Pay with M-PESA

The Pay with M-PESA channel in Kenya allows customers to pay you by entering their phone number enabled for M-PESA.

When the customer clicks pay, they will receive a prompt on the mobile device attached to their number asking them to confirm the payment via an OTP sent to the device. After inputting the OTP the customer will be asked to complete the authorisation with their PIN.

How do I pay with M-PESA?

1. When on our checkout form, click the M-PESA option
2. Input your M-PESA number
3. Click on Pay

Which Mobile Money providers can I use to make M-PESA payments?

• Safaricom.

What is the transaction charge for the Pay with M-PESA channel?

The charge per transaction via this channel is 1.5%.

Is the customer charged any M-PESA transaction fees?

Yes. Safaricom charges the standard paybill fees to the customer. The paybill tariffs charged by Safaricom can be found here.

Can customers make recurring payments with the Pay with M-PESA channel?

Customers cannot make recurring payments with the Pay with M-PESA payment channel at the moment.

Do I need to provide an active Safaricom mobile number to receive M-PESA payouts?

Yes, a Safaricom number is required to receive M-PESA payments through Paystack if you select M-PESA as your payout account on your dashboard.

Will I receive M-PESA payouts using the phone number I provided on the Paystack dashboard?

Yes, customer payments will be made to will be settled to the M-PESA account you provided on the Paystack dashboard if you selected M-PESA as your payout account.

Can I receive a notification whenever a customer pays via M-PESA?

Yes, you can set up transaction receipts under ‘Preferences’ on your Paystack dashboard.

Select Settings >  Preferences > Transaction Receipts > Tick/Checkmark ‘Send to me’.

How do I activate the M-PESA as a payment option on the Paystack dashboard?

Select Settings >  Preferences > Accept payments via > Tick/Checkmark ‘Mobile Money’.

How do I refund an M-PESA payment to a customer?

Send the message received by the customer or reference number, phone number, amount and transaction date to Paystack via email (screenshots as supporting documentation would be helpful) to support@paystack.com and we will assist with the refund.

What is the maximum amount a customer can pay through M-PESA using Paystack?

The maximum amount per transaction is KES 250,000 and the total daily transaction limit is KES 500,000 as per the transaction limits set by Safaricom.

Does the refund amount go directly to the customer?

Yes, the customer receives the refund directly to their M-PESA account.

How does a business refund an M-PESA transaction back to a customer?

Please follow the steps explained in our support article 'How do I refund a customer?'

Does Paystack offer recurring/subscription payments using M-PESA as a payment option?

Not at the moment. However, subscriptions can be done through card payments.

Where can I access the M-PESA API’s?

The Kenya M-PESA APIs are located here.

Where can I get help for an M-PESA integration?

Send an email to techsupport@paystack.com and we will help answer your questions and provide assistance.

If a customer encounters a problem while using M-PESA, should I contact Safaricom or Paystack?

Send the error message received by the customer or reference number, phone number, amount and transaction date to Paystack through support@paystack.com and we will assist.