5 Reasons One Dial Code Beats Downloading Another App

Most of us have a phone that is already crowded with apps, and airtime always seems to run out at the worst moment. The good news is that you can buy airtime without an app. You only need to dial *831# and follow the prompts. Here are five reasons that one short code often beats another download.

Why buy airtime without an app?

Apps are useful, but each one asks something of you: storage space, updates, a login you have to remember, sometimes a data connection just to open it. When you are down to your last few shillings of credit, that is a lot to ask.

A dial code asks for none of that. It is the same idea as checking your balance: you type it, press call and a menu appears on your screen. To understand how that works, read our simple guide to what USSD is.

Reasons 1 and 2: nothing to install, and it works on any phone

Reason 1: no download, no update. There is nothing to install, so nothing to go out of date. You will never open your phone in a hurry and find that you must update before you can top up.

Reason 2: any phone, any time. *831# works on any phone, from a basic handset to the latest smartphone. It does not matter whether your storage is full, your phone is old or a family member borrowed yours. If it can make a call, you can dial the code.

• No app store visit and no storage space needed.
• No password or profile to set up.
• Suitable for a parent, a student or a shopkeeper, whatever phone they own.

Reasons 3 and 4: every network, and free to buy

Reason 3: all major networks. TekeTeke Airtime works with Safaricom, Airtel, Telkom and Faiba. If your family or team uses different lines, you do not need a different tool for each one.

Reason 4: free of charge. Buying through *831# costs nothing extra. You choose your amount, complete your purchase and receive the airtime you paid for, plus your bonus.

If you prefer not to use USSD, there is also Paybill number 7777727. Our comparison of USSD and Paybill helps you decide which suits you.

Reason 5: a 2% bonus and instant confirmation, any hour

Every top-up earns 2% bonus airtime on top, so a little more lands on your phone for every shilling. You also get instant transaction confirmation, so you know straight away that your purchase went through.

The service is available 24/7. Whether it is late at night before a big call or early morning before the road, the code works the same. See exactly how the bonus adds up in our 2% bonus explainer.

How to get started in under a minute

1. Open the dialler on your phone.
2. Dial *831# and press call.
3. Follow the on-screen prompts to choose your amount.
4. Confirm your purchase and watch for your confirmation.

Curious how much bonus you would get on a particular amount? Try our top-up calculator first. Next time your credit is low, skip the app store and just dial *831#.