According to the Mobile Economy Africa Report 2025 by GSMA, 416 million people use the internet, which amounts to a 28% smartphone penetration rate in Africa. The contribution of the mobile industry to the economy is projected to reach $270 billion by 2030, which is driven by the expansion of digital technologies on the continent.
Thus, a smartphone is no longer considered a luxury only owned by the rich of the society. For millions of people across Africa who form the informal economy in Africa, i.e. “Every Day Earners”, owning a smartphone is about keeping up. It’s how they learn, sell, work, and most importantly, stay connected.
Who Are Every Day Earners?
Walk into any street in a busy African city, and you’re bound to see hawkers on the road advertising their wares like their life depends on it (because it does); hairdressers by the foot of a stall making their customers’ hair and gisting as though they share the same problems (maybe, they do); boda boda riders helping people commute to work and back—individuals working tirelessly to provide for their families (because man must chop); food sellers breaking a neck to ensure they provide the best service to their customers (the reason they’re still in business), and others.
Walk into another street in a remote African village, and you’ll see the same scenario—people doing everything they can to make a living, while trying to keep up with the fast-pacedness of this digital age, and stay connected to the digital world. They include, but are not limited to informal workers, small business owners, delivery riders, market traders, students, and young professionals.
They are the tenacious entrepreneurs who are the backbone of the continent’s economies, earning daily/weekly, and not salaried monthly. And these are the Every Day Earners we drive financial and digital inclusion for at M-KOPA.
M-KOPA: Who We Are and What We Do
We are a leading African fintech dedicated to delivering affordable financial and digital solutions to Africa’s hardworking “Every Day Earners”. To date, we have deployed more than $1.5 billion in credit, enabling over 5 million customers across 5 countries (including Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa) to own quality smartphones, connect to the digital economy, access affordable digital financial services and progress towards their financial goals.
Closing the Digital Inclusion Gap
It’s 2026, and a smartphone is seen more as a necessity than a luxury now. Not having one means missing out on the many advantages that internet connectivity brings. Unfortunately, for billions of people around the world, owning a smartphone is still too expensive.
A 2020 research from the Alliance for Affordable Internet shows that high costs of smartphones are the biggest hurdle to global connectivity, keeping billions offline. The survey found that 2.5 billion people live in countries where a smartphone costs a quarter or more of their monthly income.
In Nigeria, for example, the average cost of a smartphone is about 37% of an average monthly income, and the cheapest smartphone in Uganda costs $38-$40, equivalent to 96% of income for the poorest households. Getting more people online is one of our big goals at M-KOPA, and this is why we want to increase the number of people in Africa who are more likely to own a smartphone.
We are building products that enable customers to boost their incomes, enhance financial resilience, and improve access to education, healthcare, and essential services. We will continue to pioneer forward-thinking products that deliver financial progress for Africa’s Every Day Earners.
Providing Financing That Works
Our innovative financing model is designed for the realities of millions of people who are excluded from traditional financial services. The model is flexible, inclusive, and progressive—we place it at the heart of how we serve our customers. The 3 pillars of our financial model are as follows:
- Inclusivity: By setting the interests of low-income earners as a priority, we provide cheaper options for our customers, allowing them to get instant access to a high-quality smartphone and begin to use it to power their life and business.
- Flexibility: To match the cashflow patterns of our customers, we provide a daily repayment model that allows them to pay small amounts every day. By so doing, we give them the flexibility to pay on the days they can without penalising them for the days they can’t.
- Progressiveness: With each daily payment, our customers build a credit history with us, unlocking access to more products and services such as digital loans or health insurance. This helps them earn more, live better, and contribute to economic growth, at large.
We’ve been doing this for more than 10 years, across Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa, and we’re looking to reach more people across the entire continent.
How M-KOPA Ensures Smartphone Affordability for Every Day Earners
At M-KOPA, we believe that everyone deserves access to the financial services they need to progress. Our model caters to the millions of hardworking people across Africa for whom access to formal financial services remains out of reach. 92% of customers say M-KOPA financing made products more affordable, because our approach is simple yet effective: Pay Easy. Own Easy.
This “pay easy, own easy” approach is how we ensure smartphone affordability for every day earners. Let’s break it down further.
Pay-As-You-Go Ownership
Our customers’ financial inclusion journey starts with a smartphone, the primary gateway to the digital economy. Instead of saving for months to buy a smartphone outright, customers can begin with a small initial payment and then pay in manageable instalments over a considerable period of time.
This spreads the cost over time, making smartphone ownership far more realistic and unlocking people out of phone ownership and internet access. The most exciting part is that they can start using the phone immediately while they pay back. They don’t have to wait until they have the full amount, and when they get the phone, it feels like M-KOPA has changed their lives.
Flexible Payments That Match Everyday Life
Most Every Day Earners do not earn monthly salaries. Some earn daily, some weekly, and some earn more during certain seasons. M-KOPA’s financing is structured with this reality in mind. We think; how can Tope, who tends to her stall beside the road, get a phone worth fifty times her daily earnings, for example?
Then, we made a variety of phone types available, and designed a repayment model that is flexible, consistent, and achievable for each customer. This makes our smartphones accessible to people who would otherwise be excluded from traditional credit systems.
Access Without Traditional Banking Barriers
Many people across Africa remain underserved by formal banking. M-KOPA helps bridge that gap by offering financing options that don’t rely solely on conventional bank loans.
This expands access to smartphones for people building their lives outside the formal financial system. 45% of our customers are accessing a smartphone or financial product for the first time. This is the inclusion we hoped to achieve when we started.
A Clear Path to Full Ownership
It doesn’t stop at access. With M-KOPA, customers are paying toward ownership. Once payments are completed, the smartphone becomes fully theirs, and they get other added benefits too: data to stay connected, health insurance, and digital loans.
That means Every Day Earners can invest confidently, knowing they are building an asset, and not borrowing endlessly. They can also get the support they need to realise their lofty dreams and live a more healthy and comfortable life.
Our Success Stories
Increasing Access to Smartphones for Kenyan Hustlers
In the busy town of Eldoret, Kenya, Samwel Mukoshi spends his time at his mechanic shop every day. As a father and a business owner, Samwel’s goal is to keep his customers happy and his family supported. He has been an M-KOPA customer for five years, moving from a basic Nokia to a modern X20 smartphone, which has become an essential part of his business.
“Before this upgrade, my old phone kept hanging, and it really slowed me down. I couldn’t advertise properly or communicate well with my clients. Since getting this new phone, everything has changed. I even make video calls so customers can see the parts before they buy them.”
Switching to a smartphone has completely changed the way Samwel works. He no longer waits for customers to walk through his door; he reaches them online by posting spare parts for sale. This digital boost has helped his business grow and reach more people than ever before.
The impact also reaches Samwel’s home. His children now use the phone for learning and entertainment. That experience made him appreciate just how much M-KOPA has supported both his work and family life.
Supporting Growing Entrepreneurs in Uganda
In the town of Seguku, Uganda, Joseph Kayondo rises before the sun each day, ready to tackle the challenges that come with wearing multiple hats. At 36, Joseph juggles roles as a farmer and Uber driver with the aim of providing a better life for his wife and three young children, all under the age of 10.
Joseph has been an M-KOPA customer since 2021 and in that time has acquired two smartphones and received digital loans totalling USD $320, enabling him to pay school fees for his children, manage his Uber business and communicate with farming clients.
“An M-KOPA sales agent explained the process thoroughly, and after I had paid a deposit, I received the device right away. M-KOPA has treated me well and is transparent, and I will stick with them for the long term.”
Having made the switch to a smartphone Joseph’s life has transformed in multiple ways. His Uber business flourished, and his farming operations, once a constant source of worry due to his absence, began to thrive under his remote management.
Having a smartphone has also had an impact on his children, who use it for entertainment and educational purposes. With the additional proceeds from his businesses, Joseph has bought land, built a house, and improved the quality of his household’s daily life.
Financing Phones in a High-cost Economy Like Nigeria
Rachel Adebisi, 42, is a fruit trader from Ilashe, Nigeria with three daughters. As a trader in the informal economy with daily earnings and no credit, Rachel lacks access to financial services and capital that she needs to grow her business and support her family.
While she had previously accessed a microfinance loan, she didn’t like the harsh repayment terms and was reluctant to try again. This is why she prefers M-KOPA’s financial products because it’s designed for her financial reality, allowing her to make small daily payments comfortably.
She used to think having a smartphone was out of reach. But accessing M-KOPA’s financing to own her first smartphone has transformed her business. “It has helped me immensely,” she says, “now I can communicate effectively with the people I do business with.”
Having found a pathway for financial inclusion that works for her, Rachel plans to continue her financial journey with M-KOPA and looks forward to accessing more financial products to invest in her business and to secure her family’s financial future.
Providing Digital Inclusion for Families in Ghana
Nicholas Odonkor is a 35-year-old construction worker from Kpone, Ghana, who supports his family of five children. He told his story of how he bought a phone to download apps and chat with customers. However, the phone would freeze from time to time, rendering it useless. One day, his friend called him, and he lamented that any time he called Nicholas’ phone, it was either switched off or cannot be reached.
This limited his ability to participate in the digital economy and grow his business. M-KOPA’s affordable financing changed this for him. With an M-KOPA smartphone, he can now showcase his construction work to potential clients through high-quality videos. This has helped him expand his client base, boosting his income.
Experiencing first-hand the impact of being connected to the digital economy, Nicholas was determined to help his family too. “When I completed the payments for my first M-KOPA phone, I gave it to my sister.” Nicholas recalls, “I then bought a second one for my wife”.
Lessening Financial Strain for Newly-employeds in South Africa
Lucy Motshabi is a Sales Consultant from South Africa who started a new job in August, 2025. She had been unemployed for a while and didn't have a smartphone, which she desperately needed to communicate on social platforms for work purposes.
She was excited to be able to purchase a device despite having no credit history and being newly employed. The M-KOPA loan process felt simple and personalised, and she values the flexibility of managing her payments while knowing she’ll fully own the device in just six months—unlike traditional cellphone contracts. Even when facing financial difficulties, she appreciated being able to catch up on her installments without it negatively impacting her credit bureau.
Lucy was also one of the customers we called during our after-sales outreach. She really appreciated the call and felt that M-KOPA cares about her as a customer, not just about the money. This experience reinforced her trust in the service, and she has already referred a few people to M-KOPA, with plans to continue doing so.
Devices Built for Everyday Needs
M-KOPA smartphones allow you to do more than just make calls. Our series are affordable with a sleek design, sufficient storage, long-lasting battery, and advanced camera features, providing a wholesome and seamless digital experience.
You can make your choice from a variety of M-KOPA smartphones, including but not limited to the X30, the X2, and the Samsung series.
With M-KOPA smartphones come additional benefits:
- Device protection: We provide warranty for stolen, damaged, or lost devices on a case-by-case basis.
- Affordable data: We offer 5GB instant data bundles for new customers to stay connected.
- Health cover: Get hospital cover with your smartphone, with a guaranteed one-year insurance.
- Digital loan: When customers build a clean credit history with us, they unlock access to better-priced digital cash loans.
Explore available smartphones here: Devices
Future Outlook
The future of smartphone adoption in Africa looks promising. As technology continues to evolve and infrastructure improves, more Every Day Earners will gain access to high-quality smartphones. M-KOPA is well-positioned to lead this charge, with plans for expanding its offerings and enhancing its services.
The broader implications of smartphone penetration and affordability for economic development are significant. With more individuals gaining access to smartphones, the potential for innovation and entrepreneurship increases, leading to a more connected and empowered continent.
Conclusion
Our innovative approach to making smartphones affordable has transformed the lives of Every Day earners across Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, and South Africa. We’ve connected over 4 million smartphone customers, 1.7 million of whom are first-time mobile internet users.
By providing flexible payment options and essential technology, we continue to empower individuals to pursue opportunities that were previously out of reach, while also expanding our reach to other African countries.
If you’re ready to join the millions who have embraced affordable technology through M-KOPA, get your smartphone today!
FAQs
- What is M-KOPA?
M-KOPA is an inclusive fintech company that offers affordable financing solutions for every day earners.
- Do I qualify as their target audience?
Yes you do, if you earn daily/weekly wages, or if your monthly salary is less than your country’s minimum wage.
- How does M-KOPA smartphone financing work?
M-KOPA uses a pay-as-you-go model, allowing customers to make manageable daily payments instead of a large upfront cost.
- Which countries does M-KOPA operate in?
Currently, M-KOPA operates in Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa—and we have certified agents in these countries.
- Can I visit the M-KOPA office to get a phone?
Yes. You can visit any of our service centres closest to you, where an M-KOPA agent will attend to you.
- Do I need a bank account to apply?
Not at all. Having a bank account is not a prerequisite for getting an M-KOPA smartphone. However, you should have relevant IDs so we can verify your identity.
- Can I pay daily or weekly?
Your preferred payment model is up to you. Whether you want to pay daily, weekly, or biweekly, what’s more important is fulfilling your payment as and when due.
- What happens if I miss a payment?
If a customer is unable to pay for their device, they can return the product at any time. They will receive a refund of their deposit and be released of their financial obligation.
- Do I own the phone eventually?
Yes, it’s all yours, and you can do more with an M-KOPA phone: get a digital loan, get hospital cover, and stay connected forever.
- What kind of smartphones can I get?
We have budget-friendly smartphones designed to bring you the benefits of a modern, connected life. Check this page to make your choice.
- How do I get an M-KOPA smartphone?
Simply click here to get started.
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