Best choice: Wise
We tested & reviewed dozens of money transfer providers, and Wise scored highly.
Wise appeared in 67.3% of Kenya to the United States searches in the last 6 months, and was the top rated company out of 8 that support KES to USD.
So for a great blend of cost, speed & features, make your Kenya to the United States transfer using Wise.
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How to compare deals on Kenya to United States money transfers
Always compare rates
Don't pay more than you need to. Use our live comparison tool to ensure the best rates on money transfers from Kenya to the United States.
Choose a provider
Select the provider that gives you the best value & service for your needs
Click, sign up & send
Follow the steps & start your transfer from Kenya. Your funds will be converted to US Dollar and transferred to the United States.
Summary of recent searches
Top rated for transfers from Kenya to United States
Total number of KE - US providers
8
Average cheapest fees & rate
Average fastest transfer
Average transfer time
Within minutes
Best for bank transfers
Best for debit card
Best for credit card
Get the most from sending money from Kenya to United States
1
Compare providers
Comparing providers offering services between Kenya and the United States based on your specific transfer amount, is the easiest way to get the best price on your transfer.
We cover the entire KES-USD market and have compared 8 providers offering services between Kenya and the United States.
This ensures you will get the most comprehensive options for sending Kenyan Shilling to the United States.
Whilst we rate Wise as the best overall for transfers between the two countries, comparing gives you the best idea for your specific Kenya to the United States transfer needs.
2
Beat the Kenyan Shilling-US Dollar exchange rate
The exchange rate determines the price you will pay when buying US Dollar in Kenya. A better exchange rate means more Kenyan Shillings being sent to the United States.
The current rate between the Kenyan Shilling and US Dollar is 0.0078.
The KES-USD exchange rate is always changing. Understanding the average, and then waiting a day or two can help you get more USD for the same amount of Kenyan Shillings - but you might end up worse off.
A safer option if you want to get a particular rate is to use a forward contract. This allows you to lock in an agreed exchange rate between Kenya and the United States.
Sending via a Debit card is the payment method that will get you the best price on a transfer from Kenya to the United States.
Instarem is the company offering the best price currently on this.
Using Instarem for a Debit card to the United States from Kenya is 4.4% cheaper than the next-best option in the market.
4
Financial regulations across Kenya and United States
Kenya and United States have different financial regulations to be aware of. Ensuring you fully understand these regulations will aid in keeping your money safe.
Our directory of worldwide financial regulators contains details on regulation for money transfers between Kenya and United States.
5
Consider minimum and maximum limits
Companies offering money transfers between Kenya and the United States will have minimum or maximum thresholds on how much you can send or receive across set timeframes.
Exchange rates and fees for different transfer amounts could change and sending regularly could mean losing out.
That’s why it’s best to compare KES-USD rates for your specific transfer amount.
For regular transfers to the United States to Kenya, shopping around each time can make a huge difference.
For sending large amounts of KES to United States without hitting a threshold, we’d recommended Wise. They offer a combination of rates and fees when sending from Kenya to the United States that is the most competitive, even at larger amounts.
Be sure to check with the recipient and understand any declarations needed on large amounts of money entering the United States from Kenya.
6
Receiving money in United States
Options for receiving US Dollar in the United States include direct bank deposit, cash pickup, a mobile wallet or receiving money into a multi-currency account.
Not all of the 8 providers offering transfers from Kenya to the United States will support every method for incoming US Dollar, so it’s best to check ahead of time.
The most common option is to send directly from Kenya to a bank account in the United States. For most part, this is convenient but does have receiving fees to potentially be aware of.
Wise is the best company for bank transfers between Kenya and United States.
Cash pickup is popular in some parts of United States, but not always supported and can be costly compared to cheaper options.
Mobile wallet or P2P services and payment apps like PayPal, Xoom, and CashApp are popular because of convenience, but they come with more limitations and higher costs compared to money transfer providers like Wise.
7
Be ready with your ID
When sending US Dollars to the United States, through a money transfer company, you will need to verify your ID when signing up.
The documents you need can vary and in some cases you might need a couple of options.
Generally, government issued ID such as a passport or driver's license are accepted in Kenya. If the recipient needs an ID to collect money in the United States, the same applies there. You may also be able use other ID formats, where these aren’t available.
Large transactions between Kenya and United States can be subject to additional checks such as proof of funds for anti-money laundering purposes. This may also require additional ID checks.
One of the reasons Wise as scored so highly for transfers to the United States is their easy sign up process in Kenya.
8
Tax declarations
As well as proof of funds, when sending large amounts of money between Kenya and the United States there will be tax declarations to consider. This is also potentially due to regular transactions.
Some transfers into US Dollar may need to be reported to tax authorities in the United States and Kenya, particularly where inheritance or property purchases are involved.
Tax limits and personal allowances do change in the United States based on age, income and a few other elements. Everyone’s tax obligations are unique - when in doubt, please contact a tax professional in Kenya or the United States.
Comparing providers offering services between Kenya and the United States based on your specific transfer amount, is the easiest way to get the best price on your transfer.
We cover the entire KES-USD market and have compared 8 providers offering services between Kenya and the United States.
This ensures you will get the most comprehensive options for sending Kenyan Shilling to the United States.
Whilst we rate Wise as the best overall for transfers between the two countries, comparing gives you the best idea for your specific Kenya to the United States transfer needs.
Cheapest way to send money to the United States from Kenya: Wise
Wise combines the lowest fees with the best exchange rate and from the 8 companies compared offers the cheapest transfers to the United States from Kenya.
Data collected through our comparison over the past six months shows that Wise is 4.4% cheaper than the second-best option.
The cost is made up of an average fee of 15* KES and an exchange rate for buying US Dollar with Kenyan Shilling that is 0% different to the mid-market rate.
If you want to secure the best rates on a Kenya to United States transfer, Wise offers value. We would still recommend searching for the amount you want to send to the United States.
*The most common fee applied to KES-USD by Wise, based on data from the past six months.
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Fastest money transfers to the United States from Kenya: Wise.
Of 8 money transfer companies offering services from Kenya to the United States, Wise is the quickest way to send money.
Through our comparison, we found Wise to be the fastest option for sending Kenyan Shilling to US Dollar 62.7% of the time. For fast transfers between KES and USD, Wise is a great option.
When sending money from Kenya to the United States, Wise has an average fee of 5.52 KES. Although we would recommend comparing the amount you want to send.
When testing the fastest options, we compared the 8 money transfer providers offering Kenya to the United States transfers for overall speed. This included transfer times to after depositing Kenyan Shilling to a money transfer account.
When you want the fastest way to send, Wise is our recommended choice for Kenya to the United States transfers.
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Transfer a large amount of money
For transferring bigger sums of money to the United States from Kenya, opt for a provider with a competitive exchange rate and strong account management.
Wise is the best rated company for sending large amounts of US Dollar to the United States out of 8 companies offering the service.
Whether for a property purchase, or for business, sending large amounts of money to the United States from Kenya has the potential to be very expensive.
Wise is our choice for big transfers to KES because of all round price, speed and management when making large transfers.
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Understanding the cost of money transfers from Kenya to United States
The total cost of sending money to United States from Kenya is made up of a combination of mid-market, exchange rates and fees.
The Mid-Market and Exchange Rates: The current mid-market for KES-USD is 0.0078 USD per Kenyan Shilling.
Using a transfer company with an exchange rate as close to the mid-market rate as possible will result in being able to buy more US Dollar for your Kenyan Shillings.
Over the last three months, the average KES-USD mid-market rate has seen each Kenyan Shilling worth 0.0076 USD. Within this we see a high of 0.0079, and a low of 0.0068.
Of the 8 companies compared, Wise offers the best exchange rates.
The biggest factor in the overall cost of sending money is the exchange rate you receive on converting KES to USD.
Fees: When sending money you may have to pay fees. Instarem has had an average fee of 15 KES per transfer over the last 6 months, the lowest of the 8 providers compared. We would recommend searching to ensure you get the correct fee for your transfer amount.
Amount Received: When comparing providers, the best measure is the amount of US Dollar eventually received in the United States.
This number should be a guide for your decision if cost is important. A higher amount of money received in the United States means a better overall cost of sending money from Kenya.
Getting the best exchange rate for Kenyan Shilling to US Dollar
Tracking the mid-market rate can make a huge difference when sending money KES to USD. The exchange rate you secure impacts how much USD you get for your KES.
Mid-market Rate
1
=
0.007753
USD
Here's some data on recent trends in the mid-market rate.
Over the past six months, the interbank rate from KES to USD has seen some fluctuation. On average, it has been 0.0076.
During this period, the highest value level was 0.0079, with a low of 0.0068.
Wise, which is our recommended service to send money online from Kenya to United States offers an exchange rate that is only 0% above the mid-market rate.
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Payment methods available to fund your Kenya to United States transfer
Bank transfers
Bank transfers are often the better option for money transfers from Kenya to the United States.
Sending money via a bank transfer with a company such as Wise for transfers from Kenya to the United States allows you to benefit from lower fees and more favorable exchange rates than you would get with a traditional bank.
On average, Wise is the best provider for bank transfers of the 8 we tested when sending KES to the United States.
With an average fee of KES8.65 to send money from Kenya to the United States, Wise offers a great combination of competitive exchange rates and lower fees.
Debit and prepaid cards
Sending money from Kenya to the United States with a prepaid or a debit card is very simple with Wise.
Wise is a leader in card payments for transfers from Kenya to the United States, competing among a total of 8 active money transfer companies on this route.
Credit cards
When it comes to transferring money with a credit card from Kenya to the United States, Instarem emerges as our top choice of the 8 companies offering this service.
Beware of fees: using a credit card to transfer money often results in a fee being charged by your card issuer. Where possible, we recommend a bank transfer or debit card payment instead.
How we analyze the market
We track the cost, speed, and product offerings of the leading money transfer services available between United States and Kenya.
Our comparison engine and algorithms evaluate providers based on over 25 factors, including transfer fees, ease of use, exchange rates, mobile apps, transfer times & customer support.
We also consider how these services are rated on platforms like TrustPilot, AppStore, and Google Play, giving you a comprehensive view of what to expect.
This thorough analysis helps you get the best available deal - every time you want to move money from Kenya to United States.
We also provide unbiased and detailed reviews of all the top money transfer companies. You can use these reviews to send KES to USD.
For a deeper understanding of our commitment to integrity and transparency, we invite you to read our editorial policy document.
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