Paying Data for Family on MTN? Check the Number Before You Confirm
How to Buy MTN Data for Another Number: 3 Easy Methods
Buy for a Friend, the shortcut code and the app, with a check list before you confirm.
You can pay for someone else’s data bundle from your own airtime. The person gets a fresh bundle. Nothing is taken from their balance or yours, apart from the price you pay.
3 easy methods
This example buys the plan with keyword 104 (the 110MB daily bundle) for the number shown. Replace the code and the number with your own, and check the plan code on MTN’s plan list first.
Buy for a friend or transfer data?
| Option | What leaves your account | What your friend gets |
|---|---|---|
| Buy for a friend | Airtime, at the bundle price | A new bundle on their line |
| Data transfer | Data from your active bundle | Part of your bundle, up to 5GB a day |
Buying is the better choice when you have airtime but little data, or when you want your friend to get a full plan with its own validity.
A worked example
You want to help your mother with a weekly 1.5GB plan that costs ₦1,000. You dial the shortcut with the plan code and her number, confirm, and ₦1,000 leaves your airtime. She gets the bundle with its own seven days, and you keep your own data untouched.
Check these before you confirm
- The number is correct. A wrong digit sends it to a stranger.
- The recipient is on MTN. Reports say this works between MTN lines.
- You have enough airtime for the full price.
- The bundle is eligible. Some plans may not be buyable for others.
Paying for TravelPass and family
MTN’s TravelPass page says you can buy any TravelPass plan for family and friends, wherever they are. That is handy for relatives travelling abroad.
5 reasons it fails
- Not enough airtime.
- A mistyped number or plan code.
- The plan cannot be bought for others.
- The USSD session timed out.
- A network fault, so try again later.
Will my friend know I paid?
They usually receive an SMS about the new bundle.
Is there an extra fee?
The pages I found state the bundle price only. Check the confirmation screen.
Does the bundle renew?
Choose One-off so it does not renew from your airtime.