Prepaid SIM Сard in India: Where and How to Buy

In this article, we will tell you which prepaid calling cards in India are the most popular and where you can buy them. You will learn why a prepaid SIM card is one of the best options to connect to the internet in this country. We will let you know what types of operators work in the country and what is the best prepaid SIM card in India.

Be aware of all the nuances and travel across the country confidently.

Where to buy a travel SIM card in India

Prepaid phone data SIM cards in India can be bought at:

• airports;
• hotels or hostels;
• mobile operator showrooms;
• kiosks and stores.

When buying a travel SIM card at the airport in Mumbai or New Delhi, be prepared to overpay — the cost is much higher than in stores in the city. However, there are advantages to buying at airports:

• the staff at the outlets are fluent in English;
• SIM cards are quicker to register.

If you decide to look for a prepaid travel SIM card for India, outside the airport, look for it in souvenir stores or official stores of local operators.

How to get a prepaid SIM card in India

All tourists and visitors to India can buy a prepaid data SIM card of any operator without restrictions, immediately upon arrival in the country. The process will take about 30 minutes or more. You should show the below documents to the seller:

• passport;
• 2 passport-size photos;
• residence registration (hotel or host address).

If you don't have photos with you, take an instant photo — the service is available at the airport and in many stores.

The most nuances arise with the confirmation of the address of your stay in the country. If you stay in a hotel, its business card may be enough. But it is quite possible that store employees will ask for a written confirmation letter from the hotel reception desk.

Here's how to get a prepaid SIM card in India if you're staying in a private accommodation — a friend's house or in an Airbnb rented apartment. You'll need the contact details of the owners of the rented accommodation so that a SIM card seller can call and verify the information.

SIM card registration is obligatory. If they offer you to bypass it, don't agree. Otherwise, you will get a card that can be disconnected at any time.

Best prepaid SIM cards in India

The operators in India that offer physical SIM cards to tourists are Jio, Airtel and VI (Vodafone Idea). Their prepaid phone cards in India are considered the most popular both among tourists and locals. They work in the capital New Delhi, major cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad as well as in remote parts of the country. The main difficulties with their purchase are the language barrier and the requirement to show your documents.

Interesting fact: SIM cards of Jio, Airtel, Vodafone can be obtained for free, but at the time of purchase you need to buy a tariff plan or recharge your account.

Two state-owned mobile operators (BSNL and MTNL) also work, but they are "famous" for low quality of services and uneven coverage. For example, BSNL works everywhere except Mumbai and Delhi, and MTNL — vice versa.

There is a more convenient SIM card option for tourists in India — the innovative eSIM technology. This is a digital SIM card that is embedded in the gadget by the manufacturer. To connect to the mobile internet, you just need to activate the option on your smartphone, choose an operator and a tariff plan.

Read also: What is eSIM: what is it for and how to use it

We gathered information about which international prepaid SIM cards in India are available for visitors — read on to learn about the most popular operators and their tariffs.

Yesim

From a practical point of view, the best prepaid SIM card for the internet in India is an eSIM card. So, if your gadget supports this technology, you can activate it even before you fly to India.

Yesim mobile provider offers the following eSIM data plans for India:

• 500 MB for 7 days at a price of 8 EUR;
• 1 GB for 7 days at the price of 13 EUR;
• 3 GB for 7 days at the price of 33 EUR;
• 5 GB for 15 days at the price of 52 EUR.

International prepaid SIM cards in India take time to register and purchase. When choosing between a physical and virtual SIM cards, please note that in the second case you do not need to present any documents. It is quick and convenient to connect to Yesim operator for your Indian journey.

Jio

This operator has the best coverage across the country. Jio's 4G availability is considered to be the best among all Indian providers.

The operator offers 18 tariff plans. All of them allow you to use the internet after the limit is reached, but the speed is reduced to 64 Kbps.

Cell phone plans for mobile Internet:

• Popular Plans — several options, price is from Rs 239 for 1.5 GB/day;
• Data Booster — from Rs 15 for 1 GB/day to Rs 222 for 15 GB/day;
• No Daily Limit — from Rs 296 for 25GB;
• Data Packs — from Rs 181 for 30GB/month to Rs 331 for 40GB/month; there is an option of Rs 667 for 150GB/3 months.

Recharging is done at the same place where you are buying a prepaid SIM card in India. Recharge vouchers are always available at almost all retail outlets. You can install the MyJio app (Android/iOS) and recharge or check your balance using it.

Airtel India

This is the second largest mobile operator in India by the number of subscribers. It has good coverage across the country. It is considered the best choice for video calls, voice calls through VoIP programs and for online gaming.

Airtel has options of low-cost Data plans with good traffic margin. For example, prepaid service for 1 day will cost from Rs 19 for 1 GB to Rs 49 for 6 GB, and that's almost unlimited mobile communication.

The second interesting option for a prepaid data SIM card in India is Truly Unlimited Plans combo plans that include a lot of traffic, free minutes and sms. The cost is from Rs 155 for 1 GB for 24 days. The optimal package for a tourist is for Rs 209 for 21 GB/21 days.

Airtel SIM users can conveniently monitor their bill through the Airtel Thanks app (Android/iOS).

VI (Vodafone Idea)

A popular operator in the country, but its coverage is much worse than the coverage of the previous two. There are four options of prepaid tariff plans. Two of them — Data and Unlimited — are the most interesting for tourists.

Data tariffs give a large amount of traffic — from Rs 19 for 1 GB/day to Rs 418 for 100 GB/56 days.

Unlimited tariffs include free talk minutes and varying amounts of available traffic and SMS. More than 30 variants of gigabytes numbers, sms and some other options. A good option is Rs 199 for 1 GB/day for 18 days. Monthly prepayment will cost Rs 319 for 2GB/day (62GB total).

The minimum prepaid period is 2 weeks.

SIM cards in India can be recharged easily at almost all retail outlets. Anyone can install the VI app (Android/iOS) and recharge or check the balance using it.

In general, we can say that communication and the internet in the country are relatively cheap. But the purchase, registration and processing will take time.

A convenient alternative to a physical prepaid phone card in India will be eSIM technology — a virtual SIM card valid throughout India. For example, it takes just a couple of minutes to connect to Yesim. You will get a virtual international prepaid SIM card in India and high-speed mobile internet without interruption across the country.

Read also: SIM vs eSIM: what are the differences and which is better?

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Frequently asked questions about SIM cards in India

Is eSIM available in India?

Yes, eSIM or virtual SIM card is available in India. In 2019, the Indian government lifted the ban on eSIM technology, allowing mobile operators to offer eSIM-enabled devices to customers. Since then, several Indian mobile operators, including Yesim, Jio, and Vodafone Idea, have started offering eSIM services to their customers.

What are the cheapest SIM cards in India?

SIM cards in India are free, but can only be purchased with a prepaid tariff of your choice. The cheapest prepaid SIM card in India is from mobile operator Jio.

Which prepaid Indian SIM cards work outside India?

India international prepaid SIM cards that work outside the country include those from operators Jio, Airtel and VI.