Financial insights for South Africa
Expert guides on funeral cover, retirement planning and financial products for South Africans — free, unbiased, and never sponsored by a provider.
Is It Cheaper to Buy a Phone Cash and Go SIM-Only? We Did the Maths on 47 Phones
We compared Telkom's contract prices with its own cash prices plus the same plan SIM-only. Over 24 months the contract was cheaper for 46 of 47 phones. Buying cash wins on some 36-month deals, and when you need a smaller plan.
Can You Get a Phone Contract With Bad Credit or Under Debt Review in South Africa?
A handset contract needs a credit check, so a bad record can mean a decline, a deposit or a spending limit. Under debt review the National Credit Act bars new credit, and experts disagree on whether a phone contract counts. Here is what the law says and which plans need no credit check.
What Happens When Your Phone Contract Ends in South Africa? Why the Bill Can Jump
Your contract does not stop on its end date. It rolls on month to month, and the price either stays the same for a phone you have paid off or jumps when the contract discount falls away. Here is what the law says, real cases, and what to do before the date.
How Much Does It Cost to Cancel a Phone Contract Early in South Africa? What the Law Says
You can cancel a fixed-term phone contract with 20 business days' written notice, but the network may charge a reasonable penalty. Here is what the Consumer Protection Act allows, what counts as too much, and what to do if the bill looks wrong.
Best Phone Contracts Under R500 a Month in South Africa (2026): Galaxy A37, iPhone 16e and 90 More Compared
We compared 93 phone and network combinations at R500 a month or less over 36 months. The Galaxy A37 is R349 at Cell C, the iPhone 16e is R479 at Vodacom, and the cheapest contract with a fixed data allowance is R219.
Black Friday 2026 Phone Contract Deals in South Africa: The Prices to Beat Before 27 November
Black Friday is 27 November 2026. Before the deals land, here are today's lowest contract prices for the iPhone 17 and 18 Pro, Galaxy S26 and A-series on Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and Telkom, so you can tell a real deal from a headline.
iPhone Duo Contract Prices in South Africa: From R1 699 a Month on Telkom, R1 999 on Vodacom
Telkom lists the Apple iPhone Duo from R1 699 a month over 36 months (256GB, FlexOn 6) and Vodacom from R1 999 (RED Core 5GB). We compared every storage size, plan and term: R61 164 in total for the 256GB on Telkom against R71 964 on Vodacom.
Foldable Phones on Contract: Galaxy Z Fold8 and Flip8 Cost the Same on Three Networks, So the Data Decides
We compared the Galaxy Z Fold8, Fold8 Ultra, Flip8 and Honor Magic V6 on Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and Telkom. The 256GB Fold8 is R1 599 a month on 36 months at three networks, and the difference is the data and the 24-month price.
Honor 600 on Contract: Vodacom Wins the 600 and Pro, MTN Wins the Lite, and the Gap Is R1 800
We compared the Honor 600 Lite, 600 and 600 Pro on Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and Telkom. Over 36 months the 256GB Honor 600 costs R19 764 at Vodacom and R21 564 at Cell C, and the cheapest network changes with the model.