Send money to Kenya, best service, by amount and corridor

How the calculator works

Each remittance service charges two things: a fee (sometimes flat, sometimes percentage) and an FX margin, the gap between the mid-market exchange rate and the rate they actually offer you. The combined cost is what determines how much your recipient gets in M-PESA.

We approximate the typical 2026 cost structure for each service. Real-world numbers vary by amount, day, payment method (card vs bank), and promotion. Always check the live quote on the service's website before you commit.

Why services differ

• Wise publishes its margin transparently and is usually competitive for amounts above £100. Best for users who care about exact mid-market rate.
• Sendwave charges no upfront fee but builds a margin into the FX rate. Often best for small amounts (under £50).
• WorldRemit sits in the middle on cost. Strong network for cash-pickup and bank-deposit options if recipient doesn't have M-PESA.
• Lemfi (formerly Lemonade Finance) is competitive for the UK-Kenya corridor. Often matches or beats Wise on fees for £200-£500 transfers.
• Remitly offers an "Express" (faster, more expensive) and "Economy" (slower, cheaper) tier. Numbers above are for Economy.
• Western Union is the most expensive but has the widest physical sender network, useful when sending from cash, not from a bank account.
• PayPal → Xoom uses PayPal's own remittance arm. Generally mid-priced. Useful if you already have a PayPal balance to send from.