These services solve different jobs. Jiji and PigiaMe publish classified ads; Jumia and Kilimall display shopping catalogues; Sell.ke sells point-of-sale, inventory and online-store software. KobStore gives businesses a public marketing website for product and service listings, business details and contact. Compare the feature you need—not an assumed ranking or fee.
KobStore is a strong fit when you want to present products and services together on one shareable page, receive direct enquiries, appear on Google Search, and use KobStore marketing placements. Use Jiji or PigiaMe when classified listings fit your offer; compare Jumia and Kilimall for their shopping catalogue model; choose Sell.ke when linked point-of-sale, inventory and online checkout are central to your operation.
Details below were checked on 5 October 2026. Fees and features change often, and some figures come from the platforms' own marketing or older articles, so confirm them before you commit.
Start with what you sell
A seller of ready-to-ship goods has different needs from a plumber, tutor, salon or photographer. Write down:
Is it stocked, or made to order?
Is the price fixed, or quoted?
Where do you serve customers, and how do deliveries or appointments work?
What does a customer need to know before they commit?
Those answers matter more than which platform is biggest.
Jiji: listings and direct enquiries
Jiji is a classified-ad marketplace. Its official FAQ confirms paid Premium Services; the FAQ does not give current package prices or enough detail to compare every seller feature. Check the terms shown in your account before paying.
Good for: quick posting and direct conversations.
Watch for: scams, repeated renewals, and little room for a full catalogue or business profile. Never send goods or money based on unverified claims.
Jumia: a marketplace for standard products
Jumia’s public site is a shopping marketplace. Seller requirements, fees, fulfilment and payment terms should be checked in the current Kenya seller information for your category; do not use a general commission estimate.
Consider Jumia for: Standard products that fit its catalogue and your current seller terms. Check category rules, charges, order handling and returns before listing.
Kilimall: another marketplace route
Kilimall’s Kenya catalogue currently presents goods categories including appliances, phones, fashion, home items, computers and more. Its seller-side charges and operating terms should be confirmed with current seller resources. KobStore’s public page supports both product and service offers.
Consider Kilimall for: Products that fit its public shopping catalogue. Check current seller requirements, charges and order handling for your category.
Sell.ke: POS and online store in one paid system
Sell.ke combines a point of sale, stock control and an online store, so a sale at the counter reduces online stock too. It lists plans from KES 1,499 a month for POS only (Starter), KES 2,999 for POS plus online store (Basic), KES 5,499 (Growth) and KES 14,999 (Enterprise), with M-Pesa checkout, custom domains and KRA eTIMS integration on higher plans, and an optional KES 10,000 setup service. It says it takes no commission on your sales. sell.ke
Good for: shops that sell at a counter and online, and want checkout, stock and accounting in one place.
Watch for: a monthly subscription that runs all year, and higher tiers for features such as eTIMS and accounting.
KobStore: a public business marketing website
KobStore gives your business a public marketing website for products or services, with photos, prices, policies and contact details together, plus a presence in KobStore Browse. You share one link from WhatsApp, social media, flyers and your Google profile.
- Foundation (free): A free Foundation account can carry up to 10 one-image listings. Publish your first listing within five days of registration. A listing published during setup remains public for 14 days from registration, then is hidden during a five-day deletion notice period. Upgrade before that deadline to keep the account and restore eligible listings; otherwise the account and listings are deleted. If you publish no listing within the first five days, the account enters a five-day deletion notice period and is deleted if you do not upgrade.
One-time upgrades. Catalyst is KSh 500 (60 listings, no expiry, Verified badge). Dominion is KSh 1,000 and Legacy is KSh 2,000.
Products and services. You can describe scope, area and price basis, which a cart-style listing handles poorly.
About the workflow. KobStore provides a public marketing website and browsable product and service listings, plus optional POS tools for in-person sales. Physical-product and service requests go to the seller to confirm details. If integrated checkout is important, compare the current checkout flow offered by each platform. Check the pricing page for current terms.
Other routes worth knowing
Pigiame and Facebook Marketplace: classifieds for used goods and local sales. Rules and categories differ.
Sky.Garden: a store builder with its own marketplace. An older interview said sellers pay nothing until they sell.
Shopify or WooCommerce: your own full online shop. One host lists Shopify Starter from US$5 a month plus transaction fees, and a WooCommerce build package from KSh 40,000, so budget for setup and upkeep.
Compare them side by side
A rough cost picture
These platforms use different pricing and feature models. Compare the current total cost for the workflow your business needs, including setup, recurring fees, payment charges, and any add-ons.
For one product, record the selling price, what it costs you, packaging, delivery, payment charges, platform fees, returns and your time. Don't enter an estimated charge as fact. Confirm the current rate.
Match the platform to your business
One-off or used goods: Jiji, Pigiame or Facebook Marketplace.
A shop with a counter and an online store, wanting checkout and accounting: Sell.ke.
Services, custom work, or a shareable page with no commission: KobStore.
Several of the above: use a marketplace for discovery and KobStore as your full-catalogue link, with one place that records price and stock.
Test before you commit
Pick three to five representative products or one service.
Use the same prices, photos, stock and reply time on each channel you test.
Set a four-week limit and a spending cap.
Record visits, qualified enquiries, sales, returns, hours spent and what you earn after all costs.
Add a "How did you find us?" question to every enquiry.
Keep what works, and pause what costs more time or money than it brings.
Keep customer expectations consistent
State whether a price is fixed or a starting price, whether delivery is included, and what happens if an item is out of stock. Don't put all your records in one place without knowing how to export them. Save your product photos and descriptions, and follow each platform's rules about customer data.
Feature-by-feature: where KobStore stands out
KobStore combines product and service listings, a public business marketing website, direct contact details and Google Search visibility. Foundation is free for up to 10 listings with one photo each; its one-time paid plans add more capacity and KobStore marketing placement, with no percentage commission on seller sales. This makes it particularly useful for a service business, a mixed product-and-service business, or a seller who wants one shareable page behind social posts and referrals.
Other models meet different needs: Jiji and PigiaMe provide classified listings and paid visibility options; Jumia and Kilimall display public shopping catalogues; Sell.ke describes connected POS, inventory, online checkout and delivery settings. Confirm each provider’s current seller terms. Sources: Jiji FAQ, PigiaMe boosts, Jumia, Kilimall, Sell.ke store features and KobStore pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Which is best for a new small seller in Kenya? Choose by the work you need each channel to do. Classifieds provide classified listings, Jumia and Kilimall present shopping catalogues, Sell.ke offers POS and online-store tools, and KobStore provides a public marketing website for product and service offers. Compare current seller terms and costs.
How should I compare KobStore and Sell.ke?
Compare current plans against the functions your business needs, including setup and ongoing costs.
How are KobStore sales priced? Seller sales are not charged a percentage commission. Paid plans are one-time purchases, and optional marketing add-ons have separate prices.
