How to compare bulk airtime quotes on the same basis
Ask each supplier what you’ll actually pay for the same products, values and delivery method. Put that total next to when you must fund the order and what finance will get to check it. If one quote covers airtime and another covers vouchers, or one requires earlier funding, flag the difference before you rank them.
Quote comparison fields
| Category | Ask each supplier to state |
|---|---|
| Basket | Product, network, denomination, quantity and face value |
| Price | Discount or fee, other charges and total payable |
| Funding | Pre-funding or invoice basis, due date and settlement rules |
| Fulfilment | Order channel, status evidence and partial-failure handling |
| Records | Export fields, statement period and support route |
By Freepaid · Published
Define the basket before asking for prices
List what you intend to buy, not simply “airtime”. Specify product type, supported network where relevant, denomination or value, delivery route and expected order frequency. If your requirements include both airtime and data, show separate rows. A quote that offers a different product may be useful, but it is not a direct price comparison.
State whether you want pricing for face value, a discount from face value, a transaction fee or another structure. Ask the supplier to calculate the total payable amount for the exact basket. Keep the supplier's wording alongside your comparison sheet so nobody mistakes an assumption for a contractual term.
Calculate what you’ll pay
Use a consistent worksheet for each supplier:
- Face value total = sum of quantity multiplied by value for each line.
- Confirmed charges = account, transaction, delivery or other applicable charges disclosed in the quote.
- Total payable = face value less confirmed discount, plus confirmed charges.
- Effective cost per R1 face value = total payable divided by face value total.
For example, take R20,000 in airtime, deduct a 1.5% discount and add a R100 fee. The total is R19,800 (R20,000 × 0.985 + R100). A quote at face value with no fee would cost R20,000. Before treating the R200 difference as a saving, check that both quotes cover the same products and service and that you’re comparing amounts on the same tax basis.
If one supplier requires funds earlier, record the timing as a separate commercial difference. Do not invent an interest rate to force it into the price. Finance can apply the business's approved funding-cost assumption if that matters.
Compare the operating conditions
A low price may require more manual handling. Compare how the order is placed, how individual items are referenced, how partial outcomes appear, and how a finance user obtains a statement. Ask for a sample report or demonstration. Check whether your team can identify an order without exposing recipient information unnecessarily.
Record the support route and evidence needed for a query. Ask what happens when status is pending or unclear. A sound process tells staff to check the original transaction and supplier reference before attempting another order. Confirm who owns an escalation and how its outcome will be recorded.
Use a two-stage decision
First mark each mandatory requirement as met, unmet or unverified: product coverage, delivery method, funding, security and records. Remove only offers that fail a genuine must-have. Then rank the remaining options by total payable cost, operational effort, support evidence and exit terms. Give each criterion a weight only if your buying team can explain why it matters.
Before final approval, have procurement, finance and the daily operator review the same sheet. Confirm that the chosen quote is still valid and its assumptions match the intended order. Keep the dated quote with the purchase approval and reconcile the first statement against it.
For business purchasing options, see Freepaid bulk airtime. Confirm current prices and terms with the supplier.