Every network ranked by cost per GB — so you always know who's cheapest right now.
South Africa has five major networks selling mobile data — and the price difference between the cheapest and the most expensive can be over 100% for the same amount of data. This guide cuts through the noise and tells you exactly who's cheapest at each bundle size in 2025.
Rain and Telkom consistently offer the lowest cost per GB, especially on larger bundles. Vodacom is the most expensive across almost every tier.
For light users who need a small top-up, here's what each network charges:
| Network | Data | Price | R/GB |
|---|---|---|---|
Rain | 1 GB | R50 | R50.00 Cheapest |
Cell C | 1 GB | R65 | R65.00 |
Telkom | 2 GB* | R79 | R39.50 Best value |
MTN | 1 GB | R85 | R85.00 |
Vodacom | 1.2 GB | R89 | R74.17 |
* Telkom's R79 bundle includes 1GB anytime + 1GB Night Surfer data.
The mid-tier is where value differences really start to show. Rain and Telkom pull ahead significantly:
| Network | Data | Price | R/GB |
|---|---|---|---|
Telkom | 10 GB* | R199 | R19.90 Best value |
Rain | 5 GB | R200 | R40.00 |
Cell C | 5 GB | R299 | R59.80 |
Vodacom | 5 GB | R349 | R69.80 |
MTN | 5 GB | R349 | R69.80 |
* Telkom's R199 bundle includes 5GB anytime + 5GB Night Surfer data.
Heavy users spending R350–R600 a month will find the biggest price gaps here:
| Network | Data | Price | R/GB |
|---|---|---|---|
Telkom | 20 GB* | R349 | R17.45 Best value |
Rain | 10 GB | R350 | R35.00 |
Cell C | 10 GB | R399 | R39.90 |
MTN | 10 GB | R499 | R49.90 |
Vodacom | 10 GB | R599 | R59.90 |
* Telkom's R349 bundle includes 10GB anytime + 10GB Night Surfer data.
Telkom is the cheapest network when you factor in night data — their Night Surfer bundles effectively double your data at no extra cost. If you're willing to schedule downloads overnight, no network comes close to Telkom's R17.45/GB.
Rain is the simplest cheapest — no night data tricks, just flat pricing that's genuinely affordable and 4G everywhere they have coverage.
Vodacom remains the most expensive across almost every tier, justified mainly by its superior rural and highway coverage.
If you're in a major city and primarily use data at home or at work, switching from Vodacom to Telkom on a 10GB plan can save you R250/month — that's R3,000 per year.
All 5 networks, all bundle sizes — sorted by cheapest per GB and updated monthly.
Compare All Networks →