How to Buy Airtel Airtime from M-Pesa: 5 Best Methods

Running low on Airtel airtime but only have M-Pesa? No worries! Here’s a simple guide on how to buy Airtel airtime using M-Pesa. No need to leave your home or go to an agent — you can do it all right from your phone.

M-PESA (M for mobile, PESA is Swahili for money) is a mobile phone-based money transfer service, payments and micro-financing service, launched in 2007 by Vodafone and Safaricom, the largest mobile network operator in Kenya. It has since expanded to Tanzania, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Lesotho, Ghana, Egypt, Afghanistan, South Africa and Ethiopia. The rollouts in India, Romania, and Albania were terminated amid low market uptake. M-PESA allows users to deposit, withdraw, transfer money, pay for goods and services (Lipa na M-PESA, Swahili for “Pay with M-PESA”), access credit and savings, all with a mobile device

TL;DR – Quick Summary

You can buy Airtel airtime using M-Pesa through:

1. Paybill method (business number 220220)
2. USSD code (*544#)
3. M-Pesa app
4. Airtel Money app
5. SIM toolkit menu

All methods work the same way. Just pick the one that’s easiest for you.

Method 1: Buy Airtel Airtime from M-Pesa Paybill (Most Popular)

This is the most commonly used method. Here’s how it works:

1. Go to your M-Pesa menu on your phone.
2. Select “Lipa na M-Pesa”.
3. Choose “Pay Bill”.
4. Enter business number: 220220.
5. Enter your Airtel phone number as the account number (don’t put 0 before your number, e.g., enter 733123456 instead of 0733123456).
6. Enter the amount (minimum KES 10).
7. Enter your M-Pesa PIN and confirm.
8. You’ll receive confirmation messages from both M-Pesa and Airtel, and the airtime will load instantly.

Common mistake: Don’t add a “0” before your Airtel number.

Method 2: USSD Code

This is the quickest method if you’re on a basic phone and don’t need a menu navigation.

1. Dial *544# from your Safaricom line.
2. Select “Buy Airtime”.
3. Choose “Other Networks”.
4. Select “Airtel”.
5. Enter your Airtel number.
6. Enter the amount.
7. Confirm with your M-Pesa PIN.

Tip: This method is super fast if you’re comfortable with USSD codes.

Method 3: M-Pesa App

If you prefer using the M-Pesa app:

1. Open the M-Pesa app.
2. Tap “Pay Bill”.
3. Enter business number: 220220.
4. Add your Airtel number as the account.
5. Enter the amount and complete with your M-Pesa PIN.
6. Your transaction history will be saved for easy repeat purchases.

Method 4: Buy Airtel Airtime from M-Pesa via Airtel Money App

You can also use Airtel’s own app to buy airtime via M-Pesa:

1. Download and open the Airtel Money app.
2. Go to “Pay Bills” or “Payments”.
3. Select “Buy Airtime”.
4. Choose “Pay with M-Pesa”.
5. Enter the amount and complete payment through M-Pesa by entering your M-Pesa PIN.
6. The airtime will be added directly to your Airtel line.

Tip: This method is perfect if you already use Airtel services.

Method 5: SIM Toolkit

For basic phones that don’t use the internet:

1. Open your SIM toolkit menu.
2. Select “M-Pesa”.
3. Choose “Pay Bill” and follow the same steps as Method 1 (enter business number 220220, Airtel number, and amount).

This method works on all phones, even those without internet.

What to Watch Out For

• Wrong number: Always double-check the Airtel number. If you enter it wrong, you can’t easily reverse the transaction.
• Network delays: Transactions may take a few minutes, especially during peak hours. Don’t panic if it takes longer than expected.
• Minimum amounts: You can’t buy less than KES 10 worth of airtime.
• Transaction fees: M-Pesa charges a small service fee for the transaction. Check the current M-Pesa rates on your menu to avoid surprises.

Why This Matters

Having multiple ways to buy Airtel airtime from M-Pesa means you’re never stuck. Whether you’re using USSD, the M-Pesa app, or even Airtel’s app, you can buy airtime easily and instantly.

And don’t forget, you can use Fuliza to complete the transaction even if you’re a little short on M-Pesa balance.