Cheapest eSIM for India
| Rank | Provider | Data | Validity | Price (USD) | Price per GB | Verdict | Get |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MegaEsim Coupon: SUMMER10 |
10 GB | 30 Days | $20.44 | $2.04 | Best value | Get |
| 2 | MegaEsim Coupon: SUMMER10 |
5 GB | 30 Days | $11.20 | $2.24 | Great | Get |
| 3 | MegaEsim Coupon: SUMMER10 |
3 GB | 15 Days | $7.14 | $2.38 | Great | Get |
| 4 | MegaEsim Coupon: SUMMER10 |
3 GB | 30 Days | $7.20 | $2.40 | Great | Get |
| 5 | MegaEsim Coupon: SUMMER10 |
3 GB | 1 Day | $7.56 | $2.52 | Great | Get |
| 6 | MegaEsim Coupon: SUMMER10 |
1 GB | 1 Day | $2.55 | $2.55 | Great | Get |
| 7 | MegaEsim Coupon: SUMMER10 |
1 GB | 7 Days | $2.70 | $2.70 | Good | Get |
| 8 | MegaEsim Coupon: SUMMER10 |
2 GB | 1 Day | $8.12 | $4.06 | Fair | Get |
| 9 | MegaEsim Coupon: SUMMER10 |
3 GB | 3 Days | $22.68 | $7.56 | Very expensive | Get |
| 10 | MegaEsim Coupon: SUMMER10 |
1 GB | 3 Days | $8.99 | $8.99 | Very expensive | Get |
| 11 | MegaEsim Coupon: SUMMER10 |
2 GB | 3 Days | $24.36 | $12.18 | Very expensive | Get |
| 12 | MegaEsim Coupon: SUMMER10 |
3 GB | 7 Days | $52.92 | $17.64 | Very expensive | Get |
| 13 | MegaEsim Coupon: SUMMER10 |
2 GB | 7 Days | $56.84 | $28.42 | Very expensive | Get |
| 14 | MegaEsim Coupon: SUMMER10 |
1 GB | 15 Days | $44.94 | $44.94 | Very expensive | Get |
| 15 | MegaEsim Coupon: SUMMER10 |
2 GB | 15 Days | $121.80 | $60.90 | Very expensive | Get |
| 16 | MegaEsim Coupon: SUMMER10 |
1 GB | 30 Days | $89.88 | $89.88 | Very expensive | Get |
| 17 | MegaEsim Coupon: SUMMER10 |
2 GB | 30 Days | $243.60 | $121.80 | Very expensive | Get |
Cheapest eSIM for India: the numbers
As of 30 August 2026, 21:31 GMT, the cheapest eSIM for India is MegaEsim with 10 GB for 30 Days at $20.44. That is $2.04 per GB, the best rate of the 17 plans we compare from 1 provider. 17 plans include 5G. 17 support top ups. That timestamp is the exact moment of our latest price check, and the table above always shows the live order.
Which mobile networks does India have?
5G now reaches 99.6 percent of Indian districts through more than 486,000 base stations, and the country has over 1.17 billion wireless subscribers.
- Jio: Jio is the market leader with about 477 million subscribers and a 41 percent share, runs a nationwide standalone 5G network, and its users see 5G more than 70 percent of the time.
- Airtel: Airtel is second with about 391 million subscribers and posts the fastest 5G speeds in India, averaging around 212 Mbps downloads.
- Vi (Vodafone Idea): Vi is the distant third, still losing subscribers, but has now brought commercial 5G to a growing list of cities.
- BSNL: BSNL is the state owned budget option whose 4G rollout is finally nearing completion, though its network still trails the private carriers.
India has no real MVNO scene for visitors. Travel eSIMs that roam internationally skip the local KYC paperwork entirely, which saves hours at the airport.
The eSIM plans we compare on this page connect to:
Is 5G available in India?
Jio and Airtel blanket urban India with 5G, with Jio running standalone 5G nationwide and Airtel leading on speed. Vi's 5G is newer and city by city.
How much data do you need in India?
Light use is about 500 MB a day. That covers maps, messages, and some browsing. Normal use with photos, social apps, and short videos runs 1 to 1.5 GB a day. Streaming and hotspot use can eat 2 to 3 GB a day. Here is what each size costs in India right now:
eSIM or a local SIM at the airport in India?
An eSIM is ready before you land. No queue, no shop, no handing over your passport at a counter. Data for India starts at $20.44 on this page, which is hard for airport kiosks to beat. A local SIM still makes sense if you need a local phone number or plan to stay for months. For a normal trip, the eSIM wins on price and effort.
Setting up your India eSIM
Buy your planYou get a QR code by email within minutes of paying.
Install before you flyScan the QR code on wifi at home. Airport and hotel wifi can be weak.
Turn it on when you landEnable the eSIM and turn on data roaming for it, then give it a minute to find the network.
Check the validity clockSome plans start counting at purchase, not at first use. Check before you buy.
Good to know before you land in India
Full KYC is mandatory: passport, valid visa, sometimes photos and a local address such as your hotel booking. Since stricter 2024 rules, some airport vendors also demand a local reference before selling to foreigners, so a roaming eSIM is the low friction backup.
Delhi and Mumbai airports have Airtel, Jio and Vi counters in and around arrivals, but activation takes 2 to 24 hours after document checks. Bring your passport, visa and a couple of passport photos, and note that some Delhi vendors refuse tourists who cannot name a local reference contact.
Jio gives the broadest 5G availability while Airtel is the speed leader, and either works well in cities. Expect the SIM to go live hours after purchase rather than instantly, so plan your airport transfer without local data.
India Travel eSIM FAQ
Everything you need to know about using an eSIM in India
What is the cheapest eSIM for India?
Right now the cheapest option ranked by price per GB is MegaEsim with 10 GB for 30 Days at $20.44. That works out to $2.04 per GB. Prices change often, so the table above always shows the current order.
Which networks will my eSIM connect to in India?
The plans we compare connect to AirTel, Jio. The exact network depends on the plan you pick. Check the plan details before you buy if one network matters to you.
Do India eSIMs support 5G?
17 of the 17 plans we track for India include 5G where the local network offers it. The rest run on 4G, which is still fine for maps, calls over apps, and video.
Can I top up my India eSIM if I run out?
Yes. 17 of the 17 plans here support top ups, so you can add data without buying a new eSIM. The rest need a fresh plan once the data ends.
Will I still receive bank SMS and OTP codes?
Yes, if you keep your home SIM active. Travel eSIMs are data only. Your phone can hold both at once, so leave your normal SIM on for SMS and use the eSIM for data. Turn off roaming data on the home SIM to avoid charges.
Do these eSIMs include a phone number or calls?
The plans we compare are data only, so there is no local number. Calls work fine over WhatsApp, FaceTime, or any app that uses data. If you need a real local number, a local SIM is the better tool.
How many GB do I need for a week in India?
Around 3 to 5 GB covers a week of maps, messaging, and normal browsing. Heavy video or hotspot use needs 1 to 2 GB per day. Today the cheapest plan with at least 5 GB is MegaEsim at $11.20.
Travelling further? Compare nearby destinations
BangladeshFrom$0.90/GB
ChinaFrom$0.67/GB
Hong KongFrom$0.48/GB
IndonesiaFrom$0.48/GB
JapanFrom$0.48/GB
KazakhstanFrom$0.88/GB
Or see every country on the cheapest eSIM index and track weekly movement on the eSIM Price Index.
How we rank
Prices last checked on 30 August 2026, 21:31 GMT across 17 plans. Every plan is ranked by the true cost per gigabyte, not marketing claims. We do not take money for rankings, and providers cannot pay for a higher position. Read the full method on our how we rank page.
Write a review
Used an eSIM in India? Tell other travellers how it went. Every review is read by a human before it appears, and providers cannot buy or remove reviews.