WI
Wise
Mid-market FX, transparent fees. UK, US, EU, AU, CA.
Visit WiseSkrill vs PayPal: which is right for you?
Skrill and PayPal are both digital wallets that accept inbound payments and can route money to Kenya, but they target different uses. Skrill is favoured by online gambling, crypto, and freelance ecosystems; PayPal is the universal wallet for e-commerce and personal receipts. For pure send-to-M-PESA in Kenya, both stack fees in ways that make purpose-built remitters cheaper.
Skrill
remittance
The UK-based digital wallet originally built for online gambling deposits, now used for global remittance.
PayPal
remittance
The dominant global wallet for receiving inbound personal and business payments.
Which is better for what
Quick guide by use case. Pick the row that matches your situation.
For receiving online gambling payouts
Skrill is the dominant gambling-payment wallet. PayPal restricts most gambling-related receipts.
Skrill
For receiving e-commerce payments
PayPal is the standard buyer-protection rail for e-commerce. Sellers without PayPal lose conversions.
PayPal
For receiving freelance payments
PayPal is what most clients use. Skrill is supported by some platforms but is the second choice.
PayPal
For lowest cost to M-PESA
Both are expensive. For pure send-to-M-PESA, Sendwave, Wise, or M-PESA Global all beat both Skrill and PayPal.
Either works
At a glance
| Skrill | PayPal | |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | remittance | remittance |
Compare remittance
Test Skrill and PayPal for yourself
A small first transfer or loan application is the fastest way to see real all-in cost for your specific case.
SW
Sendwave
Diaspora-Africa specialist. Often cheapest under $200.
Visit SendwaveLF
Lemfi
Strong UK-Kenya corridor, mobile-first app.
Visit LemfiWR
WorldRemit
Wider receive options including bank deposit and cash pickup.
Visit WorldRemitRE
Remitly
US-focused remittance with promotional FX for first transfers.
Visit RemitlyWU
Western Union
Legacy provider with the widest cash-pickup network for non-M-PESA family.
Visit Western UnionTT
TapTap Send
Africa-focused mobile app with fee-free transfers on many corridors.
Visit TapTap SendNL
NALA
East-Africa-focused app with strong UK and US corridor coverage.
Visit NALAMG
MoneyGram
Global legacy provider with deep cash-pickup network across Kenya.
Visit MoneyGramRM
Ria Money Transfer
Cash + digital, Walmart and many US retailers as sending points.
Visit Ria Money TransferCC
Chipper Cash
Pan-African app, originally peer-to-peer across Africa, now with diaspora sends.
Visit Chipper CashSK
Skrill
E-wallet first, used for international transfers and online betting payouts.
Visit SkrillSV
Sendvalu
Germany-based, EU-to-Africa corridors with cash-pickup partner network.
Visit SendvaluCommon questions
Does Skrill work in Kenya?
Yes. Kenyan users can register a Skrill wallet, receive USD and other major currencies, and withdraw to a Kenyan bank account or via Visa Direct in some cases.
Which has lower withdrawal fees to Kenya?
It depends on the rail. Skrill's bank-withdrawal fees can be lower than PayPal's in some corridors, but the FX margin is typically wider. Run the math on your specific amount.
Are these the cheapest way to send to M-PESA?
No. For pure send, use Sendwave, Wise, or M-PESA Global. Skrill and PayPal are receive-then-withdraw tools, not send tools.
Can I withdraw Skrill to M-PESA directly?
Not directly. The standard path is Skrill to a Kenyan bank account, then bank to M-PESA. PayPal has a direct Safaricom M-PESA Service partnership; Skrill does not.
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