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How to buy Airtel airtime via M-PESA in Kenya (2026)

Three practical methods, the M-PESA-to-Airtel-Money cross-network flow, and the cleanest way to top up an Airtel line from a Safaricom account.

DW
by 8 min read Updated 27 April 2026

You're on Safaricom (M-PESA), and you want to top up an Airtel line — your own secondary line, a family member's, or a friend's. There's no direct "buy Airtel airtime" option in the M-PESA menu, but the cross-network infrastructure makes it straightforward in two steps. This guide walks through the three practical methods, with fees and timing.

Method 1 — Send M-PESA → recipient buys airtime

This is the most common and reliable way:

  1. From your Safaricom line, open M-PESA.
  2. Select Send Money.
  3. Enter the recipient's Airtel number (e.g., 0738123456).
  4. Enter the airtime amount (e.g., KES 100, 500, 1,000).
  5. Enter your M-PESA PIN, confirm.
  6. Funds arrive in the recipient's Airtel Money wallet within minutes.
  7. Recipient dials *544# on their Airtel line → Buy Airtime → from Airtel Money → enter amount → confirm.
  8. The Airtel Money balance converts to airtime credit.

Fees: Standard M-PESA Send Money tariff (paid by you). The Airtel-Money-to-airtime conversion on the recipient's side is free.

Method 2 — From the M-PESA app: Buy Airtime → Other Number

The M-PESA app supports buying airtime for any Kenyan mobile number, including Airtel and Telkom:

  1. Open the M-PESA app.
  2. Tap "Buy Airtime" (or "Top Up" in some app versions).
  3. Select "Other Number" (not your own).
  4. Enter the Airtel number.
  5. Enter amount.
  6. M-PESA PIN, confirm.
  7. The Airtel line receives airtime credit directly — no need for the recipient to do anything.

This is the cleanest one-step method when it works. Some app versions don't expose the "Buy Airtime → Other Number" for non-Safaricom networks; in that case, fall back to Method 1.

Fees: Free or near-free — Safaricom typically doesn't charge for airtime purchases via the app. Some interconnect fees may apply at the network level.

Method 3 — Third-party services (PesaPal, Bonga Points partners)

Third-party airtime services let you buy any network's airtime via M-PESA paybill:

  • PesaPal Airtime: some merchants integrate with PesaPal to sell airtime — pay via M-PESA paybill, recipient gets airtime on any network
  • Bonga Points partners: some Bonga Points merchants exchange points for cross-network airtime
  • Specialised airtime apps: apps like Mookh or Tingg may offer cross-network airtime purchase via M-PESA

These add a small markup (typically 2-5%) for the convenience. Most users prefer Method 1 or Method 2 for the lower cost.

Why isn't there a direct "Airtel airtime paybill"?

Common confusion among M-PESA users searching for "airtel paybill airtime": there is no public, single "buy Airtel airtime via M-PESA paybill" flow because Safaricom and Airtel are competitors. Safaricom has no commercial reason to make it easy for M-PESA users to top up Airtel lines directly — even though the cross-network rails technically exist.

However, the Send-Money-then-buy-airtime flow (Method 1) has the same end result with two steps. The only real friction is the recipient needs to act briefly to convert Airtel Money to airtime.

Airtel Money vs Airtel airtime — they're different

Important distinction:

  • Airtel Money is the mobile money wallet — like M-PESA balance, used for sending and paying
  • Airtel airtime is voice/SMS/data credit — used for calls, texts, and data

When you send M-PESA to an Airtel line, the funds land in Airtel Money. The recipient then converts to airtime if that's what they want — but the conversion is a separate step and not automatic.

Recipient must have Airtel Money registered

For Method 1 to work, the recipient's Airtel line must be registered for Airtel Money. To check or register:

  1. From the Airtel line, dial *222#
  2. If "Welcome to Airtel Money" appears, registration is needed
  3. Follow the prompts to register (free, takes 2 minutes)
  4. Once registered, the line can receive M-PESA cross-network sends

Most active Airtel users are already registered. New SIMs sold in 2025-2026 are usually auto-registered for Airtel Money.

Sending Airtel airtime from abroad

Diaspora Kenyans wanting to buy Airtel airtime for family back home have several routes:

  • WorldRemit, Sendwave airtime top-up — these services support direct cross-network airtime purchase to any Kenyan line
  • M-PESA Global → Send Money → recipient buys airtime (Method 1 from abroad)
  • Airtel Africa direct top-up via airtelmoney.airtel.co.ke for users with international cards

FAQ

Is there a paybill for Airtel airtime?

Not a public single paybill. Use the cross-network Send Money flow (Method 1) or the M-PESA app's "Buy Airtime → Other Number" option (Method 2).

What are the fees?

Standard M-PESA Send Money tariff if you use Method 1. The Airtel-Money-to-airtime conversion is free on the recipient's side.

Can I buy bulk Airtel airtime via M-PESA?

For business needs, third-party services (Tingg, Mookh, PesaPal) offer bulk airtime purchase across networks via M-PESA paybill.

From abroad?

WorldRemit and Sendwave both support direct cross-network airtime top-ups to Kenyan Airtel lines.

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