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India: 3 Best Prepaid SIM Cards Buying Guide (2023)

India – derived from the River Indus, is the second-most populated country in the world. By landmass, it is the 7th-largest country in the world.

India does not need an introduction – everyone knows something about this country.

Known for being the largest democracy in the world, having the most tigers in a country worldwide, a big fan of cricket, and home to plenty of official languages.

And let's not forget about the attractions this country has to offer. Of course, the Taj Mahal. The famous Ranthambore, and the Amber Palace.

You could visit the busy cities (sometimes a bit too busy) or the stunning nature in the countryside.

One thing an Indian friend of mine said, which I found funny, is that no matter where you are, even in the middle of the desert, there will always be people around. There is no reason to feel lonely in India ;)

Normally, I made a quick remark about international roaming being expensive in general.

However, India is home to one of the lowest, if not the lowest, mobile data rates in the world. And the Indian operators have another gift for you.

You can get a free Indian SIM card from Jio, Airtel & VI (Vodafone Idea) in their stores. However, you will be required to top-up or buy a plan when obtaining your complimentary SIM card (could be up to 300 INR – 4 USD). 1 GB of data will cost you at least 11 INR (0.15 USD).

Free SIM cards AND spending less than a quarter on 1 GB of data – quite unheard of!

But before you go out and try to get your free Indian SIM card, there are many things to be aware of when trying to get SIM cards in India – it can be time-consuming, especially for tourists and travelers.

In this guide, I will go over everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in India. Let's go.

Buying a SIM Card in India Guide (logos of Jio, VI & Airtel)

Original publication: 31st of December 2019. Last updated: 15th of March 2023.

Table of Contents

Can You Buy a SIM Card in India?

Anyone living in or visiting India can buy/get an Indian SIM card from Jio, Airtel, or VI (Vodafone Idea) in their stores without any restrictions.

You do have to comply with the SIM card registration regulations.

  • Find out which countries have SIM card registration regulations and what is required from you (lookup tool)
SIM Card Registration Worldwide Tool by Phone Travel Wiz

Moreover, you need a phone that supports the frequencies used in the country (preferably all of them to have the most optimal experience while in India).

Furthermore, you need to have a SIM-lock-free device.

Be aware that SIM cards of foreigners without a residence permit are valid until your Visa ceases or for 90 days, depending on the policy of the branch you visit.

Where Can You Buy a SIM Card in India?

You can get your free Indian SIM card in the official stores of Jio, Airtel & VI (Vodafone Idea). BSNL sells them for up to 50 INR, depending on the type of SIM card you need. It is also possible to get SIM cards at select international airports, including Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport & Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

You can buy a SIM card in the following international airports:

  • Bengaluru – Kempegowda International Airport
  • Chennai – Chennai International Airport
  • Delhi – Indira Gandhi International Airport
  • Goa – Goa International Airport
  • Mumbai – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport

You can expect to pay the following for Indian SIM cards:

  • Jio: free, but (select) plan purchase/recharge required
  • Airtel India: free, but (select) plan purchase/recharge required
  • VI (Vodafone Idea): free, but (select) plan purchase/recharge required
  • BSNL (+MTNL): 10 INR to 50 INR

For up-to-date IND:your currency (let's say USD) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

  • Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
SIM Card Prices Worldwide Tool by Phone Travel Wiz

Can You Use Your Phone in India?

India uses GSM technology for mobile communications. CDMA is used by a handful of regional operators with poor nationwide coverage. Even then, CDMA phones do not have SIM card slots, so you would be able to use CDMA networks without roaming on them. If your phone has a SIM card slot, then it supports GSMA (99% of the phones do support GSM nowadays).

Traditional European frequencies are used in India, which are mostly used in ITU Regions 1 & 3 (Africa, Asia (including the Middle East), Europe & Oceania).

The Americas (North-, Central– & South America + the Caribbean – ITU Region 2) use American Frequencies, which differ from the European ones.

ITU Regions Map by Phone Travel Wiz

If you bought your phone in Africa, Asia, Europe, or Oceania (ITU Regions 1 & 3), you should not experience any issues with using your phone in India.

If you purchased your phone in the Americas (ITU Region 2) and have a low/medium-end device (without Tri-Band or Quad-Band) support, then you should go with Jio. One of its frequencies, 850 MHz (Band 5) is a traditional American Frequency. However, speeds on this low frequency are slow(er than usual) due to the nature of the frequency. Do note that Jio has no 2G nor 3G networks to fall back on when there is no 4G/LTE coverage on 850 MHz.

If you have a medium/high-end device with Tri-Band or Quad-Band support, you can use your phone in India (to some extent) – also on 4G/LTE.

Mobile Operators, Networks & Frequencies in India

India has four mobile network operators offering prepaid services easily accessible to travelers:

  • Jio
  • Airtel India
  • VI (Vodafone Idea)
  • BSNL (+MTNL)

The following frequencies are used in India:

  • 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
  • 3G: 2100 MHz (being reframed for 4G/LTE)
  • 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (Band 20), 850 MHz (Band 5), 900 MHz (Band 8), 1800 MHz (Band 3), 2100 MHz (Band 1), 2300 MHz (Band 40) & 2500 MHz (Band 41)

You can learn more about frequencies in the video below.

To check whether your phone will work in India, check out this page by Kimovil or this one by Will My Phone Work (outdated, unfortunately, but extremely user-friendly – useful for phones launched in or before 2019. It does not check for 5G NR compatibility).

Again, make sure your phone is unlocked. Otherwise, you will not be able to use any SIM card except the one from your home operator (meaning you have to roam internationally or buy another unlocked phone that does support the frequencies listed above).

If you want to learn how international roaming works, this guide explains it in-depth. If you wonder why it is often so expensive to roam, this article explains the hidden reason they do not want you to know.

A Note about BSNL & MTNL

BSNL Logo

BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited) is a government-owned mobile network operator. It is active in all regions in India, except for Mumbai and Dehli.

MTNL Logo

MTNL (Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited – also government-owned), however, is only active in Mumbai and Dehli. Although being the smallest operator in the country, they still have more than 100 million subscribers.

BSNL has been rolling out 4G/LTE for a while. However, it is inferior compared to the private players in the country. MTNL only offers 2G and 3G packages.

Suppose you are not interested in data use, or do not mind even slower mobile internet speeds in India. In that case, both BSNL and MTNL could be interesting, as they are the cheapest operators in the country.

For the majority of travelers, the price difference between the government-owned operators and the privately-owned ones will be minimal. With the lack of proper nationwide 4G/LTE coverage, speeds with BSNL and MTNL will be even slower than the already slow speeds in India. As a result, they will not be covered in this guide.

However, you can learn more about BSNL and MTNL on their websites (BSNL/MTNL New Dehli & MTNL Mumbai).

5G NR in India

Commercial 5G NR is not available in India yet in 2022. However, it is supposed to launch later this year.

Best SIM Card in India

If you want to buy the best SIM card in India, I recommend going with Jio. It is, overall, the best option. VI may have faster average download speeds, but mobile data speeds are already slow in India, making the difference marginal. Jio also offers the most variety in plans.

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Best eSIM in India

Unfortunately, none of the mobile operators offer eSIM (to prepaid customers) in India yet.

However, you can get travel eSIMs from Airalo, Holafly & Nomad.

Airalo has the Indicomm eSIMs:

India Indicomm eSIM Airalo
© Airalo

You have four options:

  1. India/Indicomm 1 GB eSIM for 7 daysvery popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
  2. India/Indicomm 3 GB eSIM for 30 daysmost popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
  3. India/Indicomm 3 GB eSIM for 30 days (new)
  4. India/Indicomm 3 GB eSIM for 30 days (new)

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in March based on data up to the 13th of March (2023 data only)

The Airalo links above will automatically get you the available Phone Travel Wiz exclusive offers – a code is unnecessary.

For an in-depth analysis of the India Indicom eSIMs (covering pros and cons as well), check out my India eSIMs Compared guide.

You can also get India eSIMs from Nomad.

India eSIMs Nomad
India Value Pack eSIMs Nomad

Use code ADU123 for the best deals available when getting Nomad eSIMs (on the site or their apps) and get 3 USD/2.85 EUR/2.45 GBP/4.10 CAD off (even on top of current promotions)!

For an in-depth analysis of the Nomad India eSIMs (covering pros and cons as well), check out my India eSIMs Compared guide.

Nomad Travel eSIM Reviews by Phone Travel Wiz

Finally, you can get India eSIMs from Holafly:

Phone Travel Wiz x Holafly Banner
No unlimited data for India (yet)

Use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for exclusive deals when getting Holafly eSIMs, AND get an additional 5% off!

For an in-depth analysis of the Holafly India eSIMs (covering pros and cons as well), check out my India eSIMs Compared guide.

Holafly Travel eSIM Reviews by Phone Travel Wiz

With these eSIMs, you can skip India's SIM card registration scheme entirely and use it immediately upon arriving in India!

I will talk about the SIM card registration requirements in two chapters. Honestly, it is a hassle. You may be better off just using one of the recommended eSIMs above or the travel SIM cards mentioned in the next chapter

  • Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
Best Local & Travel eSIMs Worldwide Tool by Phone Travel Wiz

TIP: check out my Best India eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison of several eSIMs for India, including ones not mentioned above.

If you plan on visiting other neighboring Asian and Oceanian nations, go with the APAC Nomad eSIM to be used in these countries:

APAC eSIMs Nomad
  • Australia
  • China (new)
  • Hong Kong (removed for some reason)
  • India
  • Indonesia (new)
  • Japan
  • Malaysia
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines (new)
  • Singapore
  • Sri Lanka (new)
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam (new)

Use code ADU123 for the best deals available when getting Nomad eSIMs (on the site or their apps) and get 3 USD/2.85 EUR/2.45 GBP/4.10 CAD off (even on top of current promotions)!

TIP: Check out my eSIM lookup tool for an overview of local mobile operators offering eSIMs to prepaid customers and travel eSIMs I use and love (for eSIMs in India and eSIMs worldwide) and my Best India eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparion of several eSIMs for India

Best International/Travel SIM Card for India

If you want to buy the best international/travel SIM card for India, I recommend going with SimCorner's India SIM cards. Consider SimCorner's Asia SIM cards to be used in India and 20+ countries, including neighboring Bangladesh, Pakistan & Sri Lanka.

You have the following two India Travel SIM cards:

  1. India Travel SIM Card with 6 GB for 8 days
  2. India Travel SIM Card with 6 GB for 15 days (new: also available as an eSIM)
India Travel SIM Card SimCorner
© SimCorner

You have these two Asia SIM cards:

  1. Asia SIM card with 6 GB for 8 days in 30 countries
  2. Asia SIM card with 6 GB for 15 days in 20+ countries (new: also available as an eSIM)
Asia Travel SIM Card (6 GB for 8 days) SimCorner
© SimCorner
Asia Travel SIM Card (6 GB for 15 days) SimCorner
© SimCorner

The SimCorner Asia SIM cards can be used in India and the following other countries:

  • Azerbaijan 2
  • Bahrain 1
  • Bangladesh
  • Brunei
  • Cambodia
  • China
  • Georgia
  • Guam 1
  • Hong Kong
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Japan
  • Jordan 1
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kuwait 1
  • Kyrgyzstan 2
  • Laos
  • Macau
  • Malaysia
  • Mongolia 1
  • Myanmar (Burma)
  • Nepal
  • Oman 1
  • Pakistan
  • Philippines
  • Qatar 1
  • Singapore
  • South Korea
  • Sri Lanka
  • Taiwan
  • Thailand 2, 3
  • Uzbekistan
  • Vietnam

1 for the 8 day version only
2 for the 15 days version only
3 only 500 MB in Thailand – better get the SimCorner Thailand Travel SIM Cards instead

You can also get the SimCorner International Travel SIM card (new: also available as an eSIM) 6 GB of data valid for 15 days to be used in India and 100+ countries, including most of the ones mentioned above (Asia) and in the Americas, Europe & Oceania:

SimCorner International SIM Card Banner
© SimCorner
International Travel eSIM SimCorner
© SimCorner
  • Åland Islands
  • Albania
  • Argentina
  • Armenia
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bangladesh
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Brunei
  • Bulgaria
  • Cambodia
  • Canada
  • Chad
  • Chile
  • China
  • Colombia
  • Congo, the Republic of (Brazzaville)
  • Croatia
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Egypt
  • El Salvador
  • Estonia
  • Faroe Islands
  • Fiji
  • Finland
  • France
  • Gabon
  • Germany
  • Ghana
  • Greece
  • Guam
  • Guatemala
  • Honduras
  • Hong Kong
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Ireland
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Jordan
  • Kenya
  • Kuwait
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Macau
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Malaysia
  • Malta
  • Mexico
  • Moldova
  • Mongolia
  • Montenegro
  • Myanmar
  • Nauru
  • Nepal
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • North Macedonia
  • Northern Cyprus
  • Norway
  • Oman
  • Pakistan
  • Panama
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Puerto Rico
  • Qatar
  • Romania
  • Russia
  • San Marino
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Serbia
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • South Africa
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • Sri Lanka
  • Svalbard and Jan Mayen
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan
  • Tonga
  • Tunisia
  • Turkey
  • U.S. Virgin Islands
  • Uganda
  • Ukraine
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Uruguay
  • Uzbekistan
  • Vatican City
  • Vietnam

Instead of spending between 5 USD to 15 USD for SIM cards in each country, get a SimCorner travel SIM card covering numerous countries for just one price!

Use discount code PHONETRAVELWIZ for extra savings!

SIM Card Registration in India

SIM card registration with your passport information is mandatory in India. It will be done at the point of purchase.

Moreover, you also have to bring a passport-sized photo with you when getting your SIM card. Many stores will have the equipment to take a picture of you, especially at airports. Still, it is good practice to bring a photograph yourself.

Furthermore, proof of stay is also part of the SIM card registration process. If you are staying in a hotel, a visiting card may be enough. However, some branches may ask for a letter from the front desk staff for verification.

If you are staying at a private residence (friend, family, or Airbnb), then you need their contact details. The salesperson may call your contact as part of the Know Your Customer (KYC) process.

Finally, proof of address (in your home country/the country you live in) is mandatory as well. If your passport lists your address, this will suffice. However, not all passports will have addresses listed. In that case, the employee will guide you through what proof will suffice to satisfy this requirement.

In the past, it could take a few days before your new SIM card would be activated after processing all the paperwork. Nowadays, SIM cards are active after few minutes up to an hour. But be prepared not to be able to use your SIM card for 24 hours.

SIM card registration at airports is less tedious and time-consuming. However, SIM cards (+ a plan because SIM cards are free in India) are sold at a hefty premium at airports. Where you can get a SIM card with (select starter) plans for up to 200 INR (2.65 USD), the same offer may cost you 1000 INR at airports (13.25 USD).

Although inflated, it may be more convenient to purchase your SIM card at an airport. The staff at airports always speak English fluently enough to get your SIM card paperwork sorted, while it can be a hit or miss in town. Moreover, SIM cards registered at airports are registered faster than most other branches.

Plus, when comparing the inflated airport prices to SIM cards sold globally, the costs are not too outrageous, especially for SIM cards sold at airports.

Do never, under any circumstance, accept a SIM card without going to a registration process or pay a fee to skip the process. Not only is this illegal, but your SIM card could be shut down at any time, making it a waste of money.

India Mobile Speeds, Mobile Internet Prices & Insights

Flag of India

Asia is the region with one of the lowest mobile data rates around the world. Even when looking at just South Asia, the prices are crazy low – at least, when looking at it from a global perspective.

In 2020, India was the country with the lowest average price for 1 GB of data at 0.09 USD per GB. Is mobile data still cheap in India?

The average price for 1 GB of data in India is 0.68 USD, below the Asian average of 1.79 USD. The world average is 4.07 USD.

India is one of the 53 countries where the average cost of 1 GB of data is below 1 USD. When looking at Asia, it is one of the 13 countries.

Asian Mobile Internet Rates Totals 2021
Source

Normally, the figures produced by Cable.co.uk correspond with what I observe when I analyze what each operator has to offer in a country.

With India's numbers, however, I feel they are too high. It is still (easily) possible to get a data plan with 1 GB of data for only 11 INR (0.15 USD). The higher the data allowance a plan has, the lower the effective cost for 1 GB of data becomes.

Is India still the country with the lowest cost of 1 GB of data? Maybe. Israel is the number 1 in 2021's analysis, where 1 GB of data will cost you 0.05 USD. Followed by Kyrgyzstan (0.15 USD) and Fiji (0.19 USD). But is mobile data still cheap in India? Yes.

What about speeds? Well, in this regard, India is not doing that well. In fact, speeds are embarrassingly slow when looking at it from a global perspective.

India's average mobile download speed is around 18 Mbps.

India's average is nowhere near the global average of 55 Mbps. However, we should remember that some countries already have (nationwide) 5G NR and have download speeds up to 1 Gbps.

But these countries, with the exception of China (where all mobile operators are state-owned people-owned), have nowhere near the active users India has. This results in network congestions, which drags the overall network performance and speeds.

When looking at South Asia, the speeds in this region are already slow.

Many factors contribute to these low numbers, but Indians and those visiting the country can enjoy data at incredibly low rates.

Network coverage is, surprisingly, extensive in such a large country. Speeds may not be blazing-fast, but the cost of data is minimal. The mobile operators hand out SIM cards for free, making the overall experience more pleasant.

As a result, you should have a great network experience in India.

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Currency in India

200 Indian Rupee Bank Note
© Reserve Bank of India

India uses the Indian Rupee with the symbol INR (which will be used throughout this guide).

However, prices are often listed in . In the past, Rs was also used. For example, 25 INR = 25.

For reference, below are some exchange rates between INR and USD (US Dollars):

  • 1 INR = 0.01 USD
  • 10 INR = 0.10 USD
  • 100 INR = 1.20 USD
  • 1000 INR = 12.10 USD
  • 10 000 INR = 120.85 USD

For up-to-date INR:your currency (let's say GBP – (British) Pound (Sterling)) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

If your credit/debit card charges you foreign exchange fees, get yourself a Wise Borderless Account and Debit Card.

Their fees are MUCH lower than banks and credit card companies charge you (and Wise is transparent about their fees, unlike banks).

I have saved literal THOUSANDS of Australian Dollars and Euros, my main currencies, when using Wise abroad when traveling compared to my debit and credit cards.

Open a Wise account for FREE!

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Indian Prepaid SIM Cards

Below, I will guide you through Jio, Airtel India & VI (Vodafone Idea), and go through:

  • Background information
  • Mobile coverage
  • SIM card types, prices, and availability
  • Recharge/top-up information
  • Combo plans, data plans, and special packs (such as social media packs) 

With that being said, let’s see what India has to offer to us.

Jio

Jio Logo
© Jio

Reliance Jio Infocomm, just Jio, is the largest mobile operator in India. When it entered the market in late 2015 as a 4G/LTE-only mobile operator, its goal was to disrupt the Indian telecom market.

With an aggressive pricing strategy, which led to a price war, significant investments in infrastructure, leading it to be the operator with the most towers, and getting rid of Indian national roaming, it quickly became the most prominent player. So much so that Vodafone India and Idea had to merge into one company to stay competitive.

You could say that Jio's goal to disrupt the Indian telecom market succeeded. It is now the third-largest mobile operator in the world (420+ million subscribers).

Jio uses the following frequencies:

  • 2G: N/A
  • 3G: N/A
  • 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (Band 20), 850 MHz (Band 5), 1800 MHz (Band 3) & 2300 MHz (Band 40)

This is what you will learn about Jio:

* Coverage
* How to Get a Jio SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings

Coverage – Jio

Jio has the best coverage in India.

Its 4G availability and 4G coverage experience are the highest of all the Indian mobile operators.

Below is Jio's coverage map produced by Speedtest:

SIM Card Price – Jio

You can get a Jio SIM card for free in Jio stores. However, you will be required to purchase a plan or recharge to get your free SIM card.

  • Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
SIM Card Prices Worldwide Tool by Phone Travel Wiz

Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for India (without personal detail capturing), you can get India Indicomm eSIMs from Airalo (two options):

India Indicomm eSIM Airalo
© Airalo

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in March based on data up to the 13th of March (2023 data only)

No idea what or who Airalo is? Check out my Airalo review, where I share my hands-on experience after using its eSIMs in more than 25 countries over four years.

Airalo General Review & In-Depth Analysis by Phone Travel Wiz

If you plan on visiting other countries in Asia and others in other regions or continents, consider the Airalo Discover Global eSIM to be used in 85+ countries worldwide with five variants:

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in March based on data up to the 13th of March (2023 data only)

Airalo Discover Global eSIM Eligible Countries Map Infographic by Phone Travel Wiz (February 2023 Version)

Do you think the map above is nice, but you want a country list instead (because you do not recognize the countries on a map🗿)? You can find it in my Airalo review!

From 2023 on, my goal is to test this eSIM in all eligible countries.

Airalo Discover Global eSIM Review by Phone Travel Wiz

Many more travel eSIMs will perform well in India.

You can read about them in my Best India eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison.

Buying an eSIM for India Guide (logos of Holafly, VI, Jio, AIS, Nomad, SimOptions, Asialink, Aritel, Ubigi, Indicomm & Arialo)
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Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Jio

Jio top-up vouchers are sold in Jio stores and other stores, including kiosks, phone stores, and grocery stores.

To top up your Jio SIM card, dial *305*VoucherCode#.

For example, if your voucher code is 123456, you would dial *305*123456#. The same can be done as *368#.

You can tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.

You can also recharge online with (international) debit and credit cards.

Dial *333# to check your Jio balance.

You can also use the MyJio to refill and check your balance (Android/iOS).

MyJio App
© Jio

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Jio

Jio has nine data-featured prepaid plans:

I will list all the prices in INR (Indian Rupee).

To convert INR to your currency (let's say GBP – (British) Pound (Sterling)) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

Wise Signup Banner

Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.

All Jio plans can be activated on the MyJio app or online.

Moreover, all plans allow you to continue using data after exhausting your data allowance. However, your speeds will be throttled to 64 Kbps.

Jio Freedom Plans – Jio

The Jio Freedom Plans are combo plans with data (without 5G NR access), unlimited local minutes, and SMS (max. 100 SMS/day).

You can activate one of the following Jio Freedom plans:

PriceDataLocal MinutesLocal SMSValidity
296 INR25 GBUnlimited100 SMS/day (3000 SMS)30 days
Jio India Jio Freedom Plans
1 GB/Day Pack – Jio

The 1 GB/day Pack gives you 1 GB of data (without 5G NR access) per day for 24 days (maximum of 24 GB), unlimited local minutes, and 100 SMS/day.

PriceDataLocal MinutesLocal SMSValidity
149 INR1 GB/day (24 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (2100 SMS)21 days
179 INR1 GB/day (24 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (2800 SMS)24 days
209 INR1 GB/day (28 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (2800 SMS)28 days
Jio India 1 GB day Plans
1.5 GB/Day Packs – Jio

The 1.5 GB/day Packs are combo plans with 1.5 GB of data (without 5G NR access) per day, unlimited local minutes, and 100 SMS/day.

You have the following options:

PriceDataLocal MinutesLocal SMSValidity
199 INR1.5 GB/day (21 GB)Unlimited300 SMS14 days
199 INR1.5 GB/day (34.5 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (2800 SMS)23 days
239 INR1.5 GB/day (42 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (784 SMS)28 days
259 INR1.5 GB/day (45 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (3000 SMS)30 days
479 INR1.5 GB/day (84 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (5600 SMS)56 days
666 INR1.5 GB/day (126 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (8400 SMS)84 days
2545 INR1.5 GB/day (504 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (33 600 SMS SMS)336 days
Jio India 1.5 GB day Plans
2 GB/Day Packs – Jio

The 2 GB/day Packs are combo plans with 2 GB of data (without 5G NR access) per day, unlimited local minutes, and 100 SMS/day.

These are your options:

PriceDataLocal MinutesLocal SMSValidity
249 INR2 GB/day (46 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (2300 SMS)23 days
299 INR2 GB/day (56 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (2800 SMS)28 days
533 INR2 GB/day (112 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (5600 SMS)56 days
719 INR2 GB/day (168 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (8400 SMS)84 days
2879 INR2 GB/day (730 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (36 500 SMS)365 days
Jio India 2 GB day Plans
3 GB/Day Packs – Jio

The 3 GB/day Packs are combo plans with 3 GB of data (without 5G NR access) per day, unlimited local minutes, and 100 SMS/day.

The following 3 GB/day Packs are available:

PriceDataLocal MinutesLocal SMSValidity
419 INR3 GB/day (84 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (2800 SMS)28 days
1199 INR3 GB/day (252 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (8400 SMS)84 days
Jio India 3 GB day Plans
Prepaid Recharge Plans – Jio

The Prepaid Recharge Plans are combo plans with data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.

PriceDataLocal MinutesLocal SMSValidity
75 INR100 MB/day (2.5 GB)Unlimited50 SMS23 days
91 INR100 MB/day (3 GB)Unlimited50 SMS28 days
125 INR0.5GB/day (11.5 GB)Unlimited300 SMS23 days
152 INR0.5 GB/day (14 GB)Unlimited300 SMS28 days
186 INR1 GB/day (28 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (2800 SMS)28 days
222 INR2 GB/day (56 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (2800 SMS)28 days
895 INR2 GB/day (24 GB)Unlimited50 SMS/28 days336 days
No Daily Limit – Jio

The No Daily Limit plans are combo plans with data (without 5G NR access) allowances that can be used however you want (without a daily limit), unlimited local minutes, and 100 SMS/day.

You can activate one of the following No Daily Limit plans:

PriceDataLocal MinutesLocal SMSValidity
296 INR25 GBUnlimited100 SMS/day (3000 SMS)30 days
Jio India No Daily Limit Plans
Value Pack – Jio

The Value Pack are data only plans (without 5G NR access).

PriceDataValidity
155 INR2 GB28 days
395 INR6 GB84 days
1559 INR24 GB366 days
Jio India Value Plans
JioPhone Data Add ON – Jio

The JioPhone Data Add ONs are, as the name implies, data add-ons. They cannot be purchased as standalone plans.

You can activate these JioPhone Data Add ON:

PriceDataValidity
25 INR2 GB28 days
62 INR6 GB28 days
86 INR0.5 GB/day (14 GB)28 days
112 INR1 GB/day (28 GB)28 days
182 INR2 GB/day (56 GB)28 days

APN/Internet Settings – Jio

  • Name: JioNet
  • APN: JioNet

Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.

Jump back to the Table of Contents.

Airtel India

Airtel Logo
© Airtel

Bharti Airtel, just Airtel, is India's second-largest mobile operator. It has been a player in the Indian telecom market for more than 25 years.

Its first international venture was in Sri Lanka (Airtel Lanka).

Now, Airtel is active in 19 countries in South Asia, Africa, Jersey & Guernsey in Europe.

With all its subsidiaries, Bharti Airtel is the second-largest mobile operator in the world (440+ million subscribers).

Airtel uses the following frequencies:

  • 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
  • 3G: Shut down in 2020 for 4G/LTE refarming
  • 4G/LTE: 900 Mhz (Band 8), 1800 MHz (Band 3), 2100 MHz (Band 1) & 2300 MHz (Band 40)

This is what you will learn about Airtel:

* Coverage
* How to Get an Airtel SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings

Coverage – Airtel India

Airtel has extensive coverage throughout India.

Its 4G availability is high, so is its 4G coverage experience. Airtel is the best mobile operator for video calls, voice calls through apps (VoIP), and online gaming.

Below is Airtel's coverage map produced by Speedtest:

SIM Card Price – Airtel India

You can get an Airtel SIM card for free in Airtel stores. However, you will be required to purchase a plan or recharge to get your free SIM card.

  • Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
SIM Card Prices Worldwide Tool by Phone Travel Wiz

Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for India (without personal detail capturing), you can get eSIMs from Holafly (one option):

Phone Travel Wiz x Holafly Banner

The best part is that you can get 5% off using code PHONETRAVELWIZ on each Holafly eSIM purchase!

No idea what or who Holafly is? Check out my Holafly review, where I share my hands-on experience after using its eSIMs in more than ten countries over two years.

Holafly General Review & In-Depth Analysis by Phone Travel Wiz

If you plan on visiting other countries in Asia and others in other regions or continents, consider the Airalo Discover Global eSIM to be used in 85+ countries worldwide with five variants:

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in March based on data up to the 13th of March (2023 data only)

Airalo Discover Global eSIM Eligible Countries Map Infographic by Phone Travel Wiz (February 2023 Version)

Do you think the map above is nice, but you want a country list instead (because you do not recognize the countries on a map🗿)? You can find it in my Airalo review!

From 2023 on, my goal is to test this eSIM in all eligible countries.

Airalo Discover Global eSIM Review by Phone Travel Wiz

Many more travel eSIMs will perform well in India.

You can read about them in my Best India eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison.

Buying an eSIM for India Guide (logos of Holafly, VI, Jio, AIS, Nomad, SimOptions, Asialink, Aritel, Ubigi, Indicomm & Arialo)
Support Me on Ko-Fi Orange

Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Airtel India

Airtel top-up vouchers are sold in Airtel stores and other stores, including kiosks, phone stores, and grocery stores.

To top up your Airtel SIM card, dial *121*3# or *121# and follow the instructions.

You can tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.

You can also recharge online with (international) debit and credit cards.

Dial *121*1# to check your Airtel balance.

You can also use the Airtel Thanks app to refill and check your balance (Android/iOS).

Airtel India Thanks App
© Airtel India

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Airtel India

Airtel has two data-featured prepaid plans:

All Airtel plans can be activated on the Airtel Thanks app or online.

I will list all the prices in INR (Indian Rupee).

To convert INR to your currency (let's say GBP – (British) Pound (Sterling)) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

Wise Signup Banner
Truly Unlimited – Airtel India

The Truly Unlimited Plans are combo plans with data (without 5G NR access) and unlimited local minutes & SMS.

The majority of plans also give you access to Amazon Prime Video (30-day trial), Apollo 24|7 Circle (for 3 months), Airtel Xstream Premium, Hellotunes, Wynk Music, Shaw Academy (1 year).

The following Truly Unlimited Plans are available:

PriceDataLocal MinutesLocal SMSValidity
155 INR1 GBUnlimited300 SMS24 days
179 INR2 GBUnlimited300 SMS28 days
199 INR3 GBUnlimited300 SMS30 days
209 INR1 GB/day (21 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (2100 SMS)21 days
239 INR 1 GB/day (24 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (2400 SMS)24 days
265 INR1 GB/day (28 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (2800 SMS)28 days
296 INR25 GBUnlimited100 SMS/day (3000 SMS)30 days
299 INR1.5 GB/dayUnlimited100 SMS/day (3000 SMS)30 days
319 INR2 GB/day (62 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (3100 SMS)31 days
359 INR2 GB/day (62 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (3100 SMS)31 days
399 INR2.5 GB/day (84 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (2800 SMS)28 days
455 INR6 GBUnlimited900 SMS84 days
479 INR1.5 GB/day (84 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (5600 SMS)56 days
499 INR3 GB/day (84 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (2800 SMS)28 days
519 INR1.5 GB/day (90 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (6000 SMS)60 days
549 INR2 GB/day (112 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (5600 SMS)56 days
666 INR1.5 GB/day (115.5 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (7700 SMS)77 days
699 INR3 GB/day (168 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (5600 SMS)56 days
719 INR1.5 GB/day (126 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (8400 SMS)84 days
779 INR1.5 GB/day (135 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (9000 SMS)90 days
839 INR2 GB/day (168 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (8400 SMS)84 days
999 INR2.5 GB/day (210 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (8400 SMS)84 days
1799 INR24 GBUnlimited3600 SMS365 days
2999 INR2 GB/day (730 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (36 500 SMS)365 days
3359 INR2.5 GB/day (912.5 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (36 500 SMS)365 days
Airtel India Truly Unlimited Plans
Data – Airtel India

The Data Plans are, as the name implies, are data bundles (without 5G NR access).

PriceDataValidity
19 INR1 GB1 day
58 INR3 GBN/A
65 INR4 GBN/A
98 INR5 GBN/A
118 INR12 GBN/A
148 INR15 GB 1N/A
149 INR1 GB 1N/A
181 INR1 GB/day (30 GB)30 days
301 INR50 GBN/A

1 access to xtreme premium for 30 days

Airtel India Data Only Plans

APN/Internet Settings – Airtel India

  • Name: Airtel Internet
  • APN: airtelgprs.com

Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.

Jump back to the Table of Contents.

VI (Vodafone Idea)

VI Vodafone Idea India Logo
© VI

Vodafone Idea, known as VI, is the third-largest mobile operator in India.

It formed as a merger between Vodafone India and Idea Cellular.

The agreement of the merger was agreed back in 2018.

However, it took until Q3 2020 before the two companies became one and offered their services under one brand.

VI is the 7th largest mobile operator in the world (280+ million subscribers).

VI has the fastest mobile download and upload speed in the country.

According to Opensignal, the average mobile download speed is 11.9 Mbps, and the average mobile upload speed is 4.5 Mbps.

Speedtest reports an even higher mobile download speed of 15 Mbps.

VI uses the following frequencies:

  • 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 Mhz
  • 3G: Being shut down for 4G/LTE refarming
  • 4G/LTE: 900 MHz (Band 8) & 1800 MHz (Band 3), 2100 Mhz (Band 1), 2300 Mhz (Band 40) & 2500 MHz (Band 41)

This is what you will learn about VI:

* Coverage
* How to Get a VI SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings

Coverage – VI (Vodafone Idea India)

VI has extensive coverage throughout India.

Vi does have the worst 4G availability and 4G coverage experience of the big three players.

Below is VI's coverage map produced by Speedtest:

SIM Card Price – VI (Vodafone Idea India)

You can get a VI SIM card for free in VI stores. However, you will be required to purchase a plan or recharge to get your free SIM card.

  • Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
SIM Card Prices Worldwide Tool by Phone Travel Wiz

Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Nomad without personal detail capturing, you can get eSIMs from Nomad (five options):

The best part is that you can get 3 USD/2.85 EUR/2.45 GBP/4.10 CAD off using code ADU123 on your first Nomad eSIM purchase!

No idea what or who Nomad is? Check out my Nomad review, where I share my hands-on experience after using its eSIMs in more than 25 countries over two years.

Nomad General Review & In-Depth Analysis by Phone Travel Wiz

If you plan on visiting other countries in Asia and others in other regions or continents, consider the Airalo Discover Global eSIM to be used in 85+ countries worldwide with five variants:

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in March based on data up to the 13th of March (2023 data only)

Airalo Discover Global eSIM Eligible Countries Map Infographic by Phone Travel Wiz (February 2023 Version)

Do you think the map above is nice, but you want a country list instead (because you do not recognize the countries on a map🗿)? You can find it in my Airalo review!

From 2023 on, my goal is to test this eSIM in all eligible countries.

Airalo Discover Global eSIM Review by Phone Travel Wiz

Many more travel eSIMs will perform well in India.

You can read about them in my Best India eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison.

Buying an eSIM for India Guide (logos of Holafly, VI, Jio, AIS, Nomad, SimOptions, Asialink, Aritel, Ubigi, Indicomm & Arialo)
Support Me on Ko-Fi Orange

Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – VI (Vodafone Idea India)

VI top-up vouchers are sold in VI stores and other stores, including kiosks, phone stores, and grocery stores.

To top up your VI SIM card, dial *199*5# or *199# and follow the instructions.

You can tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.

You can also recharge online with (international) debit and credit cards.

Dial *111# or *199*2# to check your VI balance.

You can also use the VI to refill and check your balance (Android/iOS).

VI India App
© VI

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – VI (Vodafone Idea India)

VI has four data-featured prepaid plans:

All VI plans can be activated on the VI app or online.

I will list all the prices in INR (Indian Rupee).

To convert INR to your currency (let's say GBP – (British) Pound (Sterling)) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

Wise Signup Banner

Click on the links above to jump to the plans you are interested in.

Unlimited – VI (Vodafone Idea India)

The Unlimited Plans are combo plans with data (without 5G NR access), unlimited local minutes, and local SMS.

The majority of plans also give you access to VI mobies and TV. Many also allow you to roll over unused workday data (Monday-Friday) to the weekend (Saturday & Sunday).

These Unlimited Plans are available:

PriceDataLocal MinutesLocal SMSValidity
98 INR200 MB UnlimitedN/A14 days
129 INR200 MB UnlimitedN/A18 days
149 INR1 GBUnlimitedN/A21 days
155 INR1 GBUnlimited300 SMS24 days
179 INR2 GBUnlimited300 SMS28 days
195 INR2 GBUnlimited300 SMS1 month
199 INR1 GB/day (18 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (1800 SMS)18 days
209 INR4 GBUnlimited100 SMS/day (2800 SMS)28 days
219 INR1 GB/day (21 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (2100 SMS)21 days
239 INR1 GB/day (24 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (2400 SMS)24 days
249 INR1.5 GB/day (31.5 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (2100 SMS)21 days
319 INR2 GB/day (62 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (3100 SMS)31 days
327 INR25 GBUnlimited100 SMS/day (6000 SMS)60 days
329 INR4 GBUnlimited600 SMS56 days
337 INR28 GBUnlimited100 SMS/day (3100 SMS)31 days
409 INR3.5 GB/day (98 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (2800 SMS)28 days
459 INR6 GBUnlimited1000 SMS84 days
479 INR1.5 GB/day (84 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (5600 SMS)56 days
499 INR3 GB/day (84 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (2800 SMS)28 days
537 INR50 GBUnlimited100 SMS/day (6000 SMS)60 days
539 INR2 GB/day (112 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (56 days
599 INR1.5 GB/day (105 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (7000 SMS)70 days
601 INR3 GB/day (84 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (2800 SMS)28 days
666 INR1.5 GB/day (115.5 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (7700 SMS)77 days
699 INR3 GB/day (168 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (5600 SMS)56 days
719 INR1.5 GB/day (126 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (8400 SMS)84 days
839 INR2 GB/day (168 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (8400 SMS)84 days
901 INR3 GB/day (210 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (7000 SMS)70 days
949 INR12 GBUnlimited1200 SMS180 days
1066 INR2 GB/day (168 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (8400 SMS)84 days
1449 INR1.5 GB/day (270 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (18 000 SMS)180 days
1799 INR24 GBUnlimited3600 SMS365 days
2899 INR1.5 GB/day (547.50 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (36 500 SMS)365 days
2999 INR850 GBUnlimited100 SMS/day (36 500 SMS)365 days
3099 INR2 GB/day (730 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (36 500 SMS)365 days
VI India Unlimited Plans
Disney+ Hotstar VIP – VI (Vodafone Idea India)

The Disney+ Hotstar VIP plans are combo plans with data (without 5G NR access), sometimes unlimited data between 0:00 and 6:00 in the morning, unlimited local minutes, and local SMS. You also get 1-year access to Disney+ Hotstar.

Do note that if you are a tourist and get one of these plans, you will also get access to Disney+ Hotstar. However, you will not be able to use your subscription back home (perhaps you can if using a VPN and setting the location to India may work, but that is not something I can confirm yet).

These Disney+ Hotstar VIP options are available:

PriceDataLocal MinutesLocal SMSValidity 
151 INR8 GBUnlimitedN/A30 days
399 INR2.5 GB/day (70 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (2800 SMS)28 days
499 INR3 GB/day (84 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (2800 SMS)28 days
601 INR3 GB/day (84 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (2800 SMS)28 days
901 INR3 GB/day (210 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (7000 SMS)70 days
1066 INR2 GB/day (168 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (8400 SMS)84 days
3099 INR2 GB/day (730 GB)Unlimited100 SMS/day (36 500 SMS)365 days
VI India Disney + Hotstor VIP Plans
Combo/Validity – VI (Vodafone Idea India)

The Combo/Validity plans are combo plans with credit, data (without 5G NR access), and local minutes.

You can activate the following Combo/Validity plans:

PriceCreditDataValidity
99 INR99 INR200 MB28 days
107 INR107 INR200 MB30 days
111 INR107 INR200 MB1 month
279 INR107 INR500 MB28 days
VI India Combo Validity Plans
Data – VI (Vodafone Idea India)

The Data Plans are data-only bundles.

You have these options:

PriceDataValidity
19 INR1 GB24 hours
25 INR1.1 GB1 day
29 INR2 GB2 days
39 INR3 GB7 days
51 INR1 GB28 days
55 INR3.3 GB7 days
58 INR3 GB28 days
75 INR6 GB7 days
82 INR4 GB14 days
108 INR8 GB30 days
118 INR12 GB28 days
151 INR8 GB30 days
298 INR50 GB28 days
418 INR100 GB56 days
698 INR10 GB28 days
999 INR50 GB365 days

1 1 year of Disney+ & Hotstar VIP
2 1 year of Zee5 Premium

VI India Data Plans

APN/Internet Settings – VI (Vodafone Idea India)

  • Name: VI
  • APN: www

Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.

Jump back to the Table of Contents.

The Preferred Way to Stay Connected When Traveling in India

Getting a SIM card from Jio would do you well when considering an Indian SIM card.


Next Steps to Enhance Your Travel Experiences

Looking for the next steps to enhance your phone travel experiences? Here is what to do:

Support Phone Travel Wiz

It takes a lot of time to analyze, translate & review the SIM card options worldwide (especially to test them out).

Your support helps me keep producing impartial content by eliminating the need to recommend international SIM cards as the best local SIM card (but some of them CAN be useful).

Every Ko-Fi donation, one-time or monthly, helps me to spend more time creating local SIM card buying guides.

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Check Out My Resource Page

Looking for the best companies and gadgets to enhance your travel experience

Check out my travel resources page for the best companies to use when you travel!

Save money with international SIM cards, on plane tickets, bus rides, cruises & accommodation.

Besides that, I also list services and items I use to make my life easier – and I believe they will help you too!

Start Your Own Online Business – Make Money While Traveling

Do you want to learn how I started an online business that allows me to generate income while traveling?

In my starting an online business guide, I tell you which tools, services & products I have for this site and my YouTube channel.

If I can start a business about something I am passionate about (phone travel), then you can do it too!

Learn About Your Phone Travel Options

You can buy local prepaid SIM cardsinternational SIM cardsmobile hotspots, or roam internationally.

Each of these options has its pros and cons. Learn more about them, and find the best option for you.

Phone Travel Tips, Tricks & Hacks

I have written many articles with tips and hacks to save money on mobile costs while abroad. You surely want to check them out!

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Moreover, I send you many tips and tricks on saving money while traveling every now and then.

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A lot of useful videos are uploaded multiple times a week, and you do not want to miss out on them!

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Who is the guy behind Phone Travel Wiz? Well, find out on the Ernest Adu about page!