Airtel and Glo Data Plans in Nigeria 2026: All Prices, Codes and Which Network to Choose

📌 Quick Summary: Airtel and Glo are Nigeria’s second and third largest mobile networks respectively. In 2026, both use *312# as the main data subscription USSD (NCC standardised this across all networks). Airtel’s key advantages are strong 4G coverage, YouTube/social media bonus data on many plans, and a 50% data rollover policy on select plans. Glo’s key advantage is the cheapest monthly prices per gigabyte among the major networks, with a night data bonus (midnight–5AM) included on virtually all plans. For Airtel data balance: dial *323#. For Glo balance: text “info” to 127 or dial *127*0#. This NaijaSabi guide covers all active Airtel and Glo data plans with prices, subscription codes and an honest comparison of when to choose each network.

Nigeria’s data plan market in 2026 has four major players — MTN, Airtel, Glo and T2 Mobile (formerly 9mobile). NaijaSabi’s MTN data plans guide covers Nigeria’s largest network in detail. This guide covers the next two: Airtel (Nigeria’s #2 by subscribers) and Glo (Globacom — Nigeria’s only fully indigenous mobile network). Knowing which network works best for your usage pattern — and where you live — can save you significant money and frustration every month.

⚠️ Important note: Nigerian telecom data prices change periodically following NCC regulatory decisions and network cost adjustments. Prices below reflect confirmed 2026 rates from official and verified sources. Always confirm current pricing by dialling *312# on your network before subscribing.

The NCC USSD Standardisation — Why All Networks Use *312#

A significant change that took effect from 2025 is that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) directed all major mobile networks to standardise their data subscription USSD to *312#. This means whether you are on MTN, Airtel, Glo or T2 Mobile, dialling *312# opens your network’s data subscription menu. The menus differ per network — but the entry code is now the same across all four. This makes it easier to subscribe without memorising different codes per network.

Airtel Data Plans Nigeria 2026

How to Subscribe to Airtel Data

Data balance check: Dial *323# to check remaining Airtel data balance.

Gift data to another Airtel number: Dial *312# → select Data Plans → select Buy for Others → enter recipient number and choose plan.

Airtel Daily Data Plans 2026

Airtel Weekly Data Plans 2026

Airtel’s weekly plans include a 200MB social media bonus (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok) and 2GB YouTube Night data (usable midnight to 5AM) on many plans — making them particularly strong for students and content consumers who want to preserve main data for work and supplement with social bonuses.

Airtel Monthly Data Plans 2026

Airtel Everyday ON Plans (Daily Allocation, Monthly Subscription)

Airtel’s Everyday ON plans give you a fixed data allocation every single day of your subscription month — ideal for users who prefer a predictable daily quota rather than a single pool that runs out mid-month.

At ₦4,000/month for 500MB daily (15GB total), Everyday ON is competitive with standard monthly plans for users who tend to exhaust their data in bursts and then run dry. The daily refresh removes the risk of depleting a month’s data in the first two weeks.

Airtel Unlimited Plans 2026

Key Airtel Data Policies in 2026

• Data rollover: Airtel allows rollover of up to 50% of unused data on select plans — provided you renew the same bundle before or immediately after expiry. This is one of Airtel’s most user-friendly policies and a meaningful differentiator from networks that forfeit unused data entirely
• Grace period after expiry: Monthly plans get 7 days, weekly plans get 3 days, daily plans get 1 day of grace period after expiry — the connection is maintained at reduced speed during this window
• APN setting: If Airtel data is not working, manually set APN to: internet.ng.airtel.com
• No weekend bundles: Airtel discontinued its weekend data bundle category — these are no longer available

Glo (Globacom) Data Plans Nigeria 2026

Globacom is Nigeria’s only fully indigenous major mobile network — founded by Mike Adenuga and the operator that introduced per-second billing to Nigeria in 2003. In 2026, Glo’s primary competitive advantage is price: Glo consistently offers more data per naira than MTN or Airtel on monthly plans, and its night data bonus (usable midnight to 5AM) is included on virtually all plans — one of the most consistently generous bonus policies in Nigerian telecom.

Glo’s honest limitation: network coverage and signal quality are weaker in some areas — particularly in parts of the North and in rural locations — compared to MTN and Airtel. Glo excels in Southwest Nigeria (Lagos, Ibadan, Ogun, Oyo) and major South-South cities where its fibre backbone is strongest. Always test Glo signal quality in your specific location before switching networks.

How to Subscribe to Glo Data

Data balance check: Text “info” to 127, or text “status” to 777, or dial *127*0#.

Glo Daily Data Plans 2026

Glo Weekly Data Plans 2026

Glo’s weekly plans match the day data with an equal night bonus — making weekly Glo plans among the most data-generous short-term options in Nigeria when you factor in the night allocation.

Glo Monthly Data Plans 2026

Glo’s monthly pricing is striking: 17GB for ₦4,000 compared to MTN’s 7GB for ₦3,500 and Airtel’s 10GB for ₦3,000. At the ₦6,500 level, Glo offers 29GB vs MTN’s 16.5GB. If Glo signal is reliable in your location, the monthly price-per-gigabyte is significantly better than MTN or Airtel. The night bonus — which matches the day allocation on virtually every plan — doubles the effective data if you can use it between midnight and 5AM.

Glo Multi-Month Plans 2026

Airtel vs Glo vs MTN — How to Choose

The practical recommendation: Check Glo signal in your specific home, office and commute route before switching to Glo for the cheaper prices. Glo’s price advantage is real — but a faster, more reliable connection at a slightly higher price is usually better than cheap data that buffers constantly. Many Nigerians in 2026 use a dual-SIM approach: MTN or Airtel for primary reliable connectivity, Glo for secondary heavy data use (large downloads, night downloads) where coverage allows.

Frequently Asked Questions — Airtel and Glo Data Plans 2026

What is the USSD code for Airtel data subscription in Nigeria?

The main USSD code for Airtel data subscription is *312# — dial it from your Airtel line and navigate the menu to your preferred plan category (daily, weekly, monthly, Everyday ON, Binge). Shortcut codes: daily *312*1*[amount]*1#, weekly *312*3*[amount]*1#, monthly *312*4*[amount]*1#. Check your data balance by dialling *323#. You can also subscribe via the MyAirtel app (Google Play / App Store) or at airtel.com.ng.

What is the USSD code for Glo data subscription in Nigeria?

Dial *312# from your Glo line — the NCC standardised data subscription USSD to *312# across all networks. You can also use the Glo Café app (Android/iOS) or send plan keywords by SMS to 127. Check your Glo data balance by texting “info” to 127, texting “status” to 777, or dialling *127*0#.

Which is cheaper — Airtel or Glo data plans in Nigeria in 2026?

Glo is consistently cheaper per gigabyte for monthly plans. At ₦6,500, Glo offers 29GB (plus 29GB night bonus) compared to Airtel’s 20GB and MTN’s 16.5GB at similar price points. At ₦3,000, Glo offers 10.5GB vs Airtel’s 10GB vs MTN’s 7GB. If Glo coverage is reliable in your location, it offers the best naira-per-gigabyte value among Nigeria’s major networks. The night bonus on virtually all Glo plans — matching the day allocation — effectively doubles usable data for night-active users. Airtel wins on data rollover (50% on select plans) and social media bonus data on weekly plans.

Does Airtel data roll over in Nigeria?

Yes — Airtel allows data rollover of up to 50% of unused data on select plans, provided you renew the same bundle before or immediately after expiry. For example, if you have 3GB remaining when your monthly plan expires and you immediately renew the same plan, up to 1.5GB rolls over to your new subscription period. This policy applies to specific plans — check the plan details in the MyAirtel app or at airtel.com.ng to confirm rollover eligibility for your chosen plan. Airtel also provides grace periods after expiry: 7 days for monthly plans, 3 days for weekly plans, 1 day for daily plans.

Sources

1. Airtel Nigeria — official data plans page — airtel.com.ng/ng/personal/data/data_offers/data_plans
2. Airtel Nigeria — FAQ on data subscriptions, rollover and balance check — airtel.com.ng/ng/personal/faq
3. AndroidPols Nigeria — Airtel Nigeria Data Bundles 2026: Complete Guide — androidpols.com.ng
4. Mobility.com.ng — Best Data Plans in Nigeria 2026: MTN, Airtel, Glo, T2 Mobile, Starlink and Fibre — mobility.com.ng
5. TechCabal — Best data plans in Nigeria 2025/2026 — techcabal.com
6. Glo Nigeria — official data portal — gloworld.com

Last updated: 27 September 2026 · NaijaSabi Tech Desk. Airtel and Glo data prices change periodically following NCC regulatory decisions. Always confirm current prices by dialling *312# before subscribing. NaijaSabi is not affiliated with Airtel Nigeria or Globacom.