Africa Calling Plans: The Truth About "Unlimited" Offers
Rebtel and others promise "unlimited calls to Africa" for ~€10/month. But what are they really worth? We did the math.
The "Unlimited Calls" Myth
An "unlimited" plan at €9.99/month always has a fair use cap — usually 1,000 minutes. If you call less, you're paying for minutes you don't use. If you call more, you're blocked or overcharged. With pay-per-minute, you only pay for what you use.
Comparison: 300 min/month with AfriCallShop vs "Unlimited" Plan
For a user calling 300 minutes per month. The "unlimited" plan costs €9.99/month regardless.
| Country | Rate/min | 300 min costs | Minutes for €9.99 | Breakeven point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | EUR 0.09/min | EUR 27.00 | 111 | AfriCallShop cheaper after 111 min/month |
| Senegal | EUR 0.18/min | EUR 54.00 | 55 | AfriCallShop cheaper after 56 min/month |
| Ivory Coast | EUR 0.25/min | EUR 75.00 | 39 | AfriCallShop cheaper after 40 min/month |
| Cameroon | EUR 0.25/min | EUR 75.00 | 39 | AfriCallShop cheaper after 40 min/month |
| Ghana | EUR 0.16/min | EUR 48.00 | 62 | AfriCallShop cheaper after 63 min/month |
| Kenya | EUR 0.15/min | EUR 45.00 | 66 | AfriCallShop cheaper after 67 min/month |
| Ethiopia | EUR 0.19/min | EUR 57.00 | 52 | AfriCallShop cheaper after 53 min/month |
| Eritrea | EUR 0.19/min | EUR 57.00 | 52 | AfriCallShop cheaper after 53 min/month |
| Mali | EUR 0.27/min | EUR 81.00 | 37 | AfriCallShop cheaper after 37 min/month |
| Burkina Faso | EUR 0.26/min | EUR 78.00 | 38 | AfriCallShop cheaper after 39 min/month |
How Much You Save with Pay-Per-Minute
For 300 minutes of calling per month, the Rebtel "unlimited" plan costs €9.99. With AfriCallShop, you pay the displayed rate × your actual minutes. For most African destinations, 300 minutes costs less than €9.99. And if you call less one month, you pay less — no fixed subscription.
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❓ FAQ
- Are "unlimited calls to Africa" plans really unlimited?
- No. All "unlimited" plans (Rebtel, Lycamobile, Lebara) have a fair use policy, typically 1,000-2,000 minutes per month. Beyond that, calls are blocked or surcharged.
- What's the difference between unlimited plans and pay-per-minute?
- An unlimited plan charges a fixed amount every month whether you call 10 minutes or 1,000. Pay-per-minute (AfriCallShop) bills only what you consume. For most users, pay-per-minute is cheaper.
- How much do 300 minutes to Africa cost with AfriCallShop?
- It depends on the country. For Nigeria (~€0.09/min), 300 minutes costs about €27. For Senegal (~€0.12/min), about €36. Compare to the €9.99 "unlimited" plan: you win if you call less than 111 minutes to Nigeria, or 83 minutes to Senegal.
- Can I stop anytime with pay-per-minute?
- Yes. Unlike a monthly subscription, pay-per-minute has zero commitment. Top up when you want, whatever amount you want. No cancellation, no hidden fees.
- Is AfriCallShop really cheaper than an unlimited plan?
- For most users, yes. If you call less than 500 minutes/month to most African countries, AfriCallShop pay-per-minute is cheaper than a €9.99 "unlimited" plan. And you get the flexibility of only paying for what you use.