Shops in Kenya vs Duka
Two Kenyan-made ways to get a business selling online — compared on the things that matter after the first week: limits, features, and where your shop gets found.
Quick Answer
Shops in Kenya is the better pick if you plan to grow: 30 products free, POS, bookings, broadcasts, branches, API, and a public directory that lists your shop. Duka is fine for a quick, simple catalog link — it's Kenyan-made and easy, just a shallower feature set.
Side-by-side
| Feature | Shops in Kenya | Duka |
|---|---|---|
| Made for Kenya | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Free plan product limit | 30 | ~10 (check current) |
| M-PESA checkout | ✓ STK push (from KSh 299/mo) | ✓ On free/paid tiers |
| WhatsApp ordering | ✓ Built into storefront | ✓ Order alerts |
| 0% platform commission | ✓ All plans | Check current terms |
| POS terminal | ✓ Growth+ | ✗ |
| Service bookings | ✓ Starter+ | ✗ |
| Digital products | ✓ Growth+ | ✗ |
| WhatsApp broadcasts | ✓ Professional+ | ✗ |
| Multiple branches | ✓ Business | ✗ |
| Developer API & webhooks | ✓ Business | ✗ |
| Public shop directory | ✓ Free exposure | ✗ |
| Pricing | Free – KSh 3,499/mo | Free – paid tiers |
Where Duka genuinely wins
Simplicity. If all you need is a product link you can drop in a WhatsApp bio today, Duka's stripped-back catalog gets you there with almost zero setup. Its free tier includes M-PESA, which ours doesn't (our free plan uses manual payment instructions).
Where Shops in Kenya wins
Depth and headroom. The free plan fits a real catalog (30 products, not ~10), and paid plans go from M-PESA checkout at KSh 299 all the way to POS, bookings, broadcasts, multi-branch and a developer API at Business. Your shop is also listed in our public directory of ~29,000 Kenyan businesses — free discovery no other builder offers. You won't outgrow the platform and have to migrate.
The verdict
Both are legitimate Kenyan options — that's rare and worth supporting. Pick Shops in Kenya if you want a shop that grows into a full business (checkout, POS, bookings, API, directory exposure). Pick Duka if you want the absolute simplest product link today and a small catalog is all you'll ever need.
See the difference free
30 products on the free plan — no card required.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shops in Kenya better than Duka for a Kenyan business?
For businesses that plan to grow, Shops in Kenya offers more room: 30 products free (vs ~10 on Duka's free tier), POS, bookings, broadcasts, multi-branch, API access and a public shop directory. Duka is simpler and fine for a quick catalog link. Both are Kenyan-made with M-PESA and WhatsApp support.
What is the difference between Shops in Kenya and Duka?
Both are Kenyan shop builders with M-PESA and WhatsApp ordering. Shops in Kenya goes deeper on features — POS terminal, service bookings, digital downloads, WhatsApp broadcasts, multiple branches, developer API, and free exposure in its public business directory. Duka focuses on a simple product-link catalog.
Which is cheaper, Shops in Kenya or Duka?
Both have free plans. Shops in Kenya's free plan allows 30 products with WhatsApp ordering and manual payments; Duka's free tier typically allows about 10 products (check their site for current limits). Paid Shops in Kenya plans run KSh 299-3,499/month with 0% commission.