USSD stands for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data. It is the technology behind the short codes you dial on a phone, like *144# to check your Safaricom balance or *334# to open the M-PESA menu. You dial a code that starts with * and ends with #, and a menu appears on your screen. You reply with a number, and the menu responds instantly.
USSD meaning in simple terms
USSD is a way for your phone to hold a short, live conversation with a service over the mobile network. Unlike an SMS, nothing is saved in your inbox: the session stays open while you choose options, then closes. Because it runs on the basic GSM network, it works on every phone, from a basic feature phone to the latest smartphone, and it needs no internet or data bundle.
- Full form: Unstructured Supplementary Service Data.
- Also called: USSD codes, quick codes, star codes or feature codes.
- Format: starts with
*and ends with#, for example*483*57#.
How USSD works
- The user dials a code such as
*384*1#. - The mobile network recognises the code and forwards the request to a USSD gateway.
- The gateway passes it to the business’s application server, usually over HTTP, with the caller’s phone number and what they typed.
- The application replies with the next menu screen, and the gateway sends it back to the phone.
- This repeats until the user finishes or the session times out.
Each screen holds roughly 160–182 characters, and networks close idle sessions after a short time, often a couple of minutes. That is why good USSD menus are short and numbered. See USSD menu design best practices.
Common USSD codes in Kenya
Kenyans use USSD every day, often without knowing the name for it:
*144#: check your Safaricom airtime balance.*334#: the M-PESA menu for sending money, paying bills and buying airtime.*544#: buy Safaricom data, SMS and minute bundles.- Bank, SACCO and insurance codes for mobile banking without an app.
- Government and NGO codes for registration, surveys and service information.
Networks sometimes change codes, so confirm with the operator.
What businesses use USSD for
- Mobile banking and SACCOs: balances, mini-statements, loan applications and repayments.
- Payments and collections: pay bills, fees or rent from a menu. See SMS and USSD banking.
- Surveys and polls: collect feedback from people without smartphones. See SMS and USSD surveys.
- Agriculture: market prices, weather and input orders for farmers. See mFarming.
- Registration and self-service: sign-ups, account look-ups, ticket checks and customer support menus.
USSD vs SMS: what is the difference?
| USSD | SMS | |
|---|---|---|
| Connection | Live session, real time | Store-and-forward message |
| Saved on the phone | No, it disappears when the session ends | Yes, in the inbox |
| Best for | Menus, choices, transactions | Alerts, receipts, reminders, marketing |
| Who starts it | Usually the user dials the code | Usually the business sends it |
| Needs internet | No | No |
The best services combine both: a USSD menu for the transaction, then an SMS with the receipt or reference number the customer can keep. Learn more about bulk SMS.
Advantages and limitations
Advantages: works on every phone and network, needs no app or data, is instant and interactive, is familiar to Kenyan users, and keeps nothing stored on the handset after the session.
Limitations: short screens, session time-outs, text only, and users must know the code. Codes also have to be set up with each network. For richer experiences, compare USSD vs a mobile app.
How to get a USSD code for your business
You can launch on a shared code, where your service sits under a provider’s code (for example *384*123#) and is quick and affordable to start, or apply for a dedicated code of your own, which costs more and takes longer to approve. Connect Media handles the application, network setup and hosting, so you only design your menu. Read how to get a USSD code in Kenya or see our USSD service.
Prefer Swahili? Soma kuhusu USSD kwa Kiswahili.
Launch your USSD service
Talk to us about a USSD code or create a Connect Media account for bulk SMS from KES 1.0, with one account for Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom. Call +254 707 339 945 or email info@connectmedia.co.ke.
