eSIM for India
A prepaid travel eSIM that gets you online the moment you land in India. You install it from a QR code we email you, in about five minutes, with none of the in-person paperwork a local SIM still demands.
- 52 data plans work in India, from $3.99. Prices checked November 3, 2026.
- 16 plans cover India only. 36 more cover it along with nearby countries such as Nepal and Bangladesh.
- Most plans start when you first use data, so you can install at home before you fly. A few start at install, and the tables mark them.
- Data only, with no local phone number. Your home number stays on your regular SIM.
Prices by data and trip length
Prices in US dollars, checked November 3, 2026. The plan page shows the current price before you pay.
| Data | 7 days | 15 days | 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | $3.991 GB, 7 days | $5.993 GB, 15 daysAsia plan, 15 destinations | $7.993 GB, 30 days |
| 3 GB | $5.993 GB, 15 daysAsia plan, 15 destinations | $5.993 GB, 15 daysAsia plan, 15 destinations | $7.993 GB, 30 days |
| 5 GB | $8.495 GB, 15 daysAsia plan, 15 destinations | $8.495 GB, 15 daysAsia plan, 15 destinations | $12.995 GB, 30 days |
| 10 GB | $13.9910 GB, 30 daysAsia plan, 15 destinations | $13.9910 GB, 30 daysAsia plan, 15 destinations | $13.9910 GB, 30 daysAsia plan, 15 destinations |
| 20 GB | $24.9920 GB, 30 daysAsia plan, 15 destinations | $24.9920 GB, 30 daysAsia plan, 15 destinations | $24.9920 GB, 30 daysAsia plan, 15 destinations |
Plans for India only
Every size and length sold for India alone, without other countries:
| Data | Length | Price | Network | Starts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $3.99 | 4G LTE | On first use |
| 1 GB | 14 days | $4.99 | 5G where available | On first use |
| 3 GB | 5 days | $5.49 | 5G where available | On first use |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $7.99 | 4G LTE | On first use |
| 5 GB | 15 days | $8.99 | 5G where available | On first use |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $12.99 | 4G LTE | On first use |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $14.99 | 5G where available | On first use |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $26.49 | 5G where available | On first use |
| 25 GB | 30 days | $39.99 | 4G LTE | On first use |
| 30 GB | 30 days | $34.99 | 5G where available | On first use |
Plans for short trips
Plans that last less than a week, cheapest first for each length:
| Length | Data | Price | Covers | Starts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days | 3 GB | $5.49 | India only | On first use |
Plans for India and nearby countries
- Asia plan, 15 destinations, including Bangladesh and China: from $5.99 for 3 GB over 15 days.
- Regional plan, 21 destinations, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and China: from $13.99 for 7 GB over 30 days.
- Regional plan, 80 destinations, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan: from $5.99 for 1 GB over 14 days.
- Regional plan, 98 destinations, including Sri Lanka and China: from $41.99 for 13 GB over 365 days.
- Global plan, 132 destinations, including Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan: from $7.49 for 1 GB over 7 days.
Network and plan details
- 15 of the 52 plans connect at 5G where the local network and your phone support it. The rest use 4G LTE.
- Of the 52 plans for India, 46 start when you first use data and 6 start when you install the eSIM.
- Your data goes out to the internet from the UK on 18 plans, Singapore on 10 and Hong Kong on 6. 18 do not say. Websites usually see that place as your location.
- Hotspot sharing works on every plan here.
- The catalog does not name the local network for these plans.
- Capital: New Delhi
- Country calling code: +91
- Plans: 52, from $3.99 to $89.99
Getting a local SIM in India means handing over your passport and visa at a shop, filling in a KYC form, and then waiting hours, sometimes a full day, for activation. A travel eSIM skips all of it. You arrive with working data already on your phone, which matters most in the first few hours when you need a cab and a map.
What you can use the data for
Ride-hailing. Uber and Ola both run on data and are the safest way to get from the airport into the city at night. You watch the route, share the trip, and pay in the app.
Maps. Google Maps is reliable across Indian cities for driving and walking, and it is how you avoid the worst of the traffic. It needs a connection the whole time.
WhatsApp. Almost every conversation in India happens on WhatsApp, from your hotel to your driver to the guesthouse owner in Goa. Staying reachable means staying on data.
Payments. Many places show a UPI QR code rather than taking cards. Even if you pay cash, you will want data live to confirm bookings and call ahead.
Where it works
Coverage roams on India's national networks, which are strong across the cities and the main tourist routes:
- Delhi (DEL) and the Golden Triangle through Agra and Jaipur
- Mumbai (BOM) and the west coast
- Bengaluru (BLR), Hyderabad (HYD), and Chennai (MAA)
- Goa (GOI) and the beach belt
- Kolkata (CCU) and the main rail corridors
City and highway coverage is strong. It gets patchy in the Himalayan foothills, the desert interior of Rajasthan, and remote rural districts. For a trek in Himachal or Ladakh, download offline maps and expect long gaps with no signal.
Common situations
Tourist on the Golden Triangle or in Goa
Activate at the airport, open Uber or Ola, and skip the queue at the SIM counter entirely. A mid-size data plan covers a one or two week trip with maps and WhatsApp running all day.
Business in Bengaluru or Hyderabad
Keep email and calls live between meetings without depending on office or hotel wifi. The eSIM runs beside your home SIM, so your work number still rings.
Visiting family
If you live abroad and fly back to see relatives, a travel eSIM means you are reachable on WhatsApp from the moment you land, with no shop visit and no KYC delay.
How to install your eSIM before you fly
- Buy the plan. The eSIM arrives by email, usually within a minute. Install it at home on Wi-Fi with the one-tap link or the QR code in the email. 6 plans start counting at install or purchase, and the tables mark them. Install those close to your flight.
- Name the line India and keep it off until you land. Do not delete it after setup, because an eSIM installs only once.
- On arrival, turn the line on, choose it for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it. Turn off data roaming on your home line.
Screen by screen steps for iPhone and Android are in our travel eSIM install guide.
Phones that work
Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked. Check your model on our compatibility page.
Common questions
How much does an eSIM for India cost?
Plans start at $3.99 for 1 GB over 7 days. A plan with at least 10 GB for 30 days starts at $13.99. Prices checked November 3, 2026.
Is there an unlimited data eSIM for India?
Not right now. The largest plan for India has 50 GB of data.
Is there a plan for India only?
Yes. 16 plans cover India only, from $3.99. 36 more cover it together with other countries.
Can one eSIM cover India and nearby countries?
Yes. 9 plans cover both India and Nepal, from $7.49. 27 cover India and Bangladesh. The section above lists the regional plans.
When does the plan start counting days?
It depends on the plan. Of the 52 plans for India, 46 start when you first use data and 6 start when you install the eSIM. The plan page shows the rule before you pay.
Does the eSIM come with a phone number?
No. These plans are data only, and your home number stays on your regular SIM.
Do I really avoid the SIM KYC process?
Yes. A local Indian SIM requires you to register your passport and visa in person and wait for activation. This travel eSIM is bought online and works on arrival, with no KYC form and no queue.
Can I use Uber and Ola with it?
Yes. Both run entirely on data, which is the safest way to travel from the airport at night. You will have a connection the moment you land.
Will it work in the mountains or the desert?
City and highway coverage is strong, but remote Himalayan and desert areas have long gaps. Download offline maps before treks in Himachal, Ladakh, or rural Rajasthan.