Cheap flat-rate data vs the network that has cut prices hardest. Which one should you be on?
Rain is South Africa's newest major network — no retail shops, no confusing bundle tiers, just straightforward data pricing. MTN is one of the oldest and has towers almost everywhere in the country. Which one should you be on?
MTN has cut its prices sharply and is now cheaper per GB on most bundle sizes. Rain stays simple with flat pricing and unlimited home plans. MTN also wins on rural and highway coverage, and has better voice call integration for prepaid users who need both data and calls.
Rain keeps flat pricing that is simple to understand, but after recent cuts MTN now undercuts Rain at almost every bundle size, and the gap grows on larger bundles.
| Network | Data | Price | R/GB |
|---|---|---|---|
Rain | 1 GB | R49 | R49.00 |
MTN | 1 GB | R49 | R49.00 |
MTN | 5 GB | R85 | R17.00 Cheapest |
Rain | 5 GB | R150 | R30.00 |
MTN | 10 GB | R149 | R14.90 Cheapest |
Rain | 10 GB | R250 | R25.00 |
MTN is now roughly 30 to 50 percent cheaper per GB than Rain on most bundle sizes after big price cuts. Rain's appeal is no longer the lowest per GB price but its flat pricing and unlimited plans for heavy home use in a covered area.
This is where MTN has a real advantage. Rain is a data-only, 4G/5G network that launched in 2018 and has been expanding steadily — but its coverage is still primarily concentrated in major metros: Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria, Durban, and surrounding areas.
MTN's network covers a significantly larger geographic footprint, including smaller towns, townships, and rural areas. If you regularly travel outside major cities, Rain may leave you without signal in areas where MTN still works fine.
Rain was South Africa's first commercial 5G network. In covered areas — predominantly Johannesburg and parts of Cape Town and Pretoria — Rain 5G offers significantly faster speeds than MTN's 4G in the same locations. For home broadband users in a 5G area, Rain's unlimited home Wi-Fi plans can be compelling.
Rain is a data-only network. It does not offer traditional voice call bundles. You can make calls using WhatsApp, Google Meet, or other VoIP apps — but if you need regular airtime for calling landlines or non-smartphone users, you need a separate SIM or a different network. MTN offers integrated voice + data bundles, making it simpler if you need both in one package.
Rain and MTN are built on very different ideas. MTN runs a traditional nationwide network with deep coverage in cities, towns and along major routes. Rain runs a data only network focused on 4G and 5G in metros and larger towns. The price gap means little if the cheaper option has no signal where you actually are.
If you live and work in a major city, Rain often gives more data for your money. If you commute long distances, travel rural roads or live outside the big metros, MTN coverage is far more dependable. Check both coverage maps for your exact suburb before deciding, because Rain coverage can change street by street.
Rain sells unlimited style and fixed monthly products rather than once off bundles, while MTN sells prepaid bundles and contracts. That makes a straight per gigabyte comparison tricky, so think in terms of what you actually need each month.
| If you need | Better pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lots of home data in a city | Rain | Unlimited and flat home plans suit very heavy use |
| Reliable data on the move | MTN | Wider coverage on routes and rural areas |
| A small flexible top up | MTN | Once off prepaid bundles suit light or irregular use |
| A fibre alternative at home | Rain | 5G home products can replace fixed line in covered areas |
Choose Rain if you are mostly stationary in a covered metro and you use a lot of data at home. The fixed monthly cost makes heavy use affordable and predictable. Choose MTN if you value coverage everywhere, need data while travelling, or prefer the flexibility of buying exactly the bundle you need when you need it.
Every price and bundle detail on this page is taken directly from the official prepaid pages of Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, Cell C and Rain, then cross checked against pricing coverage on mybroadband.co.za and businesstech.co.za. We review the numbers at the start of each month and after any public price change.
DataCheck ZA is independent. We are not owned by any network and we earn nothing when you choose one over another. If something looks out of date, tell us on our contact page and we will recheck it.
Not on most prepaid bundles any more. After big price cuts MTN is now cheaper per gigabyte at almost every bundle size. Rain's strength is its flat pricing and unlimited home plans, which can still beat MTN for very heavy home use in a covered area.
No. Rain focuses on metros and larger towns, so coverage is patchy or absent in rural areas and on many routes. MTN has far wider national coverage. Always check the Rain coverage map for your exact address before switching.
In areas with strong Rain 5G it can be a real fibre alternative for many households, with no installation needed. In 4G only areas speeds are lower and more variable, so it suits lighter use better than heavy streaming for a full family.
Rain is a data only network, so traditional voice calls are not its focus. You can still call over the internet using WhatsApp, apps and voice over data services, but if you need normal voice and SMS, MTN is the more complete option.
Live prices from Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, Cell C and Rain — sorted by cheapest per GB.
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