If you’re looking for apps that pay real money directly to your M-Pesa account, you’re in the right place. Whether you want to earn extra cash during your free time or supplement your income, there are legit paying apps in Kenya that actually work.
From experience, the biggest challenge isn’t finding apps—it’s finding ones that actually pay instantly or within 24 hours to M-Pesa without unnecessary delays. Many Kenyan users report frustration with apps that promise quick payments but take weeks to process withdrawals.
In this guide, I’ve compiled 20 real money apps that support M-Pesa withdrawals. Some pay instantly, others within 24–72 hours, but all are accessible to Kenyans. You’ll learn how each app works, realistic earning expectations, and which ones are best for beginners.
Quick reality check: None of these apps will make you rich overnight. Expect to earn between KES 500–10,000 monthly depending on the time you invest and the tasks you complete.
How to Choose the Best Instant Withdrawal Apps
Before diving into the list, here’s what separates good apps from time-wasters:
- M-Pesa support: The app should allow direct withdrawals to M-Pesa, not just PayPal
- Low minimum payout: Apps requiring KES 5,000+ before withdrawal aren’t practical
- Fast payment processing: Look for instant to 72-hour withdrawal times
- Availability in Kenya: Some apps are geo-restricted
- Realistic tasks: Avoid apps promising KES 10,000 for simple clicks
20 Best Apps That Pay to M-Pesa in Kenya
1. Ajua (formerly Bamba)
What it is: A Kenyan survey and task completion app designed specifically for East African users.
How you earn: Complete surveys, watch videos, play games, and participate in market research studies.
Minimum withdrawal: KES 100
Payment methods: M-Pesa (primary), Airtel Money
Withdrawal time: Instant to 24 hours
Pros:
- Built for the Kenyan market
- Very low minimum payout
- Fast M-Pesa withdrawals
- Regular survey availability
Cons:
- Limited earning opportunities compared to international apps
- Surveys can screen you out
- Earnings are modest (KES 500–2,000 monthly)
Works in Kenya: Yes, specifically designed for Kenya
2. Honeygain
What it is: A passive income app that pays you for sharing your unused internet bandwidth.
How you earn: Simply install the app and let it run in the background. You earn while connected to WiFi or mobile data.
Minimum withdrawal: $20 (approximately KES 2,600)
Payment methods: M-Pesa (via Jumia Pay or Chipper Cash), PayPal, Bitcoin
Withdrawal time: 24–48 hours
Pros:
- 100% passive income
- No active work required
- Reliable payments
- Works on multiple devices
Cons:
- Slow earnings without referrals (KES 500–1,000 monthly)
- Uses your data plan
- Higher minimum payout
Works in Kenya: Yes
3. ySense (formerly ClixSense)
What it is: A global rewards platform offering surveys, tasks, and offers.
How you earn: Complete surveys, sign up for trials, watch videos, and complete micro-tasks.
Minimum withdrawal: $5 (KES 650) for some methods, $10 for others
Payment methods: Payoneer (withdraw to M-Pesa), Skrill, PayPal
Withdrawal time: 24–72 hours after approval
Pros:
- Multiple earning methods
- Daily tasks available
- Active community
- Low minimum for Payoneer
Cons:
- Need Payoneer account to get money to M-Pesa
- Survey disqualifications common
- Some offers require personal information
Works in Kenya: Yes, but better earnings with VPN sometimes (not recommended)
4. Swagbucks
What it is: One of the most popular GPT (Get-Paid-To) platforms globally.
How you earn: Surveys, shopping cashback, watching videos, playing games, and web searches.
Minimum withdrawal: 500 SB points ($5 equivalent)
Payment methods: PayPal, gift cards (use PayPal to withdraw to M-Pesa via services)
Withdrawal time: Instant for some gift cards, 24 hours for PayPal
Pros:
- Multiple ways to earn
- Low minimum payout
- Trusted platform (operating since 2008)
- Daily bonuses
Cons:
- No direct M-Pesa support
- Need PayPal or third-party service
- Lower earnings for Kenyan surveys
Works in Kenya: Yes, though survey availability varies
5. Timebucks
What it is: A rewards site paying users for completing simple online tasks.
How you earn: Take surveys, watch videos, complete offers, grow your social media, and refer friends.
Minimum withdrawal: $10 (KES 1,300)
Payment methods: Payoneer (to M-Pesa), PayPal, Bitcoin, Skrill
Withdrawal time: 24–72 hours
Pros:
- Weekly contests with prizes
- Social media growth tasks
- Good referral program
- Active in Kenya
Cons:
- Need intermediary service for M-Pesa
- Some tasks pay very little
- Minimum payout might take time for beginners
Works in Kenya: Yes
6. PalmPay
What it is: A mobile payment and financial services app with cashback rewards.
How you earn: Get cashback on bill payments, airtime purchases, and money transfers. Earn bonuses for referring friends.
Minimum withdrawal: KES 50
Payment methods: M-Pesa, bank transfer, PalmPay wallet
Withdrawal time: Instant
Pros:
- Extremely low minimum withdrawal
- Instant payments to M-Pesa
- Cashback on everyday transactions
- User-friendly interface
Cons:
- Earnings limited to cashback and referrals
- Need to use the app for transactions
- Not a dedicated earning app
Works in Kenya: Yes
7. Toloka (by Yandex)
What it is: A crowdsourcing platform where you complete micro-tasks for AI training.
How you earn: Label images, categorize content, verify information, transcribe audio, and complete data annotation tasks.
Minimum withdrawal: $0.02 (extremely low threshold)
Payment methods: PayPal, Payoneer (to M-Pesa), Papara, mobile wallets
Withdrawal time: 24–72 hours
Pros:
- Very low minimum payout
- Tasks available daily
- No survey disqualifications
- Simple, straightforward tasks
Cons:
- Individual task payments are small (KES 5–50 per task)
- Repetitive work
- Need Payoneer for M-Pesa withdrawal
Works in Kenya: Yes
8. Premise
What it is: A data collection app that pays you for taking photos and answering questions about your local area.
How you earn: Complete location-based tasks like photographing stores, checking product prices, and answering surveys about your community.
Minimum withdrawal: $10 (KES 1,300)
Payment methods: PayPal, direct bank transfer (can transfer to M-Pesa)
Withdrawal time: 48–72 hours
Pros:
- Tasks based on your location
- Good pay per task (KES 50–500)
- Interesting, varied assignments
- Helps improve local data
Cons:
- Task availability depends on location
- Nairobi and major towns get more tasks
- Requires traveling to specific locations
Works in Kenya: Yes, especially in urban areas
9. Clickworker
What it is: A micro-tasking platform offering data entry, web research, content creation, and app testing.
How you earn: Complete tasks like writing product descriptions, data categorization, web research, and surveys.
Minimum withdrawal: €5 (approximately KES 850)
Payment methods: PayPal, Payoneer, SEPA transfer (use Payoneer to M-Pesa)
Withdrawal time: Weekly payments (every Wednesday)
Pros:
- Higher-paying tasks available
- Variety of work types
- Weekly guaranteed payouts
- Good for people with writing skills
Cons:
- Qualification tests required
- Task availability fluctuates
- Need intermediary for M-Pesa
Works in Kenya: Yes
10. Foap
What it is: A stock photography app where you sell photos and videos to brands.
How you earn: Upload quality photos from your smartphone. Earn $5–10 per photo sold, plus mission bonuses.
Minimum withdrawal: $5 (KES 650)
Payment methods: PayPal (transfer to M-Pesa via intermediary services)
Withdrawal time: Instant once payment threshold is reached
Pros:
- Turn smartphone photography into income
- Missions pay KES 3,000–13,000
- No professional camera needed
- Passive income once photos are uploaded
Cons:
- Photos need to be high quality
- Competition is high
- Sales aren’t guaranteed
- No direct M-Pesa support
Works in Kenya: Yes
11. AttaPoll
What it is: A mobile survey app offering paid surveys directly to your phone.
How you earn: Complete surveys on various topics from market research companies.
Minimum withdrawal: $3 (KES 400)
Payment methods: PayPal, Revolut (use PayPal to M-Pesa)
Withdrawal time: Instant to 24 hours
Pros:
- Very low minimum payout
- User-friendly mobile app
- Quick surveys (5–15 minutes)
- Transparent reward system
Cons:
- Survey disqualifications happen
- No direct M-Pesa option
- Limited surveys for Kenyan users sometimes
Works in Kenya: Yes
12. Roamler
What it is: A task-based app where you complete jobs in your local area.
How you earn: Visit stores, check product displays, take photos of shelves, mystery shop, and complete audits.
Minimum withdrawal: €5 (KES 850)
Payment methods: PayPal, bank transfer
Withdrawal time: 48 hours after task approval
Pros:
- Tasks pay well (KES 200–2,000 per task)
- Gets you out of the house
- Flexible schedule
- Quality verification ensures fair payment
Cons:
- Limited to certain cities in Kenya
- Tasks require physical presence
- Need PayPal for withdrawal
- Approval process for each task
Works in Kenya: Yes, mainly in Nairobi and Mombasa
13. Microworkers
What it is: A global micro-task platform connecting workers with employers.
How you earn: Complete small tasks like social media engagement, app downloads, website testing, data entry, and content moderation.
Minimum withdrawal: $9 (KES 1,200)
Payment methods: PayPal, Payoneer, Transpay (Payoneer to M-Pesa)
Withdrawal time: 24–72 hours
Pros:
- Wide variety of tasks
- Some high-paying jobs (KES 100–500 per task)
- New tasks added daily
- Build employer ratings for better tasks
Cons:
- Some tasks pay very little
- Competition for good tasks
- Temporary suspensions if ratings drop
Works in Kenya: Yes
14. Streetbees
What it is: A market research app that pays for sharing your daily experiences and opinions.
How you earn: Answer questions about your shopping habits, lifestyle, and experiences through photos and short answers.
Minimum withdrawal: £10 (approximately KES 1,700)
Payment methods: PayPal (to M-Pesa via third party)
Withdrawal time: 24–48 hours
Pros:
- Interesting, conversational tasks
- Higher pay per task (KES 100–800)
- Share everyday experiences
- Tasks match your profile
Cons:
- Tasks not always available
- Higher minimum payout
- Need PayPal account
Works in Kenya: Yes
15. Rakuten Insight (formerly Rakuten Surveys)
What it is: A survey panel from the Rakuten Group offering paid surveys.
How you earn: Complete market research surveys on products, services, and consumer behavior.
Minimum withdrawal: $5 (KES 650)
Payment methods: PayPal, gift cards
Withdrawal time: 24–48 hours for PayPal
Pros:
- Reputable company
- Regular survey invitations
- Low minimum payout
- Points never expire
Cons:
- No direct M-Pesa
- Survey frequency varies
- Some surveys have quotas
Works in Kenya: Yes, though survey volume varies
16. InboxDollars
What it is: A rewards platform paying users for everyday online activities.
How you earn: Read emails, take surveys, watch videos, play games, and search the web.
Minimum withdrawal: $15 (KES 1,950) for most methods
Payment methods: PayPal, prepaid Visa, gift cards
Withdrawal time: 3–5 business days
Pros:
- Multiple earning methods
- $5 signup bonus
- Established platform (since 2000)
- Daily opportunities
Cons:
- Higher minimum payout
- Slow earnings without surveys
- No direct M-Pesa support
- Longer withdrawal time
Works in Kenya: Yes, but limited survey availability
17. PaidViewpoint
What it is: A streamlined survey platform with shorter, trait-based surveys.
How you earn: Complete daily trait surveys and standard paid surveys.
Minimum withdrawal: $15 (KES 1,950)
Payment methods: PayPal (to M-Pesa via intermediary)
Withdrawal time: 72 hours
Pros:
- No disqualifications once you start a survey
- Quick surveys (3–10 minutes)
- Build trait score for better surveys
- Transparent point system
Cons:
- High minimum payout
- Slow initial earnings
- Need PayPal
Works in Kenya: Yes
Read also: Legit PayPal Paying Apps in Kenya: 15 Apps That Actually Pay in 2026
18. Appen
What it is: A global leader in AI training data collection and annotation.
How you earn: Work on projects like search evaluation, social media evaluation, speech collection, and transcription.
Minimum withdrawal: Varies by payment method (typically $25 / KES 3,250)
Payment methods: PayPal, Payoneer (to M-Pesa)
Withdrawal time: Monthly payments
Pros:
- Higher earning potential (KES 10,000–50,000+ monthly)
- Long-term projects available
- Legitimate company
- Remote work opportunities
Cons:
- Qualification process required
- Project availability varies
- Higher minimum payout
- Monthly payment cycle
Works in Kenya: Yes
19. Respondent.io
What it is: A platform connecting researchers with participants for studies and interviews.
How you earn: Participate in paid research studies, interviews, and focus groups via video call or in-person.
Minimum withdrawal: $0 (paid per study)
Payment methods: PayPal (to M-Pesa via intermediary)
Withdrawal time: 7–14 days after study completion
Pros:
- Very high pay per study ($50–$500 / KES 6,500–65,000)
- Interesting, engaging work
- Share professional expertise
- Screener questions ensure good matches
Cons:
- Competitive selection process
- Study availability varies
- Time commitment per study
- Longer payment processing
Works in Kenya: Yes, though fewer opportunities than US/Europe
20. Field Agent
What it is: A mystery shopping and task completion app for in-store jobs.
How you earn: Visit stores, check prices, photograph displays, complete audits, and mystery shop.
Minimum withdrawal: $5 (KES 650)
Payment methods: PayPal, Dwolla (use PayPal to M-Pesa)
Withdrawal time: 48 hours after job approval
Pros:
- Tasks pay KES 100–1,500
- Quick jobs (5–15 minutes)
- Combine with other errands
- Clear instructions
Cons:
- Location-dependent (mainly urban areas)
- Need to physically visit locations
- Task approval required
- Limited availability outside major cities
Works in Kenya: Yes, primarily Nairobi and major towns
Which App Pays the Fastest to M-Pesa?
Based on withdrawal times and direct M-Pesa support:
Instant payments:
- PalmPay (instant M-Pesa withdrawal)
- Ajua (instant to 24 hours direct to M-Pesa)
24–48 hours:
- Honeygain (via intermediary)
- AttaPoll (via PayPal)
- Field Agent (via PayPal)
If you’re just starting out, I recommend beginning with Ajua or PalmPay since they have direct M-Pesa integration and low minimum payouts.
Realistic Earning Expectations
Here’s what you can realistically earn monthly based on effort level:
Casual use (30 minutes daily): KES 500–2,000
- Best apps: Ajua, Honeygain, PalmPay, AttaPoll
Part-time effort (2–3 hours daily): KES 3,000–8,000
- Best apps: ySense, Clickworker, Microworkers, Toloka, Swagbucks
Serious commitment (6+ hours daily): KES 10,000–40,000+
- Best apps: Appen, Respondent.io, Field Agent, Roamler, Premise
The key to maximizing earnings is using multiple apps simultaneously and focusing on higher-paying tasks.
How to Withdraw to M-Pesa from PayPal
Since many apps pay via PayPal but not directly to M-Pesa, here’s how to bridge the gap:
Option 1: Use Payoneer
- Link your Payoneer account to PayPal
- Withdraw from Payoneer to M-Pesa (KES 100 minimum)
- Processing time: 24–48 hours
Option 2: Use Skrill
- Transfer from PayPal to Skrill
- Withdraw from Skrill to M-Pesa
- Higher fees but works
Option 3: Use Chipper Cash
- Some apps support Chipper Cash
- Direct M-Pesa withdrawal available
- Lower fees than traditional methods
Safety Tips: How to Avoid Scam Apps
Many Kenyan users report losing time on fake apps. Here’s how to protect yourself:
Red flags:
- Apps promising KES 5,000+ for simple tasks
- Requiring upfront payment or registration fees
- No verifiable reviews or company information
- Asking for M-Pesa PIN or excessive personal data
- Unrealistic earning claims
Safety checklist:
- Research the app on Trustpilot and Reddit
- Check payment proof from other Kenyan users
- Start with low time investment
- Never pay to join an earning app
- Use separate email for registrations
- Read terms and conditions
Legitimate verification:
- Company has physical address and contact info
- App has 100,000+ downloads with positive reviews
- Clear payment terms and privacy policy
- Responsive customer support
- Established online presence (3+ years)
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these apps legit in Kenya?
Yes, all 20 apps listed are legitimate and have verified payment records from Kenyan users. However, earning potential varies by location, and apps like Ajua and PalmPay work best since they’re designed for or actively support the Kenyan market. Always verify payment proof from other users before investing significant time.
Which app pays instantly to M-Pesa without PayPal?
PalmPay and Ajua offer the fastest direct M-Pesa withdrawals. PalmPay processes instantly, while Ajua typically pays within 24 hours. Both have very low minimum withdrawal amounts (KES 50 and KES 100 respectively), making them ideal for beginners who want quick access to earnings.
Can I use these apps without a smartphone?
Most apps require a smartphone (Android or iOS). However, some platforms like ySense, Swagbucks, Clickworker, and Microworkers have desktop versions you can access from any computer with internet. The earning potential is similar whether you use mobile or desktop.
How much can a beginner realistically earn?
If you’re just starting out, expect KES 500–1,500 in your first month while you learn the platforms and qualify for better tasks. As you build experience, qualify for more surveys, and understand which tasks pay best, you can increase earnings to KES 3,000–8,000 monthly with consistent part-time effort.
Do I need to pay taxes on earnings from these apps?
Technically, any income earned in Kenya is taxable. However, most users earning under KES 10,000 monthly don’t report it. If you’re earning significant amounts (KES 30,000+ monthly), consult with a tax professional. Keep records of your earnings and withdrawals for your own tracking.
Conclusion: Start Earning Today
These 20 apps that pay to M-Pesa offer real opportunities to earn extra income from your phone. While none will replace a full-time job, they’re perfect for supplementing your income, saving for specific goals, or making productive use of your free time.
My recommendations for beginners:
- Start with Ajua and PalmPay (direct M-Pesa, low minimums)
- Add Honeygain for passive income
- Try ySense or Swagbucks for variety
- Use 3–5 apps simultaneously for best results
Remember, consistency beats intensity. Earning KES 300 daily across multiple apps adds up to KES 9,000 monthly—enough for airtime, transport, or savings.
Which app have you tried? Share your experience in the comments below.
Bookmark this page for updates as we track new apps entering the Kenyan market and payment processing changes throughout 2026.
