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 comparator ranks Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, Telkom 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 and AirMobile run on MTN, while Capitec Connect and FNB Connect run on Cell C. Coverage and speed match the host network, so an MVNO on MTN gives you MTN coverage, usually at a lower price.

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. We show 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 in particular, sell data over three or six months. We divide 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. These bulk buy deals are shown in their own section so you do not confuse them with genuine 30-day bundles.

Are the prices accurate and up to date?

All prices include VAT and were last checked on 30 May 2026. Networks change their deals often, and Cell C prices here come from a price aggregator rather than Cell C'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.

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.

Step 1

How much data do you use a month?

Fine-tune your monthly data 10 GB

1 GB50 GB100 GB

Step 2

A couple of quick questions

I make a lot of calls Highlights plans that bundle in unlimited or cheap voice minutes.

I can use late-night data Counts free midnight-to-morning bonus data toward your total.

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) sell data over several months, so we divide both the price and the data to show a true monthly figure. 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 prices here come from a price aggregator, not Cell C's own checkout, because their site only shows bundle prices after you enter a SIM number. Treat them as a close guide and confirm on the Cell C app before buying.
Prices include VAT and were checked on 30 May 2026. Networks change deals often, so confirm the current price on the operator's site or app before buying.

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