In Tanzania, most customers expect to pay with mobile money. If your website can only take cards, or only says “call us to pay”, you lose sales at the last step. Here is how online mobile money payments work, in plain language.
First, a name change you may have missed
Tigo Tanzania rebranded as Yas, and Tigo Pesa is now called Mixx by Yas. Many customers still say “Tigo Pesa”, so it is worth mentioning both names on your checkout page.
Two ways to connect
Option 1: a payment aggregator
An aggregator gives you one connection that reaches several networks. The customer enters their phone number, and the aggregator sends the payment request to the right operator. Aggregators active in Tanzania include Selcom, AzamPay, ClickPesa and Pesapal. Some also accept Visa and Mastercard.
This is the right choice for most small and medium businesses: one integration, one dashboard and one settlement account.
Option 2: direct operator APIs
You can integrate with each mobile network separately. Fees can be lower, but you need a separate approval and a separate integration for every network, which takes much longer. It usually only makes sense at high transaction volumes.
How a mobile money checkout works
- The customer chooses mobile money and enters their phone number.
- Your website asks the payment provider to request the amount.
- The customer gets a prompt on their phone and confirms with their PIN.
- The provider tells your website whether the payment succeeded.
- The order is marked as paid and the customer sees a confirmation.
Step 4 matters most. A well-built site waits for confirmation from the provider before marking an order as paid. It does not take the customer's word for it.
What you will need
- Business registration documents. Most providers require a registered business before they give you a live account. Test accounts are usually available without them.
- A bank or mobile money account for settlements.
- A budget for transaction fees. Providers charge a percentage per transaction, and rates change, so check each provider's current fee schedule.
Common mistakes
- Supporting only one network, so customers on other networks cannot pay.
- No clear message when a payment fails or times out.
- Marking orders as paid before the provider confirms.
We connect online shops to the payment provider that fits your bank and registration. See our website service or ask us about your checkout.