Tala vs Branch vs Zenka: Kenya Loan App Comparison (2026)
Tala vs Branch vs Zenka compared on what each lender publishes: price, amount, term, late fee, licence and how limits grow. Every figure has a source and date.
By PesaMarket · Last updated 27 September 2026
Updated 27 September 2026. Tala charges 0.3% to 0.6% a day (APR 109.5% to 219%) on a KSh 1,000 to 50,000 credit line for up to 120 days. Branch charges 20% to 211% APR plus a 6% processing fee on KSh 1,000 to 300,000 over 62 days to a year. Zenka's Play listing says 2.45% to 39% of the principal on KSh 500 to 200,000 for up to 91 days, but its FAQ says KSh 30,000, 61 days and 5% commission. Sources: each lender's Google Play listing and FAQ, read 27 September 2026.
Tala vs Branch vs Zenka at a glance
Updated 27 September 2026. We rebuilt this comparison from each lender's own Google Play listing and FAQ, and from the Central Bank of Kenya's licence directories. The old version quoted monthly rates, first-loan ranges and disbursement times that none of the three lenders publishes, so we removed them.
The three are priced in different ways. Tala charges interest by the day, Branch quotes an APR plus a fee, and Zenka charges a one-off fee on the principal. That's why the table shows each price the way the lender states it. Where Zenka's two pages disagree, we show both.
| Feature | Tala | Branch | Zenka |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price as published | 0.3% to 0.6% interest a day; APR 109.5% to 219%; no access charges | APR 20% to 211% (2% to 18% a month) plus 6% processing fee | Play: interest fee 2.45% to 39% of principal, APR 30% to 4432%, processing fee KSh 0. FAQ: commission from 5% |
| Amount (KSh) | 1,000 to 50,000 credit limit | 1,000 to 300,000 (listing also says from 500) | Play: 500 to 200,000. FAQ: 500 to 30,000 |
| Term | Up to 120 days | 62 days to 1 year | Play: up to 91 days. FAQ: 61 days in 2 instalments |
| Late fee | One-time 8% of the outstanding amount | Not published ("some customers may incur late bank fees") | 1.5% of outstanding principal per day of delay (FAQ) |
| Extensions | Not published | Not published | 7, 14 or 30 days; price not published |
| CRB | FAQ: long non-payment is reported to credit reference bureaus | Not published | FAQ: checks and reports to Metropol, TransUnion and Creditinfo |
| Licensed entity | Inventure Mobile Ltd t/a Tala, CBK digital credit provider, licensed 30 Jan 2023 | Branch Microfinance Bank Ltd, CBK microfinance bank (app published by Branch International Financial Services Ltd, not a DCP) | Zenka Digital Ltd, CBK digital credit provider, licensed 27 Mar 2023 (Play names Zenka Finance Ltd as lender) |
| Source, as of | Google Play, updated 17 Sep 2026; Tala FAQ | Google Play, updated 8 Sep 2026 | Google Play, updated 31 Aug 2026; Zenka FAQ, read 27 Sep 2026 |
What KSh 10,000 costs on Tala, Branch and Zenka
Here is what the published prices mean for a KSh 10,000 loan. These are our calculations from each lender's formula, not quotes; your offer depends on your risk profile.
Tala: at 0.3% a day, 60 days cost KSh 1,800 and 120 days cost KSh 3,600 (Tala's own example). At 0.6% a day, 120 days cost KSh 7,200. Repaying early cuts the cost because interest is daily.
Branch: the shortest term is 62 days. At 20% APR interest is about KSh 340, at 196% APR it is KSh 3,260 (Branch's own example) and at 211% about KSh 3,584. The 6% processing fee adds KSh 600.
Zenka: a one-off fee of 2.45% to 39% of the principal, so KSh 245 to KSh 3,900. Zenka's own example is KSh 390 on a KSh 1,000 loan for 61 days. Pay 10 days late and the 1.5% daily penalty adds KSh 1,500.
The ranges overlap so much that no app is always cheapest. Compare the total on the offer screen before you accept.
How loan limits increase on each app
None of the three publishes a starting limit, a growth schedule or a review cycle. Each names one thing: repaying on time.
Tala FAQ: "early and on time payments will help you qualify for larger loans in the future." The Play listing adds that ongoing access depends on clearing your balance and keeping your Tala relationship in good standing.
Branch Play listing: "Pay your loans on time to increase your loan limit and loan size." Its monthly rate of 2% to 18% also depends on your risk profile.
Zenka Play listing: "Grow with Zenka and build your limit up to KSh 200,000 by making your loan repayments on time." The FAQ says a positive repayment history is the fastest way to higher amounts.
The old version of this guide said limits grow by 50% to 100% per loan and reach KSh 20,000 in 3 to 4 months. No lender publishes that, and we've removed it. Tala's listing claims "most customers double limits in months" but gives no figures.
Which app fits which borrower?
Choose Tala for short, flexible borrowing you can repay early. Daily interest means a two-week loan costs far less than a four-month one, and there are no access charges. Watch the one-time 8% late fee.
Choose Branch if you need more than KSh 50,000 or longer than four months; it goes to KSh 300,000 over up to a year. Check which company your loan agreement names, and count the 6% processing fee in the total.
Choose Zenka only after reading your offer screen closely. Its Play listing and FAQ disagree on the amount, the term and the price, and it charges a late penalty of 1.5% of the principal for every day you're late.
For 12 app lenders side by side, see pesamarket.com/en/blog/best-loan-apps-kenya-2026. The full reviews are at /en/blog/tala-loan-review-kenya-2026, /en/blog/branch-loan-review-kenya-2026 and /en/blog/zenka-loan-review-kenya-2026.
Sources
All accessed 27 September 2026.
1. Tala, Google Play listing (updated 17 September 2026): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventureaccess.safarirahisi
2. Tala Kenya FAQ: https://tala.co.ke/faq/
3. Branch, Google Play listing (updated 8 September 2026): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.branch_international.branch.branch_demo_android
4. Zenka, Google Play listing (updated 31 August 2026): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zenkafinance.microloans
5. Zenka FAQ: https://zenka.co.ke/faq
6. Central Bank of Kenya, Directory of Digital Credit Providers (updated 9 July 2026): https://www.centralbank.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Directory-of-Digital-Credit-Providers-July-2026.pdf
7. Central Bank of Kenya, Directory of Licensed Microfinance Banks (February 2026): https://www.centralbank.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Directory-of-Licenced-Microfinance-Banks-Feb-2026.pdf
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which is cheaper, Tala or Branch?
- It depends on the rate you're offered. Tala charges 0.3% to 0.6% a day (APR 109.5% to 219%) with no access charges; Branch charges 20% to 211% APR plus a 6% processing fee (Google Play listings, September 2026). On KSh 10,000 for about two months, Tala costs KSh 1,800 to 3,600 and Branch KSh 940 to 4,184 including the fee.
- Which of Tala, Branch and Zenka lends the most?
- Branch, at up to KSh 300,000 (Google Play, 8 September 2026). Zenka's Play listing says up to KSh 200,000, but its FAQ says KSh 30,000. Tala's credit limit tops out at KSh 50,000.
- What happens if I repay Tala, Branch or Zenka late?
- Tala charges a one-time late fee of 8% of the outstanding amount. Zenka charges 1.5% of the outstanding principal per day of delay. Branch does not publish a late fee. Tala and Zenka both say they report to credit reference bureaus (lender FAQs, read 27 September 2026).
- Are Tala, Branch and Zenka licensed by CBK?
- Tala (Inventure Mobile Limited) and Zenka (Zenka Digital Limited) are CBK digital credit providers, per the directory updated 9 July 2026. Branch lends as Branch Microfinance Bank Limited, a CBK microfinance bank; its app publisher, Branch International Financial Services Limited, is not a licensed DCP.
- Can I use Tala, Branch and Zenka at the same time?
- None of the three publishes a rule against it. But each late loan brings its own penalty, and Tala and Zenka report defaults to credit reference bureaus, so several loans at once raise the cost of one bad month.
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