MTN Tariff Plans Breakdown: Which One Saves You the Most Money?

Do you make a lot of calls, spend most of your airtime on data, or simply want an MTN plan that gives you better value for your money? Then you’re in the right place. Choosing the right tariff plan can make a significant difference.

If you’ve been reading our review articles on tariff plans, then you will know that prepaid plans come and go. In recent times, MTN Nigeria has changed its prepaid tariff plans a considerable number of times. Some of the plans that customers previously depended on have either been discontinued or replaced, while newer options such as MTN BetaGist (formerly BetaTalk) and MTN X (formerly Pulse) have changed the way call charges and bonuses work.

Here are some of the deprecated plans we’ve previously covered on Naijaknowhow: Pulse, XtraSpecial Prepaid, XtraValue, AWUF4U, YafunYafun, XtraSpecial Postpaid and many more.

So, which MTN tariff plan is currently the cheapest for calls?

I went through MTN’s current prepaid offers and compared their call rates, benefits and migration requirements. I have also calculated approximately how long your airtime can last when making calls on each plan.

If you’re looking for affordable call plans on other networks, you can also check our guides on Airtel, Glo and T2mobile (9mobile) tariff plans.

Important Notice: MTN occasionally changes its tariffs, bundles, migration fees and promotional offers. Although we regularly update this article, it is always advisable to confirm the current benefits before switching plans.

Summary of MTN Tariff Plans

Here’s a quick comparison of the MTN prepaid tariff plans and voice offers covered in this article.

The figures above need some context, so don’t be quick to jump to conclusions without exploring more below. For example, BetaGist gives customers 3 additional minutes after every 6 minutes of qualifying outgoing local calls, while MTN X requires a ₦10 daily access fee before its 25k/sec rate applies.

XtraValue and Sachet Bundles are also structured differently from regular pay-as-you-go tariffs. We will explain how each works below.

How to Check Your Current MTN Tariff Plan

Before switching your MTN tariff plan, you may want to confirm which plan is currently active on your line. Most new MTN lines come with the BetaGist plan by default, but it is still necessary to verify using the methods below.

To get started, MTN provides USSD codes and self-service options for managing your account and tariff plan. You can also check your current plan through the myMTN NG app, where your active tariff is instantly displayed alongside other relevant account information.

In addition, we have previously covered a post that will guide you on how to find your active tariff plan on MTN.

It’s important to know your current plan, which makes it easier to compare what you’re paying for your current plan with what you could get after migrating to a new one.

Note: Several MTN tariff plans and promotional offers that existed previously have either been discontinued, replaced or changed. This is why you may still find old tariff codes and rates on the internet that no longer work.

Without further ado, let’s look at the current MTN prepaid tariff plans and voice offers in more detail.

List of MTN Tariff Plans in Nigeria

1. MTN mPulse

MTN mPulse remains a consistent plan on this list. It hasn’t changed much over the years due to its popularity and benefits. This plan is one of the cheapest MTN plans in terms of the standard call rate, but there is an important catch: the plan is specifically designed for customers between the ages of 9 and 15 years.

All calls to local networks are charged at 20k/sec, equivalent to ₦12 per minute. This makes mPulse particularly affordable when compared with the standard rates on BetaGist and MTN X.

The plan goes beyond cheaper calls. MTN designed mPulse around younger customers, so it also provides educational bundles and features that allow parents to transfer airtime or even data to a linked child’s number.

Key Features of MTN mPulse:

1. Affordable Local Calls:
   • Calls to all networks in Nigeria cost 20k/sec (₦12/min).
2. Pay-As-You-Go Data:
   • Data is charged at ₦3.07/MB when browsing without an active data bundle.
3. SMS:
   • Local SMS messages cost ₦6/SMS.
4. Education Bundle:
   • Customers can get 4GB for ₦600, valid for 30 days, for accessing supported educational platforms.
   • Multiple subscriptions are allowed.
5. Parent-Child Linking:
   • Parents can link their numbers to an mPulse line and transfer airtime or data to the child.
6. Other Benefits:
   • ₦200 birthday airtime reward.
   • Airtime and data transfers from a linked parent.
   • Access to the annual mPulse Spelling Bee.
   • Other promotional benefits may also be available to eligible customers.

How to Migrate to MTN mPulse:

You can migrate to MTN mPulse using any of these methods:

• Dial *344*1# or *123*2*3#.
• Text “mPulse” to 344.
• Select mPulse from the available tariff plans on the myMTN NG app.

Your first migration is free, while another migration within 30 days may attract a ₦102 migration fee.

Call Duration with ₦100 Airtime:

At 20k/sec:

• Call rate per minute: ₦0.20 × 60 = ₦12/minute
• ₦100 ÷ ₦12 = approx. 8 minutes and 20 seconds

Therefore, ₦100 airtime gives you approximately 8 minutes and 20 seconds of local calls on mPulse.

If you’re eligible for the plan and your main concern is the standard pay-as-you-go call rate, mPulse is one of MTN’s cheapest options.

2. MTN BetaGist

MTN BetaGist, which was formerly BetaTalk, is one of the major additions to MTN’s current prepaid lineup. It is also important because BetaGist is now the default tariff plan for newly registered MTN SIM cards.

Unlike mPulse, BetaGist is available to all MTN prepaid customers.

Calls to all local networks are charged at a flat 33k/sec, equivalent to ₦19.80 per minute. On the surface, that isn’t particularly cheap compared with mPulse or MTN X. However, BetaGist includes a promotional voice reward that changes the calculation for people who make longer calls.

Consequently, for every 6 minutes of qualifying outgoing local calls, MTN gives you 3 additional minutes to continue making calls.

Key Features of MTN BetaGist:

1. Flat Call Rate:
   • Calls to all local networks in Nigeria cost 33k/sec (₦19.80/min).
2. Extra Call Minutes:
   • You get 3 minutes for every 6 minutes of outgoing local calls under the promotional offer.
3. Available to All Prepaid Customers:
   • Existing prepaid subscribers can migrate to BetaGist.
   • Newly registered MTN SIMs are placed on BetaGist by default.
4. No Daily Access Fee:
   • Unlike MTN X, there is no ₦10 daily fee to access the regular BetaGist call rate.

How to Migrate to MTN BetaGist:

Existing MTN prepaid customers can migrate using any of the following:

• Dial *405#.
• Dial *123*2*1#.
• Text “BG” to 312.
• Select BetaGist through the myMTN NG app or MTN’s Zigi chatbot.

Your first migration within 30 days is free. According to MTN, subsequent migration to BetaGist within the same period attracts a ₦150 fee.

Call Duration with ₦100 Airtime:

Without factoring in the promotional minutes:

• Call rate: 33k/sec
• Rate per minute: ₦0.33 × 60 = ₦19.80/min
• ₦100 ÷ ₦19.80 = approx. 5 minutes and 3 seconds

Therefore, ₦100 gives you roughly 5 minutes and 3 seconds of regular call time.

However, this calculation does not tell the full BetaGist story because of its promotional reward.

The moment you accumulate 6 minutes of eligible outgoing local calls, you receive another 3 minutes. Six minutes at ₦19.80/min costs ₦118.80, which means someone making longer calls can get more value from the plan than the standard 33k/sec rate initially suggests.

BetaGist is therefore worth considering if you make fairly long local calls and can regularly take advantage of the extra minutes.

3. MTN X

MTN X, formerly Pulse, takes a different approach to prepaid calls compared to the others. Instead of simply giving you a flat pay-as-you-go rate, MTN charges a small daily access fee in exchange for a reduced call rate.

Once the ₦10 daily access fee has been charged, calls to all local networks cost 25k/sec, equivalent to ₦15 per minute, for the rest of that day. This makes MTN X cheaper per minute than BetaGist’s regular 33k/sec rate, although you have to factor in the daily fee.

The plan is also targeted at customers who use their phones for both calls and entertainment, with special bundles for streaming and social media, which is one of my favourite features.

Key Features of MTN X:

1. Reduced Call Rate:
   • Calls to all local networks cost 25k/sec (₦15/min) after paying the daily access fee.
2. Daily Access Fee:
   • A ₦10 fee is required to access the discounted call rate for the day.
3. Pay-As-You-Go Data:
   • PAYG browsing costs ₦3.07/MB.
4. Special Data Bundles:
   • ₦750 Weekly Bundle: 1.2GB + 1 hour of Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
   • ₦300 Streaming Bundle: 1GB for supported streaming and social platforms.
   • ₦75 Night Bundle: 500MB, usable between 11 pm and 6 am.
5. MTN X Points:
   • Eligible bundle purchases can earn MTN X Points that can be exchanged for additional data.

How to Migrate to MTN X:

You can migrate to MTN X by:

• Dialling *123*2*2#.
• Dialling *406*1#.
• Texting “MTNX” to 312.

The first migration in 30 days is free. Subsequent migrations within the same period cost ₦102.

Call Duration with ₦100 Airtime:

Here’s where the daily access fee becomes important.

If you’re starting with exactly ₦100:

• Daily access fee: ₦10
• Airtime remaining for calls: ₦90
• Call rate: ₦15/min
• ₦90 ÷ ₦15 = 6 minutes

So, ₦100 gives you approximately 6 minutes of calls on the first day after accounting for the ₦10 access fee.

However, the economics improve when you make more calls on the same day because you only pay the access fee once for that day’s discounted rate.

For example, if you spend ₦500 on calls in one day, the ₦10 fee becomes a much smaller part of your overall spending.

MTN X therefore makes more sense for customers who make several or longer calls on the days they use their phones rather than people who make one very short call every day.

4. MTN XtraValue

MTN XtraValue is quite different from the standard prepaid plans above. Rather than simply recharging your account and paying a fixed amount per second, you purchase a bundle containing a combination of voice minutes, data and SMS.

There are currently three categories:

1. XtraTalk: Gives you more voice minutes with some data.
2. XtraData: Gives you considerably more data with fewer voice minutes.
3. Value Data: Designed primarily for data users.

Since this article focuses mainly on MTN call tariffs, XtraTalk is the most relevant option.

XtraTalk Bundles:

Calls within the XtraTalk bundle are valued at ₦10.80 per minute, making the underlying voice rate cheaper than the standard rates on mPulse, MTN X and BetaGist.

However, you shouldn’t simply divide the entire bundle price by ₦10.80 because part of your payment also covers the included data and SMS.

For example, the current XtraTalk 500 bundle gives you:

• 37 voice minutes
• 250MB of data
• 5 SMS
• 7-day validity

The XtraTalk 1500 bundle increases this to:

• 117 voice minutes
• 580MB of data
• 10 SMS
• 30-day validity

This makes XtraValue particularly interesting if you regularly use both calls and mobile data.

XtraData Bundles:

For customers who prioritise internet access but still want a few call minutes, MTN also provides several XtraData bundles.

If calls are your priority, XtraTalk makes considerably more sense. XtraData is primarily intended for people who consume more mobile data.

How to Migrate to MTN XtraValue:

Unlike a conventional tariff migration, MTN automatically moves eligible prepaid customers to XtraValue when they purchase an XtraValue bundle.

You can buy a bundle by:

• Dialling *312*5#.
• Sending the relevant bundle keyword to 312.
• Using the myMTN NG app.
• Using MTN Zigi or the MTN eShop.

For example:

• Text V500 to 312 for XtraTalk 500.
• Text V1500 to 312 for XtraTalk 1500.
• Text D500 to 312 for XtraData 500.
• Text D1500 to 312 for XtraData 1500.

Call Duration with the ₦500 XtraTalk Bundle:

The calculation here is straightforward because MTN specifies the voice minutes directly.

A ₦500 XtraTalk bundle provides 37 minutes of local calls, in addition to 250MB of data and 5 SMS.

Therefore:

₦500 = 37 minutes of calls + 250MB + 5 SMS.

This isn’t directly comparable to spending ₦500 entirely on voice calls under a normal tariff because part of the XtraTalk bundle is allocated to data and SMS.

However, if we’re forced to compare this side by side with the others, we’ll be averaging 7 minutes and 24 seconds for every ₦100 spent on the XtraTalk 500 bundle.

Nevertheless, if you need both voice and data, XtraTalk can offer better overall value than simply spending your entire balance at the standard PAYG rate.

5. MTN Sachet Bundles

Last but not least is the MTN Sachet Bundle. This is one of the latest bundles introduced by MTN. This special bundle isn’t technically a standalone tariff plan like BetaGist, mPulse or MTN X. Instead, it is a voice bundle that can be used by MTN prepaid and postpaid customers.

I have included it in this comparison because it currently offers some of the most affordable voice rates available to MTN customers. Instead of paying per second from your main airtime balance, you purchase a fixed number of voice minutes.

There are currently three Sachet Bundles.

MTN Sachet Bundle Prices:

This is where things become interesting.

The ₦100 Starter bundle gives you 10 minutes, which is already more call time than ₦100 would normally provide on mPulse, MTN X or BetaGist.

The larger bundles improve the effective rate even further.

With the ₦500 Max bundle:

• Bundle cost: ₦500
• Voice allocation: 55 minutes
• Effective cost: approximately ₦9.09/min

That is one of the lowest effective voice rates among the MTN options covered in this comparison.

How to Activate MTN Sachet Bundle:

There are several ways to activate a Sachet Bundle:

• Recharge using *886*Recharge PIN#.
• Dial *887# to purchase a bundle from your existing airtime.
• Dial *312*7#.
• Send the appropriate bundle keyword to 312:
  • SB1
  • SB2
  • SB3

Your Sachet minutes are stored separately from your main airtime balance. Once the allocated minutes have been exhausted, calls will return to your normal tariff rate or another active voice bundle.

To check your remaining Sachet Bundle minutes, dial: *310*15#

Call Duration with ₦100 Airtime:

With the Starter bundle:

• ₦100 gives you 10 minutes
• Effective call rate: ₦10/min

There is no complicated per-second calculation here because MTN gives you the minutes directly. If you spend ₦500 on the Max bundle instead, you get 55 minutes, which works out at roughly ₦9.09 per minute.

For customers primarily interested in making local calls, the Sachet Bundle is therefore one of the most competitive options currently available from MTN.

Which MTN Tariff Plan Is the Cheapest for Calls?

Spoiler alert: there is no single winner. Because these plans vary so wildly in features, pricing, and pros/cons, the right choice entirely depends on your specific call needs.

So, to answer this question:

If we look strictly at the regular tariff rate, mPulse is very competitive at ₦12/minute, but the plan is intended for customers aged 9 to 15.

For regular prepaid customers, MTN X costs ₦15/minute after a ₦10 daily access fee, while BetaGist costs ₦19.80/minute but rewards eligible usage with 3 additional minutes after every 6 minutes of outgoing local calls.

XtraValue becomes more attractive if you want calls and data in one package. The XtraTalk 500 bundle, for example, provides 37 voice minutes, 250MB and 5 SMS for ₦500.

But if your main priority is simply getting as many local call minutes as possible for your money, MTN’s Sachet Bundles are difficult to ignore.

The ₦100 Sachet Bundle provides 10 minutes, while ₦500 gives you 55 minutes. That works out at effective rates of ₦10/min and approximately ₦9.09/min, respectively.

That being said, here’s an easier way to choose:

Conclusion

MTN’s prepaid tariff lineup has changed quite a bit over the years, and choosing a plan based on old migration codes or call rates could leave you paying more than expected. Most of the plans you know may have been discontinued or changed; therefore, you need to double-check to make sure you are choosing the most current tariff plan.

For eligible younger customers, mPulse remains attractive at 20k/sec. BetaGist is more widely accessible and adds extra voice minutes for qualifying usage, while MTN X offers a lower 25k/sec rate in exchange for a ₦10 daily access fee.

XtraValue is better suited to customers who want voice and data packaged together. Meanwhile, the Sachet Bundle stands out for people primarily interested in local calls, especially the ₦500 option that provides 55 minutes.

Ultimately, the best MTN tariff depends on how you use your line. Someone who makes one or two short calls occasionally will have different needs from someone who spends hours on calls every day.

Before switching plans or buying a bundle, don’t forget to check the latest offer on MTN’s official website or through the myMTN NG app, as call rates and migration charges may change.