How Can I Buy Airtime From Safaricom To Airtel Without Transaction Cost

Buying airtime across different mobile networks in Kenya has become increasingly important as more people rely on multiple SIM cards, dual-SIM phones, and mobile wallets to stay connected. One of the most common needs today is purchasing Airtel airtime using Safaricom’s M-Pesa, especially when helping friends or family, managing business communication, or topping up a backup line. However, many users worry about extra transaction costs, unclear PayBill charges, or hidden fees that appear during the process. With mobile money playing such a central role in daily life, understanding the cheapest and most reliable method is no longer optional—it’s essential.

This guide provides a clear, step-by-step explanation of how you can buy Airtel airtime from Safaricom with little to no transaction cost, using official PayBill numbers, trusted aggregators, and M-Pesa features. It covers how the fees work, which methods are free for small amounts, and how to avoid common mistakes that lead to unexpected charges. Whether you’re a frequent M-Pesa user, a business owner managing multiple lines, or simply looking to help someone on Airtel, this comprehensive breakdown will show you the safest, most cost-effective, and up-to-date options available in Kenya today.

Practical methods to buy Airtel airtime from Safaricom/M-Pesa

Below are tested methods with step-by-step instructions and notes about fees.

Method 1 — Official Airtel PayBill (via M-Pesa): PayBill 220220 (Pesapal / airtel top-up partners)

What it is: Airtel accepts airtime top-ups through certain PayBill business numbers, such as 220220 (used by airtime/data aggregators like Pesapal and other partners). This allows you to use M-Pesa → Lipa na M-Pesa → PayBill to buy airtime for an Airtel number.

Steps (typical):

1. Dial *334# (or open the M-Pesa app) → select Lipa na M-Pesa → PayBill. Safaricom

2. Enter the Business Number: 220220.

3. For Account/Reference, enter AIRT + the Airtel number (some providers use a AIRT prefix; others accept the plain phone number — check the provider prompt). Example: AIRT0712123456 or 0712123456.

4. Enter the amount you want to top up.

5. Confirm with your M-Pesa PIN.

6. Wait for SMS confirmations from M-Pesa and from Airtel.

Fees & notes:

• Many aggregator PayBills (like 220220) are structured so small top-ups are effectively free to the customer — Pesapal advertises airtime purchases via 220220 as “without charges” for small amounts, but official fees depend on Safaricom’s PayBill tariff bands. Always check Safaricom’s tariff and the aggregator’s FAQ.

Method 2 — Use a trusted third-party top-up provider (Pesapal, DPO, TeelPay, etc.)

What it is: Companies such as Pesapal, DPO, and local fintechs operate paybills that let you buy airtime for any network. These providers let you pay via M-Pesa PayBill and instantly top-up Airtel. Examples and guides exist showing direct M-Pesa PayBill top-up flows.

Steps (example using Pesapal / DPO flow):

1. Dial *334# → Lipa na M-Pesa → PayBill.

2. Enter the provider’s business number (e.g., 220220 for Pesapal or the provider’s PayBill listed on their site).

3. Use your Airtel number as the account/reference.

4. Enter amount → confirm with PIN → wait for SMS.

Fees & notes:

• Many of these services either absorb the fee for small top-ups or have arrangements with Safaricom so customer cost is minimal. If the provider advertises “no charges,” it usually applies to small transactions — confirm on their site. Pesapal states buying Airtel airtime via their PayBill is possible and commonly shown as “without charges.”

Method 3 — Transfer M-Pesa to Airtel Money then buy airtime from Airtel Money

What it is: Transfer funds from M-Pesa to an Airtel Money wallet, then use Airtel Money’s top-up function to buy airtime. This method can be convenient but may incur a transfer fee when moving money from M-Pesa to Airtel Money (inter-network transfers often have a small charge depending on amount and tariff harmonization).

Steps:

1. From M-Pesa → Send Money → enter the Airtel Money PayBill or use the operator’s M-Pesa → Airtel transfer option (check the exact M-Pesa menu flow).

2. Receive funds in Airtel Money wallet.

3. From Airtel Money menu (*334# on Airtel or Airtel Money app) → Buy Airtime → choose the Airtel number → confirm.

Fees & notes:

• Inter-network wallet transfers may be charged; sometimes providers waive small fees. For low amounts, the total cost may still be minimal but not strictly zero in many cases. Confirm transfer tariffs before using this as a “free” method.

Method 4 — Use Safaricom’s “Buy Airtime for Other Phone” if it supports other networks

What it is: Safaricom’s buy-airtime menu (*334#) allows buying airtime for “My Phone” or “Other Phone.” Historically, this is primarily for Safaricom lines, but some USSD menus or SIM Toolkit vendors and aggregator integrations allow specifying other operator numbers. Always verify on your *334# options.

Steps:

1. Dial *334# → Buy Airtime → choose Other phone → enter the Airtel number → amount → confirm with PIN.

Fees & notes:

• If the USSD flow supports other networks via a backend aggregator, you might be able to top up Airtel directly. Safaricom explicitly states “Buy Airtime” as a service; however, the *availability of other-network top-ups depends on your USSD menu and backend configuration. If the USSD route shows an Airtel option, test with a small amount first (KSh 1–49 are often free per Safaricom policy).

Which of these options are actually free?

Short answer: Small top-ups are frequently free; higher amounts may attract small PayBill fees.

• Safaricom’s tariff page explicitly lists Buying Airtime through M-PESA as FREE, which makes direct M-Pesa buy-airtime for Safaricom lines free for customers. For cross-network top-ups via PayBill, the effective cost depends on the PayBill provider and the PayBill tariff band.

• Aggregators such as Pesapal advertise “buy airtime from M-Pesa without charges” — in practice this tends to mean small transactions (e.g., ≤ KSh 100) have no extra fee or the aggregator absorbs it. Always confirm on the aggregator’s website/FAQ.

• PayBill business charges: Safaricom’s business/PayBill tariff table indicates that customer payments under certain thresholds may be free or charged minimal fees — check the latest tariff PDF or Safaricom’s tariff page before large transactions.

Step-by-step example: Buy Airtel airtime KSh 50 via Pesapal PayBill (no fee for small amounts)

1. Dial *334# → Lipa na M-Pesa → select PayBill.

2. Enter Business No: 220220 (Pesapal).

3. Account/Reference: your Airtel number (or AIRT+number if required).

4. Amount: 50.

5. Enter M-Pesa PIN → Confirm.

6. SMS confirmations: M-Pesa, Pesapal (or aggregator), Airtel top-up SMS.

Why this often costs zero: Safaricom’s structure labels airtime purchases as free and many aggregators absorb micro-transaction costs for small top-ups. Still, check receipts/SMS to ensure no fee was applied.

Common pitfalls & how to avoid them

1. Using random/unverified PayBill numbers — scammers circulate bogus PayBills on social media. Only use PayBill numbers displayed on the official Airtel website or trusted aggregators (Pesapal, DPO, known fintechs). Confirm on the provider’s site before sending money.

2. Entering the wrong account/reference — many PayBill flows require the Airtel number as the account. If you mistype, the top-up could go to another customer or be stuck. Double-check before confirming.

3. Assuming zero fee for big amounts — Safaricom’s “buy airtime free” rule is for airtime purchase flows and small transactions; PayBill business payments can carry fees. For KSh 1–49, many M-Pesa transactions are free, but larger ones often incur a small fee band. Check Safaricom’s tariff table for current bands.

4. Relying on social media tips — Facebook posts often claim some PayBill is “always free.” Validate via the business website and Safaricom’s tariff pages before sending large sums.

How to check whether a top-up costs you anything

1. M-Pesa SMS — after each transaction, you get an M-Pesa confirmation SMS that shows the amount sent and the transaction fee (if any). Review that SMS.

2. Aggregator/merchant SMS — you’ll also get confirmation from the PayBill/aggregator and from Airtel when the top-up succeeds.

3. M-Pesa app / STK — check transaction history in the M-Pesa app to see any fees applied.

4. If the transaction fails or you’re charged incorrectly, contact Safaricom customer care and the aggregator’s support with the transaction ID.

Which business/paybill numbers are commonly used for cross-network airtime?

(These are examples frequently cited online — always verify on provider pages before use.)

• 220220 — Pesapal (advertised for airtime & bills). Many guides show this as a go-to for buying Airtel airtime from M-Pesa.

• 4142145 — TeelPay and other fintechs advertise PayBill numbers that let you top up all networks. Confirm on their site.

• DPO/Pay-by-Network flows — DPO solutions and other PSPs sometimes provide shortcodes (e.g., *544# or special PayBill numbers) that allow network-agnostic data/airtime purchases via M-Pesa.

Important: PayBill numbers change, and new aggregator PayBills appear frequently. Use the official Airtel top-up page or the aggregator’s own website as the canonical source. Pesapal and Airtel’s own support pages are reliable starting points.

When the method won’t be free (and what to do)

• Large amounts: If you’re topping up KSh 1,000+ you may see a small PayBill charge. Solution: split the top-up into smaller transactions if that reduces fees (but check Safaricom limits and aggregated cost first).

• Inter-wallet transfers (M-Pesa → Airtel Money): these can attract transfer fees. If your goal is strictly zero fee, prefer PayBill aggregator flows that advertise free micro-top-ups.

Safety & fraud prevention

• Only use known PayBills (Pesapal, DPO, Airtel’s official channels). Scammers post fake PayBill numbers on social platforms. If it looks too good (e.g., “always free for any amount”), verify on the merchant’s site.

• Confirm the transaction ID from M-Pesa after sending money — it’s your recovery ticket for disputes. If the airtime doesn’t arrive, open a dispute with M-Pesa and show the trans-ID.

• Never share your M-Pesa PIN — Safaricom never asks for it. Treat any caller or WhatsApp bot requesting your PIN as fraud.

Summary

Buying Airtel airtime from Safaricom/M-Pesa without an extra transaction cost is possible, especially for small top-ups using trusted PayBill aggregators (example: 220220/Pesapal) or via direct buy-airtime USSD menus where available. The key is to use official channels, verify PayBill numbers on providers’ websites, and confirm charges in your M-Pesa SMS. For larger transactions, small PayBill fees may apply — in that case, compare methods (PayBill vs. wallet transfer) and split transactions if it reduces cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I top up Airtel from M-Pesa without paying any fee at all?
A: Yes for small amounts — many buy-airtime flows and aggregators advertise zero customer charges for small purchases. However, for larger amounts PayBill or inter-network transfer fees can apply. Always validate with the aggregator and check your M-Pesa confirmation SMS.

Q: Is PayBill 220220 official for Airtel top-ups?
A: 220220 is widely used by airtime/data aggregators (Pesapal is commonly referenced). Use the provider’s website to confirm the correct PayBill format and the required account reference.

Q: What if I send airtime to the wrong number?
A: Transactions are usually instant and irreversible. If you make a mistake, contact M-Pesa support immediately with the transaction ID; success is not guaranteed. Double-check numbers before confirming.

Q: Does Safaricom charge for every M-Pesa PayBill?
A: Safaricom’s tariffs for PayBill/bill payments vary by the amount. Some small customer payments are free; others attract standard PayBill fees. Safaricom also explicitly lists standard “buy airtime” as free. Always confirm the tariff band.