Most Kenyans don’t realize how much their fuliza loan actually costs. This calculator shows you before you borrow.
You’re paying KSh 300-500 monthly in fuliza loan fees without even noticing. That’s money you could save or invest instead.
The M-Pesa overdraft seems convenient when your balance runs dry, but those daily fees add up fast. Calculate your real costs here before you hit that button.
Check Safaricom’s fuliza loan rates for current terms, or read our comprehensive Fuliza guide to understand how the service works.
Want to avoid Fuliza altogether? Learn how to opt out of Fuliza for emergencies only, or better yet, discover how to cut your transaction costs and build savings instead.
Use our Net Pay Calculator to see your take-home salary and plan better.
What is a Fuliza Loan? #
A fuliza loan is Safaricom’s M-Pesa overdraft that covers you when your balance hits zero.
Here’s how it works:
- You try to pay KSh 500 through M-Pesa
- Your balance shows only KSh 200
- Fuliza loan automatically covers the KSh 300 gap
- You pay back when money hits your M-Pesa (auto-deducted)
- You get 30 days max before penalties kick in
What you get:
- Instant approval – No paperwork needed
- Auto-activation – Already available if you qualify
- Auto-recovery – Money gets deducted when M-Pesa receives funds
- Limit range – KSh 1 to KSh 70,000 based on usage
- Pay anytime – Or it auto-recovers from incoming money
The Central Bank of Kenya regulates this as a digital credit service.
How to Get Fuliza Loan (No Application Needed) #
Fuliza activates automatically – there’s no application process.
Check if you qualify: Dial *334# → Fuliza M-Pesa → Opt in
Got a limit? You’re ready. Just use M-Pesa normally and fuliza covers shortfalls automatically.
No limit yet? You need 6+ months of active M-Pesa use, regular transactions, and good repayment history.
To opt out: Dial *334# → Fuliza M-Pesa → Opt Out. Need detailed steps? Read our guide on how to opt out of Fuliza.
Why Use This Fuliza Loan Calculator #
Before you fuliza, this calculator tells you:
- Exact access fee (1% charged once)
- Daily charges based on your amount
- Total you’ll pay back (borrowed amount + all fees)
- Cost buildup for different timelines
- How it compares to Hustler Fund and M-Shwari
The reality most people miss:
What you think: “I took a KSh 1,000 fuliza loan for 5 days, won’t cost much”
What you actually pay (using calculator):
- Access fee (1%): KSh 10
- Daily charge: KSh 12/day
- Days: 5 × KSh 12 = KSh 60
- Real cost: KSh 70 for 5 days
If you do this twice monthly: KSh 140 × 12 months = KSh 1,680 yearly on fuliza fees
That KSh 1,680 could be earning interest in a money market fund instead!
How to Use This Fuliza Loan Calculator #
Step 1: Put in Your Fuliza Loan Amount
- Range: KSh 1 to KSh 70,000 (your limit)
- Example: KSh 500 (lunch), KSh 2,000 (bill payment)
Step 2: Pick Your Date
- When you used or will use the overdraft
- Calculator counts days from here
Step 3: Choose Payback Date
- When money’s coming to your M-Pesa
- Or when you’ll clear it manually
Step 4: Hit “Calculate Cost”
You’ll see:
- Total to Pay – Borrowed amount + access fee + daily charges
- Access Fee (1%) – One-time charge
- Total Daily Fees – All accumulated charges
- Daily Rate – Your tier (KSh 0, 6, 12, 24, or 30/day)
- Summary – Cost breakdown and warnings
Fuliza Loan Charges Explained (2026 Rates) #
Access Fee: 1% Per Fuliza Loan #
Charged once when you fuliza, no matter how long you keep it.
Calculator examples:
- KSh 500: KSh 5 access fee
- KSh 1,000: KSh 10 access fee
- KSh 5,000: KSh 50 access fee
- KSh 10,000: KSh 100 access fee
This fee hits immediately when the overdraft activates.
Daily Charges for Fuliza Loans (Tier System) #
Charged every single day your fuliza is active (includes 20% excise duty):
| Fuliza Loan Amount | Daily Charge |
|---|---|
| KSh 1 – KSh 100 | KSh 0/day |
| KSh 101 – KSh 500 | KSh 6/day |
| KSh 501 – KSh 1,000 | KSh 12/day |
| KSh 1,001 – KSh 1,500 | KSh 24/day |
| KSh 1,501+ | KSh 30/day |
Watch out: Daily fees start from day 1, not later!
Use the calculator to see exact charges for your fuliza loan.
Check current rates at Safaricom Fuliza page.
Auto-Recovery: How Your Fuliza Loan Gets Paid #
Your fuliza debt deducts automatically from any M-Pesa money you receive:
- Friend sends money → Takes its cut first
- Bank withdrawal to M-Pesa → Recovers automatically
- Salary hits M-Pesa → Deducted first
Example from calculator:
- Your balance owed: KSh 1,070 (KSh 1,000 + KSh 70 fees)
- Friend sends KSh 2,000
- You actually get: KSh 930 (KSh 2,000 – KSh 1,070)
How to Pay Fuliza Loan & Check Balance #
Auto-payment (default): Fuliza loan clears itself when money hits your M-Pesa – salary, transfers, anything.
Manual payment: Dial *334# → Fuliza M-Pesa → Repay. Stops daily charges immediately.
Check balance: Same menu → Check Balance. You’ll see fuliza loan amount owed, fees accumulated, and days elapsed.
Partial payment tip: Can’t clear your fuliza? Pay what you can. Dropping from KSh 3,000 to KSh 1,000 moves you from KSh 30/day tier to KSh 12/day tier (saves KSh 18 daily).
Use the calculator above to see how partial payments affect total cost.
Your Fuliza Loan Limit #
Fuliza loan limits range KSh 1-70,000 based on M-Pesa history, repayment behavior, and CRB score.
Check yours: Dial *334# → Fuliza M-Pesa → Check Limit
Grow your limit: Use M-Pesa daily, pay back early, keep good CRB score.
Shrink your limit: Let it run 30+ days, default, barely use M-Pesa.
Real Fuliza Loan Costs – Quick Examples #
KSh 1,000 fuliza loan for 7 days:
- Cost: KSh 94 (access KSh 10 + daily KSh 84)
- Hustler Fund alternative: KSh 1.53
- You waste: KSh 92.47
KSh 2,500 fuliza loan for 14 days:
- Cost: KSh 460 (access KSh 25 + daily KSh 435)
- Annual rate: 301%
- Better: Hustler Fund costs KSh 3.83
KSh 10,000 fuliza loan for 30 days:
- Cost: KSh 1,000 (10% of borrowed amount!)
- Better: Sacco costs KSh 100 (save KSh 900)
The trap – using fuliza loans 4x monthly:
- Total monthly cost: KSh 370+
- Annual waste: KSh 4,440 that could be in savings
Use the calculator above to see your exact costs.
Fuliza Loan vs Cheaper Options #
| Amount | Days | Fuliza Cost | Hustler Fund | M-Shwari (30d) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KSh 1,000 | 7 | KSh 94 | KSh 1.53 | N/A |
| KSh 5,000 | 14 | KSh 470 | KSh 15.34 | KSh 450 |
| KSh 2,000 | 30 | KSh 740 | N/A | KSh 180 |
Takeaway: Hustler Fund is 10-50× cheaper for short-term needs. M-Shwari beats it for 30-day needs.
Compare using: Hustler Fund Calculator | M-Shwari Calculator
Smart Fuliza Loan Strategies #
Strategy 1: Same-day only – Take fuliza loan and repay same day = zero daily charges (only 1% access fee)
Strategy 2: Stay under KSh 100 – Free daily tier (KSh 0/day), only pay 1% access fee
Strategy 3: Calculate first – Use fuliza loan calculator above before every overdraft, compare with Hustler Fund
Strategy 4: Partial payment – Drop from KSh 3,000 to KSh 1,000 = move from KSh 30/day to KSh 12/day tier (saves KSh 18 daily)
Common Fuliza Loan Mistakes #
Not calculating first – KSh 1,500 fuliza loan for 10 days = KSh 255 cost (17% of borrowed amount!)
Letting fuliza loan run 30 days – KSh 5,000 becomes KSh 5,950 (19% in fees)
Ignoring tier jumps – KSh 501 costs KSh 59 more than KSh 500 over 10 days (tier jump from KSh 6/day to KSh 12/day)
Multiple small fuliza loans – Three KSh 300 = 3 access fees vs one KSh 900 = 1 access fee
When to Use Fuliza (And When Not To) #
Use Only When: #
Real emergency + same-day payback possible
- Medical emergency, money coming tonight
- Calculator shows: Access fee only (KSh 0 daily)
Amount under KSh 100 + multi-day OK
- Free daily tier (KSh 0/day)
- Calculator shows: Almost no cost
Safer than being unsafe
- Stranded at night, need ride home
- Your safety > KSh 20-50 cost
Penalty costs more
- Rent late fee: KSh 1,000
- Overdraft cost for 3 days: KSh 87
- Use it, save KSh 913
Skip When: #
Cost over 5% of amount
- Calculator shows total cost / borrowed amount
- If over 5%, other options way cheaper
Timeline over 7 days
- Daily charges stack up fast
- Use M-Shwari or Hustler Fund instead
Amount over KSh 2,000
- Hits top daily tier (KSh 30/day)
- KSh 900 monthly just in daily charges!
You’re doing this regularly
- Calculator shows monthly cost = shocking
- Build emergency fund in MMF instead
Breaking the Fuliza Loan Habit #
Calculate your monthly waste: Use fuliza loan calculator for each time you borrow. Average user: KSh 432/month = KSh 5,184 yearly
Build KSh 3,000 buffer: Save what you’d spend on fuliza loan fees. After 3 months = covers most emergencies without charges.
Use this decision tree:
- Have emergency fund? → Use it (free)
- Can pay in 1-14 days? → Hustler Fund (8% yearly)
- Need 30 days? → M-Shwari (cheaper)
- Real emergency only? → Fuliza loan (last resort)
Fuliza Loan Cost Quick Reference #
| Amount | 0 Days | 7 Days | 14 Days | 30 Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KSh 500 | KSh 5 | KSh 47 | KSh 89 | KSh 185 |
| KSh 2,000 | KSh 20 | KSh 188 | KSh 356 | KSh 740 |
| KSh 10,000 | KSh 100 | KSh 310 | KSh 520 | KSh 1,000 |
Use calculator above for your exact amount and timeline.
Calculate Your Fuliza Costs Now #
Scroll up and use the fuliza loan calculator before your next overdraft.
Quick steps:
- Put in fuliza loan amount (KSh 1 to KSh 70,000)
- Pick date you’ll borrow
- Choose realistic payback date (be honest!)
- Hit “Calculate Cost”
- Check total fuliza loan cost and daily tier
- Compare with Hustler Fund Calculator
- Pick cheapest option
Every KSh 1,000 fuliza debt for 7 days = KSh 94 wasted Do this monthly = KSh 1,128 yearly waste!
Related Calculators:
- Hustler Fund Calculator – 8% yearly government option
- M-Shwari Calculator – 30-day mobile alternative
- Money Market Fund Calculator – Build emergency fund earning 16%. See our best MMF to invest in Kenya guide.
- Net Pay Calculator – Plan salary to avoid overdrafts
- M-Pesa Transaction Calculator – Track all mobile money costs. Learn how to cut transaction costs.
- Loan Repayment Calculator – Compare with traditional options
- HELB Loan Calculator – Education loan repayments
Outside Resources:
- Safaricom Fuliza Page – Official rates
- Central Bank of Kenya – Digital credit rules
- Metropol CRB – Check credit score
- TransUnion Kenya – Credit reports
- Financial Sector Deepening Kenya – Financial literacy
More Financial Guides:
- How to Register for SHIF – New healthcare insurance system
- How to Send Money from M-Pesa to Equity Bank – Step-by-step guide
- How to Buy Airtel Airtime from M-Pesa – Easy methods
- How to Buy Tokens via M-Pesa – Electricity payments
- How to Improve General Knowledge – Financial literacy tips
- Ziidi Money Market Fund – Simple MMF from Safaricom
Disclaimer: Calculator based on Safaricom’s published rates as of January 2026: 1% access fee + tiered daily charges (KSh 0-30/day including 20% excise duty). Real charges may vary. Limits range KSh 1-70,000 based on M-Pesa usage. You get 30 days max before penalties. Late repayment may be reported to Credit Reference Bureaus. Always check current rates at Safaricom’s official page. This calculator gives estimates for planning only.
Real talk: The calculator shows this service costs 200-600% yearly – the most expensive way to get money in Kenya. If you’re using it more than twice monthly, you need an emergency fund, not more debt. That KSh 432/month in fees = KSh 5,184 yearly that could be earning 16% in a money market fund. After 1 year: KSh 6,013 savings vs KSh 5,184 in fees paid. After 3 years: KSh 20,918 savings vs KSh 15,552 in fees. Stop feeding banks your salary – use the calculator, see the real cost, then build your emergency buffer instead!
