Verified 12 September 2026
Till vs Paybill: Which Should Your Business Use?
By Aisha Hassan · M-PESA Till hub
The core difference is the account number. A till (Buy Goods) has none, the customer just picks Buy Goods and enters your till, which suits anonymous, face-to-face retail. A paybill has an account number, so each customer enters a reference, essential for bills, subscriptions and collections. The second difference: paying a till is free for the customer, paying a paybill carries the standard paybill tariff.
Pick a till if
You sell face-to-face (shop, restaurant, salon, pharmacy, stall), you want free customer payments, and you do not need to match each payment to an account.
Pick a paybill if
You bill customers by account (utilities, schools, SACCOs, banks, ISPs, insurance), or you sell online with an order reference. The account number is what matches the payment to the customer on your side.
Can you have both?
Yes, and many do. A restaurant uses a till for walk-ins and a paybill for delivery orders with an order reference. A school uses a paybill for fees and a till for the canteen. Apply for each separately.
Frequently asked
Is a till cheaper for customers?
Yes, Buy Goods is free.
When do I need a paybill?
When you must match payments to accounts.
Can I have both?
Yes.
Related
Verified 12 September 2026. Independent guide, not Safaricom. Confirm current merchant band table, reversal shortcode and any till-name-change process on safaricom.co.ke.