Use this USSD codes by task directory when you know what you want to do, but you are not sure which network, bank, or provider page to open.
Quick answer: there is no single official USSD code for every South African task. The correct code depends on the task and the provider. For example, Vodacom lists *135# for balances, bundles, and airtime transfer; MTN lists *136#, *136*1#, and *136*2# for balance and bundle tasks; Telkom lists *188# for balances and *180# for bundles; and Cell C lists *101# or *147# for balance checks. (Vodacom)
Last checked: 26 June 2026. Always confirm the latest code on the official provider, bank, or support page before completing a paid transaction, banking action, subscription cancellation, or account change.
Quick USSD Codes By Task List
| Task | Best starting point | Verified examples | Go to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check airtime balance | Start with your mobile network | Vodacom *135#; MTN *136# or detailed balance *136*1#; Telkom *188#; Cell C *101# or *147# option 2. (Vodacom) | check airtime balance USSD code |
| Check data balance | Start with your mobile network | Vodacom *135#; MTN detailed balance *136*1#; Telkom *188#; Cell C *101# or *147# option 2. (Vodacom) | check data balance USSD code |
| Buy data | Use your network’s bundle menu | Vodacom uses *135# for bundles; MTN lists *136*2# for voice, SMS, data, and promotional bundles; Telkom lists *180# for daily, weekly, and monthly bundles. (Vodacom) | buy data USSD code |
| Recharge airtime | Use a network, bank, app, or voucher route | Telkom lists voucher recharge as *188*voucher pin#; Vodacom lists Express Recharge as *135*02#. (Telkom) | USSD codes South Africa |
| Send a Please Call Me | Use the recipient’s cellphone number in the format shown by your network | MTN lists CallBack as *121*number#; Telkom lists Call Me Back as *140*receiver’s number#. (MTN) | Provider-specific guide |
| Transfer airtime or data | Use your provider’s transfer menu | Vodacom says *135# can be used to transfer airtime; Telkom says data transfer is available from *180#; MTN Me2U terms reference the *136*3# transfer menu. (Vodacom) | Provider-specific guide |
| Send money | Use your bank’s cellphone banking route | Capitec *120*3279#; Absa *120*2272#; Standard Bank *120*2345#; FNB *120*321#. (Capitec Bank) | Bank-specific guide |
| Buy prepaid airtime, data, or electricity from a bank account | Use your bank’s prepaid menu | Capitec says users can dial *120*3279# to buy airtime, data bundles, or SMS bundles; Absa lists prepaid steps through *120*2272#; Standard Bank says *120*2345# can be used to buy data, prepaid airtime, vouchers, and electricity. (Capitec Bank) | Bank-specific guide |
| Cancel content services or WASP subscriptions | Start with your network’s subscription management route | WASPA lists Vodacom *135# content services and *117# for Vodafone Live unsubscribe; MTN *155#; Telkom app protection or dial 180; and other network-specific blocking routes. (WASPA) | Subscription cancellation guide |
| Find a PUK, SIM, or support route | Use your provider’s self-service menu | Vodacom says My Vodacom can show a PUK number; Cell C lists PUK and support routes through its self-service options. (Vodacom) | Provider-specific support guide |
Browse by Provider, Bank, or Task
Provider-specific links
Use a provider-specific guide when your task depends on your SIM card or mobile network. This is the right choice for airtime, data, bundle purchases, Please Call Me, airtime transfer, emergency airtime, SIM support, PUK support, and subscription cancellation.
| Provider task | Why you should use the provider page |
|---|---|
| Vodacom balances, bundles, airtime transfer, recharge, or content services | Vodacom self-service tasks are grouped around *135#, but some tasks have extra shortcuts or menu paths. (Vodacom) |
| MTN balance, detailed balance, bundles, CallBack, or Me2U | MTN lists separate codes for balance, detailed balance, bundles, callback, and transfer-related tasks. (MTN) |
| Telkom balance, bundles, recharge, call me back, or data transfer | Telkom lists *188# for balances, *180# for bundles and self-service, and *140*receiver’s number# for call me back. (Telkom) |
| Cell C balance, settings, or support | Cell C lists *101# or *147# option 2 for balance checks and *147# option 8 for GPRS/MMS settings. (Cell C) |
For the broader national directory, start with USSD codes South Africa.
Bank-specific links
Use a bank-specific guide when the USSD task involves money, account balances, payments, prepaid purchases, electricity, CashSend, Send Cash, eWallet, PayShap, or card-related banking.
| Bank task | Verified starting point |
|---|---|
| Capitec cellphone banking | Capitec says registered users can dial *120*3279#, and if they are out of airtime they can dial *130*3279#free of charge to top up prepaid. (Capitec Bank) |
| Absa cellphone banking | Absa lists *120*2272# for registration, login, payments, CashSend, prepaid, balances, and other cellphone banking tasks, and notes that users do not need airtime to bank using Absa Cellphone Banking. (Absa) |
| Standard Bank cellphone banking | Standard Bank lists *120*2345# for cellphone banking and says users can pay bills, buy data, make payments, buy prepaid products, and check balances without needing a smartphone or data. (Standard Bank) |
| FNB cellphone banking and eWallet | FNB lists *120*321# for cellphone banking registration and eWallet sending steps through cellphone banking. (FNB) |
Do not use a banking USSD code from a WhatsApp forward, social post, or advert unless it matches the bank’s official website. Banking USSD menus may ask for a cellphone banking PIN, but they should not ask you to reveal an OTP, full password, or card PIN to another person.
Task-specific links
Use a task page when you know the job you want to complete but not the correct network or bank route.
| Task page | Use it when |
|---|---|
| check airtime balance USSD code | You need to see how much airtime is left before calling, SMSing, buying data, or checking for deductions. |
| check data balance USSD code | You need to check remaining mobile data before browsing, streaming, hotspotting, or buying another bundle. |
| buy data USSD code | You want to buy a data bundle without opening a mobile network app. |
| USSD codes South Africa | You want the full South African USSD directory before choosing a specific task. |
How to Use These USSD Codes
Start by choosing the task, not the code. USSD codes are service-specific, so the same action can have a different code on each network or bank. A Vodacom bundle code will not necessarily work on MTN, and a Capitec banking code will not work for an Absa account.
Next, check whether the task is a network task, bank task, or support task. Airtime and data balances usually belong to the mobile network. Payments, Send Cash, eWallet, and prepaid purchases from an account belong to the bank. Subscription cancellation may involve both the mobile network and a WASP support route.
Dial the code from the correct phone number. Network USSD codes normally need to be dialled from the SIM linked to that network. Banking USSD codes usually need to be dialled from the cellphone number registered to your banking profile.
Read every screen before replying. USSD menus can change without notice, and menu numbers may differ between prepaid, contract, top-up, business, and promotional plans. If the guide says “select bundles” but your screen shows a different set of options, stop and check the provider page before confirming anything.
Confirm the cost before buying, sending, or subscribing. A balance check may be free or low-cost, but a bundle purchase, cash send, prepaid purchase, or service subscription can still deduct money. Bank and network fees can also change.
Exit if the request looks unsafe. Do not continue if a USSD menu or message asks for an OTP you did not request, a full password, your card PIN, or personal information that does not match the task you started. Redial the official code manually or use the provider’s app, website, or support channel.
Save the confirmation. For bundle purchases, recharge vouchers, Send Cash, eWallet, prepaid electricity, and subscription cancellations, keep the SMS or screen confirmation until you are sure the transaction or cancellation is complete.
Costs, Safety, and Last-Verified Notes
USSD can work without mobile data, which is why many South Africans use it on basic phones or when they cannot open an app. Standard Bank says its cellphone banking works on any cellphone with no smartphone or data needed, and Absa says users do not need airtime to bank using Absa Cellphone Banking. (Standard Bank)
That does not mean every USSD action is free. A USSD menu may be free to open, but the action inside the menu may still cost money. This is especially important for data bundles, airtime advances, cash-send transactions, prepaid electricity, content subscriptions, roaming services, and premium-rated services.
Before publishing or updating any exact task page, verify these details from an official or highly reliable source:
| Detail to verify | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| USSD code | Codes and shortcuts can change. |
| Menu path | Menu numbers can move or differ by prepaid, contract, or account type. |
| Fee | Some routes are free to access, but the transaction may still carry a charge. |
| Limit | Banks and providers can change daily, monthly, bundle, transfer, and cash-send limits. |
| Eligibility | Airtime advance, emergency data, bundle sharing, and promotional offers may not be available to every customer. |
| Expiry | Data, voice, SMS, social bundles, and vouchers may expire after a set period. |
| Confirmation message | Users need to know what proof to keep when a transaction or cancellation succeeds. |
For subscription and airtime-deduction problems, WASPA says Vodacom users can send “STOP ALL” to 31050 or use *135# content services, MTN users can use *155# routes, and Telkom users can manage content subscriptions through the Telkom app or dial 180 and follow the prompts. (WASPA)
Treat the following as warning signs:
| Warning sign | Safer action |
|---|---|
| A code promises free data, free airtime, free money, or instant grant approval | Check the official provider, bank, or government source first. |
| A code asks for your OTP, full password, card PIN, or banking login details | Exit immediately and contact your bank or provider through official channels. |
| Airtime disappears after every recharge | Check active subscriptions, WASP services, out-of-bundle data usage, and premium-rated services. |
| A USSD code comes from a WhatsApp chain, social post, or unknown SMS | Do not use it until it matches an official source. |
| A banking menu looks different from normal | Exit, redial the official code manually, or use the bank’s app or support line. |
| A menu asks you to confirm a transaction you did not start | Cancel, exit, and report the issue to your bank or provider. |
Last checked: 26 June 2026. The examples on this page were checked against official or highly relevant Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, Cell C, Capitec, Absa, Standard Bank, FNB, and WASPA sources. Each detailed provider, bank, or task guide should have its own visible last-checked date because codes, menus, fees, limits, and eligibility rules can change.
Related USSD Guides
Use these pages when you are ready to move from the task directory to a specific guide:
USSD codes South Africa — start here if you want the broader national directory of South African USSD codes.
check airtime balance USSD code — use this when you need the correct airtime balance code for your network.
check data balance USSD code — use this when you need to check remaining mobile data before browsing or buying more.
buy data USSD code — use this when you want to buy a data bundle through a USSD menu.
FAQs
What is the code for USSD codes by task?
There is no single official code for all USSD codes by task. You need to choose the task first, then use the correct provider, bank, or service route. For example, balance and bundle codes differ between Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, and Cell C. (Vodacom)
How should I find the right page for USSD codes by task?
Start with the action you want to complete. Use check airtime balance USSD code for airtime, check data balance USSD code for data balances, buy data USSD code for bundle purchases, or USSD codes South Africa for the broader directory.
Are the listed codes official or verified?
The codes listed as examples on this page were checked against official provider, bank, or WASPA sources where available. Do not call a code official unless it appears on the provider, bank, regulator, or government source for that service.
Do USSD codes work without mobile data?
Yes, USSD can work without mobile data. Standard Bank says its cellphone banking works on any cellphone with no smartphone or data needed, and Absa says users do not need airtime to bank using Absa Cellphone Banking. Charges may still apply to the transaction itself, so check the relevant provider or bank page before assuming a service is free. (Standard Bank)
What should I do if a listed code does not work?
Check that you dialled the full code with the opening * and closing #, used the correct SIM, and dialled from the number linked to the service. If the menu has changed, exit instead of guessing. Then open the provider-specific guide or the broader USSD codes South Africa directory.
Where should I go for provider-specific help?
Use the provider page when the task depends on a mobile network, such as airtime, data, bundles, SIM support, PUK support, or subscription cancellation. Use the bank page when the task involves balances, payments, prepaid purchases, Send Cash, eWallet, or other banking actions.