payment prompt (Lipa na M-Pesa API) vs Buy Goods Till: feature by feature
| payment prompt (Lipa na M-Pesa API) | Buy Goods Till | |
|---|---|---|
| Technical integration needed | Yes, Daraja API | No, register and go |
| Best for | Apps, websites, delivery platforms | Physical shops, restaurants, salons |
| Customer action | Enters PIN on their phone | Enters till number and amount |
| Speed | Instant, automated confirmation | Instant, manual or POS confirmation |
| Setup cost | Developer time + Safaricom approval | Free registration |
| POS integration | Deep, system-level | Standard, widely supported |
| Offline fallback | No, requires internet and API | Yes, customer can pay manually |
How to choose
Choose payment prompt (Lipa na M-Pesa API) if
- You run an app, e-commerce site or delivery platform that initiates payment on behalf of the customer
- You want a fully automated payment flow with no manual steps
Choose Buy Goods Till if
- You run a physical shop where customers initiate payment themselves
- You want to start taking M-Pesa today without any developer work
More detail
The key distinction is who initiates the payment request. On a Till, the customer initiates. With payment prompt, your system initiates and sends the prompt to the customer's phone. The latter requires Daraja API access, developer work and Safaricom approval.
For a physical shop, a POS with a built-in Till integration is almost always the faster, cheaper and more reliable path.
Free tools for this
Frequently asked questions
Can I use payment prompt without a developer?
Not practically. It requires Daraja API credentials, server infrastructure and Safaricom onboarding. For a shop, a Till is the right starting point.
Veira combines POS, M-Pesa, KRA eTIMS and inventory in one app with a free terminal. Book a demo and see how it fits your trade.