Best Ways to Send Small Amounts ($50-$500) to Kenya
Sending small amounts of money to Kenya presents a unique challenge: fees can eat up a significant percentage of your transfer. A $5 fee on a $50 transfer is 10%—that's unacceptable. Here's how to minimize costs for smaller transfers.
The Small Transfer Problem
Traditional money transfer services weren't designed for small amounts:
| Transfer Amount | $5 Flat Fee Impact | $10 Flat Fee Impact |
| $50 | 10% lost to fees | 20% lost to fees |
| $100 | 5% lost to fees | 10% lost to fees |
| $200 | 2.5% lost to fees | 5% lost to fees |
Best Options for Small Transfers
1. Sendwave (Best Overall for Small Amounts)
Why It Wins:
- Zero fees on most transfers
- Money comes from exchange rate margin (usually 1-2%)
- Direct to M-Pesa
- Mobile app only (no website)
Cost Breakdown ($100 transfer):
- Fee: $0
- Exchange rate margin: ~$1.50
- Total cost: ~1.5%
2. Remitly (Best for First-Time Users)
Why It's Good:
- Promotional rates for new users
- Express delivery option
- Multiple delivery methods
Cost Breakdown ($100 transfer):
- Fee: $0-3.99 (varies by payment method)
- Exchange rate: Competitive
- Total cost: ~2-4%
3. WorldRemit (Best for Flexibility)
Why It's Good:
- Low minimums ($10)
- Multiple delivery options
- Good mobile app
Cost Breakdown ($100 transfer):
- Fee: $2.99-4.99
- Exchange rate: Mid-range
- Total cost: ~3-5%
Providers to Avoid for Small Amounts
Western Union
- Fees start at $5+ even for small amounts
- Exchange rate markup adds another 3-5%
- Total cost for $100: $8-10 (8-10%)
Banks
- Minimum fees often $25-45
- Terrible exchange rates
- Never use for amounts under $1,000
Real Cost Comparison: $100 Transfer
| Provider | Fee | Rate Margin | Total Cost | Recipient Gets (KES) |
| Sendwave | $0 | 1.5% | $1.50 | ~12,700 |
| Remitly | $0* | 2% | $2.00 | ~12,650 |
| WorldRemit | $2.99 | 2% | $4.99 | ~12,250 |
| Wise | $1.50 | 0.5% | $2.00 | ~12,650 |
| Western Union | $5.00 | 4% | $9.00 | ~11,750 |
*Bank account payment
Tips for Minimizing Small Transfer Costs
1. Batch When Possible
Instead of sending $50 weekly, consider:
- Sending $200 monthly
- Total fees drop from ~$6/month to ~$3/month
2. Use the Right Payment Method
| Payment Method | Typical Impact |
| Bank account | Lowest fees |
| Debit card | +$1-3 |
| Credit card | +$3-5 + cash advance fees |
3. Download Multiple Apps
- Sendwave for most transfers
- Remitly when they have promos
- Compare before each transfer
The Verdict: Best Provider by Amount
| Amount | Best Choice | Backup |
| $10-50 | Sendwave | Chipper Cash |
| $50-100 | Sendwave | Remitly |
| $100-200 | Sendwave or Wise | Remitly |
| $200-500 | Wise | Sendwave |
Conclusion
For small transfers to Kenya:
- Sendwave is usually best for amounts under $200
- Avoid percentage fees that hurt small transfers
- Use M-Pesa delivery for instant, convenient receipt
- Compare before sending—rates change daily
- Consider batching for very small amounts
Compare current rates for your transfer amount with our comparison calculator.