This April-2025 deep-dive compares MTN Pulse, BetaGist, mPulse, XtraTalk, XtraData, BetaMix and XtraSpecial Postpaid. See call rates, bonus maths, hidden fees—and learn how SmartSMSSolutions chops another 2 % off every recharge.
On 31 March 2025 the NCC raised Nigeria’s voice-tariff floor to 30 kobo per second. MTN responded overnight—retiring BetaTalk, tweaking bundle prices and standardising PAYG calls at 30 k/s on prepaid. Some tariffs escaped unscathed; others now hide new fees in the fine print. In an economy where every naira counts, choosing the wrong plan could leak an extra ₦10 000 a year. This guide dissects seven live MTN voice offers, revealing true costs and practical savings tricks.
Evolution Of MTN Voice Tariffs (2016 → 2025)
|
Era |
Crowd-Favourite Plans |
Typical Voice Rate |
Post-March 2025 Status |
|
2016–2018 |
BetaTalk, TruTalk+, SmoothTalk+ |
11–25 k/s + access fees |
Discontinued |
|
2019–2022 |
Pulse Classic, XtraPro 2.0 |
20–23 k/s |
Pulse upgraded; XtraPro axed |
|
2023 |
BetaTalk relaunch, XtraValue v3 |
25–30 k/s |
BetaTalk replaced by BetaGist |
|
2025 |
Pulse 23 k/s, BetaGist 30 k/s, XtraValue bundles, XtraSpecial Postpaid 20 k/s |
Live |
The Seven Plans At A Glance
|
# |
Plan |
Call Rate |
Bonus / USP |
Hidden Fees |
|
1 |
Pulse |
23 k/s flat |
Nightlife 500 MB @ ₦75; Pulse Points data |
₦102 migration after first switch |
|
2 |
BetaGist |
30 k/s |
3 free minutes after every 6 paid |
₦150 inbound migration if second switch in 30 days |
|
3 |
mPulse |
20 k/s |
300 MB @ ₦50 school data; birthday ₦200 |
Age-16 auto-exit; bonus restricted sites |
|
4 |
XtraTalk (XtraValue) |
10.8 ₦/min inside bundle |
Up to 438 mins + 2 GB |
PAYG outside bundle = 30 k/s |
|
5 |
XtraData (XtraValue) |
10.8 ₦/min inside bundle |
Up to 12.5 GB + 36 mins |
Same PAYG caveat |
|
6 |
BetaMix |
100 MB + 2 mins for ₦100 |
Micro top-ups |
Expires after 24 h; no rollover |
|
7 |
XtraSpecial Postpaid |
20 k/s |
₦2 000 credit limit; cheap US/Canada calls |
Must pay bill by 5th monthly |
Detailed sources: mPulse , BetaGist , XtraValue , XtraSpecial Postpaid .
Pulse – Youth-Centric All-Rounder
Pulse still offers the best balance of voice and data for general users.
- Rate: 23 k/s to all networks.
- Nightlife Bundle: 500 MB @ ₦75 (11 p.m.–6 a.m.), max 2 GB per night.
- Pulse Points: Earn 10 points per ₦100 data spend; 200 points convert to 200 MB.
- Caveats: Migration fee ₦102 if you hop plans more than once in 30 days; Nightlife data wipes at 6 a.m.
When Pulse Wins
If you stream at night and keep phone calls short (< 4 min), Pulse outperforms every other plan.
BetaGist – Talk-6-Get-3 For Marathon Callers
- Rate: 30 k/s from the first second.
- Bonus: Every 6 paid minutes earns 3 free minutes (48 h expiry, 6 000 min cap).
- Micro-Data: Betamix Mini ₦50 (40 MB + 1 min); Max ₦100 (100 MB + 2 mins).
- Hidden Fee: Second migration inside 30 days costs ₦150.
Real-World Math
A 12-minute chat costs ₦216 instead of ₦276, cutting the effective rate to 22.5 k/s.
mPulse – Kid-Safe Plan (Ages 9–15)
- Rate: 20 k/s, lowest on MTN.
- Study Data: 300 MB @ ₦50 weekly; 4 GB @ ₦600 monthly.
- Parent-Child Controls: Link up to six kids; set allowances.
- Gotchas: Education data opens only white-listed sites; bonuses vanish at age 16.
XtraTalk & XtraData – Two Faces Of XtraValue
Bundle Matrix
|
Bundle |
Price |
Voice |
Data |
Effective Call Cost* |
Effective Data Cost* |
|
XtraTalk 500 |
₦500 |
37 min |
250 MB |
₦13/min |
₦2/MB |
|
XtraTalk 1500 |
₦1 500 |
117 min |
580 MB |
₦13/min |
₦2.6/MB |
|
XtraData 1500 |
₦1 500 |
6 min |
1.8 GB |
₦7/min |
₦0.83/MB |
|
XtraData 5500 |
₦5 500 |
36 min |
12.5 GB |
₦7/min |
₦0.40/MB |
*Assumes bundle fully utilised. PAYG outside bundle reverts to 30 k/s.
Hidden Fees: No rollover unless you re-buy within grace period; unused bonuses cleared on expiry.
BetaMix – 24-Hour Micro Top-Ups For Emergency Data And Minutes
|
Variant |
Price |
Voice Minutes |
Data |
Validity |
When To Use |
|
Mini |
₦50 |
1 min |
40 MB |
24 h |
Quick WhatsApp reply + callback |
|
Max |
₦100 |
2 min |
100 MB |
24 h |
Light browsing, short confirmation call |
Hidden fees: Strict 24-hour expiry, no rollover, no bonus minutes. These bundles are auto-migrating: if you are not on BetaGist when you buy Mini or Max, you’ll be moved there (no migration charge).
Where BetaMix Fits
Great for last-minute top-ups when you have <₦100 but must stay reachable. They do not beat Pulse or XtraValue for sustained use.
XtraSpecial Postpaid – Flat 20 k/s With A Monthly Invoice
|
Feature |
Value |
|
Local calls |
20 k/s (₦12/min) |
|
International discount |
₦31.2/min (Zone 1), ₦62.4/min (Zone 2) |
|
Up-front credit |
₦2 000 instantly, expandable |
|
Data bundles |
6.75 GB ₦3 000 • 14.5 GB ₦5 000 • 35 GB ₦7 000 • 40 GB ₦9 000 (60 d) |
|
Billing cycle |
1st–end month, due on the 5 th |
Hidden fees: Miss the 5 th-of-month payment and the line is suspended until you clear the bill. You also need a BVN (existing prepaid) or NIN + ₦2 000 once-off fee (new SIM).
Who Should Go Postpaid
Power users clocking 300+ minutes monthly or anyone making regular Zone 1 calls—XtraSpecial’s 20 k/s beats every prepaid plan after the March price hike.
Head-To-Head Scorecard
|
Metric |
Winner |
Comment |
|
Cheapest PAYG call |
mPulse (20 k/s) |
Age-restricted (≤ 15 yrs) |
|
Best long-call rate |
BetaGist (~20–22 k/s) |
Bonus kicks at 6 min+ |
|
Best data-heavy mix |
XtraData 5 500 |
12.5 GB + 36 min |
|
Lowest total bill ≥ 300 min |
XtraSpecial Postpaid |
20 k/s + discounted intl |
|
Most flexible perks |
Pulse |
Nightlife + Points |
|
Emergency top-up |
BetaMix Mini |
Valid 24 h, just ₦50 |
Hidden Fees & Gotchas Table
|
Plan |
Migration Fee After First Switch |
Bonus Expiry |
Rollover Rules |
Surprise Charges |
|
Pulse |
₦102 |
Nightlife clears 6 am |
None |
None |
|
BetaGist |
₦150 |
Bonus minutes 48 h |
None |
None |
|
mPulse |
₦102 |
Birthday airtime 24 h |
No rollover for bonuses |
Age exit at 16 |
|
XtraTalk/Data |
₦102 (to leave) |
Bundle expiry date |
Renew within grace only |
PAYG 30 k/s after bundle |
|
BetaMix |
Auto-migrates to BetaGist |
24 h |
None |
None |
|
XtraSpecial Postpaid |
None (to join) |
Credit clears month-end |
Main data rolls on renewal |
Late-payment suspension |
Cutting Another 1-2 %: SmartSMSSolutions Airtime Hack
- Create a free SmartSMSSolutions wallet.
- Fund via bank transfer, USSD, or card.
- Recharge your MTN line from the wallet—face-value ₦1 000 costs ~₦980.
- Pay Postpaid bills the same way: the discount applies to invoice settlements too.
On ₦10 000 monthly usage, that’s a silent ₦200 saving—about 17 bonus BetaGist minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
|
Question |
Answer |
|
Do Pulse Points work for voice bundles? |
No, only data, social and Nightlife bundles. |
|
Can I keep my unused XtraTalk minutes if I re-buy early? |
Only if you renew the same XtraTalk bundle within the 1-day grace period. |
|
Is the BetaGist bonus valid on Wi-Fi Calling (VoWi-Fi)? |
Yes—if the call routes through MTN’s IMS core, it counts. |
|
How do I know my current plan? |
Dial 1231*2#. |
|
Can postpaid users share data with prepaid friends? |
No—sharing is restricted to Consumer Postpaid lines only. |
Conclusion: One Size Never Fits All
- Teens stay unbeatable on mPulse (20 k/s).
- Night owls and data lovers gravitate to Pulse.
- Marathon talkers mine BetaGist’s 6-for-3 bonus.
- Balanced users lock in XtraTalk/XtraData bundles.
- Corporate heavy-dialers and Canada-callers slash bills with XtraSpecial Postpaid.
- Emergency or ultra-low budgets lean on BetaMix.
Layer your pick with SmartSMSSolutions’ 2 % airtime discount and you’ll keep even more naira in your pocket—critical in today’s economy. Choose smart, talk longer, spend less.