India eSIM

Airtel with 5G, working the moment you land in Delhi, Mumbai or Goa. No passport copies, no photo, no waiting for a local SIM to be activated.

Network: 4G and 5G, local operators
When your data runs out: Slows to 128 kbps, you stay online
Starts: When you first connect at your destination
Activate within: 90 days of buying
Hotspot: Yes, share with your laptop
Phone number: None, data only (WhatsApp keeps working)
Top-up: Not yet: for more data, order a new eSIM next to this one
Delivery: QR code by email, usually within minutes

How much data for India?

Light is maps, messages and ride apps (about 0.25 GB a day). Normal adds socials and stories (about 0.6 GB a day). Heavy is streaming, hotspot and work: that's unlimited.

Trip	Light	Normal	Heavy
7 days	€10.493 GB, 30 days	€14.495 GB, 30 days	€31.497 days unlimited
14 days	€14.495 GB, 30 days	€19.4910 GB, 30 days	€63.4915 days unlimited
30 days	€19.4910 GB, 30 days	€29.9920 GB, 30 days	€108.4930 days unlimited

The cheapest India plan that covers it. Your phone counts a little differently from the network, so keep some margin. More in our guide: how much data do I need?

Airtel, from the moment you land

The India eSIM runs on Airtel, with 5G in the cities. Airtel is one of India’s two big networks. In Opensignal’s February 2026 report, Jio won the most awards and Best Network, while Airtel led on user experience, including Games. Jio isn’t on this plan. Want two networks? The Global eSIM uses Airtel and Vodafone Idea in India.

eSIM or local SIM?

We’ll be honest: an Indian SIM costs less per GB than this eSIM. The catch is getting one as a foreigner. You need your passport, your Indian visa, a passport photo and a local address, and the counter staff register it all. Then you wait: some get online within the hour, others wait a day or more. SIMs sold without paperwork are registered to someone else and often stop working after a few days.

The eSIM skips all of that. You install it at home and it connects when you land: for your taxi app, your hotel’s address and the message home.

Where you’ll use it

Delhi, Agra and Jaipur: ride apps, maps and train tickets. Most of your data goes here.
Long train rides: signal comes and goes between cities. Download your maps, tickets and something to watch before you board.
Goa and Kerala: beaches, backwaters and lots of photos.
The Himalayas (Ladakh, Himachal): signal is patchy in the mountains. Keep everything you need offline.

How much data for India

Two weeks of normal use (maps, ride apps, messages and socials) comes to about 8 to 9 GB, so 10 GB is the sweet spot. A month is closer to 20 GB. The table above has today’s prices.

On the 3 GB plan and bigger, you stay online at 128 kbps when the data runs out: slow, but enough for messages and maps.

Going on to Nepal or Sri Lanka?

Neither has its own eSIM with us, but Asia 28 covers India, Nepal and Sri Lanka on one QR code. The link opens the Asia page with Asia 28 selected.

Sources: Opensignal, India, February 2026; on SIM cards for foreigners, Travel India Smart. Networks and plans come from our own catalogue.

Networks

Airtel 5G

Our promise

Not installed? Full refund, no questions asked.
Won't connect? We fix it with you. If we can't, you get a new eSIM or your money back.
No QR code within 24 hours? Your money back.

The rules in full

Before you buy

Which network will I be on in India?

Airtel, with 5G. Jio, the largest network, isn't on this plan. The Global eSIM uses Airtel and Vodafone Idea.

Isn't a local Indian SIM cheaper?

Per GB, yes: Indian plans are among the cheapest in the world. But as a foreigner you need your passport, visa, a photo and a local address, and activation can take from a few hours to a day or more. The eSIM works when you land.

Do I get an Indian phone number?

No, it's data only. WhatsApp and your banking app keep working on your own number. Some Indian apps and sites ask for an Indian number to sign up; this eSIM doesn't give you one.

When should I install it?

At home, on wifi, a day or two before you fly. The plan only starts counting when your phone first connects in India.

What happens when my data runs out?

On the 3 GB plan and up you stay online: speed drops to 128 kbps, enough for messages and maps. The 1 GB plan stops when the data is used up. Need more? Order another plan in two minutes; it comes with its own QR code.

How does Unlimited work?

You get 1 GB a day at full speed. After that it's 5 Mbps until your daily allowance resets: enough for maps, socials and video calls. Then the next full-speed GB starts.

Can I keep my own SIM for calls and texts?

Yes. Your home SIM stays in, our eSIM does the data. Turn data roaming off for your home line and you won't get a surprise bill.

What if it doesn't work?

If it won't connect because of a fault on our side or the network's, we fix it with you. If we can't, you get your money back or a new eSIM, your choice. Never installed it? Full refund. The full rules are in our terms.

Travelling further?

One eSIM for the whole trip: these also cover India.

Asia eSIM

Global eSIM

Or a local eSIM for the next country in Asia.

Prices checked against our catalogue on 24 October 2026. Prices include VAT.