Vodacom, MTN, Telkom and Cell C each run their own USSD menus for balances, airtime, data bundles and account settings, while Rain customers mainly manage their accounts in the rain app. Network codes only work on that network’s own SIM cards, so start with your network below and then pick the task you need.
Directory updated: 13 September 2026. Each code below shows the date it was last verified on its own guide. USSDCode.co.za is an independent guide and is not affiliated with any bank, network, retailer, lender or government department listed here.
Quick Answer and Most-Used Codes
Dial your network’s main self-service code from the SIM you want to manage: Vodacom
*135#and MTN*136#(both last checked 26 June 2026). For a quick balance, Telkom uses*188#and Cell C uses*101#(both July 2026). Rain has no verified general USSD menu on this site; use the official rain app instead.
| Network | Task | USSD code / status | Last verified | Detailed guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vodacom | Main self-service menu | *135# | 26 June 2026 | Vodacom USSD codes |
| Vodacom | Check your number | *135*501# | July 2026 | Vodacom check number |
| MTN | Main self-service menu | *136# | 26 June 2026 | MTN USSD codes |
| MTN | Airtime advance | *151# | July 2026 | MTN airtime advance |
| Telkom | Balance | *188# | July 2026 | Telkom balance |
| Telkom | Airtime advance | *180# | July 2026 | Telkom airtime advance |
| Cell C | Balance | *101# | July 2026 | Cell C balance |
| Cell C | Airtime balance | *101# | July 2026 | Cell C airtime balance |
| Rain | Data balance | Not yet verified | — | Rain data balance |
Browse by Provider or Service
- Vodacom — balance, bundles, airtime advance, settings; main code
*135# - MTN — balance, bundles, transfers, rewards; main code
*136# - Telkom — self-service menu, bundles, subscriptions; main code
*180# - Cell C — self-service menu, bundles, settings; main code
*147# - Rain — account and data guides; no verified general USSD menu
Each network page links to the task guides for that network, from airtime transfers to internet settings, and to the official app or self-service route to use if USSD is unavailable.
Browse by Task
These guides compare how to do the same thing on every network:
| Task | Guide |
|---|---|
| Check airtime balance | Check airtime balance |
| Check data balance | Check data balance |
| Buy airtime | Buy airtime USSD code |
| Buy data | Buy data USSD code |
| Transfer airtime | Transfer airtime |
| Transfer data | Transfer data |
| Find your own number | Check my number |
| Please Call Me | Please Call Me codes |
| PUK code | PUK number |
| SIM swap | SIM swap |
| RICA status | Check RICA status |
| Check and cancel subscriptions | Check subscriptions · Cancel subscriptions |
| Internet / APN settings | Network settings |
| Call forwarding | Call forwarding |
| Call barring | Call barring |
| Private number | Private number |
| Convert airtime to a voucher | Convert airtime to voucher |
How to Use These USSD Codes
- Open your phone’s dialler (the keypad you use to make calls), not an SMS or chat app.
- Type the full code exactly as shown, including every * and the final #.
- Press the call button. A text menu should open on your screen within a few seconds.
- Reply with the number of the option you want. Menus differ by provider and change over time, so read your own screen rather than following a fixed button sequence.
- Finish before the session times out (usually well under two minutes). If it expires, dial again from the start.
Network codes act on the SIM in the phone, so in a dual-SIM handset choose the right SIM before pressing call. Prepaid, top-up and contract customers can see different menus for the same code, and some options (such as airtime advance) are only offered once your account qualifies. Codes that end in *number#, such as Please Call Me, need you to replace the example number with the real one.
Codes to Verify Before Dialling
| Network / task | Status | Official alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Rain | No verified general USSD menu | The official rain app or website |
Telkom main menu *180# | Hub guide flagged for re-checking; balance code *188# verified July 2026 | Telkom app or the official Telkom self-service site |
| Vodacom RICA | No verified RICA USSD code | A Vodacom store or the official Vodacom app |
| Call barring and call forwarding | Standard GSM codes vary by handset and network; not yet verified per network | Your phone’s call settings menu |
| Voicemail | Guide coming soon | Your network’s app or customer care |
- Type the code yourself. Never dial a code sent to you by a stranger, a WhatsApp message or a caller claiming to be your bank.
- Never dial a code that someone else sends you to “activate” a prize or “fix” your account. Some codes forward your calls or transfer airtime to a scammer.
- Codes starting with *120* or *130* are usually charged per 20 seconds by your network. Codes starting with *134* are generally free to dial, but check your network’s current rates.
