You can always compare rates and fees based on your transfer amount and payment options when sending money.
Ways to send money from South Africa to Kenya
The best rated provider for transfers from South Africa to Kenya | |
Total number of ZAR - KES providers | 4 |
Average cheapest provider for transfers to Kenya from South Africa | |
Best for bank transfers from South Africa to Kenya | |
Best for debit card transfers from South Africa to Kenya | |
Best for credit card transfers from South Africa to Kenya |
The best way to send money from South Africa to Kenya
WorldRemit is the best way to send money to Kenya from South Africa. This is based on cost, speed, and how easy it is to use.
We analyzed 4 providers that allow ZAR to KES transfers. WorldRemit emerged as the best option in 56.5% of searches.
How to send money from South Africa to Kenya
Follow these steps to send money between South Africa and Kenya
Choose your provider. Register with the provider of your choice by clicking on the link above.
Enter your details. Enter your details and provide any of the documents needed.
Start your transfer. Tell your provider that you'd like to send money from South Africa to Kenya, how much you'd like to send, and how you'd like to pay for your transfer. You'll also need to add your recipient's details.
Check the recipient's details. This is really important. It can be very difficult to reverse a transfer from South Africa to Kenya once it's been sent. Make sure all the details are correct before you submit.
Send the money. When you've checked the details, you can make the transfer.
The cheapest way to send money from South Africa to Kenya
The cheapest way to send money from South Africa to Kenya is WorldRemit. On average, transfers from South Africa to Kenya with WorldRemit cost R91.2, making them cheaper than their nearest competitor.
WorldRemit has been the cheapest way to send money from South Africa to Kenya for the last three months, on average.
Just to make you aware, bankTransfer was the cheapest payment method.
The current mid-market rate between ZAR and KES is 7.09378. The rate the time you transfer will impact your overall cost. As an example, Regency FX has averaged -0.05% below the mid-market rate over the last three months, generally making sending money a little cheaper before fees.
Note: The cheapest way to send money isn't always the fastest
WorldRemit is the cheapest way to send money from South Africa to Kenya, but make sure the timeframes work for you.
How the cost of sending money to Kenya from South Africa is calculated
The cost of sending money from South Africa to South Africa depends on several things, including:
The mid-market rate
The current mid-market rate between ZAR and KES is 7.09378. The rate the time you transfer will impact your overall cost. As an example, Regency FX has averaged -0.05% below the mid-market rate over the last three months, generally making sending money a little cheaper before fees.
The markup and fee
Providers will often charge a markup on the rate, fees, or both, for transfers between Kenya and Kenya. This is why Instarem is listed as our cheapest option - they offer the best combination of Rand to Kenyan Shilling rates (54.6) and fees (91.2).
Bank transfers from South Africa to Kenya
Bank transfers are the most common way of sending ZAR to Kenya as they are secure, reliable, and convenient.
If you want to send Rands to Kenya via bank transfer, WorldRemit has been the top rated provider in our comparison system for the last three months, recommended 50% of the time.
That’s because companies like WorldRemit bypass the SWIFT network and rely on their own digital network of banks, making transfers faster and cheaper. As an example, WorldRemit's transaction fees for Rands into Kenya have averaged at for the last three months. This is significantly lower than the fees charged by banks.
Credit card payments from South Africa to Kenya
Credit card payments are quick, convenient, and typically more secure than other methods, thanks to backing by the issuing party. Some users may even be able to rack up reward points when making large transactions.
If you want to send Rands to Kenya with a credit card, Instarem is your best option. They've been the top rated provider in our comparison system for the last three months, recommended 10% of the time.
Note: Beware of charges
Credit card payments are often classified as cash advances, which bring their own charges, as well as currency conversion and usage fees. Forgetting to pay your balance can also result in high interest charges, and can even damage your credit score.
Debit card payments from South Africa to Kenya
Debit card payments let you send money from the South Africa to Kenya with the similar convenience of a credit card, and there are usually no tax advance fees. That said, you might still face currency exchange fees, processing fees, and other expenses, making this a pricier option than a simple bank transfer.
If you want to send Rands to Kenya with a debit card, Instarem is your best option. They've been the top rated provider in our comparison system for the last three months, recommended 10% of the time.
Finding the best exchange rate for ZAR to KES
The mid-market exchange rate changes daily, so timing your transfer can make a big difference to how many KESs you can get for your ZARs. The average Rand to Kenyan Shilling mid-market rate over the last month was 7.6325, with a low of 7.5813 and a high of 7.7345.
For comparison, the best exchange rate for ZAR to KES right now is through Regency FX, at a difference of 0.2%.
How we find the best transfer deals from South Africa to Kenya
We’ve compared the cost, speed, and product offering of the top money transfer services (including WorldRemit) available between Kenya and South Africa. Or comparison tool compares providers based on live fees, rates, and transfer times to make sure you get the best deal available.
We also produce unbiased, detailed reviews of all the top money transfer companies for sending Rand to Kenya, helping you in making smarter, simpler choices. We pride ourselves on our objective reviews, maintaining complete independence in our analysis and ratings.
Take a look at our comprehensive editorial policy for more information about our dedication to integrity and transparency.
You should only ever use regulated providers to transfer money. If a provider is not regulated, it’s likely to be a scam.
Remember: We will only ever recommend regulated financial institutions.