Updated 2 November 2026
Hustler Fund vs Fuliza: for anything you cannot clear within a couple of days, the Hustler Fund is much cheaper. It charges 8% a year, worked out daily, so KSh 2,000 for a week costs about KSh 3. Fuliza charges a 1% access fee plus a daily fee with excise, so the same KSh 2,000 for a week costs about KSh 188. Fuliza wins only on convenience: it covers a shortfall instantly at the till, and balances of KSh 1,000 or less are free of daily fees for the first three days.
Updated November 2026 from Safaricom’s published Fuliza tariff and the Financial Inclusion Fund (Hustler Fund) loan terms, as set out in our Fuliza charges guide and Hustler Fund guide. This is information, not financial advice.
Hustler Fund vs Fuliza: side by side
| Item | Hustler Fund | Fuliza |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Government short-term loan on your phone | M-Pesa overdraft from NCBA and KCB with Safaricom |
| How you get money | Request a loan on *254# | Automatic when your M-Pesa balance is short |
| Cost | 8% a year, daily, for 14 days; 9.5% a year after | 1% access fee + daily fee (KSh 3 to KSh 30 a day incl. excise) |
| Free period | None, but interest is tiny | 3 days without daily fees on balances up to KSh 1,000 |
| Networks | Safaricom, Airtel, Telkom | Safaricom only |
| Savings deduction | 5% of each loan saved for you | None |
| Repayment | *254# or mini-app; aim for 14 days | Automatic from your next M-Pesa deposit |
Fuliza daily fees (including 20% excise)
| Outstanding balance (KSh) | Total per day (KSh) |
|---|---|
| 1 to 100 | 0 |
| 101 to 500 | Free for 3 days, then 3.00 |
| 501 to 1,000 | Free for 3 days, then 6.00 |
| 1,001 to 1,500 | 21.60 |
| 1,501 to 2,500 | 24.00 |
| 2,501 to 70,000 | 30.00 |
Worked costs: Hustler Fund vs Fuliza
| Amount and period | Hustler Fund | Fuliza |
|---|---|---|
| KSh 500 for 7 days | about KSh 1 | about KSh 17 (KSh 5 + 4 days x KSh 3) |
| KSh 1,000 for 7 days | about KSh 2 | about KSh 34 (KSh 10 + 4 days x KSh 6) |
| KSh 2,000 for 7 days | about KSh 3 | about KSh 188 (KSh 20 + 7 days x KSh 24) |
| KSh 5,000 for 14 days | about KSh 15 | about KSh 470 (KSh 50 + 14 days x KSh 30) |
Fuliza examples assume the balance stays the same until you repay; in practice any M-Pesa deposit clears it first. Hustler Fund examples are interest only, at 8% a year. Check your own figures with the Fuliza charges calculator and the Hustler Fund loan calculator.
When Fuliza makes sense
- You are at a till or paying a bill and are short by a small amount.
- You will receive money within three days and the balance is KSh 1,000 or less, so you pay only the 1% access fee.
- You have no Hustler Fund limit left.
Above KSh 1,000, the daily fee starts on day one, and on KSh 2,501 or more it is KSh 30 a day, which is over 10% a month on KSh 5,000. If Fuliza is costing you too much, read how to opt out of Fuliza.
When the Hustler Fund makes sense
- You can plan ahead and request the loan before you need to pay.
- You need the money for more than a day or two.
- You use Airtel or Telkom.
Remember that only 95% of a Hustler Fund loan reaches your wallet; 5% goes to savings. Repay within 14 days to keep the 8% rate and grow your limit.
What happens if you do not repay
An unpaid Fuliza balance keeps attracting the daily fee and is cleared automatically from the next money that lands in your M-Pesa, including money sent by family. Your Fuliza limit can be cut, and long arrears can be reported to credit reference bureaus. An unpaid Hustler Fund loan moves to the higher 9.5% rate after day 14, and late repayment can reduce your limit or stop you borrowing altogether. In both cases, a bad record can make it harder to get bank, Sacco or app loans later, so borrow only what your next income can clear.
A simple way to use both
- Request a Hustler Fund loan for planned needs such as stock, fares or bills.
- Keep Fuliza for true emergencies at the till.
- Clear any Fuliza balance within three days when it is under KSh 1,000.
- Repay the Hustler Fund within 14 days.
For other options, compare Fuliza vs M-Shwari and Tala vs Fuliza.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Hustler Fund vs Fuliza: which is cheaper?
The Hustler Fund, for almost any amount kept more than a day. KSh 2,000 for a week costs about KSh 3 on the Hustler Fund and about KSh 188 on Fuliza.
Is Fuliza ever free?
Balances of KSh 100 or less have no daily fee, and balances up to KSh 1,000 have three free days. The 1% access fee still applies.
Can I repay Fuliza with a Hustler Fund loan?
Yes. Any money that lands in M-Pesa first clears your Fuliza balance, so a Hustler Fund loan sent to M-Pesa will repay Fuliza automatically.
Does the Hustler Fund work on Airtel?
Yes. Dial *254# on a Safaricom, Airtel or Telkom line registered in your name.
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