Guide

Online shopping in Tanzania, explained

Most people in Tanzania already shop "online" without an app: they call a rider they know, message a shop, buy from a seller on Instagram or WhatsApp, or order from abroad. Each way works, and each has gaps. This guide explains all four, how to stay safe, and where the gaps are.

Updated October 2026

The four ways people shop online in Tanzania

Most online buying here falls into one of these. Tap "Read more" under any of them for a full guide.

Call a rider you know (boda boda)

You have the number of a boda boda rider you trust. You call, tell them what to buy and where, they buy it and ride it to you, and you pay for the items and their fee.

Strength

Fast and personal. The rider usually knows your area, and you can change the order by phone.

Watch out for

It only works if you already know the rider and he knows where you live, or you guide him every time. He has to be willing to shop for you and wait to be paid, and you cannot see where he is.

Read more →

Call or message a shop you know

Some shops take orders by phone or WhatsApp. You send the list, pay (often to a Lipa number), and the shop sends the goods by its own rider or a boda boda.

Strength

The shop has the stock and its own prices, and payment goes to a business number.

Watch out for

You must already know the shop, and they must know where you live or be told. It mostly works for shops close to you.

Read more →

Buy from sellers on websites, Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp

You find a seller on a page or a website (including local classified sites such as Jiji), get their number from it, call them, and they buy or send the item to you, usually by rider.

Strength

Huge choice, including fashion, beauty and things you cannot find nearby.

Watch out for

Anyone can open a page. Most scams happen here. Pay when the item arrives and you have checked it, never before.

Read more →

Order from abroad (Amazon, eBay, Alibaba)

You order from an international site and the goods are shipped to Tanzania, directly or through a freight forwarder.

Strength

Items and brands you cannot get here, sometimes at a lower base price.

Watch out for

Shipping and clearance add cost, duty and VAT may apply when it arrives, it takes weeks, and returns are hard.

Read more →

Paying: Lipa number, mobile money, cash or card

Mobile money is the normal way to pay in Tanzania: M-Pesa, Tigo Pesa and Airtel Money all work for most sellers, and shops usually ask you to pay to a Lipa number (a till number) so the money goes to the business. Cards are less common. Cash on delivery remains popular because it lets you check the item before you pay.

  • The golden rule with anyone you do not know: pay when the item reaches you and you have checked it is the right one, not before. Anyone can take money and never show up.
  • Confirm the total before you pay, including delivery. Ask if delivery is a fixed fee or depends on distance.
  • Check the name shown on your payment prompt matches the shop or business you meant to pay.
  • Keep the SMS confirmation and the chat as proof.
  • Never share your M-Pesa, Tigo Pesa or Airtel Money PIN with anyone, ever.

Delivery: what to expect and what it costs

Within a city, delivery is usually the same day or next day, and the fee depends on distance. To another region, goods usually travel by bus or courier company and you collect them in your town, which can take a day or more. Imported orders take much longer.

  • Ask for the delivery fee and the expected time before you order, not after.
  • If you will be at work or on the move, ask about collecting from the shop instead. It saves the delivery fee and you pick the time.
  • Keep your phone on and your address clear: a pin on a map beats a long description.

How to avoid scams and bad deals

Most problems are avoidable. These habits catch the majority of them.

  • If the price is far below everywhere else, ask why. A "new" phone at half the usual price is usually not what it seems.
  • Prefer sellers with a real shop address, a business name and other customers' reviews.
  • Do not be rushed. "Last one, pay now" is a classic pressure tactic.
  • Keep all messages and receipts until the order is complete.

What to buy online, and what to check first

  • Phones and electronics: confirm it is genuine and new or used as described, check the warranty, and compare the price with what shops in Kariakoo charge.
  • Clothes and shoes: check sizes and colours carefully and ask about exchanges. A short chat with the shop before you buy saves most size problems.
  • Groceries: ask about substitutions and freshness, and what happens if an item is out of stock.
  • Medicine: buy only from a licensed pharmacy. Do not buy prescription medicine from social media sellers.

What all four ways are missing

None of these is wrong, and they have served people well. But if you have used them, you have probably felt these gaps:

The gapYou cannot see where your order is. The only way to know is to call and ask, again and again.
How Nunua Pro fills itFollow your order live. You see what your shopper has bought and what is left, you get a notification when shopping is done, then you watch them move toward you on a map with an estimated arrival time.
The gapA long list is hard to give by phone, so people ask for just one or two things.
How Nunua Pro fills itWrite your whole list in the app. Your shopper gets it as a checklist and ticks items off as they buy, then delivers everything together.
The gapIt only works if you already know a rider, a shop or a seller.
How Nunua Pro fills itYou do not need anyone's number. Verified local buyers bid on your list, and you can see their rating and completed orders before you choose.
The gapYou may not know which shops are near you, or what they sell and for how much.
How Nunua Pro fills itBrowse shops near you, see their products with prices, ask a question before buying, then order for delivery or collect it yourself.
The gapYou often pay before you see anything.
How Nunua Pro fills itShops confirm what they have before you pay, any price change on a buyer's order needs your approval, and you can pay by mobile money, cash where allowed, or your NP Balance.

The app is free on Android and iPhone, and shops can also be ordered from on the web without installing anything.

How Nunua Pro works

Nunua Pro is a Tanzanian shopping and delivery platform, so we are one option among the ones above, and we would rather you choose with full information. Three ways to use it:

Order from local shopsBrowse shops near you, add items to a cart, and the shop confirms what it has and the delivery fee before you pay. You can also order ahead and collect at the shop with no delivery fee.
Send a buyer to shop for youWrite your list and a verified local buyer shops for it (at the market, a supermarket or a shop) and delivers it, with live tracking.
Ask the shop firstNot sure about a size, or whether something is original? Ask the shop on its product page before you buy.

Ready to try it?

The app is free. Browse shops near you on the web first, or download it to order.

Browse shops How Nunua Pro works Get it on Google Play App Store

Online shopping in Tanzania: common questions

What are the best online shopping sites in Tanzania?
There is no single best one. Calling a rider or a shop you know suits everyday items, sellers on social media suit fashion and handmade goods, and importing suits things you cannot find locally. Availability changes, so check that a site really delivers to your town and read recent reviews. Nunua Pro, which publishes this guide, is one option for ordering from local shops.
Is there an online shopping app in Tanzania?
Yes, several. Nunua Pro is one: you can order from local shops or send a verified buyer to shop for you, on Android and iPhone, and shops can also be ordered from on the web without the app.
How do I pay when I shop online in Tanzania?
Most people pay with mobile money (M-Pesa, Tigo Pesa or Airtel Money), often to a Lipa number for shops. Cash on delivery is also common where the seller allows it, and some apps offer a wallet balance. Confirm the total before paying and never share your PIN.
When should I pay: before or after the item arrives?
With someone you do not know, pay when the item reaches you and you have checked it is the right one. Paying first is how most people lose money. With a shop you know and trust, paying a Lipa number first is normal.
Can I pay cash on delivery?
Often, but it depends on the seller. Cash on delivery lets you check the item first, which is why many people prefer it. On Nunua Pro, shops choose whether to accept it.
Where can I buy a phone online in Tanzania safely?
Buy from a seller with a real shop address and a business name, compare the price with Kariakoo, confirm the phone is genuine and what warranty it has, and avoid paying everything upfront to someone you cannot trace. Pay when you have the exact model in your hand.
How long does online delivery take in Tanzania?
Within a city it is usually the same or next day. To another region goods usually go by bus or courier and you collect them in your town. Imported orders take weeks. Ask for the time and fee before you order.
Can I shop at Kariakoo online?
Many Kariakoo traders sell by WhatsApp and Instagram. You can also have someone shop there for you: on Nunua Pro you can send a verified buyer to buy from a market or shop and deliver it, and shops can publish their own products with prices.
Can I order online and collect from the shop?
Yes, at shops that offer it. You order ahead, say when you will arrive, and collect with a short code, with no delivery fee. On Nunua Pro this is called in-store pickup.

Updated October 2026