Last checked: 25 June 2026
Quick Code/Menu Answer
The quickest buy data USSD code depends on the network SIM you are using. Dial the correct code from your phone app, choose the data or bundle option, check the price and validity, then confirm only if the bundle is correct.
| NetworkBuy data USSD codeWhat to choose nextBest for | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Vodacom | *135# | Follow the prompts for data or bundles | Buying Vodacom data without the app |
| MTN | *136*2# | Choose the data or bundle option | Buying MTN data bundles and promotional bundles |
| Telkom | *180# | Choose daily, weekly, monthly, or data bundle options | Buying Telkom prepaid mobile bundles |
| Cell C | *147# or *109# | Choose data, recharge data, add extras, or bundles | Buying or recharging Cell C data |
Vodacom lists *135# as a route to buy data bundles and says users should dial the code and follow the prompts. (Vodacom) MTN lists *136*2# for buying voice, SMS, data and promotional bundles. (MTN South Africa) Telkom says users can dial *180# to purchase daily, weekly, or monthly bundles. (Telkom) Cell C says data can be recharged by USSD using *147# or *109#, and its buy-data page also points Cell C users to *147#. (Cell C)
Use the main menu code when you are not sure which shortcut applies to your SIM. USSD menus can change by network, plan, promotion, prepaid or contract type, and account status. Vodacom explains USSD as a way to request services by dialling a short sequence from your phone, such as *135#. (Vodacom)
Provider-by-Provider Options
Vodacom buy data USSD code
For Vodacom, dial:
*135#
Vodacom lists *135# as a self-service USSD channel for data bundles, and a Vodacom daily data page says to dial *135#and follow the prompts to purchase a daily data bundle. (Vodacom)
After dialling the code, choose the data or bundle option shown on your screen. Review the bundle size, price, validity period, and whether the bundle is once-off or recurring before confirming.
Use the related guide for more Vodacom menu options: Vodacom USSD codes.
MTN buy data USSD code
For MTN, dial:
*136*2#
MTN’s USSD codes page lists *136*2# for buying voice, SMS, data and promotional bundles, and MTN’s recharge page also says users can dial *136*2# to buy bundles. (MTN South Africa) MTN’s daily data bundle terms also list USSD purchase by dialling *136*2#. (MTN South Africa)
After dialling the code, choose the relevant data option, then select the bundle that matches your usage. MTN may show ordinary data, daily data, promotional data, social bundles, or personalised bundle offers depending on the SIM.
Use the related guide for more MTN menu options: MTN USSD codes.
Telkom buy data USSD code
For Telkom, dial:
*180#
Telkom’s prepaid mobile bundle page says users can dial *180# to purchase daily, weekly, or monthly bundles. (Telkom)
After dialling the code, choose the bundle or data purchase option. If you have airtime and want to turn it into data, stay inside the official Telkom menu and confirm the exact bundle before accepting.
Use the related guide for more Telkom menu options: Telkom USSD codes.
Cell C buy data USSD code
For Cell C, dial:
*147#
You can also try:
*109#
Cell C’s data bundle FAQ lists USSD recharge by dialling *147# or *109#, while Cell C’s buy-data page says users can dial *147# from a Cell C SIM. (Cell C) Cell C’s data bundle terms also list the *147# USSD menu as one of the purchase channels for prepaid, hybrid and post-paid customers. (Cell C)
After dialling the code, choose the data, recharge data, add extras, or bundle option shown on your screen. Confirm only after checking the price, validity, and bundle type.
Use the related guide for more Cell C menu options: Cell C USSD codes.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Requirements
Before using a buy data bundle USSD code, check these basics:
| Requirement | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Correct network SIM | A Vodacom USSD code will not buy data on an MTN, Telkom, or Cell C SIM. |
| Active SIM | Suspended, inactive, restricted, or unregistered SIMs may fail at the confirmation stage. |
| Enough airtime or payment access | Many prepaid bundle purchases use airtime, while some accounts may use billing or other provider-approved payment routes. |
| Good signal | USSD sessions can fail when signal is weak or unstable. |
| Bundle choice | Some bundles are daily, night-only, social, promotional, recurring, or valid for a limited period. |
| Recipient number, if buying for someone else | A wrong number can send data to the wrong SIM where gifting is available. |
Step-by-step process
- Open the phone dialler.
- Enter the correct network code: Vodacom
*135#, MTN*136*2#, Telkom*180#, or Cell C*147#/*109#. - Press call.
- Wait for the USSD menu to load.
- Choose the option for data, bundles, buy bundles, recharge data, or internet bundles.
- Select the bundle size and validity period you want.
- Check the price and whether the bundle is once-off, recurring, promotional, night-only, social, or standard data.
- Confirm only if the details are correct.
- Wait for the on-screen result or confirmation SMS.
- Check your data balance before using the internet.
If you need to confirm whether the bundle loaded, use check data balance USSD code.
What the user should see next
A working USSD menu usually opens as a numbered list. Depending on the network, you may see options such as:
| Menu wording you may see | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Data | Opens ordinary data bundle options |
| Bundles | Opens data, voice, SMS, promotional, or combo bundles |
| Buy bundles | Starts the purchase process |
| Recharge data | Lets you add data after a bundle is depleted |
| Daily, weekly, or monthly | Lets you choose the validity period |
| Promo or personalised offers | Shows network-specific offers that may not be available to every SIM |
| Social bundles | Usually app-limited data, not full internet data |
| Night data | Data that may only work during specific hours |
Menu wording can change, so follow what appears on your phone rather than relying only on old screenshots or older articles.
Before you confirm
Do not rush the final confirmation screen. Check:
| Check | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Bundle size | MB or GB amount |
| Price | Airtime or billed amount |
| Validity | Same-day, daily, weekly, monthly, 30-day, or other expiry |
| Bundle type | Standard data, social data, night data, promotional data, or app-limited data |
| Renewal | Once-off or recurring |
| Recipient | Your own number or another person’s number |
| Network | Correct SIM and correct provider menu |
If anything looks wrong, cancel, go back, or let the USSD session expire.
Common Problems and Fixes
The buy data USSD code does not work
The most common reason is using the wrong code for the wrong SIM. Dual-SIM phones can also send the USSD request from the wrong SIM slot. Check which SIM is active for calls, then try again.
If the code still fails:
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Wrong network | Use the code for your actual SIM provider. |
| Weak signal | Move to a stronger signal area and retry. |
| Dual-SIM issue | Choose the correct SIM before dialling. |
| Old shortcut | Start from the main network menu instead. |
| Temporary network issue | Try again later or use the official app or website. |
| SIM/account restriction | Contact the provider if the SIM is suspended, inactive, or blocked. |
For broader code issues, use mobile network USSD codes South Africa or USSD codes without internet.
The menu opens but there is no data option
Your SIM may not qualify for the specific offer, or the network may have changed the menu path. Start again from the main menu and look for wording such as “bundles”, “buy bundles”, “data”, “internet bundles”, or “recharge data”.
Some offers are limited to prepaid, hybrid, post-paid, selected customers, or specific tariff plans. For example, Vodacom’s once-off data terms state that monthly once-off data bundles are available to prepaid, hybrid and postpay customers, while MTN’s personalised monthly data terms describe selected customer offers through *136*2#. (Vodacom)
The transaction fails after confirmation
A data purchase may fail because of insufficient airtime, account restrictions, a timed-out USSD session, a temporary network problem, an expired offer, or a changed menu path.
Try this:
- Check your airtime balance.
- Check whether the confirmation SMS arrived.
- Restart the phone if the menu keeps failing.
- Try once from the main menu.
- Do not keep confirming the same purchase repeatedly.
- Contact the network if airtime was deducted but no data loaded.
Airtime was deducted but data did not load
First check your data balance. Then wait a few minutes and restart mobile data or restart the phone. If the bundle still does not appear, keep the purchase SMS, time of transaction, amount deducted, and the bundle you selected.
Use this troubleshooting page next: bought data but not working.
The wrong bundle was bought
Do not assume every bundle is ordinary anytime data. Some bundles may be valid only for social apps, night use, promotional periods, specific networks, or limited validity windows. Check the confirmation SMS and balance details before using more airtime.
If you need ordinary full internet data, avoid confirming a bundle labelled as social, app-specific, night, or promotional unless that is exactly what you want.
The data balance looks wrong after buying
Your balance may look different if you have multiple bundles, bonus data, night data, expiring data, social data, or an older bundle still active. Check the detailed balance route for your network and compare the confirmation SMS with the balance result.
Start with check data balance USSD code if you only need to confirm active data.
Provider Comparison Table
| Network | Main data purchase code | Can buy without mobile app? | Notes before confirming |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vodacom | *135# | Yes, via USSD | Check whether the bundle is daily, once-off, recurring, or promotional. |
| MTN | *136*2# | Yes, via USSD | Menu may include voice, SMS, data, promotional, or personalised bundle options. |
| Telkom | *180# | Yes, via USSD | Choose the correct daily, weekly, monthly, or data bundle route. |
| Cell C | *147# or *109# | Yes, via USSD | *147# is the main Cell C menu route; *109# is also listed for data recharge. |
Related Airtime and Data Guides
| Need | Go to |
|---|---|
| Full airtime, data, recharge, and balance directory | airtime and data USSD codes South Africa |
| Check whether your data loaded | check data balance USSD code |
| Compare all mobile network code pages | mobile network USSD codes South Africa |
| Use codes when you have no mobile data | USSD codes without internet |
| Vodacom-specific self-service options | Vodacom USSD codes |
| MTN-specific self-service options | MTN USSD codes |
| Telkom-specific self-service options | Telkom USSD codes |
| Cell C-specific self-service options | Cell C USSD codes |
| Data was bought but does not work | bought data but not working |
FAQ
What is the safest way to use buy data USSD code?
The safest way is to use the official main menu for your network, choose the data or bundle option, and confirm only after checking the bundle size, price, validity, renewal type, and recipient number. Use Vodacom *135#, MTN *136*2#, Telkom *180#, or Cell C *147# / *109#.
Does buy data USSD code require airtime or mobile data?
USSD does not require you to open a mobile app, and it is useful when you need to buy data without internet access. The actual bundle purchase may still need airtime, billing access, or another payment method depending on your network and account type. Always read the final confirmation screen before accepting.
Why might buy data USSD code fail or show the wrong balance?
It may fail because you used the wrong network code, selected the wrong SIM on a dual-SIM phone, have weak signal, do not have enough airtime, are on a restricted account, or the provider has changed the menu path. A balance can also look wrong if you bought social data, night data, promotional data, or a bundle with a different validity period.
What should users do before confirming a purchase or transfer?
Before confirming, check the bundle amount, price, expiry date, bundle type, renewal rules, and recipient number. If buying for someone else, read the phone number carefully before accepting the transaction.
Where can users find related airtime or data guides?
Start with airtime and data USSD codes South Africa for the wider directory. For balance checks, use check data balance USSD code. For provider-specific menus, use Vodacom USSD codes, MTN USSD codes, Telkom USSD codes, or Cell C USSD codes.