logo
What is the Cost/Pricing of Bulk SMS in Kenya?

What is the Cost/Pricing of Bulk SMS in Kenya?

Ever wondered why Kenyan businesses are buzzing with SMS alerts? Whether transactional or promotional, SMS has become a powerful tool to reach thousands of customers in seconds. It's simple, affordable, and highly effective for marketing. No wonder it's so popular!
The secret lies in the power of bulk SMS, a cost-effective communication strategy. But here's the big question: how much does it cost to harness this messaging magic?
Let's dive into the world of bulk SMS pricing in Kenya, where every shilling counts and every message matters, including why Celcom Africa stands out as the most affordable and reliable provider. Affordability: Bulk SMS in Kenya ranges from Ksh .0.3 to 0.6 per SMS, making it an accessible tool for businesses of all sizes.
ranges from Ksh .0.3 to 0.6 per SMS, making it an accessible tool for businesses of all sizes. Volume Matters : The SMS price decreases significantly with an increase in the volume of SMS bought.
: The SMS price decreases significantly with an increase in the volume of SMS bought. No Hidden Costs : Many providers offer a pay-as-you-go structure with no setup or monthly fees, just the cost of the SMS credits.
: Many providers offer a pay-as-you-go structure with no setup or monthly fees, just the cost of the SMS credits. Sender ID Branding : While basic bulk SMS is cheap, additional features like custom sender ID enhance brand credibility.
: While basic bulk SMS is cheap, additional features like custom sender ID enhance brand credibility. Select the Right Provider: Ensuring you get a provider approved by CAK and has a direct connection with Mobile Operators can lead to substantial savings and better service quality. Choose Wisely: Opt for providers with transparent pricing and a robust reliable system.
Opt for providers with transparent pricing and a robust reliable system. Plan Your Campaigns: Bulk buying can save money, as more volume equals a lower rate.
Bulk buying can save money, as more volume equals a lower rate. Monitor Usage: Use platforms with good analytics to track your SMS credit usage and campaign effectiveness.
In Kenya, the cost of bulk SMS typically ranges between Ksh 0.30 to Ksh 1.06 per SMS, depending on the factors mentioned earlier. 1,000 to 5,000 SMS: Around Ksh 1.06 per SMS.
Around Ksh 1.06 per SMS. 5,000 to 20,000 SMS: Around Ksh 0.90 per SMS.
Around Ksh 0.90 per SMS. 20,000+ SMS: As low as Ksh 0.50 per SMS.
With Celcom Africa, businesses can enjoy competitive rates ranging from Ksh 0.30–0.6 per SMS. SMS Package (Volume) Cost per SMS (Ksh) 1,000 – 9,999 SMS 0.6 10,000 – 50,000 SMS 0.5 50,001 – 100,000 SMS 0.4 Above 100,000 SMS 0.35
Note: SMS do not have an Expiry Date A one-off fee of Ksh. 6,500 Per Network which could be Safaricom, Airtel, Telkom, or Equitel
When choosing a bulk SMS service provider in Kenya, comparing the pricing and services of major players is crucial.
Here's a detailed comparison of Celcom Africa, Safaricom, Airtel, and Telkom based on cost, delivery rates, support, and features: Provider Cost Per SMS (Approx.) Delivery Rate Support Availability Unique Features Celcom Africa Ksh 0.30 – 0.60 98% 24/7 Affordable pricing, high reliability, seamless Bulk SMS API integration Safaricom Ksh 0.42 – 1.06 96% 8 am – 8 pm Direct carrier access is suitable for corporate clients Airtel Ksh 0.8 – 0.3 95% Limited Competitive pricing, large subscriber network Telkom Ksh 0.3 – 1.0 95% Limited Competitive pricing, large subscriber network Volume: Buying SMS in bulk means paying less per SMS. Bulk discounts are a significant factor in reducing costs.
Buying SMS in bulk means paying less per SMS. Bulk discounts are a significant factor in reducing costs. Provider: Not all providers are equal; some offer better rates. Choose Celcom Africa , known for being both the Cheapest Bulk SMS Provider in Kenya and the most reliable.
Not all providers are equal; some offer better rates. Choose , known for being both the Cheapest Bulk SMS Provider in Kenya and the most reliable. Network: Prices can vary slightly based on the mobile network's infrastructure, like Safaricom or Airtel.
Prices can vary slightly based on the mobile network's infrastructure, like Safaricom or Airtel. Message Length: The longer the message, the more pages, which leads to higher consumption and a lower rate.
The longer the message, the more pages, which leads to higher consumption and a lower rate. Sender ID: Using your brand name as the sender name significantly boosts brand visibility and credibility.
When it comes to affordability and reliability, Celcom Africa leads the pack. Known for its user-friendly platform, TAT of 2 sec for message delivery, and exceptional customer support, Celcom Africa ensures that businesses of all sizes can access affordable bulk SMS solutions. Competitive pricing: Rates ranging from Ksh. 0.30 to 0.60 per SMS
Rates ranging from High deliverability: Messages reach their intended recipients at a TAT of 2 Sec
Messages reach their intended recipients at a Seamless integrations: Compatible with various business tools and systems for effortless communication
Compatible with various business tools and systems for effortless communication 24/7 Customer Support
Selecting the right bulk SMS provider can be a game-changer for your business.
Here are the key features to prioritize: Delivery Time and Speed: Ensure the provider guarantees high delivery rates—this means your messages reach your customers promptly. Celcom Africa, for instance, boasts a near-perfect delivery rate, ensuring your campaigns don't go to waste. Customer Support: Imagine running into a technical issue in the middle of a campaign. You'll need a provider with reliable support. Celcom Africa offers 24/7 assistance, so you're never left stranded. Platform Usability: A user-friendly interface simplifies message scheduling, reporting, and tracking. Celcom Africa's dashboard makes bulk SMS campaigns a breeze, even for beginners. Integration Capabilities: Your SMS platform should work seamlessly with CRM tools, email marketing software, or e-commerce platforms. Celcom Africa supports integrations, streamlining your business communication through simple APIs.
Understanding the cost/price of bulk SMS in Kenya is crucial for leveraging this powerful communication tool. With Celcom Africa, you're not just choosing affordability; you're opting for reliability, scalability, and a service that understands the Kenyan market. This places Celcom Africa as the Cheapest Bulk SMS Service provider in Kenya and globally. Whether you're launching your first SMS campaign or scaling up, Celcom Africa is your partner in making every message count and every shilling matter.
The cost of sending bulk SMS in Kenya varies depending on the service provider, volume of messages, and type of SMS (transactional or promotional). On average, the price ranges between Ksh 0.30 and Ksh 1.06 per SMS. For example, making it an affordable option for businesses of all sizes.
Sending bulk SMS in Kenya is simple. Here's how you can do it: Choose a provider: Select a reliable bulk SMS service provider like Celcom Africa that fits your budget and business needs. Sign up: Create an account on the provider's platform. Purchase credits: Buy SMS credits through available payment options like M-Pesa. Compose your message: Write your SMS content, keeping it concise and engaging. Upload your contacts: Import your recipient list into the platform. Send or schedule: Send the messages instantly or schedule them for later. Celcom Africa simplifies this process with its user-friendly interface, high delivery rates, and 24/7 customer support.
Purchasing bulk SMS credits is typically straightforward. For example, with Celcom Africa, you can top up your account directly through their M-PESA PayBill Number, allowing for quick and convenient transactions.
According to the Communication Authority of Kenya regulations, the allowed languages for bulk SMS are Kiswahili and English. Sending messages in vernacular languages is not permitted.
With Celcom Africa, your SMS credits don't expire. You buy them once, and they're yours to use whenever you need them, giving you flexibility in planning your communication strategy.
The cheapest way to send bulk SMS in Kenya involves choosing providers that offer bulk discounts. Celcom Africa, for instance, starts at Ksh 0.3 to 0.6 per SMS when you send in large volumes. This places Celcom Africa as the cheapest and the best bulk sms service provider in Kenya and globally.
Remember, the more you send, the cheaper each message becomes. It's like buying in bulk at the market; the price per unit drops significantly.
TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Exploring PayFi: Opportunities, Challenges And Considerations
Exploring PayFi: Opportunities, Challenges And Considerations

Forbes

time12 hours ago

  • Forbes

Exploring PayFi: Opportunities, Challenges And Considerations

Alvin Kan is the Advisor of Bitget Wallet, a Web3/crypto wallet. The world loves the idea of instantly moving money, yet the reality is slower and often costly, and many people are locked out of the traditional banking experience entirely. In the fourth quarter of 2024, the average cost globally to send a remittance was 6.62%, and roughly a quarter of adults worldwide lack a bank account. While we can move and send money with smartphones, that money often hops legacy rails and accrues costs and delays along the way. Card networks and domestic wallet apps have smoothed many edges, yet many of those wallets still use the same traditional systems. Payment finance, or 'PayFi,' aims to close that distance by marrying real-time blockchain settlement with the everyday tap-or-scan experience consumers already know. I spent nearly a decade building cross‑border payout products at a global money‑transfer firm, led remittance partnerships for a cryptocurrency exchange and now advise central banks on central bank digital currency (CBDC) sandbox design. Those trenches have helped me develop a practical lens and shown me the opportunities I believe PayFi could present, as well as the challenges standing in its way. Where Money Still Sticks Cross-border transfers highlight the drag. Even in 2025, a wire can zig-zag through multiple banks, each potentially requiring a fee and adding hours. Merchants at home fare only a little better, with most card sales incurring processing fees up to 3.15% per transaction. But people appear to be pushing for something cleaner. In 2023, McKinsey said global payments revenue was at $2.2 trillion a year, a vast pool that technology is already nibbling. 'Future revenue growth will likely be stimulated by instant-payments innovations and the rise in digital wallets in certain geographies,' according to the report. Argentina shows what happens when friction meets need. When the country was experiencing triple-digit inflation, some citizens turned to dollar-pegged stablecoins. The 2024 Geography of Crypto Report by Chainanalysis said, 'Argentina's share of stablecoin transaction volume is 61.8%, placing it slightly above Brazil's share (59.8%) and well above the global average (44.7%).' They are not seeking speculation, but a store of value that spends like cash and can settle quickly. How PayFi Rethinks A Wallet PayFi aims to merge speed with the familiarity of a tap-to-pay gesture. In a PayFi model, a wallet may hold euros, pesos or a regulated digital dollar; the user chooses none of the plumbing. While balances wait to be spent, they can flow into a low-risk decentralized lending pool or central-bank-grade Treasury tokens, earning a sliver of yield that once went to intermediaries. Consider a Nairobi designer paid by a London client. Her dollars arrive as a stablecoin in seconds, not days. She buys coffee at home; the terminal converts to Kenyan shillings on the spot. The rest of her balance keeps earning until rent is due. In a 2025 survey, 42 % of consumers said they prefer digital wallets for cross-border payments, citing speed as one of the main draws. This tells me that real-world motives, not tech novelty, can move the needle. Trust, Rules And The Next Leap Confidence, not code, is PayFi's hinge. Europe's markets in crypto-assets regulation, or simply MiCA, brought reserve rules into force in late December 2024. In Washington, proposals like the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act would place dollar-pegged issuers under federal supervision. Central banks are joining the architecture. At the time of this writing, the Atlantic Council's CBDC Tracker counts 137 jurisdictions (98% of global GDP) probing or piloting digital sovereign money. Public rails that settle around the clock can dovetail with private PayFi wallets, offering consumer safeguards familiar from card schemes while keeping open-source efficiency under the hood. What Adoption Asks For Next Technology alone will not tip the scale. Merchants need drop-in tools that undercut card fees, not mimic them. Users require recovery paths when phones vanish and plain-language cues about yield and volatility. PayFi applications must treat price swings as a back-office concern, shielding everyday shoppers through instant conversion to local fiat or a government e-currency. The Hurdles PayFi Professionals Cannot Ignore Prudential capital is getting pricier. In January, requirements set by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision for banks that issue or custody stablecoins went into effect. Leaning on short‑dated Treasurys may help PayFi pools stay Basel‑friendly and keep funding costs predictable. Compliance gaps come next. Only about a quarter of major jurisdictions have fully enforced and are compliant with the Financial Action Task Force's requirements for virtual assets, meaning funds routed through noncompliant venues risk sudden off‑ramps or frozen balances. Protocol‑level messaging and a tight allow list of counterparties are now table stakes. Technical plumbing adds another layer. SWIFT's shift to ISO 20022 in November 2025 collides with Web3's race for cross‑chain bridges. Mapping PayFi messages to ISO elements now and keeping Treasury ladders short can help limit breakage and duration risk. Merchants, meanwhile, crave certainty as much as savings. While blockchain-based transactions can have benefits, they also lack familiarity and bring a few challenges in a merchant setting. Dual pricing, instant fiat conversion and a micro‑insurance pool that auto‑reverses disputed sales could help restore that comfort without erasing margin gains. A Closing Thought Financial change rarely arrives with fanfare; it seeps into habits until the new way becomes standard. When a digital wallet can store, earn and spend in one motion—and do so under clear rules—I believe people will not ask whether the rails are called PayFi or anything else. They will simply pay, and their money will travel at the speed of life. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?

Construction plans for Africa's largest toll road stall as US firm faces major setback
Construction plans for Africa's largest toll road stall as US firm faces major setback

Business Insider

time2 days ago

  • Business Insider

Construction plans for Africa's largest toll road stall as US firm faces major setback

Kenyan authorities have raised concerns over a proposal by US-based infrastructure firm Everstrong Capital for the Nairobi–Mombasa Expressway, a flagship 440-kilometre project intended to link Kenya's two largest cities through a modern highway. Kenyan authorities rejected a proposal from US firm, Everstrong Capital for the Nairobi–Mombasa Expressway The project was to be Africa's largest toll road but has been revised for practicality and feasibility. Everstrong Capital is invited to restructure and resubmit its plans to meet existing standards. According to the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), the bid fell short of several key benchmarks set by the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Committee, prompting officials to request that the company review and resubmit its plans rather than face outright disqualification. The revision will see the original plan for a new expressway scrapped in favour of expanding the existing Nairobi–Mombasa highway. With this change in scope, the development effectively signals the end of what had been set to become Africa's largest toll road and one of the most ambitious US-backed infrastructure projects on the continent. Kenyan authorities downplay proposal The decision comes just two months after Everstrong Capital, led by Senior Advisor Kyle McCarter, submitted a 2,300-page feasibility study report to KeNHA for review. 'The PPP Committee of the National Treasury and Economic Planning delivered its decision during its 54th Ordinary PPP Committee meeting held on July 2, 2025, ' KeNHA stated. 'It was determined that the proposal does not meet the relevant criteria and should be abandoned per Section 43(11)(c) of the PPP Act, 2021.' While the current proposal has been rejected, KeNHA has invited Everstrong Capital to restructure the project to meet the required standards, specifically by focusing on upgrading the existing highway rather than building an entirely new road. The proposed expressway, aimed at easing traffic congestion, reducing travel time between Kenya's capital and its main port city, and boosting trade along the Northern Corridor, has been a priority project for Nairobi for several years. The revised proposal may be resubmitted for fresh consideration by the PPP Committee in accordance with Section 43 of the PPP Act.

Elon Musk's internet business seems to be struggling in one of Africa's richest markets
Elon Musk's internet business seems to be struggling in one of Africa's richest markets

Business Insider

time07-08-2025

  • Business Insider

Elon Musk's internet business seems to be struggling in one of Africa's richest markets

Elon Musk's SpaceX satellite internet service, Starlink, is fast losing traction in Kenya, which is considered a vital African growth area for the tech business. Starlink's satellite internet service is losing traction in Kenya due to high costs and limited performance. Kenyan consumers are turning back to local ISPs offering faster speeds, better prices, and improved customer care. Starlink lost over 10% of its subscribers in early 2025 despite an increasing internet market in the region. After a period of euphoria following its introduction, current trends reveal that Kenyan consumers are gradually disconnecting from Starlink and reverting to local internet service providers (ISPs) that now provide faster speeds, lower prices, and better customer care. Starlink's initial appeal hinged on its fast and reliable services, but this has not entirely been the reality of subscribers in the East African country, given that it costs a lot for average Kenyans to access its touted high speeds. "Starlink's high costs and slow speeds have deterred many users," said Chris Orwa, a Nairobi-based data analyst and former subscriber. According to a recent report from Kenya's Communications Authority, Starlink lost more than 10% of its members in the first quarter of 2025. During that period, the company's subscriber base decreased by over 2,000. This reduction occurred despite Kenya's fixed internet market growing by 8%, indicating that although demand for internet is increasing, Starlink is losing ground to competitors. As seen in a report by Bloomberg, Orwa signed up for the service during a time when local providers were suffering outages, but she soon found the experience disappointing. Why Starlink in Kenya is struggling Despite claimed speeds ranging from 25 to 220 Mbps, Ookla detected a median download speed of just 47 Mbps for Starlink in Kenya as of May. Orwa's connection dropped to 10 Mbps at one point, but he still paid roughly 15,000 shillings per month for service improvements and maintenance, more than three times what many local carriers charge. Pricing is another issue. Starlink advertises a 4,000 shilling ($31) per month plan with a hardware cost of 27,000 shillings, but this plan has limits. The standard residential package, which includes prioritized data delivery, can cost up to 6,500 shillings per month, while the hardware costs nearly double. Users like Orwa have reported being obliged to upgrade to more costly bands whenever network capacity in their region is full, thus increasing fees. The problem was exacerbated in late 2024, when Starlink briefly suspended new urban signups owing to network congestion, notably in Nairobi and other heavily populated locations. This is a far cry from a month prior, when a report revealed that Kenyans were rapidly adopting Elon Musk's satellite internet constellation, Starlink. The report revealed that satellite data subscriptions increased by 1,955.3 in the 2023/2024 fiscal year. Although signups restarted in June 2025, the hiatus allowed competitors to respond. "Other internet service providers have made interventions to make their services more appealing," said Moses Kemibaro, a Kenyan technology analyst and Starlink early adopter. These solutions include providing more bandwidth at a reduced cost and improving customer service, which Starlink has struggled with in the region. Additionally, Starlink users continue to complain about poor customer service. With no physical presence in Kenya, users must rely only on online help. Orwa had a disappointing experience in which his hardware problem remained addressed despite registering a complaint in October 2024. "Starlink's online support was not enough," he complained.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store