How much does an online shop cost in Kenya?
The honest answer — including the line items most guides quote around. Three ways to get a shop: a platform like ours, a developer-built site, or a marketplace. Here's what each really costs.
Quick Answer
KSh 0 to start — Shops in Kenya's free plan gives you a working shop (30 products, WhatsApp ordering, manual payments). KSh 299-3,499/month for automated M-PESA checkout and bigger limits. KSh 30,000-350,000+ for a developer-built site, plus ongoing hosting and maintenance. Marketplaces charge no monthly fee but take ~5-15% of every sale.
The three routes, honestly compared
| Route | Upfront | Ongoing | Per sale | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform (Shops in Kenya) | KSh 0 | Free – KSh 3,499/mo | 0% commission | Most Kenyan SMEs — M-PESA & WhatsApp built in |
| Developer-built site | KSh 30,000–350,000+ | Hosting ~KSh 3,000–10,000/yr + maintenance | Gateway ~1-3.5% | Complex custom needs, budget for upkeep |
| Marketplace (Jumia etc.) | KSh 0 | KSh 0 monthly | ~5-15% commission + fees | Reach without building an audience |
The line items everyone forgets
| Item | Typical cost | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| .co.ke domain name | ~KSh 1,000–2,000/yr | Optional — a free yourname.shops.co.ke link works fine |
| Business registration (eCitizen) | ~KSh 1,000 one-off | For a PayBill/Till in your trading name |
| KRA PIN | Free on iTax | Comes with formalizing the business |
| M-PESA PayBill or Till | Free to apply; Safaricom's transaction rates apply | Automated checkout in your business name |
| Payment gateway fees | ~1–3.5% per transaction | Charged by the payment provider, not the platform |
| Product photography | KSh 0 with a phone | Day one — it's what sells |
| Packaging & courier | Variable per order | As orders come in — or charge delivery fees by zone |
Do the commission math
On KSh 100,000 of monthly sales: a marketplace at 10% takes KSh 10,000 every month — that's more than our most expensive plan. A platform at KSh 299/month costs the same whether you sell KSh 10,000 or KSh 1,000,000. Marketplace commission feels free until volume arrives; flat SaaS pricing feels like a cost until you do the math.
Try it with your numbers
Your plan
Starter
KSh 299/mo
Marketplace (~10%)
KSh 5,000
per month in commission
You keep
KSh 4,701
more per month
Plan shown covers your product count at 0% commission — payment-provider fees (~1-3.5%) apply on card/checkout either way. Marketplace estimate uses ~10%; real commission varies ~5-15% by category.
Our pricing, on the record
| Plan | Price | Products | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | KSh 0 | 30 | WhatsApp ordering, manual payments |
| Starter | KSh 299/mo | 100 | M-PESA + card checkout, bookings |
| Growth | KSh 699/mo | 500 | POS, digital products, coupons |
| Professional | KSh 1,299/mo | 1,500 | Broadcasts, reviews, custom domain |
| Business | KSh 3,499/mo | Unlimited | Branches, API, 100 staff |
0% commission on every plan. Full feature list: pricing →
Start at the KSh 0 row
30 products, WhatsApp ordering, manual payments. No card required.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an online shop cost in Kenya?
From KSh 0 (Shops in Kenya free plan — 30 products, WhatsApp ordering, manual payments) to KSh 299-3,499/month on a SaaS builder with M-PESA checkout. A developer-built store runs KSh 30,000-350,000+ upfront plus hosting and maintenance. Add ~KSh 1,000-2,000/year for an optional .co.ke domain and ~KSh 1,000 one-off for business registration if you need a PayBill in a trading name.
Can I start an online shop in Kenya for free?
Yes. Shops in Kenya's free plan costs KSh 0: a real storefront with 30 products, WhatsApp ordering and manual payment instructions, 0% commission, no card required. You upgrade only when automated M-PESA checkout or bigger limits pay for themselves.
Is it cheaper to sell on Jumia or have your own online shop?
Jumia charges no monthly fee but takes roughly 5-15% commission per sale plus possible fulfilment fees — on KSh 100,000 of monthly sales that's ~KSh 5,000-15,000 every month. An own shop on Shops in Kenya costs KSh 0-3,499/month flat with 0% commission. Marketplaces win on instant traffic; your own shop wins on margin and customer ownership — many sellers use both.
What hidden costs do online shops in Kenya have?
The line items most guides skip: .co.ke domain (~KSh 1,000-2,000/yr), business registration via eCitizen (~KSh 1,000, needed for a PayBill in your trading name), Safaricom's own M-PESA transaction rates, packaging and courier fees, and — on marketplace or card-based platforms — per-sale commissions and gateway fees of 1-3.5%.