Airtel’s cheapest call rate is 13 kobo per second (₦7.80 a minute) on SmartTRYBE — dial *412# to migrate. The standard rate on SmartCONNECT, the default plan on every new SIM, is 25 kobo per second (₦15 a minute). The migration codes changed too: *312# now opens the data menu, not SmartTRYBE. Dial *121# to see which plan you are on.
This guide lists only what Airtel itself publishes: the plans on its own site, their rates, and the codes that work. Every figure was checked in August 2026 against Airtel’s plan pages. Plans Airtel no longer documents are flagged, not guessed at.
What will your call cost on each Airtel plan?
Enter a call length and the calculator prices it on every current plan, cheapest first.
Rates are the figures Airtel itself publishes (airtel.com.ng), checked August 2026 — plans Airtel no longer lists are excluded. Bonus airtime (SmartCONNECT 8X) is not included.
Airtel call rates compared
| Plan | Call rate | 5-minute call costs | Migration code |
|---|---|---|---|
| SmartTRYBE | 13k/sec (₦7.80/min) | ₦39 | *412# |
| TalkMore bundle | ₦10/min (16.7k/sec) | ₦50 | *234*1# (no migration) |
| SmartCONNECT | 25k/sec (₦15/min) | ₦75 | Default on new SIMs |
These are the only plans Airtel currently publishes rates for. TalkMore is a minutes bundle, not a tariff plan — it works on top of whatever plan you are on. The first tariff migration in any 30-day window is free.
Airtel call rates after the 2025 NCC price increase
The NCC approved a 50% tariff increase on 20 January 2025, and Airtel applied it from 13 February 2025. Airtel’s standard rate now stands at 25 kobo per second — the figure Airtel itself quotes on its bundle pages. SmartTRYBE kept a discounted 13 kobo per second, which is why it is now the cheapest plan by a wide margin. Any guide still quoting 11 kobo per second is describing pre-increase prices.
What is a tariff plan?
A tariff plan is the price list attached to your SIM — it decides what you pay per second of calls and per SMS. Two Airtel lines can pay different rates for the same call. Bundles (data, TalkMore minutes) sit on top of the tariff plan and are billed first.
Airtel SmartTRYBE
SmartTRYBE is Airtel’s youth plan and the cheapest way to call on the network.
- Call rate: 13 kobo/sec (₦0.78/min) to all networks.
- Night plan: ₦25 for 250MB, valid midnight to 5am.
- Data deal: 1.5GB for ₦500, valid 7 days — dial *312*505#.
- Campus bonus: extra data on plans bought on campus locations.
Migrate by dialling *412#. Older guides say *312# — that code now opens the data-bundle menu on every Nigerian network, so it will not migrate you.
Airtel SmartCONNECT
SmartCONNECT is the default plan on every new Airtel SIM. You do not migrate to it; you are on it until you leave. Calls bill at the standard 25 kobo per second, but for your first 90 days every recharge of ₦100 or more earns 8 times its value (the offer Airtel has also marketed as Ovajara):
| Recharge | Main credit | Voice bonus | Data bonus | Total value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ₦100 | ₦100 | ₦300 | ₦400 | ₦800 |
| ₦200 | ₦200 | ₦600 | ₦800 | ₦1,600 |
| ₦500 | ₦500 | ₦1,500 | ₦2,000 | ₦4,000 |
| ₦1,000 | ₦1,000 | ₦3,000 | ₦4,000 | ₦8,000 |
Bonuses last 7 days; main credit never expires. Data bundles under ₦5,000 are also doubled during the same 90 days. After 90 days the bonuses stop — that is the point to compare rates and migrate.
Airtel TalkMore: minutes instead of per-second billing
TalkMore sells blocks of national call minutes: ₦100 for 10 minutes up to ₦1,500 for 150 minutes — a flat ₦10 per minute (about 16.7 kobo per second, Airtel’s own figure), and unused minutes roll over when you renew before expiry. Buy with *234*1#, check the balance with *234*8#. Full price list and rules: Airtel TalkMore bundles and codes.
What happened to SmartTALK, SmartVALUE, SmartPremier and Freedom?
Airtel’s plan pages now document only SmartTRYBE, SmartCONNECT and TalkMore (checked August 2026). SmartTALK, SmartVALUE, SmartPremier and Freedom still circulate in third-party guides with various rates and codes, but Airtel no longer publishes any of it — so this guide does not repeat those figures as fact. If your line is still on one of them, dial *121#, read the rate you are actually being charged, and compare it with SmartTRYBE’s 13k/sec before deciding to stay.
How to pick the cheapest Airtel plan
- You mostly make calls — SmartTRYBE. 13k/sec beats everything.
- Your call volume is predictable — TalkMore minutes at ₦10/min, with rollover. Works on any plan, so you can stack it on SmartTRYBE.
- You have a new SIM — stay on SmartCONNECT for the 90-day 8X and double-data window, then migrate to SmartTRYBE.
How to migrate to a new Airtel plan
- Dial the migration code for the plan you want (table above).
- Confirm on the menu. The switch completes in seconds and an SMS confirms it.
- Your airtime, data and number carry over unchanged.
The first migration in a 30-day window is free. To confirm where you landed, dial *121# and open the account menu.
FAQs
What is the cheapest Airtel call rate?
13 kobo per second on SmartTRYBE (*412#). If your monthly call time is predictable, TalkMore minutes work out at ₦10/min — still cheaper than the 25k/sec standard rate.
How do I check my current Airtel plan?
Dial *121# and open the account/manage menu. It shows your tariff plan and the offers available on your line.
Why doesn’t *312# migrate me to SmartTRYBE anymore?
*312# is now the harmonised data-bundle code on all Nigerian networks. SmartTRYBE migration moved to *412#.
How often can I change plans?
Once free in every 30-day window. Extra switches inside the window attract a small fee.
Read also:
Airtel TalkMore bundles, prices and codes
Airtel data plans: codes and prices
How to load recharge card on all networks