We are often faced with the challenge of getting cheap data options on our carrier networks. This challenge has caused some of us to spend more money on data than expected, and you do not need anyone to tell you that it’s not right.
There are already cheap data plans available for you to start using but not knowing what they are or how you can activate them is why we are here. In this article, we will cut across the most affordable (cheapest) data plans available on Airtel, 9mobile, MTN, and Glo so that you can know which to pick from.
The cheapest data plans in Nigeria
1. 9mobile
The cheapest data plan on 9mobile remains 1GB data for N200, valid for three days. Unfortunately, this data plan is SIM selective, and you need to be lucky if it works for you. To activate this data plan, all you need to do is recharge your 9mobile SIM card with N200 and dial the code ∗929∗10# to activate it.
If you’re not eligible for the plan, you do not need to worry at all, as 9mobile’s revamped data plans are affordable for you to enjoy as there are no eligibility requirements of any sort. You can get 2GB + free Social data @ N500 valid for 3 days, 7GB+ free social data @ N1,500 valid for 7days, 15GB+ free night streaming data @ N5,000 valid for 30 days and so on.
How to subscribe to 9mobile revamped data plans? The subscription code remains the same. Dial ∗200∗3∗1#to get started. For more info on this, kindly read this article.
2. Airtel
Airtel has more options to select from when it comes to getting data at a cheap price. Just like 9mobile, the 1GB data plan for N200 is the cheapest one around on Airtel. It’s SIM selective, so there’s a probability that you won’t be able to subscribe to it.
As an Airtel customer, you can always try to find out if you are eligible for the plan by trying to subscribe for it before purchasing airtime. To do so, dial ∗141∗241# and select “1GB for N200” data plan. 
If you receive a notification message that indicates that you couldn’t buy the data plan due to insufficient balance, know that you are eligible for the data plan. On the other hand, if you receive a message that reads;
Dear customer, you are not eligible to buy this data bundle. Please dial *141# to activate data bundle.
Just know that you are not eligible for the offer. Another data plan you can consider on the Airtel network is the 1.5GB for N300, and N1000, for 5GB plans. They’re also SIM selective, and you can activate any of them by dialling ∗141∗242∗3#, ∗141∗242∗4# as both are valid for seven days & fourteen days, respectively.
If no one has worked for you yet, you can opt-in for the Airtel My Offer data plans. With it, you can enjoy 6GB for as low as N1500, even 1GB for N300. All you need to do is pick up your Airtel SIM card, dial *141#on your Airtel SIM card, and select 1, which is My Offer, a list will come up, select any plan of your choice and subscribe to it. You can check your data balance by dialling ∗140#.
One last alternative to turn to is a 1GB for N300 plan on the network, valid for 30 days (1 month). Reach out to me using the Contact page to activate. 
3. Glo
There’s hardly any data plan we can tag as cheaper on the Glo network as the telco operator’s data plans are all affordable. With the Stay Home Data launch that offers up to 20 per cent more data to subscribers irrespective of the data plan they purchase, there’s almost nothing to complain about on Glo. Dial *777# to subscribe to any Glo data plan.
Glo also has cheap data plans for both nights and weekends. Glo has a couple of night data plans to offer – 1GB for N100, 500MB for N50 and 250MB for N25. Here’s how to activate it;
- For 1GB for N100, dial ∗127∗60# or SMS 60 to 127 or *777# then follow the prompt (Data Services » Buy Data » Night and Weekend Plans » then select 1 for Night plan). — This plan is valid for 5 days and works between 12 am to 5 am.
- For 500MB for N50, dial *777# and follow the prompt. — This plan is valid for 1 day and works between 12 am to 5 am.
- For 250MB for N25, dial *777# and follow the prompt. — This plan is valid for 1 day and works between 12 am to 5 am.
As for the weekend data plan, you have access to 3GB of data for N500 usable from midnight on Saturday till 5 am on Monday. How to activate;
- Dial *777# then select Data Services » Buy Data » Night and Weekend plan» then select 2 for the weekend plan. You can dial *127*61# or SMS 61 to 127 to also purchase the data plan.
- To check your data balance, dial *127*0#.
4. MTN
MTN has so many data plans to choose from; however, the most affordable one still happens to be the 1GB for the N200 plan. This is another plan largely connected to eligibility. As an MTN user, you need to qualify for the Welcome Back offer to enjoy the 1GB for the N200 plan on MTN.
MTN Welcome Back is an offer that rewards customers that have spent 30 – 180 days on the network without performing any chargeable activity with a 2000% bonus on their first recharge in a month, and enjoy special data bundles for 3 months. Dial ∗131∗65∗2# to activate this plan.
You can also try to activate the 1GB for the N200 plan on MTN by dialling *567#, and if you are lucky enough, you should see 1GB for N200 as an option on the data list. Kindly select that to activate it.
Another cheap data plan you can consider on the network is the 1.5GB for the N300 plan. It’s also SIM selective, and here’s how to activate it.
- Launch the MTN app, search for ‘Mega Deal Zone‘ on the App, and click on it.
- You’ll be shown up to 3-4 eggs, depending on how you’ve used your offers.
- Click on ‘Top deal‘ at the top right hand,
- Crack the egg by clicking ‘Accept, ‘you’ll get a message like this “Get 1.5GB Data for as low as N300 only…”
Your 1.5GB data will be activated as the N300 would be deducted from your account. This data is valid for 7 days, and you can check your data balance by dialling ∗131∗4#.
If you’ve followed all these procedures and there’s still no positive way out, you can turn on to the Jolly Data plans. With this set of data plans, you can activate 6GB of data for N1500, valid for a week — dial ∗131∗143# to do so.
You can also get 1GB at the rate of N250, valid for 30 days on the MTN network. Reach out to me via the contact page to activate.
There you have it, the cheapest data plans in Nigeria. So tell me, are these plans cheap enough for you to consider? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comment section below.
Well, the MTN 200 for 1gb welcome back offer has been a lifesaver as it’s more preferable to its counterparts due to it’s one week availability before expiry.
Your post is interesting! Thanks for sharing this blog.