10 Years of Airtel UnlimiNET Bundles: What’s Changed So Far?

Insights At a Glance:

• More options in 2025: Airtel added more pricing tiers (KES 20 daily; 50 and 300 weekly; 399 and 500 monthly), giving users more flexibility.
• Huge data boosts: Across the board, you’re getting more data per shilling in 2025.
• Calls & SMS: Mostly similar — still quite generous, especially on the higher-tier plans.
• Smarta might be smarter: Newer Airtel bundles offer more modern value, leaving UnlimiNET feeling a bit retro.

Back in February 2015, we raved about Airtel Kenya’s new UnlimiNET bundles. It was a breath of fresh air — bundles that didn’t just vanish when your MBs ran out. Even after depleting your data, you could still sneak back onto Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, and Gmail without paying an extra shilling.

Fast-forward to 2025, and UnlimiNET is still here — older, pricier, and trying hard to keep up with Kenya’s internet-hungry, TikTok-obsessed generation. But is it still that good? Let’s find out.

UnlimiNET in 2015: The Golden Years of Free Social Media

Back then, Airtel had cracked the code. Here’s what the bundles looked like:

Daily Bundles (2015)

• UnlimiNET 50:
  • 100MB, 20 minutes, 100 SMS
  • Free: Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Gmail (after bundle depletes)
• UnlimiNET 100:
  • 300MB, 60 minutes, 300 SMS
  • Same free social media deal

Weekly Bundles (2015)

• UnlimiNET 250:
  • 500MB, 100 minutes, 500 SMS
• UnlimiNET 500:
  • 1.5GB, 300 minutes, 2500 SMS
  • Both with free Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Gmail even after data ends

Monthly Bundles (2015)

• UnlimiNET 1000:
  • 2GB, 400 minutes, 2000 SMS
• UnlimiNET 2000:
  • 6GB, 1200 minutes, 10,000 SMS

And these were all-network minutes, not locked to Airtel-to-Airtel. People loved this. It was a low-cost, all-rounded option in a world where Safaricom was (and still is) known for premium pricing.

UnlimiNET in 2025: Bigger Bundles, But Where’s the Charm?

So, what’s changed in 10 years?

Daily Bundles (2025)

• KES 20: 100MB, 10 mins, 20 SMS
• KES 50: 200MB, 25 mins, 100 SMS
• KES 100: 400MB, 60 mins, 500 SMS

Weekly Bundles (2025)

• KES 50: 200MB, 15 mins, 50 SMS
• KES 250: 1GB, 100 mins, 500 SMS
• KES 300: 1.5GB, 100 mins, 1000 SMS
• KES 500: 2.5GB, 300 mins, 2500 SMS

Monthly Bundles (2025)

• KES 399: 1GB, 100 mins/day to Airtel + 100 mins to others/month
• KES 500: 3GB, 150 mins, 1000 SMS
• KES 1000: 10GB, 400 mins, 2000 SMS
• KES 2000: 24GB, 1200 mins, 10,000 SMS

Yes, you’re getting more data and better call minutes — but here’s the catch: no more “free social media” after your bundle runs out. Once you hit 0MB, that’s it. The party’s over until you top up again. Also missing? The warm, fuzzy feeling of getting something for free. Facebook and WhatsApp don’t ride free anymore. Everything now lives inside the MBs you paid for.

Airtel UnlimiNET: 2015 vs 2025 Comparison

So What’s Actually Better in 2025?

• Data value: You now get way more GB for the same amount. In 2015, 1GB cost you around KES 500. In 2025? The same KES 500 gets you 3GB.
• Call minutes: Still generous — especially on the higher-tier plans. The 2025 KES 1000 plan offers the same 400 minutes as in 2015 but with 5x the data.
• More tiers: There are more bundle options now, be it for daily, weekly or even monthly users. You can pick exactly what suits your needs and budget.

But…

What’s Worse in 2025?

• No free social media after data ends: This was UnlimiNET’s magic sauce in 2015. It’s gone.
• Less uniform voice offers: Some newer bundles split calls between Airtel and other networks.
• Smarta bundles exist now: Airtel’s Smarta Bundles (launched in early 2025) are arguably better — offering pure value without fluff. The UnlimiNET brand feels a little outdated next to them.

Is UnlimiNET Still Worth It?

If you’re in it for minutes and SMSs, UnlimiNET is still solid — especially if you’re someone who splits your time between calls and light data usage. But for data-first users? There are better Airtel options today — and many Kenyans are shifting to the Smarta Bundles that are simpler, cleaner, and purely digital-focused.

That said, UnlimiNET remains an iconic name — one that helped democratize mobile internet and communication in Kenya. And for that, it deserves its flowers.