Loan apps in Kenya (2025): Best mobile mpesa lending apps Kenya

When you need an instant mpesa loan in Kenya, then the fastest way to get one is through mobile loan apps. The issue is, given that we have over 30 mobile phone loan apps in Kenya, which one is the best mobile m-pesa lending app to borrow from? In this article, we cover 21 mobile lending apps that are easy to download, register, and apply for an emergency loan in Kenya in 2024 and give you the best.

Best mobile loan apps download in Kenya to apply and qualify for quick mpesa loans on your phone. These easily downloadable loan apps are available for android, iphone and USSD.

Getting a quick loan in Kenya on your mobile phone has become easier over the last few years. That is because of the introduction of mobile loan apps that send money directly to mpesa. Here we cover 23 of the best m-pesa loan apps available in Kenya.

To download the loan apps, you can do so directly from the google play store on android, or get loan app apks from trusted websites like APKMirror. For those who need apk loan apps in Kenya.

If you are an iPhone user, then to get mobile loans for ios, you will need to access the apple app store.

After testing over 30 apps, we cover the top 20 loan apps in Kenya. But first, here are the top 3 mobile loan apps to borrow mpesa cash loans directly to your phone available in Kenya.

Top 3 apps for loans in Kenya

We have a list of 23 mobile Kenya loan apps in this list, here are the top 3 apps you should consider for loan app download. The reason these mpesa loan apps stand out is that; they are quick and easy to install, have a fast registration process, offer good terms for interest, the loan repayment period is good and quick and fast online loan. Now lets proceed to download loan apps that are fast in lending quick cash below.

Zenka loan app

Available Both on android, iOS, and also USSD, we found Zenka to be the best overall loan app in Kenya.
With an easy-to-use app, a fast loan application process, good interest rates, and the best repayment period. Zenka loan app serves customers looking to apply for a quick mpesa mobile loan the best.

See Zenka full review.

Branch loan app

This has been the best loan app in Kenya for a long time. However, with the increase of mobile users on both android, iPhone, and Kabambe, the Branch loan app has not extended its services to IOs users and feature phones.
Also, the lack of a USSD code for the application of loans leaves out non-smartphone users from using Branch’s unsecured mpesa loans.
Other than that, the Branch loan app is easy to use, has good interest rates, a reasonable repayment period, and sends out loans quickly to mpesa.

See Branch full review.

Tala Loan app

Closing in our top 3 mobile loan apps in Kenya is the Tala app. One of the first mpesa loan apps to come into the Kenyan market, it has been lending customers cash consistently.
The app has a very good user interface and borrowing loans is quick and simple. The only downside is that it only caters to android smartphone users.
Enjoy your Tala app and borrow a quick loan today.

See Tala full review.

The complete list of top instant mobile mpesa loan apps in Kenya

Here are the best instant mobile loan apps to apply for fast, easy, quick cash loans. The money you qualify for is sent directly to your Safaricom mpesa account. These loan apps have been tested by the team at Saidia and have been chosen because they are legit, the ones that work and give loans in 2024.

1. Zenka loan app

If you want to apply and qualify for instant, quick cash loans online in Kenya, then look no further! Zenka is the app for you. This mobile loan app offers access to instant mpesa personal loans to your mobile phone whether it’s for an emergency or to get money quickly to help in paying for bills.

They consider themselves the most flexible loan platform on the market assisting users get easy loans without filling in a physical form. You can get a minimum loan of Ksh 500 and a maximum loan of Ksh 30,000 when you borrow on the Zenka app.  

In addition, the app is a new one in the instant mpesa loan apps space, so Zenka is offering 0% interest for the first loan you apply for on the app. Meaning you only pay back what you borrowed when you take the first loan. 

Features of Zenka

• They offer the first loan for free, that is 0% interest i.e no registration fee and no interest on mobile mpesa cash loan.
  
• Quickly sends the money to your M-Pesa account, and receive the money within 5 minutes.
  
• You can repay your loan through installments directly to their paybill number.
  
• Zenka allows you to extend the phone loan repayment period by up to 30 days.
  

The app is developed by a company called Zenka finance which is based in Nairobi Kenya. In order to make mobile lending readily available in this market, you can borrow money even if you do not have a smartphone.

Zenka has a USSD platform where you can apply for instant loans that will be sent to you via mpesa by dialing *841#. Once you do this, you will be able to enjoy and access instant financial services even if you don’t have an android phone. Get the zenka app on your phone by downloading it from the link below.

Download Zenka app

2. Branch Loan app

The Branch loan app is by far one the most popular loan app in Kenya for applying and qualifying for an instant loan or as we say it locally, ‘kupata mkopo’. The app is developed by branch co which has a presence in many African countries like Kenya, Tanzania, and Nigeria.

Branch app offers small loans from a minimum of 250 Kenya shillings up to a maximum of Ksh 70,000 which is sent directly to your mobile phone through mpesa. Not only that, it offers the money qualified for at very friendly interest rates. Monthly Interest rates for a branch loan range from 2% – 16%.

Features of Branch

• The app is quick and easy to download.
  
• Loans are quickly sent to your phone almost instantly once you qualify.
  
• Branch doesn’t have a late rollover fee.
  
• You do not need security to get a loan.
  
• No need to fill a physical loan application form when applying for a loan.
  

When it comes to repaying your branch loan, you can easily do so using their paybill number or directly from the app. You can get the apk or full download from the google play store and we have a full guide for you below.

How to Download branch loan app

3. Tala Loan app

Tala is another mobile app that is available on the google play store to apply for quick and instant mobile loans in Kenya. The reason behind this is thanks to its ease of use, amazing customer care, and how frequently they update the app.

Tala is a mobile app for android, developed by tala mobile, that works by using mobile data to create a financial identity. Once that is done automatically, it shows how much money you qualify for.

All you need to do next is press ‘apply for loan’ and within minutes, it sends this money directly to you via mpesa. It is a very good alternative to bank loans because you don’t need to fill in a physical application form. This means it doesn’t rely on traditional methods of credit scoring like the CRB allowing them to offer loans to the unbanked communities. To apply for a loan with tala, check out this step by step guide.

Features of Tala loan app

• Tala doesn’t require you to have a bank account.
  
• Sending the loan takes a very short time, it takes less than five minutes.
  
• The user interface is easy and quick to use making it deliver a good user experience.
  
• Questions asked during the Tala loan qualification process aren’t too complex
  
• You are not required to fill in a loan application form when applying for a loan.
  
• Downloading and installing the app is quick and easy.
  
• Tala loan app quickly shows you how much money you qualify for and allows you to select how many days you want to repay the loan.
  

With this app you can easily repay your loan using the paybill number or directly inside the app. To add to this, Tala is the second most downloaded loan app in Kenya on the google play store. 

This is because of how easily and quickly you can install Tala and use it on your android phone. If you are looking for the apk download, it is also available for download from uptodown website.

How do you get the Tala loan app on your phone? It is easy, to download the Tala loan app for free from the google play store using the link below.

How to download Tala loan app.

4. Timiza loan app

Timiza is another app that offers mobile loans in Kenya. The app is provided by ABSA bank (formerly Barclays bank) and hence the quick money loans you get are ABSA Barclays loans.

Even though it is a loan app offered by a bank, you do not need to fill in a physical registration form to qualify for it. It has features that make it different from a lot of the other popular apps like tala kenya. For example, once you qualify for a small loan, the money is not sent directly to your mpesa account. Instead, it is deposited into the Timiza account on the app where you then get to withdraw it to your M-Pesa account.

Features of Timiza

• Registering for an account is quick and easy.
  
• Once you qualify for a loan, the money is sent to you very fast, within 5 minutes.
  
• You get an account with Timiza where you can deposit, withdraw and even save money.
  
• You do not need security when applying for a mobile loan on Timiza.
  

Being one of the new loan apps to hit the Kenyan market, Timiza has really taken the online mobile market by storm. Once you register with Timiza, you get a Timiza Barclays account. Having over one million downloads after just over a year is a big achievement. So how can you get the Timiza app on your mobile phone? Check out the link below to be able to download Timiza on your phone to get money for your business or personal use.

How to download Timiza app

5. Zash loan

With over a million downloads on the google play store, Zash is one of the popular instant loan apps in the Kenyan market. It offers quick loans to help anyone in Kenya who needs money to grow their business, pay for school fees, or meet a specific emergency.

Features of Zash

• The loan is sent within 5 minutes once you qualify.
  
• A paperless and digital process on your android mobile phone.
  
• Loans are available 24/7
  
• Reviews and loan approvals are fast done within 30 mins.
  
• You can repay the loan using a number of convenient methods.
  

The zash app is developed by kopakash and they offer very high security to protect your data. The money lending app Zash is available to download both from the google play store and also as an apk.

Download Zash loan app.

6. FlashPesa loan app

If you are looking for an instant mpesa loan sent directly to your phone, then look no further than iPesa. One of the newer apps that offer loans in Kenya, FlashPesa has slowly gained popularity such that it has been downloaded over 1 Million times.

Features of Flashpesa

• Offers loans that range from Ksh 2000 up to Ksh 50,000.
  
• The loan repayment terms are between 61 days to 180 days.
  
• It offers an interest rate of a maximum 24% APR.
  
• They charge a one-time service fee of between 150 Ksh to 600 Ksh
  
• For you to apply for a loan you need to be at least 22 years of age.
  
• Having employment is also needed when applying for a loan.
  

FlashPesa is a safe and secure app and will only ask for necessary permissions, for example, use the data on your phone in order to verify it’s you i.e. your identity and to create a credit score. It is one of the fastest-growing loan apps in Kenya that you can download and install on your android phone. This app is developed by Ambush capital.

Download the Flashpesa app

7. AsapKash mobile loan app

One of the new mobile loan apps in the Kenyan market is AsapKash loan app. This app offers quick cash and mpesa loans sent directly to your phone. 

It offers unsecured mobile loans from a minimum of 1,500 Ksh up to a maximum of 50,000 Ksh that can be immediately borrowed from AsapKash and transferred to your mpesa account.

Once you have qualified for a loan, repayment is easy because like other loan apps in Kenya, there is paybill number available to easily pay back mobile loans.

Features of AsapKash

• Quick and easy to download and install onto your android mobile phone
  
• No physical paperwork or office visits are needed when applying for a loan, this is done instantly online.
  
• You do not need security or collateral for you to qualify for a loan.
  
• Money is sent directly to your m-pesa account
  

The AsapKash app has an interest rate of a maximum of 12% however in addition to this; there is a service fee that is charged.

In order to access the cash loan, you will need to download, install, register, and apply for the online mobile loan on the app. Once you have done that, you then fill in some questions asked and send in the application.

How do you get a loan using AsapKash? First, you will need to download the AsapKash app from the google play store. Apart from this, you can also get the AsapKash loan apk. Both of these options you can get them by clicking the link below.

Download AsapKash app. 

8. Kashbean app

Kashbean is another money lending application that offers mobile mpesa loans in Kenya at very reasonable interest rates. In addition to this, it gives you fast and convenient loans to your M-Pesa. Users can use these loans to pay for emergency situations, grow their businesses, or pay their bills.

Features of Kashbean

• Qualify for a loan amount of between 1,500 Ksh to 80,000 Ksh.
  
• No need to fill in a physical loan application form.
  
• The loans it offers are unsecured mobile loans.
  

In order to use the Kashbean app, you need to download it from the Google play store or by getting the apk.

You can do that by clicking the link below. After getting the app on your android phone, open it and create an account and begin applying for a loan.

Download Kashbean app.

9. Meta loan

With over half a million downloads on the google play store, Meta loan has become one of the popular instant loan apps in the Kenyan market. It offers quick loans to help anyone in Kenya who needs money to grow their business, pay for school fees or meet a specific emergency.

Features of Meta loan

• Loan is sent within 5 minutes once you qualify.
  
• Paperless and digital process on your android mobile phone.
  
• Loans are available 24/7
  
• Reviews and loan approvals are fast done in within 30 mins.
  
• You can repay the loan using a number of convenient methods.
  

The Meta mobile loan app is highly rated on the google play store and they offer very high security to protect your data.

The money lending app Meta is available to download both from the google play store and also as an apk.

Download Meta loan app.

10. Bayes

For those who have utilized other apps to apply for a loan on their mobile phone, for example, Tala loan app by Tala Kenya or branch, Bayes works in a similar way.

With a rating of 4.5 out 5, it is one of the highest-rated loan apps in Kenya. This means it offers mobile mpesa loans fast to Kenyans who install it on their smartphones.

Features of Bayes loan app

• Apply for instant mpesa loans quickly from your mobile phone.
  
• Register quickly and easily.
  

Want to get Bayes on your mobile phone, get it quickly and conveniently from the download link below. Not only that, you can also get it on your phone by downloading and installing the Bayes apk.

Download Bayes app.

Table of Best mobile loan apps in Kenya that work

With over 20 million downloads combined, here is a table that shows, at a quick glance,  at some of the most popular loan apps and their download numbers in Kenya. Also, these lending apps have been tested and work; meaning they offer loans to those who download and install them. 

We know that the reason people need a quick mpesa loan is to mostly pay for something unforeseen. In addition to that, we know emergencies aren’t only household, medical or transport related but can also be for entertainment. So if you need to go on a date, movie, or clubbing but don’t have enough money, then a quick loan from either Tala, branch, or Timiza can quickly sort you out.

Businesses also benefit from these mobile loan apps especially when they are hard-strapped for cash. A quick loan will help your business when you need to stock up and you don’t have enough money. Not only that, maybe you need to pay salary, a quick unsecured loan from one of these apps will sort you out. A business owner can get a loan from either stawi, opesa or Zenka app.

What we are saying is that the options are many when it comes to lending apps in the Kenyan market. That is why saidia created this list of more than 20 best instant mpesa mobile loan apps in Kenya. We have a list of these apps which you can find below.

Conclusion

We have gone through more than 20 loan apps that are available in Kenya. Although these lending apps offer one main key function, which is offering instant loans to customers, they are also unique in the experience they give each user.

Of late, loan apps in Kenya have become very popular. What is the reason for this?

Well, it’s because they give Kenyans the opportunity to work through unforeseen emergencies by lending instant unsecured loans. The good thing is that they do this quickly and conveniently directly to your phone using Safaricom’s m-pesa service.

Such unforeseen emergencies are like buying electricity tokens when they finish, replacing your gas when it runs out, and even medical emergencies.

The money gotten from these loans has also been used by Kenyans to pay for school fees and not only that, but they’ve also supplemented transport costs and needs that have come about without notice.

For now, all we know is that as more and more people continue to use smartphones, there will always be a demand for apps that give users convenience. In this case, the convenience offered by these apps is clear; instant unsecured mobile loans, that are quickly sent via m-pesa and help you with money when you are in an emergency.

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