Fintech in Kenya (2025)

Top Apps and Trends

Reshaping Business Finance

Spotlighting Branch, Tala, Loop, and the new wave of financial innovation

Kenya’s fintech sector in 2025 is redefining how businesses manage money—from credit access and payroll to embedded finance and cross-border payments. With over 102 active fintech startups and Nairobi emerging as a continental hub, the country’s financial landscape is being reshaped by mobile-first platforms, AI-driven credit scoring, and open finance APIs.

This article explores the top fintech apps transforming business finance and the trends driving Kenya’s digital economy forward.

1. Branch: Instant Credit and Business Loans

  • Offers mobile-based loans to individuals and SMEs
  • Uses AI-powered credit scoring based on phone data and transaction history
  • Disburses loans within minutes via M-PESA
  • Expanded into merchant financing and BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) for small retailers
  • Operates in Kenya, Tanzania, and Nigeria

Branch remains a go-to app for micro-entrepreneurs needing fast, unsecured credit.

2. Tala: Alternative Credit for Underserved Markets

  • Provides microloans via mobile app with flexible repayment
  • Uses behavioral data and phone usage to assess creditworthiness
  • Offers loans from KSh 500 to KSh 30,000
  • Focuses on financial inclusion for informal sector workers and gig economy participants

Tala’s model continues to challenge traditional banking by serving high-risk but high-potential borrowers.

3. Loop by NCBA: Digital Banking for Entrepreneurs

  • Offers smart budgeting, goal tracking, and automated savings
  • Supports business accounts, invoicing, and bulk payments
  • Integrates with M-PESA and other mobile wallets
  • Provides credit score insights and personalized loan offers

Loop is popular among freelancers, startups, and SMEs seeking modern banking tools without branch visits.

4. Pezesha: SME Lending via Embedded Finance

  • Connects small businesses to lenders through peer-to-peer platforms
  • Partners with e-commerce and logistics platforms to offer embedded credit
  • Uses alternative data for underwriting
  • Offers loans from KSh 5,000 to KSh 500,000

Pezesha is helping digitize credit access for Kenya’s informal and semi-formal enterprises.

5. Lipa Later: Smart Financing for Retail and Equipment

  • Enables Buy Now, Pay Later for electronics, furniture, and business tools
  • Partners with retailers and e-commerce platforms
  • Offers monthly installments with minimal paperwork
  • Expanding into B2B asset financing

Lipa Later is making capital goods more accessible to SMEs and startups.

6. Kwara: SACCOs Reimagined

  • Digitizes credit unions and cooperatives
  • Offers members mobile access to savings, loans, and statements
  • Enables SACCOs to offer instant loans and digital onboarding
  • Integrates with M-PESA and core banking systems

Kwara is modernizing Kenya’s cooperative finance sector, which serves millions of informal workers.

7. Workpay: Payroll and HR for African Businesses

  • Automates salary payments, compliance, and tax filings
  • Offers employee self-service portals and benefits management
  • Integrates with M-PESA and bank APIs
  • Used by SMEs, NGOs, and startups across East Africa

Workpay is streamlining HR and payroll for businesses scaling across borders.

8. Pay Hero Kenya: All-in-One Financial Companion

  • Combines payments, budgeting, and bulk disbursements
  • Serves both street vendors and large enterprises
  • Offers real-time analytics and automated reconciliation
  • Supports mobile and web platforms

Pay Hero is emerging as a versatile tool for managing business cash flow and transactions.

9. Cellulant: Pan-African Payment Infrastructure

  • Powers digital payments for banks, telcos, and merchants
  • Supports multi-channel payments: mobile money, cards, bank transfers
  • Enables cross-border transactions and merchant wallets
  • Used by e-commerce platforms and utility providers

Cellulant is a backbone for Kenya’s digital commerce ecosystem.

10. Pesapal: Payment Gateway for SMEs

  • Offers POS terminals, online checkout, and event ticketing
  • Supports mobile money, card payments, and QR codes
  • Provides merchant dashboards and settlement reports

Pesapal continues to serve small businesses with reliable, multi-channel payment solutions.

Key Trends Reshaping Business Finance

  • Embedded Finance: Financial services are now built into e-commerce, logistics, and HR platforms
  • AI and Alternative Credit Scoring: Apps use phone metadata, behavior, and transaction history to assess risk
  • Open Finance APIs: Banks and fintechs share data securely to offer personalized services
  • BNPL and Asset Financing: Businesses can acquire tools and inventory without upfront capital
  • Digital Payroll and HR: Automation tools simplify compliance and employee management
  • SACCO Digitization: Cooperatives are going mobile, expanding access to credit and savings

Final Thoughts

Kenya’s fintech apps in 2025 are not just reshaping business finance—they’re redefining who gets access, how fast, and how affordably. From microloans and payroll to embedded insurance and cross-border payments, the future of finance is mobile, intelligent, and inclusive.