Best eSIM for India (2026): prices, Jio, Airtel and Vi, the e-Visa and e-Arrival card

Why India is different

Unlimited is expensive in India. A week of unlimited costs $39.50 at Airalo and Holafly. Nomad sells 5 days for $18, Ubigi a week for $24, and Maya’s global plan is $19.99. For most trips a fixed plan is better value.

All three big networks appear. Ubigi lists Reliance Jio, Nomad lists Airtel and Airalo lists Vi (Vodafone Idea).

Buy and install before you leave. Yesim warns that its app and website may be limited in India because of local regulations, so set up any eSIM at home (see install before you fly).

Quick picks

Step 1: Size your plan for India

Maps, ride-hailing, transit apps and messaging use little data. Uploading photos and videos and making video calls use much more. As a rough guide, maps and messaging use hundreds of megabytes a day, while video and video calls can use several gigabytes. These are general estimates, not measurements.

Step 2: Compare published prices

Unlimited plans by trip length

Lowest listed price in the row — means no plan of that length was listed. Holafly ($9.50) and Yesim ($4.80) also sell a single day. Holafly lets you share data as a hotspot (a 7-day plan includes 7 GB). Nomad sells India unlimited only for 5 or 10 days. Maya sells one global unlimited plan at the same price for every country: $9.99 for 3 days, $19.99 for 7, $27.99 for 14 and $49.99 for 30 (see Maya). Official pages, checked 5 November 2026.

Fixed-data plans

Lowest listed price in the row Validity differs, so compare the small print as well as the price. Where a provider sells the same data amount for several lengths, we show the longest. Airalo also lists shorter versions (for example 10 GB for 7 days at $22.50). Ubigi also lists 10 GB for 7 days ($13) and 60 GB for 12 months ($32). Yesim also lists 30 GB for 30 days at $46.20. Official pages, checked 5 November 2026.

Step 3: Check the fine print

• Networks. Airalo: Vi. Nomad: Airtel. Ubigi: Reliance Jio. Holafly, Saily, Yesim and Maya didn’t name one.
• Unlimited isn’t always unlimited. Ubigi says a fair-use policy may apply. Holafly’s India page limits hotspot sharing to 1 GB a day (a 7-day plan includes 7 GB to share).
• Activation windows. Nomad starts a plan automatically 60 days after purchase if you haven’t used it. Saily says all plans have a 180-day activation period; after that the plan starts automatically. Ubigi’s plan starts when you arrive.
• Hotspot. Yesim says hotspot depends on the operator, and gives 180 days from purchase to activate.
• Yesim access in India. Yesim says access to its app and website may be limited in India due to local regulations, and asks you to buy and install before the trip.
• Saily unlimited. Saily sells unlimited plans here, but we couldn’t read a price for each length, so check at checkout.
• No local number. These plans are data-only. Saily sells an optional US phone number, and Yesim offers a 20-minute calling add-on.

The seven providers

Will your phone work?

• eSIM-capable and unlocked. Apple lists iPhone XS, XS Max, XR or later. Settings → General → About should say "No SIM restrictions" next to Carrier Lock (full checklist).
• Bought in mainland China? Apple says that in China mainland only the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, iPhone Duo, iPhone 17e and iPhone Air support eSIM. Many older mainland models use two physical SIM cards instead, so check for Add eSIM in your settings before you buy a plan.
• Bought in Hong Kong or Macau? Apple notes that certain iPhone models sold there have two nano-SIM slots. Check for Add eSIM in your settings first.
• Install before you fly. Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi and leave the line switched off until you land (install guide).

Install before you fly

Yesim’s India page says that, due to local regulations, access to its app and website may be limited in India, and asks travellers to buy and install the eSIM before the trip. That’s good advice for any provider: install over home Wi-Fi, then switch the line on when you land.

Entry: e-Visa and the e-Arrival card

• Visa. GOV.UK says most visitors need a visa. The official e-Visa site is indianvisaonline.gov.in: you apply and pay online, get the electronic travel authorisation by email, and the visa is stamped at the immigration check post. The site lists e-Tourist, e-Business and e-Medical visas.
• e-Arrival card. India’s official site says foreign visitors should fill in the e-Arrival card online within 72 hours before arrival (on boi.gov.in, indianvisaonline.gov.in or the “Indian Visa Su-Swagatam” app). It isn’t a visa.
• Passport. GOV.UK says it must be valid for at least 6 months after you arrive, with at least 2 blank pages.
• Entry stamp. GOV.UK says to make sure your passport is stamped on arrival; without a stamp you may need an exit permit to leave.
• Cash. GOV.UK says to declare more than US$5,000 in notes, or more than US$10,000 in notes and travellers’ cheques combined, and that bringing in rupees is restricted.

Our take

Affiliate links. Prices are set by the provider and confirmed at checkout.

Before you fly

1. 1

   Buy and install at home

   Check your phone is unlocked and eSIM-capable (how to check), then install on Wi-Fi before departure. With Nomad, don’t buy more than 60 days ahead.

2. 2

   Install at home

   Set up the eSIM before you travel: Yesim warns its app may be limited in India.

3. 3

   Switch on when you land

   Turn on the travel line, enable data roaming for that line, and set it as your mobile-data line.

4. 4

   File the e-Arrival card

   Fill it in online within 72 hours before you land, and keep your e-Visa email handy.