Planning to visit India and stay connected with your loved ones or look up reviews for a restaurant on the map? Whether you’re exploring historical landmarks or savoring delicious Indian street food, staying connected is simple with an India eSIM. Let’s explore which eSIM to choose and whether it’s more advantageous than a traditional SIM card purchased at the airport.
eSim India: How to Choose the Best One?
When choosing an eSIM, consider how long you’ll stay and your estimated data usage. In India, Wi-Fi can be unreliable, so we recommend selecting larger data plans. Also, keep in mind that you’ll likely use apps you don’t need at home, such as maps or translation tools, which consume additional data. For more tips, check out our article on how to choose the best eSIM.
Regarding operators, we recommend selecting an eSIM that connects via Airtel or Jio, or a combination of multiple operators.
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Best Value Data eSIM for India
Let’s take a look at the most popular data packages and their prices.
Cheapest Packages
If you’re buying an eSIM for a layover at an Indian airport where Wi-Fi isn’t reliable, or as a backup until you get a local SIM card, you can opt for a 1 GB data package.
The cheapest 1 GB package is available with eSIM4Travel for $2.79. You’ll connect via Airtel or VI, ensuring coverage almost everywhere. The eSIM is valid for 7 days. A similar package is available with GlobalYO, with the added option of topping up for voice minutes.
If you need a longer validity period, MobiMatter offers an eSIM valid for up to 14 days for $4.99.
Moderate Data Usage (5 GB)
If you plan to stay in India for more than a few hours, you might want to consider a package with more data.
The cheapest 5 GB package is available with GlobalYO. For $7.99, you get an eSIM valid for 15 days. This eSIM connects to multiple operators, ensuring full coverage throughout India.
The second cheapest option is eTravelSIM, offering 30-day validity and connection via Jio, one of the best operators in India, for $10.
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With our first-purchase codes, you can also buy similar packages from Airalo for $12 (after discount) with 30-day validity and connection via Jio, or from Nomad for $10 (after discount) with the same validity and connection via Jio.
High Data Usage (10 GB)
If you use the internet daily, a larger data package will suit you. For a two-week vacation, we recommend a 10 GB package.
The best price for 10 GB is $12.99 with GlobalYO. It is valid for 30 days and connects to multiple operators, ensuring optimal coverage.
Other providers offer 10 GB eSIMs starting at $20.
Unlimited Data
If you don’t want to limit yourself on vacation, unlimited data packages are available.
The most affordable unlimited data option is with GlobalYO. Note that it’s not truly unlimited—after 1 GB per day, the speed slows to 512 kbps. This may not bother regular tourists, but it’s not ideal for work. Options are available for 3, 7, or 15 days, with 15 days costing $35.99.
Maya Mobile offers 3 GB per day at full speed, after which the speed reduces to 1 Mbps. It costs $35.99 and includes 30-day validity. However, the basic version doesn’t allow hotspot use, and the upgraded version is more expensive.
Airalo also has a decent offer of 10 days of unlimited data for $35. After 3 GB per day, speed slows to 1 Mbps, which is still usable.
For truly unlimited data, check out eTravelSIM or Holafly. Note that hotspot use is limited, and prices are higher—around $60 for 15 days.
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Overview of the Best eSIM Packages
| Provider | GB | Price | Validity |
| eSIM4Travel | 1 GB | $2.79 | 7 days |
| GlobalYO | 5 GB | $7.99 | 30 days |
| GlobalYO | 10 GB | $12.99 | 30 days |
| Maya Mobile | Unlimited | $35.99 | 15 days |
Traditional SIM Cards in India
Buying a traditional SIM card in India can be a chaotic experience. We’ll share some general guidelines, but keep in mind that your experience may vary. As of January 2024, new regulations require an Indian address (private, not a hotel) and an Indian phone number. Additionally, activating a SIM card may take several hours, with potential follow-up visits to the operator’s store for troubleshooting.
India is one of the countries where we highly recommend buying a SIM card immediately upon arrival at the airport. You’ll need your passport, visa, and usually cash, which you can exchange at the airport. However, once you leave the airport, you cannot return to resolve any issues with the SIM card. Additionally, SIM cards at airports often cost more than the official prices listed on the operator’s website (although city stores may also overcharge you).
Sometimes, staff will help you with activation; other times, you’ll need to call a provided number to verify your details. Afterward, you wait for the operator to activate the SIM card. We recommend staying at the airport until activation is complete if you’re not in a rush.
If you decide to buy a SIM card after arriving in the city, the process can be more complicated because traditional SIM cards are usually only sold to Indian residents. This means you may need an Indian phone number to receive a verification code. They may also require documents or even a passport photo.
Official stores won’t sell you a SIM card without these requirements. Street vendors may be more flexible, but finding one who can help may take hours, and activation can also take several hours. Be cautious of high prices or non-functional SIM cards from such vendors.
If you can’t get a SIM card at the airport, ask your hotel for assistance. Some hotels even sell SIM cards directly at the reception.
There are four main operators to choose from: The most popular, and often the only one with a counter at airports, is Airtel. Another reliable option is Jio. VI (Vodafone-Idea) is slightly behind, and the last option, BSNL, doesn’t offer 5G connectivity and should be avoided.
SIM cards come with validity periods of 28, 56, or 84 days, and data is allocated daily. For example, you won’t get 30 GB upfront, but rather 1 GB per day.
Estimated Prices
- 1.5 GB per day, valid for 28 days + unlimited calls: Official price: 299 ₹ (approx. $3.60); at the airport: 450–600 ₹ (approx. $5.40–$7.20)
- 1.5 GB per day, valid for 56 days + unlimited calls: Official price: 479 ₹ (approx. $5.80); at the airport: around 1000 ₹ (approx. $12)
Summary of India eSIM
Getting a SIM card in India isn’t easy. Some vendors may require an Indian phone number, which tourists usually don’t have. Activation can take hours, and scams are common. However, a traditional SIM card is much cheaper, so if you have the time and patience, this might be an option for you.
If you prefer hassle-free connectivity and need data immediately upon arrival, choose an eSIM. Prices are still reasonable, and for $13, you can cover your data needs for an entire trip. The downside is not having an Indian phone number.
We recommend a combination of both, especially if traveling in a group. Use an eSIM for seamless connectivity during your first hours in India while waiting for your traditional SIM card to activate or finding the right store.
