I have a quick confession to make:
Don’t fret, it’s nothing too serious.
Here it is:
In the past, I never really gave a hoot about what calling tariff plan I was on. All I cared about was my data. So, as long as I had an active data plan, I was good to go – who makes calls these days huh?
Then, the worst happened.
My smartphone went bad and I was relegated to using a “feature phone” and guess the only “feature” this device had?
Yup! You guessed right – making and receiving phone calls.
For the first few days, I would sometimes “forget” I had a phone but after a week – no, it was two – After two weeks, it made absolutely no sense at all that I was disconnected from family and friends.
To reconnect, I had to make use of the only useful feature (apart from Alarm clock) my phone had – I needed to start making calls.
So, I picked up my device, recharged it with about ₦200 and dialed a pal’s number.
After talking for what I think was 7 minutes, the call terminated. My thoughts were:
“Omo, network na spoil!”
So I redialed my friend’s number.
Surprisingly, one silly female started chanting some really irritating words into my drums.
My airtime don finish bawo?
Maka gini?
Sharp Sharp, I checked my account balance.
Damn! I tanked out.
At this point, I wanted to call customer care and enquire how my ₦200 got exhausted – In fact, I did.
However, while helping myself through their self-care portal, I came to realize the tariff plan I was on.
A quick research about the tariff plan revealed something really shocking – I was making phone calls at 40kobo per second!
40k/s for this Buhari regime?
Understand: 40k/s translates to ₦24/min which would mean that with ₦100, I can only “yan” for just about 4 minutes!
Quick Quick, I browsed through all the available tariff plans and selected the best one for me (based on my current situation) and now guess what?
The same ₦100 that only allowed me talk for 4 minutes now lets me yap on and on for up to 15 minutes! – Don’t worry, details in a bit.
Here’s proof:
That’s over 20 minutes for less than ₦150.
Best Call Tariff Plans in Nigeria 2017
Presently, there are just 4 major network providers in Nigeria – Airtel, Etisalat, MTN, and Glo – so with this article, I am looking to outline the most interesting, no, scratch that, the cheapest Tariff plans each network provider has to offer.
Here we go:
Best Airtel Tariff Plans
Okay, so I wasted a lot of time browsing through this particular Network provider’s available tariff plans. Guess what I was seeing?
Smart this, smart that, smart everything.
Initially, they all looked the same to me, but then, I dug deeper, like really deep – beneath the surface – and trust me, I found an interesting plan. 😀
The best calling tariff I found on Airtel can give just about anyone calling superpowers (literally!) but unfortunately, it’s not for everyone.
With that plan, ₦100 translates to 20 minutes talk time to all networks in Nigeria, yes all of ‘em!
That plan is Airtel SmartCONNECT but the painful thing is:
SmartCONNECT is only available to new Airtel subscribers. I.e. Buy a new Airtel SIM, and bam! You’re a phone booth!
What about the best plan for someone who already has an Airtel SIM?
*sighs*
It’s not as sweet as the deal I talked about above, but it’s not bad either.
With Airtel SmartTRYBE, you and I could be on the same “calling level”.
I say that because, with my current tariff, I can talk for as long as 30 minutes with just ₦200 (I use MTN, want my number? *grins* ).
Airtel SmartTRYBE can empower you to do just that as well. But that’s not all, no, not at all.
Some other juicy benefits come along with being a TRYBE member. One of such includes getting 1.5GB for just ₦200. You can read more about Airtel SmartTRYBE in my article on all the Airtel Tariff Plans in the country right now.
Best Etisalat (9Mobile) Tariff Plans
These guys are the minimalist of the pack.
No much options to choose from. It’s either you’re on this, or you are on that. There’s no fence to sit on.
No, wait.
There is a fence.
That fence is Etisalat’s EasyLife Complete.
Gee, that was a really stupid analogy up there. – Very meaningless!
But EasyLife isn’t. No, not at all!
In fact, it’s the most meaningful plan Etisalat has to offer.
On this tariff plan, ₦200 guarantees you 22 minutes, 13 seconds talk time to all local networks.
However, there’s a little caveat.
If you’re on Easylife, you pay a ₦5 daily access fee.
What if you don’t make calls on a particular day?
Well, you can keep your ₦5 as the daily access fee is only charged on your first call of the day.
Best GLO Tariff Plans
You know Globacom is the king of cheap data (and slow connection) right?
Yes, they are. They are the only ones selling 3.2GB for a thousand naira (they conveniently screwed this up) – more on this here, but that same “cheapness” doesn’t hold true for their calling plans (sadly).
Much like Airtel above, they possess an almost impossible to believe tariff plan for new subscribers and “subscribees” (Autocorrect please allow me to use that word).
When you purchase a new GLO SIM and register it, you are automatically on the new GLO Jollific8 and this plan features amazing benefits that allow you…… Jollific8.
The official story is, you get 800% bonus on ever recharge which means for a ₦100 recharge, you’d get back ₦800 for calls (plus free data to gift).
Even with the outrageous “price per minute” of this plan (₦40.2 per minute), you’d still end up talking for up to 20 minutes with just a hundred naira.
Trust me, with this, you’re definitely Mike Adenuga. *shines teeth*
The thing, however, is, this plan is for new GLO SIMS only!
Read more about this here: Glo Tariff Plans in Nigeria
If you be old cargo, you’d have to make do with GLO Bounce.
On GLO Bounce, 22 minutes of talking over the phone would cost you approximately ₦200.
Yeah, I know, it’s so not fair, but, this is the best GLO call tariff plan out there. Go and Check.
Best MTN Tariff Plans
Me and MTN we are 5 and 6.
I’ve been on MTN since like Forever!
Unlike Airtel and GLO above, MTN has no tariff plan to lure in new subscribers, at least, none that I know of.
This means that both folks who have been on the network since Obasanjo and those who joined the bandwagon since Buhari are on the same level.
MTN has nice tariff plans, they do, but the sweetest deal has to go to MTN Pulse.
If you are part of the movement (the Pulse), making calls would cost you as low as ₦6.6/minute. No daily charges, no rental fees. But:
Your first 50 seconds of the day would be charged at 20k/s.
Now, don’t get confused or worked up. Even with your first few seconds charged at ₦12/min, you can still bag approximately 15 minutes with just ₦100.
Besides the attractive calling rate, on Pulse, you get to enjoy 500MB for just ₦25 to browse at night and while the others are paying ₦500 for 750MB, you’re getting 1024MB for that same ₦500.
Conclusion
So, these are the cheapest calling tariff plans in the country at the moment. With most of these plans, you get to talk for as long as you want without breaking the bank.
Did I miss a plan?
Please tell me using the comment box.
I didn’t?
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Why?
So that you can keep having an edge over “the others”.
More Interesting Articles:
- The Best Budget Smartphones in Nigeria.
- Every Infinix Smartphone in Nigeria Right Now.
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ASO says
MTN claims to give a 500% bonus to new subscribers on their yanfuyanfu platform but then charge between 40 and 45 naira per minute! Isn’t that “stylish yahoo”?
I really think network providers should stop whining customers with all this their bonus this bonus that shii.
Zhuky says
Like play like play, i read this article from beginning to the end. Your sense of humour got me. You are the best analyst so far. Keep it up.
Monday Yaks says
please what is the APN settings for airtel i really need it pls. Talking about the settings password and d rest
Tope says
Thanks for the call tariff analysis. Good job
Akin Lewis says
very unique dear… keep updating ur #Geez!
Olakanmi says
Good article. What is the link to tariff plans analysis ( articles) of each of the networks- MTN, AIRTEL, 9MOBILE? I want to get myself educated. Ignorance is really a disease, bro!
Kay, kindly afford me these links. Saw Glo but looking for others.
Thanks.
Osas says
What is earliest bonus on mtn
Oladimeji popoola says
I like your sense of humor…will stick around… guessed misstechy’s got a rival already…#smiles
Kay says
Misstechy’s rival? Not quite. 😀
Tobi’s in a class of her own.
Angelique says
Pls these tariff plans are they used only for naija calls or they can be used to make int’l calls?
Kay says
This piece was written with just National calls in mind. 🙂
Smith says
Pls is the glo new sim also sending SMS ? And if yes at what rate ?
Kay says
Of course, SMS can be sent using the new GLO SIM.
SMS is charged at the normal rate (N4) but from your main account.
Ademola says
is there roll over in mtn extra value pack?
Kay says
Yes, Ademola, rollover applies. — Just so long as you renew within the validity period of the Xtravalue plan you are signed up for.
www.doronize.com.ng says
Thanks for this plan list… it’s really helping me right now
www.doronize.com.ng says
This is a very nice article I have seen so far – doronize.com.ng
rabson says
Hi i need more explanation on airtel smart trybe do they have any daily fee or first minute fee?
www.doronize.com.ng says
this blog is so cool. Everybody in gouni.edu.ng is really enjoying it
Emerson says
yep, same experience here, realised I was making calls at 55k/s on Glo I went mad with research until i found-you got it right- Bounce, and now thanks to your article I’ll spare myself the time to do all the digging for the other telco’s. Brilliant write-up
Kay says
Yup! Bounce it is.
Although, I still have a hard time deciding whether or not this their “11k/s plan” is worth it.
I mean, on the “11k/s plan”, you’re charged N5 every. single. day. — Whether or not you make calls that day then 15k/s (N9/min) for calls. But on bounce, you’re charged N24 for the first minute of the day then N9 for subsequent minutes.
Stuck with bounce (for now) ‘cos there was this one time when I did not use my GLO SIM for well over a month (bad internet and shiii) and when I finally threw the SIM into my phone, I was met with about N27 — from over N500.
*sad face*
Glo, na wa.
Kay says
Hi. This was very helpful. Thanks.
P.S: You write really good!!
Kay says
Just realized your name is ‘Kay’ too *smiles*
dave says
tnx a lot,your site was really helpful
Moshood says
I love the way u write ur articles bro, its funny and interactive
skinnero says
Good morning,
Pls, give me the code on the best MTN package to call other Networks @ cheaper rate.
Thx in anticipation.
Anonymous says
My brother, no vex o, but you no sabi read?
Hian!
Rene says
what of mtn awof,how does it work
Anonymous says
Easy life 4.0 doesn’t work again
Kay says
It still works.
I have updated the article to reflect the new opt-in USSD.
Princess Liz says
Dial *420*1# to migrate to easylife 4.0 limited edition @11k per sec
Dee says
The plan is no longer available.
Muhammed says
Pls on airtel smart trybe how do i get 1.5gb at #200
anyi says
Sorry I mean G bam plus
anyi says
Most networks if not all charge 15k per seconds to other networks. Glo Ggbam xtra charge 11k per sec. to glo lines n 15k per sec. to other network
Kay says
And the subscription code to Gbam Xtra is *211# right?
anyi says
Glo has Gbam extra which is d cheapest
Kay says
Thanks Anyi, for pointing that out.
I’d update the article to reflect this.
🙂
Anonymous says
Omo, may God bless so much for the information.
Kingsley says
I love your writing style. Thanks for the article. Didnt know about the etisalat increase in rates. Time to switch up.
musa dzm says
thank thank so much
'Banji says
Nice write up man… Welldone for the research.
I think Glo’s G-BAM Extra is way cheaper than what you previously explained. They charge 12k/sec with an horrible N5 daily access charge.
Kay says
Hi Banji,
Thanks for the heads up. I’ll update the article ASAP.
🙂
Jakeonly says
Well I think Buying xtravalue pack is better especially if u can get #2000 airtime you can purchase the xtravalue pack and get #9750 plus 625MB.
Wait for it… It is charged @ #33/min yes. But that translates to 295 minutes 27 seconds.
For pulse ₦2000 – 303 minutes 2 seconds. Note that this was done excluding the charge of #12 for first min. Now if that is added for say 10 days then pulse wud give 294 minutes 51 seconds off #2000.
Then its a plus if u dont really use data except for chatting and light social media action or if u have wifi at home or in the office and mobile data is secondary. Then go for Xtra value packs.
And for vain purposes a female colleague of mine once saw #16,000 on my phone and her eyelids began to flutter. She didn’t know it was from two #2000 xtratalk packs.
Points served.
Kay says
Points taken Jake.
I also made mention of this in the MTN article. My exact words were:
Good to have you here.
🙂
Daniel says
Bro I love this your template.. How can I get it.?
Kay says
Hi Daniel, the template is a heavily modded Genesis Child theme. 🙂
ms__dale says
The cheapest and most sensible plan on the Glo network happens to be, Gbam Xtra!!!! Register friends and family before you migrate, activate 200% bonus, and make calls at 12k/s, call your 10 family and friends numbers at 11k/s, call other networks at 20k/s, there’s a daily access fee of 5 naira sha on your first call of the day….n enjoy d 50k call rate there is on the 200% bonus platform….bounce, u make calls at 15k/s after the first call of the day at 40k/s…#toolongarant
PS: migrated to pulse already..
'Banji says
How do you activate the 200% bonus on every recharge, and what’s the call rate on the main account and on the bonus account? Or everything is merged?
Dan says
Thanks for the info, I’m finally free from MTN exploitation.
Anonymous says
The etisalat tarrif plan has been changed to 15kobo per second. They are the most stingy network right now. thanks bro for the info