How to accept mobile money on your website

To accept mobile money on your website in Tanzania, you sign up with a payment gateway that supports local mobile money (such as M-Pesa and Airtel Money) and usually cards too. The gateway gives you a way to connect your website, often a plugin or a payment link. When a customer checks out, they get a prompt on their phone to confirm the payment with their PIN, and the money is settled to your account minus a fee.

Most Tanzanians are far more likely to pay with mobile money than with a card, so this is worth getting right if you sell online.

What is a payment gateway?

A payment gateway is the service that sits between your website and the money. It handles the mobile money and card networks, keeps payment details secure, and sends the funds to your bank or mobile wallet. You don't have to deal with each mobile network separately.

Which gateways work in Tanzania?

Several companies offer online payments in Tanzania, including Selcom, Pesapal, DPO Pay, AzamPay and ClickPesa. Some mobile networks also offer their own business APIs. Compare them on these points:

Fees and features change, so check current details directly with each provider.

What do you need to sign up?

Requirements differ by provider, but expect to be asked for:

• Business registration documents (for example from BRELA).
• A TIN certificate.
• ID for the business owners or directors.
• A business bank account or business mobile wallet for settlements.
• A live website with clear prices, contact details, terms and a refund policy.

That last one surprises people. Gateways often review your website before they approve you, so finish those pages first.

How does checkout work for the customer?

1. The customer adds items to the cart and clicks "Pay".
2. They choose mobile money and enter their phone number.
3. A prompt appears on their phone asking them to confirm with their PIN.
4. The website shows a confirmation, and both of you get a receipt.

Some gateways also show a payment number and reference for customers who prefer to pay from the menu on their phone.

No online store? Use payment links

If you sell through Instagram and WhatsApp, you don't need a full online store to start. Many gateways let you create a payment link for an order and send it in the chat. It's quicker for the customer and gives you a proper record of every payment.

Tips for fewer failed payments

• Show the total in TZS clearly, including delivery.
• Tell customers to keep their phone nearby for the confirmation prompt.
• Offer at least two payment options.
• Test every option with real small payments before you launch.
• Send an automatic confirmation by SMS or email after payment.

Mobile money vs card payments

Offering both is ideal, because they serve different customers.

If you sell to tourists, the diaspora or customers abroad, card payments matter as much as mobile money. Some sellers also accept PayPal or bank transfers for international orders.

Choosing the right setup for your business

How you add payments depends on how you sell:

• You sell through WhatsApp and Instagram: start with payment links sent in the chat.
• You have a small product range: a simple website with "Pay now" buttons for each product works well.
• You have many products: an online store on WooCommerce, Shopify or similar, with a gateway plugin.
• You sell services or bookings: a booking system that takes a deposit or full payment when people book.
• You have custom needs: a developer connects your system directly to the gateway's API.

What should your checkout page show?

A confusing checkout loses sales. Keep it short and clear:

1. The items, quantity and total in TZS (and USD if you sell abroad).
2. Delivery fee and estimated delivery time.
3. The payment options, with recognisable logos.
4. A short note: "You'll get a prompt on your phone. Enter your PIN to confirm."
5. A phone or WhatsApp number in case something goes wrong.

Refunds and failed payments

Things go wrong sometimes. A customer's prompt times out, they pay twice, or they want a refund. Decide your refund policy before launch and write it on your website. Most gateways have a dashboard where you can see every transaction and issue refunds. Check it daily at first. Reply to payment questions quickly, because a customer who has paid and heard nothing gets nervous fast.

Security basics

A good gateway handles the sensitive payment details for you, so card numbers and PINs never touch your website. Your job is to keep the website itself secure: SSL on every page, strong passwords, updated software, and limited access to the gateway dashboard. Never ask customers to send their PIN or full card details by WhatsApp or email. Scammers sometimes pretend to be businesses to do exactly that, so say clearly on your site that you will never ask.

Keeping track of your money

Online payments make record-keeping easier, if you use the tools. Download monthly reports from your gateway and match them with your orders. Note the fees, because they're a business expense. If you're registered for VAT, ask your accountant how online sales and gateway fees should appear in your records. Good records also help when you apply for a loan or bring in investors.

Getting started

Start small. Pick one gateway that supports the payment methods your customers use most, set it up for your best-selling products, and test it with real small payments. Once it's running smoothly, add more products and options. If you'd rather not deal with the technical side, we set up the gateway, connect it to your site and test everything before launch. You can read about the full process in how to make a website in Tanzania.

Example: a clothing seller moving from DMs to payment links

Picture a clothing seller who takes orders on Instagram and asks customers to send money to a personal number. Payments get mixed with personal money, customers sometimes send the wrong amount, and the seller spends hours checking messages. With a payment gateway account, each confirmed order gets a payment link with the exact amount. The customer taps it, chooses mobile money, confirms with their PIN, and both sides get a receipt. At the end of the month the seller downloads one report showing every sale.

A few months later, with more products and steady orders, the seller moves to a small online store using the same gateway. Customers can now pay without waiting for a reply at all.

Delivery and payment on delivery

Many Tanzanian customers still prefer to pay when the order arrives, especially the first time they buy from you. You can offer both. Let customers choose "pay now with mobile money" or "pay on delivery", and consider a small discount or free delivery for paying online. Over time, as customers trust you, more of them will pay upfront, which means fewer failed deliveries and less cash to handle. If your delivery riders collect payment, give them a way to take mobile money on the spot, so they don't have to carry cash.

Whatever you choose, be clear about it on the product page and at checkout. Confusion about how to pay is one of the most common reasons people abandon an order halfway.

Your plan for this week

1. List the payment methods your customers ask for most.
2. Compare two or three gateways on fees and requirements.
3. Prepare your business documents.
4. Add terms, a refund policy and contact details to your website.
5. Apply, then test with small real payments.

Frequently asked questions