Updated 20 October 2026
Tala is one of the best known mobile loan apps in Kenya. You apply on your phone, get a decision in the app and receive the money on M-Pesa. Tala’s Kenyan lender, Inventure Mobile Limited, trading as Tala, is licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) as a digital credit provider. This guide explains how much you can borrow, what a Tala loan costs, how to apply and repay, and what happens if you pay late. Figures are taken from Tala’s own Google Play listing and help pages as published in September 2026. Check the offer screen in the app for your exact terms, because pricing depends on your profile.
Tala Loan at a Glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Lender | Inventure Mobile Ltd, trading as Tala, a CBK-licensed digital credit provider |
| Credit limit | KSh 1,000 to KSh 50,000 |
| Repayment period | Up to 120 days |
| Interest | 0.3% to 0.6% a day (109.5% to 219% a year) |
| Access or hidden fees | None, according to Tala |
| Early repayment | No penalty, and interest stops building |
| Late payment | A one-time 8% charge on the outstanding balance |
| Repay via | M-Pesa paybill 851900, account number your Tala phone number, or M-Pesa Xpress in the app |
| Support | SMS 21991 or hello@ke-support.tala.com |
How Much Does a Tala Loan Cost?
Tala charges interest by the day, so the cost depends on how long you keep the money. Using Tala’s published range, here is what KSh 10,000 would cost. These are our calculations from those rates, not quotes.
| Loan of KSh 10,000 kept for | At 0.3% a day | At 0.6% a day |
|---|---|---|
| 14 days | KSh 420 | KSh 840 |
| 30 days | KSh 900 | KSh 1,800 |
| 60 days | KSh 1,800 | KSh 3,600 |
| 120 days | KSh 3,600 | KSh 7,200 |
Tala’s own example matches the first column: KSh 1,800 for 60 days and KSh 3,600 for 120 days at 0.3% a day. The lesson is simple. Repaying early saves real money, and a loan stretched to four months can cost a third or more of what you borrowed. For comparison, M-Shwari charges a flat 7.5% facilitation fee for 30 days, explained in our guide to M-Shwari charges, while Fuliza charges daily fees, covered in Fuliza charges.
Who Can Get a Tala Loan?
Tala asks for your national ID details and pays out to M-Pesa, so you need your ID, a Safaricom line registered for M-Pesa in your name and a smartphone that can run the app, which is listed on Google Play. Tala decides your limit from the information you provide and your history with it. It does not publish a starting limit or a fixed schedule for increases. What it does say is that early and on-time repayment helps you qualify for larger loans later.
How to Apply for a Tala Loan
- Install the Tala app from the Google Play Store. Check that the developer is Tala and avoid copycat apps.
- Sign up with your phone number and create a PIN.
- Fill in the short application, including your ID details. Tala says it takes a few minutes.
- Read the offer screen: the amount, the due date you choose, the daily interest and the total to repay.
- Pick a due date that matches when you are paid. Tala itself advises this.
- Accept the offer. The money is sent to your M-Pesa.
If you forget your PIN, open the app, choose Forgot PIN and enter your ID number. A temporary PIN comes by SMS, and you set a new one when you log in.
How to Repay a Tala Loan
You can pay through M-Pesa Xpress in the app or by paybill:
- Open M-Pesa and choose Lipa na M-Pesa, then Pay Bill.
- Enter business number 851900.
- Enter your Tala-registered phone number as the account number.
- Enter the amount and your M-Pesa PIN, check the details and confirm.
The M-Pesa message shows the payment going to Tala Mobile, and Tala sends its own confirmation SMS. Partial payments are allowed and reduce your balance. If you are new to paybills, see our guide to paying a paybill.
What Happens If You Pay Late
If you have not paid by midnight on your due date, Tala adds a one-time charge of 8% of your outstanding balance. It does not charge a new penalty each day, unlike some lenders. Collection agents may contact you, and after a long period of non-payment Tala may block you and report you to credit reference bureaus. A negative listing can make it harder to borrow from banks and other lenders, so it is worth checking your record; see how to check your CRB status and our tips on improving your credit score. Tala says it does not contact your friends or relatives, only the email and phone numbers you registered. If you know you will struggle, pay what you can and email support early.
Is Tala Safe and Legit?
Tala is listed in the CBK directory of licensed digital credit providers. By 30 September 2026, CBK had licensed 281 digital lenders in total. Licensed lenders must follow CBK rules on pricing disclosure, data protection and debt collection. Before using any app, check that its company appears in the CBK directory. To compare Tala with other options, see our overview of loan apps in Kenya and our list of cheapest loan apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Tala paybill number?
851900. Use your Tala-registered phone number as the account number.
How much can I borrow from Tala?
Tala’s credit limits range from KSh 1,000 to KSh 50,000. Your own limit depends on your profile and repayment history.
What is Tala’s interest rate?
0.3% to 0.6% a day, which Tala states as 109.5% to 219% a year, with no access fees.
Does Tala charge daily penalties?
No. A late loan gets a one-time 8% charge on the outstanding balance.
How do I increase my Tala limit?
Repay early or on time. Tala says this helps you qualify for bigger loans, but it does not publish how fast limits grow.
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