POS Pricing Kenya
How Much Does a POS System Cost in Kenya?
A single-branch shop should budget KES 2,000–4,000 per month for capable cloud POS software; multi-branch operations KES 6,000–10,000. The monthly figure is rarely the whole story though — hardware, per-cashier fees and paid add-ons are where budgets actually break. Here is the full picture for 2026.
sell.ke pricing in Kenyan Shillings
Three plans, all inclusive of M-Pesa integration, KRA eTIMS receipts and a branded online store. Annual billing reduces the effective monthly cost by about 25%. VAT may apply.
Starter
Free
forever
For new and very small businesses testing the waters.
- ✓Up to 20 products
- ✓One branch
- ✓M-Pesa checkout
- ✓Free online store
- ✓KRA eTIMS receipts
Grow
KES 2,999
per month
For a single shop that needs the full system.
- ✓Unlimited products
- ✓Full POS + branded online store
- ✓M-Pesa and Airtel Money
- ✓Real-time inventory and low-stock alerts
- ✓Customer profiles
- ✓Sales reporting
Scale
KES 6,999
per month
For multi-branch retailers and chains.
- ✓Everything in Grow
- ✓Unlimited branches
- ✓Multi-branch inventory and transfers
- ✓Advanced analytics
- ✓Loyalty programme
- ✓Credit and debt tracking
- ✓Purchase orders and GRN
The costs a monthly price hides
Comparing sticker prices is how businesses end up paying more. This is the full first-year cost picture for a typical Kenyan retail shop, comparing a legacy or hardware-bundled POS against sell.ke.
| Cost line | Typical legacy POS | sell.ke | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software subscription | KES 1,500 – 5,000/mo | KES 0 – 6,999/mo | Comparable on the surface — the rows below are where they diverge |
| Proprietary terminal | KES 80,000 – 400,000 upfront | KES 0 | sell.ke runs on an Android tablet, laptop or desktop you already own |
| Per-cashier / per-user fee | KES 500 – 1,500 per user/mo | Included | Staff accounts are not billed separately |
| Online store | Separate subscription | Included | One catalogue and one stock count across shop and store |
| M-Pesa integration | Setup fee or plugin licence | Included | Native Daraja API integration, no third-party gateway |
| KRA eTIMS module | Often a paid add-on | Included | Generated automatically at the point of sale |
| Setup and training | KES 10,000 – 50,000 | Included | Onboarding over WhatsApp on paid plans |
| Support | Annual maintenance contract | Included | Kenyan team on WhatsApp |
Legacy figures are typical market ranges for Kenya in 2026 and vary by vendor. Always ask a vendor for a twelve-month total including hardware, per-user fees and support before comparing.
What to budget by business type
Market stall or sole trader
Software: KES 0/mo · Hardware: Phone or tablet you own
The free Starter plan covers up to 20 products with M-Pesa checkout. Most sellers at this stage need nothing else.
Single retail shop or café
Software: KES 2,999/mo · Hardware: ≈ KES 15,000 one-off
Grow plan plus a thermal receipt printer. Add a barcode scanner if you stock packaged goods.
Restaurant with kitchen printing
Software: KES 2,999 – 6,999/mo · Hardware: ≈ KES 25,000 one-off
Grow for a single outlet, Scale for multiple. Budget a second printer for the kitchen pass.
Supermarket or pharmacy
Software: KES 6,999/mo · Hardware: ≈ KES 20,000 per till
Scale plan for multi-cashier operation, batch and expiry tracking, and advanced stock reporting.
Multi-branch chain
Software: KES 6,999/mo · Hardware: Per till, as above
Unlimited branches on one subscription — the price does not increase with each new location.
Online-only seller
Software: KES 0 – 2,999/mo · Hardware: None
Start free, move to Grow when you pass 20 products. The branded online store and M-Pesa checkout are included.
POS pricing in Kenya — frequently asked questions
How much does a POS system cost in Kenya?
For a single-branch retail shop in Kenya, budget KES 2,000–4,000 per month for capable cloud POS software. Multi-branch operations typically run KES 6,000–10,000 per month. Legacy on-premise systems look cheaper monthly but add KES 80,000–400,000 in upfront hardware and licence costs. sell.ke is free for up to 20 products, KES 2,999/month for a full single-shop setup, and KES 6,999/month for unlimited branches.
Is there a free POS system in Kenya?
Yes. sell.ke's Starter plan is free forever and includes up to 20 products, one branch, M-Pesa checkout, a free online store and KRA eTIMS receipts. It is a genuine free tier rather than a time-limited trial, and it suits sole traders and market sellers. You only move to a paid plan when you outgrow the product limit or need multiple branches.
Do I need to buy POS hardware in Kenya?
Usually not. sell.ke runs in a browser on an Android tablet, laptop or desktop you may already own. Most shops add a thermal receipt printer (roughly KES 6,000–15,000) and, if they sell barcoded goods, a barcode scanner (roughly KES 3,000–8,000). That is a one-off cost of well under KES 25,000, compared with KES 80,000 or more for a proprietary terminal.
Are there hidden costs with sell.ke?
No per-cashier fees, no separate charge for the online store, no setup fee, no paid support contract, and no charge for the KRA eTIMS module. The only transaction cost is the M-Pesa or card processing fee charged by the payment provider, which is typically 1–2% and is paid to Safaricom or the card processor rather than to sell.ke. VAT may apply to the subscription.
Does annual billing save money?
Yes. Paying annually reduces the effective monthly cost by roughly 25% compared with monthly billing on both the Grow and Scale plans.
Can I change or cancel my plan?
You can upgrade, downgrade or cancel at any time. There is no lock-in contract. You can export your products, sales history and customer records as CSV whenever you want, so your data stays portable.
How much does a POS cost for a supermarket in Kenya?
Supermarkets generally need the Scale plan at KES 6,999/month because of multi-cashier operation, multi-branch stock and advanced inventory reporting. Add a thermal printer and barcode scanner per till point. A three-till supermarket typically reaches full operation for under KES 60,000 in one-off hardware plus the monthly subscription.
Start on the free plan
Up to 20 products, M-Pesa checkout and a free online store at no cost. Upgrade only when you outgrow it.
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