Best Investment Apps in Kenya 2026: Hisa vs Ndovu vs Mali – Complete Comparison

Looking for the best investment apps in Kenya in 2026? You’re not alone. Over 2.3 million Kenyans now invest through mobile apps, up from just 300,000 in 2020. But with so many platforms launching—Hisa, Ndovu, Mali, FXPesa, and more—which one should you actually trust with your hard-earned money?

The digital investment landscape in Kenya has transformed dramatically. Gone are the days when you needed Ksh 500,000 and a trip to a broker’s office to start investing. Today, you can begin building wealth with as little as Ksh 100, right from your phone, using M-Pesa.

This comprehensive guide cuts through the noise. We’ve analyzed the top 7 investment apps in Kenya, comparing their fees, minimum investments, available assets, and suitability for different types of investors.

What This Guide Covers:

• Detailed comparison of 7 leading investment platforms
• Real fee breakdowns with no hidden surprises
• Minimum investment requirements
• Which app is best for YOUR situation
• Step-by-step getting started guide
• Comprehensive FAQ section

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Quick Comparison: Best Investment Apps in Kenya 2026

App Name	Min. Investment	Annual Fee	Assets Available	M-Pesa	Best For	Rating
Hisa	Ksh 100	1.5%	US Stocks, ETFs	✅ Yes	Active traders & beginners	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.7/5
Ndovu	Ksh 100	2.5%	Bonds, Stocks, ETFs	✅ Yes	Automated investing	⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.3/5
Mali	Ksh 500	Free*	NSE Stocks	✅ Yes	Kenyan stocks	⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.2/5
FXPesa	Ksh 5,000	Free	Forex, Commodities	✅ Yes	Forex traders	⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.1/5
Etica	Ksh 1,000	0.5%	Money Market	✅ Yes	Safe savings	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.6/5
Wealth.ng	Ksh 10,000	3%	International funds	❌ No	High net worth	⭐⭐⭐ 3.8/5
Absa Invest	Ksh 5,000	2%	Mutual Funds	✅ Yes	Beginners	⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.0/5

*Mali charges 1.5% per trade instead of annual fees

Quick Verdict:

🏆 BEST OVERALL: Hisa – Lowest minimum, best features, widest selection

💰 BEST FOR BEGINNERS: Etica – Safest with 8-10% consistent returns

📈 BEST FOR KENYAN STOCKS: Mali – Direct NSE access

💵 BEST FOR SAFE SAVINGS: Etica Money Market – Better than bank accounts

🌍 BEST FOR US STOCKS: Hisa – 3,000+ American stocks and ETFs

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Detailed Reviews: Top 7 Investment Platforms

1. Hisa – Best Overall Investment App

Overview: Hisa is Kenya’s fastest-growing platform with 400,000+ users, offering US stocks, ETFs, and fractional shares from just Ksh 100.

Pros:

• Lowest minimum investment (Ksh 100)
• 3,000+ US stocks (Apple, Tesla, Microsoft)
• Fractional shares available
• No withdrawal fees
• Fast M-Pesa integration
• CMA licensed

Cons:

• 1.5% annual fee
• Limited Kenyan stocks
• No bonds yet
• Ksh 500 minimum withdrawal

Fees:

• Deposit: FREE
• Management: 1.5% annually
• Withdrawal: FREE
• FX conversion: 1%

Real Returns Example:

Investment: Ksh 10,000 in S&P 500
Annual return: 12% = Ksh 1,200
Fees: 1.5% = Ksh 150
Net profit: Ksh 1,050 (10.5%)

Best for: Young investors (20-40), tech-savvy users, long-term growth (5+ years)

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.7/5

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2. Ndovu – Best for Automated Investing

Overview: Kenya’s robo-advisor that automatically manages your portfolio based on your goals and risk tolerance.

Pros:

• Fully automated investing
• Goal-based portfolios (retirement, education)
• Diversified across assets
• Quarterly rebalancing
• CMA licensed

Cons:

• Higher fees (2.5% annual)
• Can’t pick individual stocks
• Ksh 1,000 minimum withdrawal
• 5-7 day withdrawals

Fees:

• Deposit: FREE
• Management: 2.5% annually
• Withdrawal: Ksh 50

Portfolios:

• Conservative: 70% bonds, 30% stocks
• Moderate: 50/50 split
• Aggressive: 80% stocks, 20% bonds

Real Returns Example:

Investment: Ksh 10,000 in Moderate Portfolio
Annual return: 10% = Ksh 1,000
Fees: 2.5% = Ksh 250
Net profit: Ksh 750 (7.5%)

Best for: Busy professionals, first-time investors, retirement planning

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.3/5

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3. Mali – Best for Kenyan Stocks

Overview: Direct access to the Nairobi Securities Exchange for buying Safaricom, Equity Bank, and other Kenyan companies.

Pros:

• Direct NSE access
• Own actual shares
• No annual fee
• Dividend payouts to M-Pesa
• CMA licensed

Cons:

• Higher minimum (Ksh 500)
• 1.5% per trade
• Kenyan stocks only
• NSE has underperformed globally

Fees:

• Deposit: FREE
• Trading: 1.5% per transaction
• Annual: FREE
• Withdrawal: Ksh 50

Top NSE Stocks: Safaricom, Equity Bank, KCB, EABL, BAT Kenya, Co-op Bank, Bamburi Cement

Real Returns Example:

Investment: Ksh 10,000 in Safaricom
Purchase fee: Ksh 150
Year return: 15% + dividends
Total value: Ksh 11,800
Net profit after sale: Ksh 1,650 (16.5%)

Best for: Kenyan patriots, dividend seekers, local market investors

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.2/5

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4. FXPesa – For Forex Trading (Advanced Only)

⚠️ WARNING: Forex is HIGH RISK. 70-80% of traders lose money. For experienced traders only.

Pros:

• CMA licensed
• Ksh 5,000 minimum
• M-Pesa integration
• Demo account available
• 24/5 trading

Cons:

• Extremely high risk
• Requires expertise
• Not “investing”—it’s trading
• Leverage amplifies losses

Best for: Experienced traders with risk capital

Best to AVOID for: Beginners, savings/emergency funds, guaranteed returns seekers

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.1/5 (rating reflects platform quality, not recommendation)

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5. Etica – Best for Safe Savings

Overview: Money market fund earning 8-10% annually—much safer than stocks, better than bank savings (2-3%).

Pros:

• Very low risk
• Consistent 8-10% returns
• Withdraw anytime
• No volatility
• Lowest fees (0.5%)
• CMA licensed

Cons:

• Returns capped (won’t get rich quick)
• Ksh 1,000 minimum
• Not FDIC insured (but very safe)

Fees:

• Deposit: FREE
• Management: 0.5% annually
• Withdrawal: Ksh 25

Real Returns Example:

Investment: Ksh 100,000
Annual interest: 9% = Ksh 9,000
Fees: 0.5% = Ksh 500
Net profit: Ksh 8,500 (8.5%)

vs Bank @ 2.5%: Ksh 2,500
Etica advantage: Ksh 6,000 MORE

Best for: Emergency funds, risk-averse investors, short-term savings (1-3 years)

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.6/5

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6. Wealth.ng – High Net Worth Only

Overview: Nigerian platform offering global mutual funds. High minimums and fees.

Pros: Global fund access, professional management

Cons: Ksh 10,000 minimum, 3% fees, no M-Pesa, 7-10 day withdrawals

Best for: High net worth (Ksh 100,000+), expats

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ 3.8/5 – Skip unless you fit the profile

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7. Absa Invest – Bank-Backed

Overview: Absa Bank’s investment platform. Traditional bank trust at higher cost.

Pros: Bank backing, CMA licensed, physical branches

Cons: Higher fees, fewer options, outdated interface

Best for: Older investors (50+), bank loyalists, conservative approach

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.0/5 – Solid but not exceptional

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How to Choose the Right App

Based on Your Goal

Safe savings: → Etica (8-10%, low risk)

Long-term growth: → Hisa or Ndovu (Hisa for DIY, Ndovu for automation)

Kenyan companies only: → Mali (direct NSE)

Forex trading: → FXPesa (experienced only)

Based on Your Age

Age 20-35:

• 70% Hisa (growth)
• 30% Mali (local)

Age 35-50:

• 60% Ndovu (balanced)
• 30% Hisa (growth)
• 10% Etica (safety)

Age 50+:

• 50% Etica (safe)
• 40% Ndovu Conservative
• 10% Mali (dividends)

Based on Monthly Investment

Ksh 500-2,000/month: Hisa (lowest minimum)

Ksh 2,000-10,000/month: 70% Hisa + 30% Etica

Ksh 10,000+/month: 50% Hisa + 30% Mali + 20% Etica

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Getting Started: Your First Investment

Step-by-Step Guide

Day 1: Choose Platform (30 min)

• Recommendation: Start with Hisa

Day 2: Download & Sign Up (30 min)

1. Download from Play Store/App Store
2. Enter phone & email
3. Verify ID (photo upload)
4. Wait 5-60 min for approval

Day 3: First Deposit (15 min)

1. Open app → “Deposit”
2. Choose amount (start with Ksh 1,000)
3. M-Pesa: Paybill 400222, Account: Phone number
4. Money appears in 5-30 minutes

Day 4: First Investment (30 min)

Recommended for beginners:

• Ksh 700 → S&P 500 ETF (SPY or VOO)
• Ksh 300 → Total Market ETF (VTI)

Day 5: Set Auto-Invest (10 min)

• Enable monthly auto-investment
• Amount: Ksh 1,000-5,000/month
• Removes emotion, builds consistency

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Where should I invest in Kenya in 2026?

Best options:

1. Investment apps (Hisa, Ndovu, Mali) – stocks/ETFs
2. Money market funds (Etica) – safe 8-10%
3. Real estate – if Ksh 500,000+ capital
4. Government bonds – via CBK/banks

For Ksh 1,000-50,000, investment apps offer best accessibility and returns.

Q2: Which is the best trading app in Kenya?

For Kenyan stocks: Mali For US stocks: Hisa For forex: FXPesa (high risk) For beginners: Hisa (best overall) For safety: Etica (not trading, but safest)

Q3: What is the best investment platform in Kenya?

Hisa wins overall because:

• Ksh 100 minimum (lowest)
• 3,000+ stocks
• 1.5% fees (competitive)
• M-Pesa integration
• User-friendly
• CMA licensed

Alternative top choices:

• Etica for safety
• Mali for Kenyan stocks only

Smart strategy: Use multiple platforms (60% Hisa, 20% Etica, 20% Mali)

Q4: How much is 500 Safaricom shares?

Current price: ~Ksh 17.50/share

Calculation:

• 500 × Ksh 17.50 = Ksh 8,750
• Mali fee (1.5%): Ksh 131
• Total needed: Ksh 8,881

Annual dividends:

• Ksh 1.20/share × 500 = Ksh 600/year
• Dividend yield: ~6.9%

Q5: How to invest Ksh 1,000 in Kenya?

Simple 4-step process:

1. Download Hisa (Ksh 100 minimum)
2. Sign up & verify (15 min)
3. Deposit Ksh 1,000 via M-Pesa
4. Invest in S&P 500 ETF

What Ksh 1,000 becomes:

With no additions:

• 1 year: Ksh 1,120
• 5 years: Ksh 1,762
• 10 years: Ksh 3,106

With Ksh 500/month added:

• 1 year: Ksh 7,368
• 5 years: Ksh 41,792
• 10 years: Ksh 115,822

Consistency is key!

Q6: What is the 15×15×15 rule?

Original rule (from India):

• Invest 15,000 rupees/month
• For 15 years
• At 15% returns
• Result: Millionaire

Kenya adaptations:

10×10×12 Rule:

• Ksh 10,000/month
• 10 years
• 12% return
• Result: Ksh 2.3M

5×10×12 Rule:

• Ksh 5,000/month
• 10 years
• 12% return
• Result: Ksh 1.15M

2×15×12 Rule:

• Ksh 2,000/month (Ksh 67/day)
• 15 years
• 12% return
• Result: Ksh 1M+

Key lesson: Start early, be consistent, be patient.

Q7: How to make Ksh 1,000 daily?

Ksh 1,000/day = Ksh 30,000/month

Realistic paths:

Option 1: Freelancing (3-6 months)

• Skills: Writing, design, coding
• Platforms: Upwork, Fiverr
• Learn free on YouTube

Option 2: Small Business (1-3 months)

• Reselling, services
• Capital: Ksh 10,000-50,000

Option 3: Passive Income (10-15 years)

• Need Ksh 3.6M invested @ 10%
• Build through consistent investing

AVOID: Binary options, forex signals, pyramid schemes, “double your money” scams

Q8: Are investment apps safe?

Yes, IF CMA-licensed. All apps in this guide are licensed: ✅ Hisa, Ndovu, Mali, FXPesa, Etica, Wealth.ng, Absa

CMA licensing means:

• Regulatory oversight
• Segregated client funds
• Regular audits
• Investor protection

Verify legitimacy:

1. Check www.cma.or.ke
2. Look for license number in app
3. Google reviews
4. Test with small deposit (Ksh 1,000)

Red flags to avoid: ❌ No CMA license ❌ Guaranteed high returns (20%+) ❌ Unclear fees ❌ Recruit-to-earn (pyramid)

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Investment Apps vs Banks

Feature	Apps (Hisa, Ndovu)	Banks
Minimum	Ksh 100-1,000	Ksh 50,000-500,000
Fees	0.5-2.5%	3-5%
Access	24/7 mobile	Branch hours
Assets	Global stocks, ETFs	Limited mutual funds
Withdrawals	24-48 hours	7-30 days
Experience	Modern, easy	Complex, paperwork

Best approach: Apps for investing, banks for checking/loans

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Final Recommendation

For Most People: Start with Hisa

Why:

• Ksh 100 minimum
• Best features
• Global access
• 400,000+ users
• Proven track record

Action: Download today, invest Ksh 1,000 in S&P 500

For Safety: Use Etica

Why:

• Zero volatility
• 8-10% guaranteed
• Perfect emergency fund

Action: 3-6 months expenses in Etica

For Local Exposure: Add Mali

Why:

• Support Kenyan companies
• Earn dividends
• NSE access

Action: 10-20% portfolio in Kenyan stocks

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The Wealth-Building Formula

1. Start TODAY (not next week)
2. Deposit Ksh 1,000-5,000
3. Auto-invest Ksh 2,000-10,000/month
4. Choose index funds (S&P 500)
5. Hold 10+ years
6. Become a millionaire

Your Next Step (30 Minutes)

1. Download Hisa app now
2. Sign up & verify
3. Deposit Ksh 1,000
4. Buy S&P 500 ETF
5. Set up auto-invest
6. Check back in 10 years

Remember: The best time to invest was 10 years ago. The second best time is today.

Time in the market beats timing the market. Every day you wait is lost compound growth.

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Conclusion

The best investment apps in Kenya have made wealth building accessible to everyone. You don’t need to be rich to start—just Ksh 100 and the discipline to stay consistent.

Whether you choose Hisa for growth, Etica for safety, or Mali for local exposure, the important thing is to start now.

Your financial future depends on today’s decisions. Will you let money sit idle earning 2.5%? Or will you invest it earning 10-15% annually?

The tools are ready. The platforms are safe. The only question: will you take action?

Start your investment journey today. Your future self will thank you.

 

RELATED ARTICLES

📈 [Complete Guide to Buying Safaricom Shares in Kenya] 💰 [How to Start Investing in Kenya with Ksh 1,000] 🏦 [Money Market Funds vs Savings Accounts: Which is Better?] 📊 [Best Kenyan Stocks 2026: Top 10 Companies to Buy] 💼 [How to Open a CDS Account for NSE Trading]

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Last updated: February 2026. Verify current platform information before investing.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only, not financial advice. Investing carries risk. Consult a qualified advisor before investing.