USSD codes & USSD development
USSD codes in Kenya, built and hosted for you
Reach every customer on every phone, with no app and no data needed. Brilio Technologies gives you a shared USSD code on Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom or your own dedicated code, then designs, builds and hosts the USSD application behind it: loans, SACCO balances, payments, surveys and more.
What is USSD and why Kenyan businesses use it
USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) is the menu that appears when you dial a code such as *123#. It runs over the mobile network itself, so it works on every phone in Kenya, from a basic feature phone to the latest smartphone, with no internet connection and nothing to install.
That reach is why M-Pesa, banks, SACCOs, digital lenders, insurers and agritech companies all run USSD services. A customer dials your code, picks options from a short menu and completes a task, such as checking a balance, applying for a loan or paying, in under a minute.
Shared vs dedicated USSD codes
Shared USSD code
An extension of a code we own, for example *XXX*123#. No setup fee, live within days of your menu being ready, and a monthly fee that depends on how short your extension is. The best way to launch, test demand or run a campaign.
Dedicated USSD code
Your own short code, for example *123#, used by nobody else. Easier to remember and to advertise, set up separately on each network with a one-off setup cost and monthly fee. Built for established services with large customer numbers.
USSD code prices in Kenya
Prices in Kenya shillings. Session charges are either paid by your customer from their airtime (pre-paid) or by you (post-paid), so your customers can use the service free of charge.
Shared USSD Code
| USSD CODE | SET UP | MONTHLY MAINTENANCE |
|---|---|---|
| *711*X# | Free | KES 35,000 |
| *711*XX# | Free | KES 25,000 |
| *711*XXX# | Free | KES 15,000 |
| *711*XXXX# | Free | KES 8,000 |
Dedicated USSD Code
| TELCO | SET UP COST | MONTHLY (*XXX#) |
|---|---|---|
| Safaricom | KES 270,000 | KES 70,000 |
| Airtel | KES 210,000 | KES 70,400 |
Pre-Paid Costs Per Session (Shared)
Cost is covered by the end user. A shared USSD code is raised on Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom. A compulsory deposit of KES 5,000 is required for the session cost.
| NETWORK | TELCO CHARGE TO END USER | BRILIO INFRASTRUCTURE FEE |
|---|---|---|
| Safaricom | KES 1 | KES 0.25 |
| Airtel | KES 3 | KES 0.25 |
Post-Paid Costs Per Session
Cost is covered by the code owner. A compulsory deposit of KES 10,000 is required for the session cost.
| NETWORK | BASIC PLAN KES 0 – 19,999 | PLUS PLAN KES 20,000 – 99,999 | PREMIUM PLAN KES 100,000 – 399,999 | MAX PLAN KES 400,000+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safaricom | KES 1.50 | KES 1.50 | KES 1.25 | KES 1.25 |
Pre-Paid Costs Per Session (Dedicated)
Cost is covered by the end user. The telco deducts the cost of the session directly from the end user's airtime.
| NETWORK | TELCO CHARGE TO END USER | BRILIO INFRASTRUCTURE FEE |
|---|---|---|
| Safaricom | KES 1 | KES 0.25 |
| Airtel | KES 3 | KES 0.25 |
Bulk SMS and short code prices: Brilio pricing.
How to get a USSD code in Kenya
- Tell us what customers should doCheck a balance, apply for a loan, pay, register, vote. We turn it into a short, clear menu.
- Choose shared or dedicatedStart on a shared code with free setup, or apply for your own dedicated code. We handle the applications to each network.
- We build and connect the applicationWe build the USSD app and connect it to your system, database or M-Pesa. Or your developers build it on our USSD API.
- Test, then go liveTest every menu path on real phones before launch, then promote your code by SMS, posters, radio and social media.
- Measure and improveFollow sessions and completion rates in your portal and simplify the steps where customers drop off.
USSD applications we build
Loans & fintech
Loan applications, limits, repayments with M-Pesa and balance checks for digital lenders.
SACCOs & chamas
Member balances, mini-statements, contributions, loan requests and guarantor approvals.
Payments & bills
Pay fees, rent, utilities and orders with M-Pesa, with an SMS receipt at the end.
Insurance & savings
Sign-ups, premium payments, policy status and claims tracking on any phone.
Surveys & voting
Polls, feedback, competitions and elections that reach rural and urban Kenya alike.
Agriculture & field teams
Farmer registration, market prices, input orders and field-agent reporting.
How we run USSD projects from code to hosting: Brilio as your USSD provider in Kenya.
USSD API for developers
Prefer to build the menu yourself? Our USSD gateway calls your server for every step of a session with
the caller's phone number and their input; your server replies with the text of the next screen and a
responseType of CON to continue the session or END to close it.
Session logs and analytics are in your portal. Start with the
USSD developer documentation.
USSD in Kenya: frequently asked questions
How much does a USSD code cost in Kenya?
A shared USSD code (an extension such as *XXX*123#) has no setup fee and a monthly fee that depends on how many digits the extension has: shorter extensions cost more. A dedicated code has a one-off setup cost and a monthly fee charged by each network. Session costs are either paid by the end user from airtime (pre-paid) or by you (post-paid). Current prices are on this page and on our pricing page.
What is the difference between a shared and a dedicated USSD code?
A shared code is an extension of a code we already own, for example *XXX*123#. It is fast and cheap to launch. A dedicated code, such as *123#, belongs to you alone, is shorter and easier to remember, but costs more and takes longer because each network must approve and set it up.
How long does it take to get a USSD code in Kenya?
A shared code can go live as soon as your menu is built and tested, often within days. A dedicated code takes longer because Safaricom, Airtel and the other networks each approve and provision it; we handle those applications for you.
Which networks does USSD work on?
Our shared codes run on Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom. Dedicated codes are set up on Safaricom and Airtel.
Who pays for a USSD session?
On a pre-paid code the telco charges the end user's airtime for the session. On a post-paid code you pay for sessions, so your customers use the service free of charge. Post-paid needs a session deposit.
Do my customers need a smartphone or internet to use USSD?
No. USSD works on every mobile phone, including basic feature phones, without data or an app. That is why banks, SACCOs, lenders and M-Pesa itself rely on it.
Can you build the USSD application for us?
Yes. We design the menu, build and host the application, connect it to your system or database, and handle the code registration. If you have developers, you can instead build your own menu on our USSD API: we call your server for each step of the session.
What can a USSD code be used for?
Loan applications and repayments, SACCO and chama balances and statements, M-Pesa payments, insurance and savings sign-ups, surveys and polls, voting, bookings, customer support menus and farmer or field-agent services.
USSD guides
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USSD
How Much Does a USSD Code Cost in Kenya? (2026 Price Guide)
USSD code prices in Kenya for 2026: shared and dedicated code fees, per-session charges and who pays them, plus real budgets for a SACCO and a digital lender.
5 min readRead guide → -
USSD
USSD and Bulk SMS in Kenya: How to Use Them Together
USSD lets customers act, SMS confirms it and brings them back. How Kenyan lenders, SACCOs, schools and retailers combine the two, with five flows you can copy.
4 min readRead guide → -
USSD
USSD for Fintech in Kenya: Why It Still Matters in 2026
Apps get the spotlight, USSD gets the transactions. Why Kenyan lenders, SACCOs and insurers still run on USSD in 2026, and how to build a USSD service customers finish.
3 min readRead guide →
Launch your USSD code in Kenya
Tell us what your customers need to do and we will recommend the right code, build the menu and take it live. Pair it with bulk SMS to announce your code and send receipts.
