What is USSD and how does it work?

USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) is a communication protocol used by mobile phones to communicate with a service provider's computers. Unlike SMS or internet-based apps, USSD works on any mobile phone without requiring internet connectivity or app installation. When a user dials a USSD code (like *123#), the request is sent to the mobile network operator, which routes it to the service provider's server. The server processes the request and sends back a menu or response that appears on the user's phone screen. This creates an interactive session where users can navigate menus, enter data, and complete transactions—all through simple text-based interfaces. USSD is widely used in Kenya and East Africa for mobile banking (like M-PESA), airtime purchases, data bundles, SACCO services, and customer support systems.

Can I build a USSD app without coding?

Yes, you can build a USSD app without coding using UFlow's visual drag-and-drop builder. UFlow is a no-code platform that lets you create, test, and deploy USSD flows through an intuitive interface—no programming knowledge required. With UFlow, you can design USSD menus visually, add payment integrations (M-PESA, Airtel Money), connect to external APIs, set up SMS notifications, test in real-time, and deploy to production with one click. Traditional USSD development requires programming knowledge and weeks of time; UFlow reduces this to minutes.

Does USSD require internet connection?

No, USSD does not require an internet connection. USSD works over the mobile network's signaling channel, which means it functions on any mobile phone—even basic feature phones—without Wi-Fi or mobile data. This is one of USSD's key advantages, especially in regions like Kenya and East Africa where internet connectivity may be unreliable, many users have feature phones, and mobile banking services need to reach the widest possible audience. USSD sessions are initiated by dialing a code (e.g., *123#) and work through the same network infrastructure that handles voice calls and SMS.

Build USSD Apps Without Coding — Visual Flow Builder

Name: UFlow
Author: UFlow

A powerful visual builder for creating complex USSD applications. Drag, drop, and connect nodes to build menus, handle inputs, and integrate APIs without writing a single line of code.

Start Building Free View Examples

Start

Welcome to USSD Banking

1. Check Balance

2. Transfer Money

Input Router

Routing based on selection...

API Call

Fetch Balance

GET /api/balance

Form

Enter Amount

10k+

Active Apps

50M+

Monthly Sessions

99.9%

Uptime

Monetization

Monetize your USSD apps

Drag and drop payment nodes to accept mobile money instantly. We handle the complex API integrations with M-Pesa, Airtel Money, and Stripe.

Add Payments

Payment Request

Node ID: #pay_01

Action

Provider

M-Pesa Express

Amount Variable

Send SMS

Node ID: #sms_notify

Output

Recipient

Message Template

Thanks for your payment of KES {{session.amount}}. Your ref is {{transaction.id}}.

Communication

Reach users instantly

Don't let the conversation end when the USSD session closes. Trigger SMS notifications, WhatsApp messages, or emails directly from your flow logic.

Connect API

Local Dataset

Store menus and lists locally

Local Dataset lets you store menu or list data directly in your flow — no backend needed. Use it like a local database and add as many dataset nodes as you need.

View Database

Store Data

Node ID: #save_pref

Collection

food_menu

Dataset Table

ID	Name	Price	Type
1	Chapati	KES 30	Bread
2	Pilau	KES 150	Rice
3	Ugali	KES 60	Staple
4	Nyama Choma	KES 300	Grill
+ Add item

Experimental

How can I help you build your flow today?

Create a registration flow that asks for name, ID, and PIN.

I've generated the flow for you. It includes 3 input nodes and a validation step.

Flow Created

AI Assistant

Powered by AI.
Designed by you.

Describe your desired flow in plain English, and let our AI agent generate the nodes, connections, and logic for you. It's like pair programming with a USSD expert.

Try AI Builder

All the right integrations

Connect your USSD flows to the tools you already use. Payments, CRMs, Databases - we've got plugins for everything.

Explore Marketplace

M-Pesa

Accept mobile money with M-Pesa

SMS Providers

Send messages via Wasiliana, Africa's Talking, MTN, Twilio, etc.

USSD Providers

Wasiliana, Africa's Talking, MTN, etc.

Custom API

Connect any REST/GraphQL endpoint

Simple, transparent pricing

Choose the plan that fits your needs. Start free and upgrade as you grow.

Note: Pricing shown is for the UFlow Builder platform only. USSD provider subscription costs (Wasiliana, Africa's Talking, MTN, etc.) are billed separately by your chosen provider.

Save 17%

Starter

$0 /month

Perfect for learning

Get Started

1 USSD App

100 test sessions/month

Free USSD emulator

Visual flow editor

Local dataset (100 records)

No external deployment

No payment integration

POPULAR

Professional

$29 /month

For production apps

Upgrade Now

5 USSD Apps

10,000 sessions/month

Full external deployment

M-Pesa & Airtel Money

SMS & API integrations

Basic AI assistant

Email support (48h)

Business

$99 /month

For growing teams

Upgrade Now

20 USSD Apps

100,000 sessions/month

Team collaboration (10 users)

All payment providers

Advanced AI assistant

White-label options

Priority support (24h)

Enterprise

Custom

For large organizations

Contact Sales

Unlimited apps

Unlimited sessions

Dedicated infrastructure

On-premise deployment

Unlimited AI assistant

99.9% SLA guarantee

24/7 dedicated support

Compare all features

Used by thousands of developers

From solo developers to large enterprises, USSD Builder powers critical infrastructure across Africa and beyond.

AgriTech

David O.

CTO, AgriTech Solutions

“We built a complete marketplace for farmers in rural areas using Uflow Builder. The visual flow editor saved us months of development time.”

FinFlow

Sarah K.

Lead Engineer, FinFlow

“Handling complex banking sessions was a nightmare before. Now we just drag and drop nodes to create secure transaction flows.”

EduConnect

James M.

Product Manager, EduConnect

“The AI features are a game changer. We generated our entire student registration system in minutes just by describing it.”