No payslips? No problem. Some lenders don’t dig too deep — just apply and get sorted fast.
No payslips? No problem. Some lenders don’t dig too deep — just apply and get sorted fast.
With Tala, you can borrow as little as KSh 500 and up to KSh 50,000 straight from your phone. Loans come with a daily interest of 0.3% to 0.6%, and you choose how long you want to repay — from just one day up to 61 days.
I’d say Tala is solid for fast, small cash — just don’t treat it like a long-term loan, or you’ll feel the pinch.
Branch gives loans starting from KSh 500 all the way to KSh 300,000, right on your phone. You get between 2 to 12 months to pay back, with monthly interest from 2% to 18%, depending on your credit score and history.
I’d say Branch is handy for sorting cash emergencies fast, but I wouldn’t advise using it too often because the cost piles up quick.
With M-Shwari, you can borrow from as low as KSh 100 up to KSh 50,000 straight on your phone, and you’ve got 30 days to repay. The charge is a flat 7.5% fee plus tax, which comes to around 8.6% total—no interest, no drama.
I honestly think M-Shwari works well for small, fast loans, but it can punish you hard if you delay repayment.
Zenka gives quick mobile loans starting from KSh 500 up to KSh 30,000, sent directly to your M-PESA within minutes. You’ve got up to 61 days to repay, with the first loan interest-free and later ones charged between 9% and 39%, depending on how you’ve been handling things.
I think Zenka is a solid option for short-term money needs, but only if you repay early and avoid the penalties.
Fuliza lets you finish M-PESA payments even when you don’t have enough airtime or cash in your wallet. You’re charged a 1% access fee plus a daily charge (like KSh 2.50/day for KSh 101–500), and the second money lands in your account, it goes straight to repay what you owe.
To me, Fuliza is a lifesaver when used smartly—but the trick is to repay quick before the fees chew you alive.
With Timiza, you can borrow from KSh 1,000 up to KSh 150,000 straight from your phone and pay it back in 30 days. You’re charged a total of around 7.25% (this includes 5% facility fee, 1.25% interest, plus tax), and the loan hits your wallet in a matter of minutes.
I’d say Timiza is one of the better mobile loan options out there—as long as you plan your repayment well and don’t overstretch.
With KCB M-PESA, you can borrow from as low as KSh 50 up to a cool KSh 1 million, and you’ve got 30 days to pay back. They charge a flat fee of 7.35%—no daily interest drama, just straight talk.
I see KCB M-PESA as one of the smartest mobile loans around, but only if you treat it like a short-term tool—not free money.
Okash gives short-term mobile loans ranging from KSh 500 to KSh 50,000, sent to your M-PESA in minutes. You’re given 15 days to repay, with a daily fee of 1.2% plus 20% excise tax—and late payers get hit with a rollover fee of 2% per day.
I think Okash is alright for emergencies, but once you go past the due date, it stops being friendly very fast.
Carbon gives out mobile loans starting from KSh 500 up to KSh 30,000, with repayment periods between 2 months and half a year. Depending on your credit score, the interest ranges from 1.75% to 30% monthly, so it can be light—or it can sting.
Carbon works well if you handle your money wisely, but dragging the loan or ignoring the due date can mess up your finances quick.
Berry gives mobile loans starting from KSh 500 up to KSh 50,000, with repayment periods of 30 to 120 days. You pay a one-time facilitation fee between 9% and 27%, so borrowing KSh 1,000 could cost you around KSh 1,250 in total if held for about two months.
Berry is solid when you’re stuck and need fast cash, but it’s not something you want to rely on every month—it gets costly if you delay.
iPesa gives out mobile loans from KSh 500 to KSh 50,000 with repayment periods ranging from 91 to 180 days. The interest rate sits between 36% to 72% per year, and if you delay payment, a daily penalty of 2% kicks in almost immediately.
iPesa works well if you plan your repayment properly, but borrowing carelessly or ignoring deadlines will burn your pockets fast.
With Creditmoja, you can borrow from KSh 2,500 to KSh 50,000 and repay anywhere between 3 months and a full year. Interest starts from as low as 12% APR but can go up to 50% depending on your repayment timeline and history.
I think Creditmoja works well when used for planned borrowing, but it stops being friendly real quick if you treat it like a fast cash solution.
Okolea gives loans starting from KSh 500 all the way up to KSh 140,000, with a repayment period of 30 days. Depending on how soon you repay, you’re charged between 5% and 15% interest, plus a small processing fee—like KSh 55 if you borrow KSh 2,500.
Okolea is one of the better apps if you’re sharp with timing—but delay even a bit, and it stops being affordable.
PesaPap gives you quick access to loans through the app or by dialing *325#, with loan limits based on your mobile activity and past use. You repay in 30 days and they deduct about 6.6% to 7.5% upfront as processing, interest, and insurance combined.
I see PesaPap as a solid option for short-term loans, but you really need to be disciplined with repayment because the window is tight and the fees are non-refundable.
AsapKash gives you loans from KSh 500 up to KSh 50,000 straight to your M-PESA, with repayment periods ranging from 3 months to a full year. The interest is capped around 18% annually, and first-time users often get a discount—like KSh 120 off—to ease the first repayment.
AsapKash works well when you borrow with a plan and repay early—but if you delay or borrow casually, it’ll hit your pocket hard.
It’s a small personal loan that you can get without a lot of paperwork or background checks. Most of the time, all you need is your ID and a mobile phone.
In many cases, you’ll get the funds within a few minutes after approval. Some lenders might take a bit longer, but it’s usually same-day
Almost everything is done online — either through a website or a mobile app. No need to visit an office or wait in line
Sometimes, yes. A few lenders add fees for things like processing or late payments. Always check the total amount you’ll need to repay before you accept the loan.
It can. If you repay on time, it may actually help build a good credit history. But missing payments could hurt your score, even if the loan seemed “easy” to get.
If you have time, it’s worth looking into savings and credit cooperatives or more traditional microfinance options. They may take longer but often come with lower interest rates
| Lender | Loan Amounts (KES) | Loan Terms | Interest Rate | Nature of the “Minimal Check” |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tala | 500 – 50,000 | 21 – 30 days | From 0.3% daily | No paperwork required. Approval is based on smartphone data after granting app permissions. |
| Branch | 500 – 100,000 | Up to 12 months | From 1.7% monthly | No guarantors, no CRB check for the first loan. The entire process is in the app. |
| M-Shwari | 1,000 – 1,000,000 | 30 days | 9% one-time fee | Check is automated based on your M-Pesa usage history. No application forms. |
| Zenka | 500 – 30,000 | Up to 61 days | Fee from 9-29% | Instant automated decision. Ideal for those who need a loan without extensive checks. |
| Fuliza M-PESA | Overdraft up to 70,000 | Continuous | 1.083% daily access fee | The check is done in advance to provide a pre-approved limit. No checks at the time of use. |
| Timiza (Absa Bank) | 100 – 1,000,000 | 30 days | 6.17% one-time fee | Fully automated process via the app. No need to visit a branch or provide documents. |
| KCB M-PESA | 100 – 1,000,000 | 30 days | 8.64% one-time fee | Automated check based on your Safaricom and KCB account history. |
| Okash | 1,500 – 80,000 | Up to 365 days | APR from 36% | The application only requires basic personal information entered into the app. |
| Carbon | 500 – 50,000 | Up to 64 weeks | From ~5% monthly | Requires only app permissions to check eligibility; no salary slips needed. |
| Berry | 500 – 50,000 | Up to 65 days | Service fee 9-25% | Simple application process with checks done automatically in the background. |
| iPesa | 500 – 50,000 | 91 to 180 days | APR approx. 48% – 72% | Designed for speed, requiring only basic info and app permissions. |
| Creditmoja | 2,500 – 50,000 | 91 to 120 days | APR up to 120% | A straightforward digital application is the only check performed. |
| Okolea | 500 – 250,000 | Varies | From 5% | Scans phone data to determine credit limit, avoiding traditional checks. |
| PesaPap (Family Bank) | 500 – 100,000 | 30 days | ~7.5% per month | For account holders, the check is an instant, automated review of account history. |
| AsapKash | 500 – 50,000 | Up to 180 days | APR up to 150% | The process is designed to be as fast as possible with very few required checks. |
