Best eSIM for India

Ubigi is the cheapest fixed bucket at about US$15 for 10 GB / 30 days on Jio. Nomad (~US$21, Airtel) is the pick if you want Airtel’s coverage. Saily and Airalo sit around US$24. Holafly only sells unlimited, from roughly US$39.50 for a week, so it only makes sense for heavy users.

Last updated: 1 Nov 2026 (Pacific/Auckland)Common partners: Jio, Airtel, Vi (Vodafone Idea)

Comparison — India

Approx USD list prices from provider pages and public round-ups, checked late Oct 2026. Prices are in USD — check the current price and your card’s foreign-transaction fees before you buy.

Provider	Data	Days	Approx price	Hotspot	Best for
Ubigi Value	10 GB	30	~US$15	Yes	Cheapest fixed 10 GB; Jio network; 25 GB ~US$25 is the best big bucket
Nomad	10 GB	30	~US$21	Plan-dependent	Airtel network; 20 GB ~US$33; 5-day unlimited ~US$18 for short stopovers
Saily	10 GB	30	~US$23.99	Plan-dependent	Clean app and easy top-ups; network auto-selected (not named)
Airalo	10 GB	30	~US$24	Plan-dependent	Familiar app; Vi or Jio depending on plan; Asia packs if India is one stop of many
Holafly	Unlimited*	7	~US$39.50	Capped (~1 GB/day)	Heavy phone data only; Airtel/Jio; 15 days ~US$63.50, 30 days ~US$111.90

Local SIM vs travel eSIM. An Airtel or Jio tourist SIM is far cheaper per GB, but getting one takes paperwork: passport, Indian visa or e-visa, a photo and a local address, and activation can take a few hours. Airport counters (Delhi, Mumbai) help, but queues after a long-haul flight are common. For a 1–3 week trip, a travel eSIM installed at home gets you online for the taxi ride; for a month-plus stay, a local SIM usually wins on price.

Which network? Jio and Airtel both have strong 4G/5G in the big cities. Airtel tends to be the safer bet in hill stations and smaller towns, which is why Nomad is worth a few dollars more if you’re heading off the main tourist circuit. Most travel eSIMs route traffic through an overseas hub, so some Indian banking and UPI apps may not work — plan on cards or cash rather than UPI.

Quick take

For most travellers, buy Ubigi 10 GB / 30 days. Prefer Airtel’s coverage outside the cities? Nomad 10 GB is about US$6 more. Only pick Holafly if you’ll burn through more than ~2 GB a day. Flying in from New Zealand with stops on the way? Check our eSIM guide for Kiwis overseas and Singapore page too.

Check Airalo Check Holafly (official site) Check Saily (official site) Check Nomad (official site) Check Ubigi (official site) Check Yesim

FAQ

Do I need a local SIM to use UPI in India?

Usually yes. UPI is tied to an Indian bank account and mobile number, so a travel eSIM alone won't get you onto UPI. Carry a card and some cash, or use a tourist UPI wallet if your airport offers one.

Is a travel eSIM cheaper than roaming?

Usually yes — a 10 GB travel eSIM typically costs a fraction of daily roaming passes from home carriers. Heavy users should still compare per-GB prices.

When should I install my travel eSIM?

Install it at home on Wi-Fi a day or two before you fly, but keep it switched off until you land, because many plans start their validity on first connection.

Is 'unlimited' eSIM data really unlimited?

Rarely. Most unlimited plans slow you down after a daily fair-use cap (often 1–5 GB/day) and limit hotspot use. Check the cap before you buy.