eSIM data plans for India

India's plans split two ways. Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea (Vi) carry the fixed data plans, for travellers who want a set allowance and roughly know how much they will use. Jio carries the unlimited plans, priced by the day, suited to a trip built around days rather than data.

Data plans, and what happens when they run out

Each fixed data plan gives a fixed allowance over its validity window: a smaller plan suits a quick visit, and a larger one suits a longer stay or heavier use. If the allowance is used before the days are, the plan stops, and a top-up on the same eSIM starts it again, so a size chosen early in the trip does not have to cover everything alone.

Unlimited by day

The Jio plans are sold as a block of days, with a fair use policy: usage past a daily amount is slowed for the rest of that day. This suits travellers who want a straightforward daily rhythm rather than a total to track, particularly over a short business trip or a brief visit where the exact data used matters less than having every day covered.

Hotspot use

Hotspot and tethering are switched on for every plan here, fixed data or unlimited, so a laptop or a second device can share the same eSIM's connection.

Installing ahead of the trip

The validity clock does not start at purchase or at installation. It starts the first time the eSIM connects to a network in India, so the eSIM can be installed and ready well before departure, with nothing lost by doing it early.

Paying by phone

Digital payments dominate everyday spending in India: UPI-based apps such as Google Pay, PhonePe and Paytm carried about 85% of the country's digital payment volume in late 2025, according to the Reserve Bank of India. These apps need a data connection to work, so keeping your eSIM connected lets you pay this way wherever it is accepted.