The Complete Guide To Home Internet Services In Kenya: Comparing Safaricom, Faiba, Zuku, Vilcom, Starlink, Poa!, and Mawingu Internet Plans.
Kenya’s home internet market has become increasingly competitive, with multiple Internet Service Providers or ISPs offering a range of plans tailored to different budgets, speeds, user needs and locations. The recent arrival of satellite-based Starlink has intensified competition, prompting various to adjust their offerings accordingly. Therefore, this blog post provides an in-depth look at each ISP analyzing their plans based on speed and price to help you determine the best fit for your home.
The table below summarizes the unlimited plans offered by each ISP, sorted by speed:
Entry-Level Plans (5–20 Mbps)
For light internet users, Poa! Internet offers the most affordable entry-level option with its 5Mbps plan at KES 1,750 per month. This plan is ideal for users in areas where fiber options are limited and who need only basic internet access for tasks like email, social media, and casual browsing. However, do bear in mind that Poa! Internet only covers certain locations throughout Kenya. For users looking for a slight increase in speed, Vilcom’s 8Mbps plan, priced at KES 1,999, provides a bit more bandwidth at a relatively low cost, making it ideal for households with one or two devices connected at the same time.
At the 10Mbps level, Mawingu’s Max 10 plan is priced at KES 2,500 and uses a wireless connection, which is particularly suitable for areas without traditional fiber infrastructure making it ideal for rural users seeking an affordable way to stay connected. Zuku’s 10Mbps plan, available at KES 2,799, offers a wired alternative for users looking for a stable connection in urban areas. Safaricom Home’s Bronze plan at 15Mbps for KES 2,999 is a higher-end option in this category, providing a bit more speed, making it perfect for small households that want a reliable connection for light streaming and browsing. Another choice for users in non-fiber areas is Mawingu’s Max 15 plan, which provides the same 15Mbps with the flexibility of wireless as well as fiber where its available.
For users needing more speed, Vilcom’s 18Mbps plan offers a slight upgrade over the 15Mbps options, priced at KES 2,799. This plan is a good choice for users who want more bandwidth for video streaming and light online gaming. At the top end of this tier, Zuku’s 20Mbps plan is available for KES 4,199, delivering enough speed for moderate streaming and light multi-device usage. Similarly, Mawingu’s Max 20 plan offers wireless connectivity at 20Mbps for KES 4,500, making it a great choice for those in rural and peri-urban areas.
Mid-Range Plans (30–60 Mbps)
In the mid-range category, Vilcom’s 30Mbps plan, at KES 3,799, is a good fit for families and households with multiple devices, offering ample speed for tasks like streaming, remote work, and light gaming. Safaricom Home’s Silver plan at 30Mbps, priced at KES 4,100, is a popular choice for users in urban areas seeking reliable service backed by Safaricom’s extensive fiber network.
For users requiring higher speeds, Vilcom’s 60Mbps plan provides excellent value at KES 4,999, offering reliable connectivity for HD streaming and gaming. JTL Faiba’s 70Mbps plan is available at KES 5,000, providing a solid balance of speed and cost for families that need a consistent connection. At the top of this range, Zuku’s 60Mbps plan, priced at KES 5,999, is ideal for users in areas with good Zuku coverage, offering a solid fiber option for households with moderate to high internet needs.
High-Speed Plans (80–120 Mbps)
For high-speed users, Safaricom Home’s Gold plan delivers 80Mbps at KES 6,299, making it a good choice for larger families or users with high data demands such as HD streaming and online gaming. Starlink’s Residential Lite plan is available for KES 4,000, providing speeds of around 100Mbps and representing a strong option for users in rural areas without fiber infrastructure. However, we also see that Starlink is making major inroads into urban areas of Kenya too for home users.
For those in urban areas who prefer faster fiber speeds, Vilcom’s 100Mbps plan, priced at KES 7,999, is a competitive choice. JTL Faiba’s 90Mbps plan is also available at KES 10,000, offering a premium option in this category. For users seeking the fastest speeds in this range, JTL Faiba’s 120Mbps plan is available at KES 15,000, ideal for serious users who require reliable speeds for work or gaming.
Ultra-High-Speed Plans (100–1000 Mbps)
For extreme internet users, Starlink’s Residential plan provides speeds between 100 and 200Mbps at KES 6,500, offering a compelling wireless alternative for users in areas lacking fiber but is also proving to be popular in per-urban and urban areas of Kenya. For fiber users, JTL Faiba’s 300Mbps plan at KES 20,000 is perfect for households that engage in 4K streaming, large file downloads, and other data-intensive activities.
At the fiber tier, Vilcom’s 500Mbps plan at KES 11,999 stands out as one of the most cost-effective options for ultra-high speeds, delivering impressive speed at a reasonable price point. Safaricom Home’s Diamond plan also provides 500Mbps for KES 12,499, catering to users who want the reliability and coverage that Safaricom is known for. Safaricom Home’s Platinum plan, priced at KES 20,000, is Kenya’s only residential 1Gbps option, ideal for small businesses or homes with high data consumption across multiple users.
Best Value Recommendations
For light internet users, Poa! Internet’s 5Mbps plan at KES 1,750 is a budget-friendly option for basic browsing. In the mid-range category, JTL Faiba’s 70Mbps plan at KES 5,000 offers excellent speed per cost, while Vilcom’s 30Mbps plan at KES 3,799 is ideal for users who need enough speed for streaming and light work-from-home tasks.
For users who need high-speed connectivity, Starlink’s Residential Lite plan provides strong satellite performance around 100Mbps for KES 4,000, making it a fantastic choice for those in rural areas without fiber access, but can also serve those in peri-urban and urban areas. In urban areas, Vilcom’s 100Mbps plan at KES 7,999 provides a reliable fiber option for households with more demanding internet needs.
At the ultra-high-speed level, Safaricom Home’s Platinum plan is the only gigabit option, delivering 1Gbps for KES 20,000, making it the ultimate choice for power users, small businesses, and large families with heavy data requirements. For those who don’t need quite as much speed but still want exceptional performance, Vilcom’s 500Mbps plan at KES 11,999 and Safaricom’s Diamond plan at 500Mbps for KES 12,499 are both excellent choices for high-speed internet.
Additionally, Starlink’s Residential plan provides a wireless alternative for users in underserved areas, delivering 100 to 200Mbps for KES 6,500, which is competitive for areas where fiber infrastructure is not available. However, as mentioned previous, many users in peri-urban and urban areas of Kenya can also sign-up for Starlink as is being seen on the ground but bearing in mind that Starlink does have its own pros and cons.
Final Thoughts
The Kenyan home internet market has become more varied and competitive, allowing consumers to choose from a wide array of plans that cater to different needs. While this guide has focused on price and speed, it’s essential to consider other factors like service reliability, customer support, and coverage availability when making your choice.
Whether you’re a light user looking for basic internet or a power user needing gigabit speeds, Kenya’s internet providers offer something for everyone. As the market continues to expand, ISPs are likely to keep innovating, bringing more value to customers through better options and increased service levels. With these comparisons in mind, you’ll be better equipped to select the perfect plan for your needs, enabling you to enjoy the best possible internet experience in your home.
