Compare Mobile Data Prices in South Africa
Find the cheapest prepaid mobile data bundle for your usage across Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, Telkom, Melon, AirMobile, Capitec Connect, FNB Connect and Nedbank Connect.
Choosing prepaid mobile data in South Africa is harder than it should be, because every network bundles data, validity and bonus gigs differently. This free tool does the maths for you. Tell it how much data you use in a month and it ranks the cheapest deal across Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, Telkom and the MVNOs Melon, AirMobile, Capitec Connect, FNB Connect and Nedbank Connect, in real time.
Mobile Data Cost Comparator
Tell us what you use in a month. We rank the cheapest prepaid data deal on each network, instantly.
Data last reviewed 2 July 2026
Step 1
How much data do you use a month?
Step 2
A couple of quick questions
Cheapest monthly deal
Cheaper in bulk
How we compare, and what to check
To compare fairly across networks, every deal is normalised to a cost per 30 days. Some networks (Telkom, and Cell C with its 6-month and 12-month bundles) sell data over several months, so we divide both the price and the data to show a true monthly figure. These pay-once bundles are listed separately under "Cheaper in bulk". We rank on anytime data (data you can use at any time of day). Free night-time or after-hours data is shown as a bonus and only counted if you switch on the late-night option above.
- Voice: we rank on data cost. Voice minutes are added on top and vary by network, so check the call rate before you buy. Melon includes unlimited calls in every plan.
- The MVNOs ride on the big networks. Melon, AirMobile (Afrihost) and Nedbank Connect run on MTN. Capitec Connect and FNB Connect run on Cell C. Coverage matches the host network. Melon keeps you connected at a slower speed once your full-speed data runs out.
- Nedbank Connect is open only to people who already hold a Nedbank account. Its data bundles match AirMobile's prices, both ride MTN, so if you do not bank with Nedbank you can get the same deal on AirMobile without the account.
- Capitec Connect sells two kinds of data bundle, cheaper 30-day bundles and pricier ones that never expire, and you get 20% extra data free when you link the SIM to your Capitec bank account. We rank whichever covers your monthly need for less and flag the never-expiry ones with a badge. We show the standard, unlinked price, so it can only work out better for you, not worse. Capitec also has 60-day bulk bundles (20GB for R250, 50GB for R450) that we leave out of the monthly ranking.
- FNB Connect also sells cheaper large recurring "Top Up" data plans (for example 50GB or 100GB a month) that we do not list here, because they renew automatically and work more like a contract than a once-off bundle.
- Cell C figures are taken from Cell C's own live bundle catalogue. Alongside the 30-day bundles, Cell C sells 6-month bundles (50GB anytime plus 50GB nite for R549, 100GB plus 100GB for R899, 200GB plus 200GB for R1,699) and 12-month anytime bundles (10GB for R599 up to 200GB for R1,999). You will find these under "Cheaper in bulk".
- Prices include VAT. All networks were re-verified against their live pages on 2 July 2026 (Cell C from its own catalogue). Networks change deals often, so confirm the current price on the operator's site or app before buying.
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How to find the cheapest prepaid data in South Africa
Prepaid data prices change often, and the cheapest bundle is never the same for everyone, it depends on how much data you use in a month and whether you can use night time data. Vodacom, MTN, Telkom and Cell C each publish their own bundle ladders, and MVNOs such as Melon, AirMobile and Nedbank Connect resell data on MTN's network while Capitec Connect and FNB Connect resell on Cell C's network, often more cheaply than the host network's own price.
This tool ranks live prepaid bundles by their real cost for the amount of data you actually use each month, converting multi month bundles down to a true cost per 30 days so a bulk deal is never disguised as a cheap monthly price. You can also browse all our free South African tools and calculators.
Frequently asked questions
Which network has the cheapest prepaid data in South Africa?
There is no single cheapest network, it depends on how much data you use each month. A bundle that wins at 2GB often loses at 50GB. The tool ranks Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, Cell C and the MVNOs by their real cost per 30 days for the amount you actually use, so you see the best value bundle for your own usage instead of a generic claim.
What is an MVNO, and which networks do they run on?
An MVNO, or mobile virtual network operator, sells data on another operator's towers. Melon, AirMobile and Nedbank Connect run on MTN's network, while Capitec Connect and FNB Connect run on Cell C's network. Coverage and speed match the host network, so an MVNO on MTN gives you MTN coverage, usually at a lower price.
What is the difference between prepaid and contract data?
Prepaid data is pay as you go, you buy a bundle upfront with no debit order and no credit check, and it typically expires after 30 days unless the deal says otherwise. Contract or top up plans bill you monthly by debit order, often bundle a phone or extra perks, and require a credit check. This tool only compares prepaid, pay as you go bundles.
Does Capitec Connect data expire?
No. Capitec Connect data does not expire, and you get 20% extra data free when you link the SIM to your Capitec bank account. The tool shows the standard, unlinked price, so the linked deal can only work out better for you, not worse.
How do you compare bundles that last longer than 30 days?
Some networks, Telkom and Cell C in particular, sell bundles that run for three, six or twelve months. The tool divides both the price and the data down to a true cost per 30 days, so a multi month bundle is never disguised as a low monthly number, and shows these bulk buy deals in their own section so you do not confuse them with genuine 30-day bundles.
Is night time or off-peak data worth it?
Only if you can actually use it in that window, usually midnight to 5am or similar. Some networks bundle bonus night data on top of anytime data, which is worth having as a top up but should never be counted as covering your regular daytime use, since it disappears once the window closes. The tool ranks bundles on anytime data by default for that reason.
How much mobile data do I need a month?
As a rough guide, light use like WhatsApp, email and browsing needs around 1 to 3GB a month, regular social media and video calls need 5 to 10GB, and daily video streaming or working from a mobile hotspot can use 20GB or more. Enter your own estimate in the tool to see which bundle actually works out cheapest for that amount.
Are the prices accurate and up to date?
All prices include VAT and are checked against each network's own published bundle list or live pricing feed where one exists. Networks change their deals often and some MVNO prices come from a price aggregator rather than the operator's own checkout, so treat every figure as a close guide and confirm the current price on the operator's app or website before you buy.