Best Prepaid Sim Cards For India (The Ultimate Guide)
India is a magical place to travel around. The country is so diverse in so many ways from the cultures of each region to the landscapes – you have beaches, jungles, mountains, and deserts.
If you are reading this, chances are you have booked a trip to India or are at least thinking about it, and lucky you, I would love to go back.
So, how are you going to stay connected while you travel around India? One of your best options is to get the top prepaid sim card India has to offer, but which one is at the top? That is what I am here to help with.
Join me as I run through the best-prepaid sim cards for India so that you can choose the right one for your travels.
Top Product Overview
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| SEE ON AIRTEL → |
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| SEE ON VODAFONE IDEA → |
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| SEE ON BSNL → |
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| SEE ON TRABUG → |
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| SEE ON JIO → |
Best Prepaid Sim Cards For India
Airtel
Airtel is one of the largest local mobile operators in India and is a great operator to buy your Indian sim card from.
With an Airtel local sim card you will have excellent 4G coverage all over India allowing you to stay connected at all times.
Airtel has a number of different prepaid sim card plans but the best ones are featured below and they are incredibly affordable.
For 299 rupees ($3.66) you will get unlimited calls 100 sms per day and 1.5GB of data per day for 28 days.
If you are staying in India for a while, simply pay 479 rupees ($5.86) and you will get the same Indian sim card plan for 56 days.
You can also order your Airtel sim online if you want to.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Long and short-term plans
- Great coverage
- Fast 4G connections
- Unlimited calls
- Order online or buy in store
Cons
- Heavy users might want more data
Vodafone Idea
Vodafone Idea is the largest local mobile operator in India and this means with their Indian sim cards you will get better coverage than with any other sim card in India.
Vodafone Idea has a number of prepaid sim cards you can choose from to be your Indian sim card. The deals are amazingly affordable and very similar to Airtel’s above.
If you plan on being in India for a while, grab the 569 rupee plan ($8.19) as it lasts for 84 days and gives you unlimited calls in India, 100 SMS per day, and 3GB of data per day.
For anyone staying in India for 28 days or less, this is the Vodafone Idea Indian sim card for you. For just 549 rupees ($7.90) you will have 3.5GB of data per day, 100 SMS per day, plus unlimited local calls for 28 days.
Pros
- Fast 4G connection
- Best coverage in India
- Incredibly affordable
- Short and long plans
- Lots of data
- SMS and calls included
Cons
- None I can find
BSNL
BSNL is a government-owned mobile operator in India. Using a BSNL prepaid sim card in India is certainly a pretty good option but their coverage and connection speeds are not as good as Vodafone India or Airtel India.
BSNL has been trying to roll out 4G and is doing a good job but you may find you drop to a 3G connection in some parts of the country.
They have a few India sim cards to choose from and I have highlighted the best two for you below.
For 187 rupees ($2.29) you get unlimited voice calls and unlimited data for 28 days, but your connection speed is reduced to 40 kbps after 1.5GB per day.
If you are there for over a month, a good India sim card for you is 347 rupees ($4.25) and comes with unlimited voice calls and unlimited data for 54 days, but your connection speed is reduced to 40 kbps after 2GB per day.
As you can see, these are very affordable rates but they are similar to Vodafone and Airtel, and it is worth having a more reliable connection with faster speeds.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Unlimited data available
- Pretty good coverage
- Unlimited calls available
Cons
- Slower speeds than others
- Some 3G connections
Trabug
Trabug doesn’t offer you a sim card and instead, they rent you a phone or a WiFi hotspot for you to travel with.
The reason for this is that getting an India sim card requires jumping through a few hoops and this service removes that hassle altogether.
You have to order it online on their website and you still have to provide all the documentation needed for India travel sim cards, but online instead of in person.
Once you land, they will deliver the phone/hotspot to you and you just activate the sim card. The service is a lovely idea but it is way too expensive in my eyes.
Phone rentals are $5.99 per day and you get 2.5GB of data, 250 mins daily India calling, and 10 daily India SMS / Texts.
WiFi Hotspot rentals are $3.99 per day for 2.5GB per day and you can connect up to 5 devices.
If you are in India for 30 days, you are spending up to $180 to stay connected and have to learn a new phone or walk around with a hotspot all the time.
Pros
- Easier registration
- Delivered to your hotel
- 4G connection
- Enough daily data
Cons
- Way too expensive
Jio
Jio is one of the newest providers and has taken over a huge share of the Indian Telecom Market with over 400 million users to date.
They have done this by offering the best deals but they have caused a problem whereby their 4G network is overloaded at times. This means it is not as reliable as a Vodafone Idea or Airtel sim card.
But, Jio does have some very affordable plans and lots to choose from. Here are 3 of their best:
299 rupees ($3.66) for 2GB per day (56GB total), 100 SMS per day, and unlimited calls for 28 days.
719 rupees ($8.80) for 2GB per day (168GB total), 100 SMS per day, and unlimited calls for 84 days.
As you can see, their plans are cheap but I would recommend sticking with Vodafone and Airtel for its reliability
Pros
- Good coverage
- Fast speeds
- Very affordable
- Free calls and SMS
Cons
- Network is overloaded
- Not as reliable as others
Is A Sim Card Essential When Traveling to India?
I would say that yes, having a sim card is essential when traveling to India. India is a chaotic place at times and you are going to want to use your phone to make plans, call taxis, and keep in touch with loved ones at home.
It will also come in handy to be connected so that you use apps for translation, navigation, and trip planning.
Considering that sim cards are so affordable in India, you may as well go get one and be connected rather than trying to live off WiFi.
Things to Know Before Buying A Sim Card in India
Is Your Phone Unlocked?
Your phone has to be unlocked from a network provider in order to use sim cards in other countries, and India is included. Call your home mobile provider and ask them to unlock your phone before you go to India.
Are You Using A GSM Phone?
There are two types of mobile networks in the world, GSM and CDMA. Most of the world uses GSM including India and chances are you have a GSM phone that will connect to it.
Some networks in the USA and Canada, namely Verizon and a few others are still using CDMA. If you bought your phone from one of these providers, it could be a CDMA phone and will not work in India.
How to Buy A Sim Card in India
Buying A Sim Card Before Traveling to India
You can not buy an India sim card outside of India as they require a lot of information to register the sim card which needs to be given in person.
If you want a sim card before you go to India, look into an International Sim Card or an eSim that covers India.
Buying A Sim Card in India
Buying a sim card is easy if you are prepared. Simply go to an Airtel or Vodafone Idea shop with these documents:
- Passport
- Copy of photo/name page of your passport
- Copy of the Indian visa page in your passport
- Passport size photo
- Proof of where you are staying in India (hotel reservation or contact details of host)
- Driving License with home address if your passport does not have it
Once you hand all this over, you will be given your sim card with your selected plan activated on it very quickly.
How Much Does A Sim Card in India Cost?
Most sim cards are free in India but some providers may charge, but it will not cost that much. At most, you might have to pay $5 for a sim card, but that is the worst-case scenario.
How to Activate & Top Up Your Indian Sim Card
Your sim card will be activated for you when you buy it in the provider’s shop. Just make sure to test it when you are there and ask them to fix it if the activation was not successful.
Topping up your sim card in India is easy. You can do it in a number of ways including:
- Dial the mobile network provider’s recharge number
- Visit their website/app to top up your SIM card.
- Buy recharge vouchers, which are widely available at local stores in India
Internet Speed & Coverage in India
The internet speed and coverage in India are generally excellent and you should have access to 4G in most of the country.
But, as India is such a large country, you may drop down to 3G in some of the more rural areas and perhaps even 2G – that is part of the charm of going rural in my eyes.
Managing Your Mobile Data in India
Managing your data in India isn’t so necessary and you get a daily allowance so you never truly run out. But, it would be nice to avoid running out of data in the middle of the day, so here are some tips.
Choose the right plan: Before purchasing a SIM card, compare different plans offered by different mobile network providers to find the best one that suits your data usage and budget. Make sure to also check the terms and conditions of the plan, including any data limits and overage charges
Use Wi-Fi when available: Take advantage of free Wi-Fi hotspots at hotels, cafes, and public places to conserve your mobile data.
Monitor your data usage: Most smartphones have a built-in data usage tracker that lets you monitor your data usage. Set up alerts or warnings when you approach your data limit to avoid overage charges.
Disable automatic updates: Disable automatic updates for apps and operating systems to conserve your mobile data. Instead, manually update them when you have access to Wi-Fi.
Use airplane mode: This stops any background use of data and you can still use GPS and photos with it on.
Download Google Maps for Offline Use: This way you can use Google Maps to navigate without using any data, just make sure you do the download on WiFi.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest prepaid sim card in India?
The cheapest prepaid SIM card in India is one of Jio’s. Their most affordable plan is 119 rupees for 1.5GB of data per day for 14 days.
Can foreigners buy a sim card in India?
Yes, foreigners can buy a sim card in India so long as they bring the right documentation with them to the store. The right docs to bring are featured in the “Buying A Sim Card in India” section above.
Can you buy a SIM card for India from the USA?
No, it is not possible to buy a prepaid sim card for India in the USA as you have to buy them in India with the right documents. You can, however, buy an eSim for India or an international sim card in the USA before going to India.
