup in the rate.
They also charge a transfer fee of $9.51.
Altogether, this transfer costs you $9.49 compared with the mid-market rate.
Step by step
- Compare what your recipient gets
Check the live table on this page. Providers differ on both fee and exchange rate, so rank them by what lands in Kenya, not by the fee alone. Right now the gap between the best and worst option on $100.00 is KSh1,220.82.
- Open an account with the provider
Sign up on the provider's app or website. You'll verify your identity once, usually with a US driver's licence, state ID or passport, and often your Social Security number. Many new-customer offers give a better rate on your first transfer.
- Add your recipient
Have the recipient's full name and their M-Pesa number, or bank and account number ready. Double-check the name matches their account exactly; mismatches are the most common reason transfers are held.
- Enter the amount and check the final figure
Type how much you're sending. Before you confirm, check the exact amount your recipient will get on the provider's summary screen, since rates move during the day.
- Pay and track the transfer
Pay with a bank account (ACH), debit card or, with some providers, a credit card. You'll get a reference and status updates; send the reference to your recipient so they can follow it too.
How your recipient gets it in Kenya
- M-Pesa, usually within minutes
- Directly into a Kenyan bank account
- Cash pickup with some providers
What people send for
- Monthly support for parents and family
- School fees and university costs
- Building or property projects back home
- Weddings, funerals and family emergencies
- Paying staff, suppliers or business costs
The providers, at a glance
Questions
Right now Instarem pays the most: sending $100.00, your recipient gets KSh12,980.00 after fees (1 USD = 129.80 KES). The cheapest provider changes often, so check the live table before each transfer.
Most app-based providers deliver within minutes to a few hours once your account is verified. First transfers can take longer while ID checks complete, and bank payouts outside business hours may land the next working day.
M-Pesa, usually within minutes. Directly into a Kenyan bank account. Cash pickup with some providers. Each provider supports different payout options, so check before you send.
Usually the exchange rate. A "zero fee" transfer can still cost more if the provider's rate is further from the mid-market rate; even today's best rate is about 0.1% below mid-market. That's why we rank by what your recipient actually gets.
No. Ratenify compares providers; you always send on the provider's own app or website. We never hold your money.