ISP billing comparison
Centranet vs Lipanet: Kenyan ISP Billing Compared
Lipanet is a Kenyan ISP billing system with M-Pesa payments, RouterOS sync and RADIUS. Centranet covers the same core billing and adds a white-label reseller business model, WhatsApp self-service, TR-069, fibre records and per-subscriber data usage. This comparison uses Lipanet’s public website.
Side by side
Centranet and Lipanet, feature by feature
| Feature | Centranet | Lipanet |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | KES 500/month. Includes 30 PPPoE accounts, 2 routers, unlimited Hotspot users and 100 SMS. KES 20 per extra PPPoE account. 3% of collections applies only once monthly collections reach KES 7,000. | Published on their pricing page |
| Free trial | Yes, no card required | Not listed on their public site |
| PPPoE billing on MikroTik | Yes. Routers are managed over a secure tunnel, with no RADIUS server to maintain | Yes, with RADIUS and static IP |
| Hotspot packages and vouchers | Yes. Branded login page builder, vouchers, roaming between your routers | Yes, Hotspot portals and vouchers |
| M-Pesa STK Push, Paybill and Till | Yes. Use the platform collection service or connect your own provider | Yes, STK Push, Paybill and Till |
| Automatic payouts to your M-Pesa, Paybill, Till or bank | Yes. Payout account verified by registered name before money is sent | Not listed on their public site |
| SMS reminders | Yes. Expiry, renewal and payment reminders with one-tap renewal links | Yes, templates, reminders and router offline alerts |
| WhatsApp for subscribers | Yes. Subscribers can renew, check balance and request help from WhatsApp | Not listed on their public site |
| White label and custom domain | Yes. Your logo, colours, portals and optional custom domain | Not listed on their public site |
| Reseller business (client ISP workspaces) | Yes. Reseller portal, client performance, branded support and audited support access | Not listed on their public site |
| TR-069 router management (change customer Wi-Fi remotely) | Yes. Built-in GenieACS. Change Wi-Fi name and password, reboot, read optical levels | Not listed on their public site |
| Fibre OLT and ONU records | Yes. Any vendor, CSV import | Not listed on their public site |
| Remote Winbox from anywhere | Yes. Permanent public Winbox port per router, no VPN needed | Not listed on their public site |
| Per-subscriber data usage | Yes. Daily download, upload and online time per subscriber | Not listed on their public site |
| Technician jobs app | Yes. Jobs, status updates and equipment installation by serial number | Not listed on their public site |
Competitor details come from each vendor’s public website, checked on 12 October 2026. “Not listed” means we could not find it on their public pages, not that the feature is impossible. Prices and features change, so confirm with each vendor before you decide.
Fair comparison
Where Lipanet is strong
- A Kenyan focus with a large ISP customer base
- RADIUS authentication, accounting and policy
- Support for PPPoE, Hotspot and static IP service
- Router offline SMS alerts
Why ISPs choose Centranet
Choose Centranet if…
- You want white label with your own domain and portals
- You want to run a reseller business with client ISPs
- You want WhatsApp self-service for subscribers
- You want TR-069, fibre OLT records and remote Winbox included
- You want daily data usage per subscriber
Verdict
Which one should you pick?
Pick Lipanet if…
You want a RADIUS-based setup and already work with their team.
Pick Centranet if…
You want billing plus branding, reselling and remote router tools in one Kenyan platform.
Good questions. Clear answers.
Let’s clear
a few things up.
A little clarity goes a long way.
Ask us something elseIs Centranet a Lipanet alternative?
Yes. Both handle PPPoE and Hotspot billing with M-Pesa STK Push, Paybill and Till. Centranet adds white label, resellers, WhatsApp self-service, TR-069 and remote Winbox.
Can I keep my Paybill?
Yes. Connect your own provider, or use Centranet’s collection service with automatic payouts to your M-Pesa, Paybill, Till or bank account.
How do I switch?
Import your subscribers from CSV, connect your MikroTik in monitor-only mode to compare, then move billing over when you are ready.