Hook.ng Adds eSIM Purchases and Instant Gift Card Buying

In Short

• Hook.ng is expanding its app beyond gift card cashouts.
• Users can now buy eSIMs for global data and purchase gift cards instantly.
• The core feature remains converting gift cards to naira with fast bank payouts.

What Happened

Hook.ng, a Nigerian gift card trading app, has expanded its service offering to include eSIM purchases and instant gift card buying.

Hook.ng is best known for helping users convert unused gift cards into naira, with payouts sent to a bank account. Gift card trading is a way to turn store credit from brands like Apple, Steam, and others into cash, usually by selling the card balance.

The company says it supports 35+ gift card types and updates rates frequently. It also positions itself as a “digital wallet,” which in this context means an app that stores transaction history and supports multiple money-like products, not a bank account.

With the new eSIM feature, users can buy an eSIM, which is a digital SIM card that works without inserting a plastic SIM. It is mainly useful for travellers who want mobile data abroad without roaming fees or visiting a physical store.

Hook.ng has also added the option to buy gift cards instantly inside the app. That shifts the product from only reselling gift cards to also selling them, which can help capture more volume from users who need gift cards for online shopping, subscriptions, or gifting.

Why It Matters

Gift card platforms in Nigeria have become more competitive, and many users now expect more than just fast payouts. Adding eSIM and direct gift card purchases gives Hook.ng more reasons for customers to keep the app installed and transact more often.

For operators, this looks like a move toward a broader consumer fintech bundle, where one app handles multiple everyday payment needs. It could also help Hook.ng diversify revenue, since eSIM and gift card sales can generate margins that are separate from card-to-cash spreads.

On Liners, Hook.ng is listed as Hook.