How to Buy a Daily MTN Data Bundle: *136*2# and the App
MTN lists three short-term options for people who need data right now: hourly, 3-hour and daily bundles. Each starts when you buy it, so timing matters.
Daily bundles
| Size | Price | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 35MB | R6 | 24 hours |
| 100MB | R10 | 24 hours |
| 200MB | R15 | 24 hours |
| 300MB | R20 | 24 hours |
| 1.5GB | R33 | 24 hours |
| 3GB | R50 | 24 hours |
Hourly and 3-hour bundles
| Type | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | 15MB | R2 |
| Hourly | 35MB | R3.50 |
| Hourly | 50MB | R5 |
| Hourly | 150MB | R8 |
| Hourly | 1GB | R30 |
| 3 hours | 350MB | R11 |
How to buy: the codes
1. Dial *136*2# to open the buy menu.
2. Choose the data bundle and then the validity.
3. Confirm, and wait for the confirmation SMS.
MTN’s terms also list a longer USSD string, *136*2*999#, and other routes: the MTN app, MTN Chat, Zoners, participating retail stores and participating banks. Check your balance with *136#.
Which short bundle?
| If you need | Pick |
|---|---|
| A quick burst of 1 hour | Hourly 150MB (R8) |
| A short session in the evening | 3-hour 350MB (R11) |
| Everyday light use | Daily 100MB (R10) or 200MB (R15) |
| Video or a lot of apps | Daily 1.5GB (R33) or 3GB (R50) |
Validity in plain words
A 24-hour bundle runs for 24 hours from the time of purchase, not until midnight. An hourly bundle runs for 60 minutes. If you buy at 18:00, a daily bundle ends at 18:00 the next day.
Carry-over rule
MTN lets you extend a once-off bundle by buying another of the same type and validity before it expires. The leftover data then takes the new bundle’s expiry date.
Can I cancel a daily bundle?
MTN’s terms say once-off bundles cannot be cancelled.
Daily bundles can be shared under MTN’s Data Share terms, but hourly ones cannot.
What about roaming?
International roaming data does not come out of your bundle.