One page, every MTN voice plan: Pulse, BetaGist, XtraSpecial, XtraValue and the hidden Yafun Yafun. We explain 2025 call rates, welcome bonuses, migrate codes, best-fit user profiles, airtime-saving tricks and why SmartSMSSolutions knocks extra kobo off every recharge.

On 20 January 2025 the Nigerian Communications Commission green-lit a 50 % industry-wide price adjustment. Three months later the average local call costs ₦16.50 per minute . MTN responded by:

1. Retiring BetaTalk (the 4×–bonus darling).
2. Launching BetaGist—a flat 30 kobo/sec plan that “gifts” you three bonus minutes after every six.
3. Nudging MTN Pulse to 23 kobo/sec and marketing XtraSpecial (22 kobo/sec) as its “value” flat rate.

With food, rent and transport in a choke-hold, choosing the right tariff is no longer about perks—it’s about survival. This article dissects each current MTN voice product, shows the cheapest path for eight distinct user groups, ties in data needs, and folds in a 2 % airtime-discount hack that can drop your real cost below SmartValue-era prices.

Hook: before we wrap you’ll see how an MTN combination still lands a lower effective call rate than BetaTalk’s legendary first-minute bonus, even in 2025’s tougher climate.

MTN’s Current Pre-Paid Voice Line-Up (April 2025)

* Effective voice rate inside each XtraValue bundle varies with denomination—breakdown below.

Plan-By-Plan Deep Dive

1. MTN XtraSpecial Prepaid – “Set-And-Forget” Low Flat Rate

• 22 k/sec to every network—Nigeria’s lowest flat PAYG rate today.
• SMS: ₦6; PAYG data: ₦3.07/MB.
• No daily fee, no first-minute penalty, no time-of-day gimmick.
  Best for: Voice-heavy users who hate bundle renewal.

2. MTN Pulse (2025 Refresh)

• 23 k/sec any time.
• Pulse Nightlife: ₦30 for 250 MB (12 – 5 a.m.), twice per night.
• Pulse Points accumulate for free data or IG voice bundles.
  Best for: Students & hustlers needing cheap night data and predictable daytime rates.

3. MTN BetaGist – Successor To BetaTalk

• 30 k/sec base; after each paid six minutes you get three free minutes (value ₦54).
• Makes long calls cheaper (effective 20 k/sec if you always exhaust freebies).
  Best for: Traders who yap ≥10 minutes per call.

4. MTN XtraValue Bundles – Voice + Data Combos

Data beats PAYG; voice still pricier than TalkMore or XtraSpecial unless you leverage both resources fully.

5. Yafun Yafun – Only For Fresh SIMs

• 700 % bonus (airtime + data) on every recharge for six months.
• But calls from bonus billed at 66 k/sec.
  Best for: Friends calling Yafun Yafun numbers (on-net free inside bonus).

Which MTN Plan Is “Cheapest”? It Depends On You

Hook delivered: Pairing BetaGist with precise six-minute blocks plus the 3-minute freebies yields ≈ 20 k/sec —better than BetaTalk’s effective 21–22 k for average users, proving 2025 still hides a sub-BetaTalk bargain.

• MTN Pulse Vs BetaGist Vs XtraValue: Which Plan Truly Cuts Your Call Costs?
• MTN Voice Tariffs 2025: The Definitive Guide To Nigeria’s Cheapest Call Rates
• From “Jara” to Reality: Why Nigeria’s Data and Airtime Space Looks Different in 2025 (A Case in Point for MTN BetaTalk)

Airtime-Saving Hack With SmartSMSSolutions

1. Open https://xmx1.net/buyairtime .
2. Pick MTN, enter amount (e.g., ₦1 000), pay via USSD/card/transfer.
3. Get 1–2 % instant discount → XtraSpecial’s real cost drops to ≈ 21.6 k/sec; BetaGist to ≈ 19.6 k/sec.

Combine SmartSMSSolutions with MTN-to-MTN YouTube Night sub-plans and you reclaim an extra ₦200–₦400 monthly.

OTT Sidekick: When To Switch To Data Calls

*Assumes 0.35 MB/min inside a ₦500 1 GB bundle.

FAQs

1. Is BetaTalk truly dead?
   Yes; ended 30 March 2025, replaced by BetaGist SmartSMSSolutions .
2. Does XtraSpecial still add ₦6 daily fee?
   No; since 2023 it’s fee-free at 22 k/sec.
3. Can I accumulate Pulse Night bundles?
   Max 500 MB per night (2 × 250 MB).
4. Can XtraValue minutes call abroad?
   No—local only.
5. Does BetaGist free 3 min roll into tomorrow?
   No; use immediately after each 6 paid.
6. What’s the cheapest MTN data-only top-up?
   300 MB/₦100 inside MoMo or *131# promo (prices vary).
7. How do I check my plan?
   Dial 1231*2#.
8. Any daily-fee plans left?
   None on MTN after January 2024.

• MTN Pulse Vs BetaGist Vs XtraValue: Which Plan Truly Cuts Your Call Costs?
• MTN Voice Tariffs 2025: The Definitive Guide To Nigeria’s Cheapest Call Rates
• From “Jara” to Reality: Why Nigeria’s Data and Airtime Space Looks Different in 2025 (A Case in Point for MTN BetaTalk)

Conclusion: Pick Your MTN Power Combo, Not A Single “Cheapest” Plan

“Cheap” changed the day NCC raised the ceiling. MTN rebuilt its catalogue so one plan rarely wins on all fronts.

• Choose XtraSpecial for simple low PAYG.
• Move to Pulse if night data is life.
• Exploit BetaGist for marathon chats.
• Grab XtraValue when you need one receipt for voice + data.

Add 1-22 % discounted airtime from SmartSMSSolutions and selective WhatsApp calls, and you’ll still pay below the new ₦16.5/min national average—proof that smart selection beats blunt price hikes every time. Dial your chosen code now, track your spend for a week, and watch the numbers prove the point.