Cheapest Data Bundles in South Africa: Vodacom vs Telkom vs Rain Compared
What Your Money Buys (October 2026)
| Budget | Vodacom (monthly, once-off) | Telkom (All-Network Data) |
|---|---|---|
| About R80 | Not available at this size | 1.2GB + 1.2GB for R79, valid current month + 2 months |
| About R100 | 5GB + 5GB Night Owl for R99 (7.5GB + 7.5GB on VodaPay) | 1.5GB + 1.5GB for R89 |
| About R150 | 10GB + 10GB Night Owl for R149 | 2.5GB + 2.5GB for R149 |
| About R230 | 20GB + 20GB Night Owl for R229 | 3.5GB + 3.5GB for R209 |
| About R400 to R500 | 75GB + 75GB Night Owl for R399 (VodaPay only) | 12GB + 12GB for R499 |
The prices come from Vodacom’s and Telkom’s own websites in October 2026. Vodacom’s extra data is Night Owl data, for use at night only. Telkom’s bundles last longer: up to the current month plus two more months.
MTN and Cell C
MTN and Cell C change their prices often and show many of them only in their apps or after you enter your number. To see today’s prices:
- MTN: dial *136# or use the MTN app.
- Cell C: dial *147#, use the Cell C app, or enter your number on Cell C’s website.
Unlimited Options
| Option | Price per month |
|---|---|
| Rain unlimited mobile, city | R595 |
| Rain unlimited mobile, countrywide | R995 |
| Telkom Unlimited Off Peak (midnight to 7pm), promo | R279, valid 31 days |
Unlimited plans only make sense if you use a lot of data and have good coverage where you live. See rain prices.
Cheapest Ways to Stay on WhatsApp
| Bundle | Price |
|---|---|
| Telkom unlimited WhatsApp, 24 hours | R15 |
| Telkom unlimited WhatsApp, 7 days | R35 |
| Telkom unlimited WhatsApp, 31 days | R100 |
| Vodacom WhatsApp 1.5GB, month | R40 |
| Vodacom WhatsApp 5GB, month | R99 |
Tips to Get More Data for Less
- Buy bigger bundles if you can: the price per GB drops as bundles get bigger.
- Use night data for big downloads and updates if your bundle includes it.
- Check app-only deals, such as Vodacom’s VodaPay bundles.
- Turn off automatic app updates and video autoplay on mobile data.
- Use free wifi at home, work or school when it is safe.
- Avoid out-of-bundle rates by buying a small daily bundle when your data runs out.
Cheapest Data Questions
Which network has the cheapest data in South Africa?
It depends on how much you need. In October 2026, Vodacom’s VodaPay bundles gave the most data for the price, while Telkom’s bundles lasted the longest.
What is the cheapest 1GB bundle?
Telkom’s 1.2GB + 1.2GB All-Network Data was R79 in October 2026.
Is unlimited data worth it?
Only if you use a lot of data and have strong coverage where you live.
What is the cheapest way to use WhatsApp?
A WhatsApp bundle, such as Telkom’s unlimited WhatsApp from R15 a day.
Why are MTN and Cell C prices not listed?
They show many prices only in their apps or after you enter your number. Dial *136# for MTN or *147# for Cell C to see today’s prices.
More: Vodacom bundles, Telkom bundles, USSD codes and all mobile data bundles.