Recharging PIN
Cheap calls to South Africa from Australia start at 12.4c a minute on Global Call, plus 69c a call. With no connection fee, South African landlines start at 14.4c on Hello Darling and mobiles at 17.5c on Cricket. Here is every card ranked, the best card for the way you call, and what regular calls cost a month.
Find the Cheapest Card for Your South African Calls
Pick landline or mobile and how long you usually talk. The calculator checks every card for that exact call.
Enter how long you talk to see the cheapest card.
Every Card for South Africa, Ranked
Each row shows the landline and mobile rate, the connection fee, how the card rounds up your minutes, and what a 20 minute call to a South African landline costs.
| Card | Landline | Mobile | Connection fee | Billed in | 20 min landline call |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Hello Darling | 14.4c/min | 30.4c/min | None | 4 min blocks | $2.88 |
| 2. Diamond | 14.4c/min | 46.4c/min | None | 3 min blocks | $3.02 |
| 3. Cricket | 15.4c/min | 17.5c/min | None | 2 min blocks | $3.08 |
| 4. African Dream | 15.4c/min | 20.2c/min | None | 3 min blocks | $3.23 |
| 5. Global Call | 12.4c/min | 92.4c/min | 69c | 3 min blocks | $3.29 |
| 6. India Call | 16.4c/min | 19.3c/min | None | 3 min blocks | $3.44 |
| 7. Day to Day | 16.5c/min | 23.4c/min | None | 3 min blocks | $3.46 |
| 8. Marathon | 17.4c/min | 49.4c/min | None | 4 min blocks | $3.48 |
| 9. Easy Calling | 17.5c/min | 20.4c/min | None | 3 min blocks | $3.67 |
| 10. Sanuk | 18.4c/min | 26.4c/min | None | 2 min blocks | $3.68 |
| 11. Hello World | 17.8c/min | 23.4c/min | None | 3 min blocks | $3.74 |
| 12. East Star | 18.4c/min | 24.4c/min | None | 3 min blocks | $3.86 |
Top 12 of 36 cards, sorted by the cost of a 20 minute call to a landline. See all 36 cards.
Best Card for the Way You Call
| If you make | Best card | Cost per call | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short calls to a landline (5 minutes) | Diamond | 86.4c | 14.4c/min, no connection fee, 3 min blocks |
| Short calls to a mobile (5 minutes) | Cricket | $1.05 | 17.5c/min, no connection fee, 2 min blocks |
| Long calls to a landline (1 hour) | Global Call | $8.13 | 12.4c/min, 69c a call, 3 min blocks |
| Long calls to a mobile (1 hour) | Cricket | $10.50 | 17.5c/min, no connection fee, 2 min blocks |
What Regular Calls Cost a Month
Small differences per minute add up when you call South Africa often. These are the cheapest cards for three common calling patterns.
| Calling pattern | Best card | About a month |
|---|---|---|
| A 10 minute call every day to a mobile | Cricket | $52.50 |
| Three 20 minute calls a week to a landline | Hello Darling | $37.44 |
| One 1 hour call a week to a mobile | Cricket | $45.47 |
A month is counted as 30 days or 4.33 weeks. Prices exclude what your own provider charges for calling the local access number.
Card Sizes and Bonus Credit
| Card | Card sizes |
|---|---|
| Hello Darling | $10, $20, $50 (+$5 bonus) |
| Cricket | $5, $10, $20, $50 (+$5 bonus) |
| Global Call | $10, $20, $50 (+$5 bonus) |
Bigger cards come with bonus credit on some brands. Credit lasts 6 months from your first call or last recharge, and a recharge brings back any credit that has expired.
Start Calling South Africa in Three Steps
- Buy the card online. We email you the PIN and the local access numbers.
- Dial the access number for your city, then your PIN.
- Dial 0011 27 and the number without its first 0, then press #. A mobile written 082 123 4567 becomes 0011 27 82 123 4567.
Compare every card that calls South Africa, with landline and mobile rates and talk time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to call South Africa from Australia?
With a phone card, a 10 minute call to a landline in South Africa costs $1.54 on Cricket. A 1 hour call costs $8.13 to a landline on Global Call and $10.50 to a mobile on Cricket. Prices include any connection fee and are for calls from a local access number.
What is the cheapest way to call South Africa from Australia?
A prepaid phone card is usually cheapest when the person you call is on a normal landline or mobile. The lowest rate is 12.4c a minute on Global Call plus 69c a call. With no connection fee, landlines start at 14.4c on Hello Darling and mobiles at 17.5c on Cricket.
Do calls to South African mobiles cost more than landlines?
Yes. With no connection fee, the lowest rate is 14.4c a minute to a landline on Hello Darling and 17.5c to a mobile on Cricket. Check the mobile column in the table if you mostly call mobiles.
How do I dial a +27 number from Australia?
Dial 0011 27, then the number without its first 0 if it has one. A mobile written 082 123 4567 becomes 0011 27 82 123 4567. On a mobile phone you can type +27 instead of 0011 27.
Do I always dial the area code for South Africa?
Yes. South African numbers have 10 digits including the first 0, and the area code is always part of them. From Australia drop only the 0: 011 234 5678 becomes 0011 27 11 234 5678.
Can I call South Africa for free from Australia?
Internet calling apps are free when both people have the same app and a data or Wi-Fi connection. To reach a landline, a basic mobile or someone with weak internet in South Africa, a phone card costs from 14.4c a minute to a landline and 17.5c to a mobile, with no connection fee.
Do phone cards expire?
Our cards stay active for 6 months from your first call or your last recharge. A recharge restores any credit that has expired.
