"best" prepaid cellular provider

[ColinR]

LG G3, Nexus, S6 Sounds a bit like an Android issue... Time to take this to a new thread.

Called Axxess now; "Sim not registering nicely with MTN" - pushed a few buttons their side, phone reboot, and working now. Will see how long for.

 

[Barge]

I've an MTN prepaid SIM and it always connects to MTN, just the axxess APN plays up now and again. Not a simcard issue for me.

 

[ColinR]

I've an MTN prepaid SIM and it always connects to MTN, just the axxess APN plays up now and again. Not a simcard issue for me.

Exactly the same for me. MTN Prepaid. If I leave the MTN apn configured, the Axxess one would fail, and it would switch to the MTN one and incur charges.
Axxess would work intermittently. Last 2 days not worked at all. After the phone call, working now.

 

[FlashSA]

@Cavedog - when time allows, update the VODA pay once data bundles pls

 

[FlashSA]

@Cavedog - when time allows, update the VODA pay once data bundles pls

Second polite request.

Also, for the pay once Telkom bundles, the Telkom site says these can only be applied to lines on Telkom More, ruling out Sim Sonke. Is this correct or can it be applied to both?

 

[cavedog]

Hey I will do a update this weekend. Will research the latest deals and changes. There hasn't been much but some price plans had some changes made to them so would update them the same time.

 

[FlashSA]

Hey I will do a update this weekend. Will research the latest deals and changes. There hasn't been much but some price plans had some changes made to them so would update them the same time.

Shot bud

 

[igi]

Hello all
i think you should base your cell reception before price.
my 2-cents

 

[Barge]

Hello all
i think you should base your cell reception before price.
my 2-cents

Reception is area specific so must be up to individuals to check with others in their area before choosing their provider, then they can weigh that up against the info in this thread.

 

[igi]

Reception is area specific so must be up to individuals to check with others in their area before choosing their provider, then they can weigh that up against the info in this thread.

true words of wisdom.

 

[MacArthur]

I am looking for a comparison of the different provider's (Vodacom, MTN, TM and cell C) prepaid offerings and benefits.
I searched the forums and the wider net a bit but couldn't find a recent review. The tariff plans and bonus benefits are really all over the place and which is "best" really depends on each individuals needs. (Lock-in by confusion?)

Ideally I'd like something with some cheap talk minutes (especially over weekends or after hours) to phone family. Perhaps some on-net special like vodacom's my5 bundle or similar? I can always get the family members to port to the same network or keep a second sim & phone. Put it differently, whats the best way to get ~60mins of talk time each weekend?

(I'd still like the general prepaid comparison, as I want to advise family members which network & prepaid tariff plan to use for their everyday use).

Yes I agree

 

[Mazambaan]

My wife Jenny and I have tried all the operators over the years. My best and easily managed configuration is as follows:

1. Buy PAYG airtime on an MTN SIM card. I normally only buy R100 at a time and it lasts me about a month.
2. Sign up for an Afrihost Data service on the MTN SIM. This currently costs R29 for 500MB, R58 for 1GB and R99 for 2GB etc. These are monthly contracts with a months notice. Prices are going up slightly next month.
3. The MTN SIM is then setup using Afrihost's APN configuration which ensures that if you run out of data you will not lose your airtime. This is important
4. I also only purchase cellphones directly from Chinese suppliers (my current phone is a Xiaomi Mi5 .... look at the specs) with 2 - 3GB RAM and 16 - 64GB ROM and with two SIM slots. This allows me to purchase local SIMs in other countries at extremely cheap data rates. (Last countries we have visited were Australia, Thailand and Morocco)
5. When leaving RSA we switch on International SMS roaming on the RSA SIM so that we do not incur excessive call and data costs (with a prepaid SIM this is limited to our airtime balance). Upon return we switch off the International SMS roaming.
6. We use WhatsApp, Messenger and Skype calling in other countries for minimal cost.

With this configuration we have, in our opinion, a perfect fit to our requirements.

 

[Tim_vb]

It's always been a pain to try figure out the various prepaid bundles compared on metrics like Rands per MB. I loaded the spreadsheet to the internet to allow everyone to view the options. If there are bugs or suggestions you can PM me and I'll update where required

http://bundlefundi.co.za

 

[Space]

It's always been a pain to try figure out the various prepaid bundles compared on metrics like Rands per MB. I loaded the spreadsheet to the internet to allow everyone to view the options. If there are bugs or suggestions you can PM me and I'll update where required

http://bundlefundi.co.za

Last update of the bundlefundi site was September 2017 @Tim_vb

Any significant changes in the meantime that need to be added ?

 

[Frequent visitor]

Prepaid Voice

Here I go.




Prepaid DATA

Vodacom:

Standard 30day bundles valid for 30days from date of purchase:
R9 = 15mb
R12 = 30mb
R29 = 100mb
R59 = 250mb
R99 = 500mb
R149 = 1GB
R249 = 2GB
R299 = 3GB
R399 = 5GB
R599 = 10GB
R999 = 20GB

Internet Daily valid until 00:00 day of purchase:
R5 = 20mb
R6 = 60mb
R10 = 100mb
R20 = 250mb

Power Bundles valid for 1 hour after purchase. ***Not available between 6pm and 9pm. ***Not available on 79c price plan.
R3 = 50mb

Pay Once bundles:
R999 = 1GB data every month for 12 months
R1499 = 2GB data every month for 12 months


MTN:
Standard bundles Valid for 30days:
R4 = 5mb + 2.75mb valid for 1 day
R12 = 20mb + 11mb valid for 1 day
R25 = 50mb + 27.5mb valid for 3 days
R35 = 100mb + 55mb valid for 3 days
R85 = 300mb + 165mb valid for 5 days
R105 = 500mb + 257mb valid for 5 days
R160 = 1GB + 1GB valid for 30 days
R260 = 2GB + 2GB valid for 30 days
R330 = 3GB + 3GB valid for 30 days
R430 = 5GB + 5GB valid for 30 days
R650 = 10GB + 5.6GB valid for 15 days
R1250 = 20GB + 11.2GB valid for 15 days

Weekly bundles valid from 7 days from date of purchase:
R10 = 50mb
R15 = 100mb
R35 = 300mb
R45 = 500mb
R65 = 1GB

2 Week bundles valid for 2 weeks after date of purchase:
R89 = 1GB

**Please note that all these bundles can be extended by simply buying another once off bundle of the same category before the previous bundle expired and of any denomination to extend it.

MTN Rush hour bundles. Valid for 1 hour after pruchase:
R1.50 = 10mb
R5 = 50mb

MTN Daily bundle valid until 00:00 day of purchase:
R3 = 20mb
R7 = 50mb
R12 = 100mb
R40 = uncapped *150mb fair use after that 128k uncapped. Valid for 24 hours after purchase

MTN Daily night express bundles. Valid from 00:00 to 6am:
R5 = 250mb
R10 = 1GB

MTN Night express month bundles. Valid for 30 days from purchase. Valid only between 00:00 and 6am:
R10 = 100mb
R25 = 300mb
R35 = 500mb
R59 = 1GB

MTN Pay once bundles:
R99 = 100mb x 6 months
R259 = 300mb x 6 months
R339 = 500mb x 6 months
R579 = 1GB x 6 months
R929 = 2GB x 6 months

R159 = 100mb x 12 months
R399 = 300mb x 12 months
R529 = 500mb x 12 months
R899 = 1GB x 12 months
R1399 = 2GB x 12 months


Cellc:
Standard 30day bundles valid for 30 days from date of purchase:

Daily bundles Valid until 00:00 day of purchase:
R2.70 = 20mb
R6.50 = 50mb
R12.50 = 100mb

Nite Data valid from 1am to 7am once off:
R5 = 250mb
R12.50 = 1GB

Virgin Mobile
Standard 30 day bundles valid for 30 days from date of purchase:
R10 = 25mb
R30 = 100mb
R40 = 200mb
R80 = 512mb
R175 = 1.5GB
R300 = 3GB
R500 = 5GB

Telkom: Updated
R7.25 = 25MB
R14.50 = 50mb
R29 = 100mb
R39 = 250mb
R69 = 500mb
R99 = 1GB
R139 = 2GB
R199 = 3GB
R299 = 5GB
R499 = 10GB
R899 = 20GB valid for 6 months
R1799 = 50GB valid for 12 months
R3199 = 100GB valid for 12 months

Once Off Bundles:
R5 = 75MB valid for 1 hour after purchse
R10 = 150MB valid until 00:00 date of purchase
R39 = 500MB valid from 00:00 Friday until 00:00 Sunday [Whole weekend]
R59 = 1GB valid from 00:00 Friday until 00:00 Sunday [Whole weekend]

*It should be noted that Telkom no longer distinguish between roaming on MTN and being on Telkom network. Once bundle for roaming and home network

Pay Once Bundles. These bundles work on both Telkom and MTN roaming:
R49 = 100mb x 12 months
R99 = 200mb x 12 months
R249 = 512mb x 12 months
R499 = 1GB x 12 months

Axxess and Afrihost Data now works on MTN prepaid simcards via the apn option!

That is a real tour de force!!! I wish I knew how to give you points.

The only one I know of that is missing is CellC data at 100ggbs valid for 12 months at R1599 ww.cellc.co.za/cellc/prepaid-contract-detail/GigaPackages
(There are other package sizes.) I only know because I am part time here, and am paying voda R599 for 30 days.

 

[cavedog]

That is a real tour de force!!! I wish I knew how to give you points.

The only one I know of that is missing is CellC data at 100ggbs valid for 12 months at R1599 ww.cellc.co.za/cellc/prepaid-contract-detail/GigaPackages
(There are other package sizes.) I only know because I am part time here, and am paying voda R599 for 30 days.

Thanks. Yes A LOT has changed actually and I've been working on an update which just did not happen because as soon as I did an update something changes so I kind off gave up. If I'm not busy tomorrow I will draft a update. There has been some very good updates and obviously very bad ones too so I need to do a complete rework of that post to see what still exist and not.

 

[Tim_vb]

Last update of the bundlefundi site was September 2017 @Tim_vb

Any significant changes in the meantime that need to be added ?

I only update the data bundle prices these days. Trying to decode the matrix of crappy bonuses and "free" but useless airtime from each package isn't worth it.

 

[MidnightWizard]

Thanks. Yes A LOT has changed actually and I've been working on an update I need to do a complete rework of that post to see what still exist and not.

FYI
This may help

Data Bundle Fundi

( Check under the different provider links )

Can you ( or anyone else ) suggest the best long term PREPAID Data bundle ? ( six or twelve months )
Went to the mall and collected all the different network provider glossy literature -- seems they ALL concentrate on 24 month contracts. Could hardly find anything relating to the above. Most of the time these offerings are only availble online -- ie. CANNOT be purchased and activated in store

I am looking for something I can pay for upfront and not worry about every week / month
but
Which can be topped up if necessary.

No idea why this sort of package / bundle is so -- under-provided / under-advertised ?
Perhaps MyBB should do a survey / article on these sorts of offerings .......