Auto‑renewal for daily, weekly, or monthly bundles can be convenient, but it often leads to unexpected deductions when you forget to cancel. Safaricom and Airtel both offer bundles that automatically renew, draining your airtime or M‑PESA balance. This guide shows you how to disable auto‑renewal on both networks, check your active subscriptions, and switch to a no‑auto‑renewal alternative.
⚡ Quick Auto-Renewal Reference
| Safaricom Auto-Renewal USSD | *544# → Manage Subscriptions |
| Airtel Auto-Renewal USSD | *544# → Manage Subscriptions |
| Check Active Subscriptions | *544# → View Active Subscriptions |
| Cancel Daily Bundles (Airtel) | *544# → Daily Bundles → Cancel |
| No Auto-Renewal Option | Till 509947 (one-time purchase) |
⚠️ Why Auto‑Renewal Can Be a Problem
- Unwanted charges: You might not need the bundle again, but the system deducts money anyway
- Depletes airtime/M‑PESA: If you have low balance, it may fail or leave you stranded
- Hard to cancel: Many users struggle to find the cancellation menu
- Okoa issues: If you have Okoa debt, auto‑renewal may fail or be used to repay the loan
- Daily bundles are the worst: They renew every day, quickly adding up
📱 How to Stop Auto‑Renewal on Safaricom
Safaricom bundles that auto‑renew include many daily, weekly, and monthly data packs. To cancel:
- Dial *544# from your Safaricom line
- Select "Manage Subscriptions" (option 4 on the main menu)
- Choose "Manage Auto‑Renewal"
- Select the bundle you want to cancel auto‑renewal for
- Confirm cancellation
You can also dial *100# → My Account → Manage Subscriptions → Cancel Auto‑Renewal.
📱 How to Stop Auto‑Renewal on Airtel
Airtel's auto‑renewal works similarly. To cancel:
- Dial *544# from your Airtel line
- Select "Manage Subscriptions" or "Auto‑Renewal" (menu may vary)
- Select the active bundle
- Choose "Cancel Auto‑Renewal"
- Confirm
Alternatively, use the My Airtel App: Go to Bundles → My Subscriptions → Auto‑Renewal → Disable.
📅 How to Stop Auto‑Renewal for Airtel Daily Bundles
Daily bundles are the most common auto‑renewal subscriptions. To cancel them specifically:
- Dial *544# from your Airtel line
- Select "Manage Subscriptions" or "Auto‑Renewal"
- Look for "Daily Bundles" or "Daily Subscriptions"
- Select the active daily bundle
- Choose "Cancel Auto‑Renewal"
- Confirm the cancellation
📊 How to Check Your Auto‑Renewal Status
To see which bundles are currently set to auto‑renew:
For Safaricom:
- Dial *544# from your Safaricom line
- Select "Manage Subscriptions"
- Choose "View Active Subscriptions"
- Your active auto‑renewal bundles will be displayed
For Airtel:
- Dial *544# from your Airtel line
- Select "Manage Subscriptions" or "Auto‑Renewal"
- Choose "View Active Subscriptions"
- Your active auto‑renewal bundles will be displayed
✅ Why Reseller Tills (Like 509947) Are Better – No Auto‑Renewal
When you buy bundles via a reseller till, there is no auto‑renewal. You pay once for a specific bundle, and it never renews automatically. This gives you complete control over your spending.
- Cheaper prices: Up to 60% off official rates
- Okoa friendly: Works even with outstanding debt
- No registration: Just M‑PESA and the till number
- Flexible: Buy only when you need it
- No auto‑renewal surprises: You control every purchase
📊 Price Comparison: Official Bundles vs Reseller Till
| Bundle | Official Price | Reseller Till 509947 | Auto‑Renewal? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1GB (1 Hour) – Safaricom | Ksh 50 | Ksh 19 | ❌ No (reseller) |
| 1.25GB (Midnight) – Safaricom | Ksh 100 | Ksh 55 | ❌ No |
| 2GB (Midnight) – Airtel | Ksh 100 | Ksh 53 | ❌ No |
| 45 Mins (3 Hours) – Safaricom | Ksh 50 | Ksh 22 | ❌ No |
❓ Frequently Asked Questions – Auto‑Renewal
Dial *544# → Select "Manage Subscriptions" → "Manage Auto-Renewal" → Select the bundle → Confirm cancellation.
Dial *544# → Select "Manage Subscriptions" or "Auto-Renewal" → Select the active bundle → "Cancel Auto-Renewal" → Confirm.
Dial *544# → Select "Manage Subscriptions" → "View Active Subscriptions". Your active auto-renewal bundles will be displayed.
Dial *544# → Select "Manage Subscriptions" → Look for "Daily Bundles" → Select → "Cancel Auto-Renewal" → Confirm.
No – reseller tills do not support auto-renewal. You pay per bundle, and that's it. This gives you full control over your spending.
No – Okoa is separate. Cancelling auto-renewal only stops future bundle purchases.
If you cancelled after the renewal had already been processed, the deduction may have been for the next cycle. Contact your carrier's customer care for a refund if it was unauthorised.
