Cheapest Data Plans in Nigeria: MTN vs Glo vs Airtel

The cheapest data in Nigeria right now, per gigabyte, is MTN’s 45GB Always-On at ₦9,000 for 30 days — about ₦200 per GB. On a small budget, Glo’s ₦500 weekly bundle (550MB + 1GB night) and MTN’s ₦200 1GB Smart Bundle (MyMTN app only) lead. MTN prices were re-checked against mtn.ng on 12 September 2026; Glo and Airtel figures come from the operators’ own published lists (August 2026), not reseller blogs.

Every network now sells data through the same NCC-harmonised menu: dial *312# on MTN, Glo, or Airtel and the official bundle list for your line appears. 9mobile is the exception: its menu is on *229# (see our 9mobile data plans guide).

Cheapest plan at each budget

Best official value per budget, using the main (anytime) allowance. Night and app bonuses are extras.

Budget	Best value	What you get	How to buy
₦200	MTN	1GB Smart Bundle, 1 day (app only) — or 110MB for ₦100 via *312#	MyMTN NG app
₦500	Airtel / Glo	Airtel 1.5GB, 7 days; Glo 550MB + 1GB night, 7 days	*312*505# / *312#
₦1,000	Glo	1.7GB + 2GB night, 7 days — or MTN 3.2GB, 2 days	*312#
₦1,500	Glo	4GB + 2GB night, 7 days	*312#
₦2,000	Glo	6.5GB + 2.5GB night, 7 days	*312#
₦5,000	Glo	22GB + 2.5GB night, 7 days — monthly: Glo 14.5GB (MTN’s nearest is 18.6GB Always-On at ₦5,500)	*312#
₦9,000	MTN	45GB Always-On, 30 days — the ₦200/GB benchmark	Text 163 to 312
₦10,000	MTN	40GB, 14 days — or Glo 38GB + 4GB night, 30 days	Text 198 to 312 / *312#

A weekly Glo bundle beats most monthly plans on price per GB. If you can top up weekly, you pay less overall — the trade-off is remembering to renew.

MTN vs Glo vs Airtel: what the official lists show

MTN publishes the fullest list — from ₦75 daily to 800GB yearly, re-checked on 12 September 2026. The full table, with every SMS-to-312 code, is in our MTN data plan guide. Standouts: the app-only 1GB for ₦200, the 2-day tier (2GB for ₦750), and Always-On plans that don’t expire daily.

Glo wins most price-per-GB comparisons at ₦1,000–₦5,000 because its bundles carry big night data (12am–5am) on top of the main allowance. Totals shown on gloworld.com include that night data — check the main allowance before comparing. Balance check: see our Glo balance guide.

Airtel publishes very few bundle prices on airtel.com.ng — officially confirmed right now: 1.5GB for ₦500 (7 days, *312*505#) and the ₦25 night plan (250MB, 12am–5am). Its full menu exists, but only on your line: dial *312#. We don’t list prices the operator won’t publish. To check what you have left, see how to check Airtel data balance.

9mobile sells through *229#, not *312#, and its bundle list is shorter than MTN’s. Its current prices and codes are on our 9mobile data plans guide; compare them there before buying a 9mobile line for data alone.

How to buy on any network

1. Dial *312#. The harmonised data menu opens on MTN, Glo, and Airtel (on 9mobile, dial *229#).
2. Pick a category (daily, weekly, monthly) and reply with the plan number.
3. Confirm — the bundle charges your airtime balance instantly.

No airtime? Buy direct from each operator’s app (MyMTN NG, Glo Café, Airtel Thanks) with a card — app-only plans like MTN’s ₦200 1GB live there.

FAQs

What is the cheapest 1GB plan in Nigeria?

MTN’s 1GB Smart Bundle at ₦200 (1 day, MyMTN NG app only). Outside the app, Glo My-G sells 1GB for ₦300 with 3-day validity.

What is the cheapest monthly plan?

₦1,500 gets MTN 2GB (plus minutes, YouTube and 2GB night) or Glo 2.2GB + 3GB night for 30 days. Glo’s has more total data; MTN’s day allowance is close.

Does unused data roll over?

On Glo, data rolls over when you renew the same bundle before expiry. On MTN, Always-On plans (18.6GB/₦5,500, 45GB/₦9,000) don’t expire on a timer at all — they last until the data finishes.

Why is my network’s *312# price different from this page?

Operators run line-specific offers, and prices change. This page mirrors the official published lists (MTN re-checked 12 September 2026; Glo and Airtel August 2026); your *312# menu is the final word for your SIM.