eSIM for Diwali Travel to India
If you're flying to India for Diwali [VERIFY: dates around 8–12 November 2026], the short version is: buy a data eSIM before you leave, install it at home, and arrive with working internet. No SIM-card hunting at the airport, no roaming charges from your US carrier.
Here's what we actually sell for India and what you need to know before you buy.
India data plans
All prices are in USD. The day count is the validity after activation.
- India 1 GB — $3.99 — 1 day
- India 1 GB — $4.99 — 1 day
- India Short Trip — $5.49 — 3 days
- Europe Asia and USA 1 GB — $5.99 — 1 day
- Global Special 1 GB — $7.49 — 1 day
If you run out before your trip ends, there are top-up options at $3.99 and $4.99 for 1 GB.
For a five-day Diwali trip, the India Short Trip at $5.49 is the most straightforward starting point. If you need more than 1 GB every three days, stack a top-up or buy multiple plans. The multi-region plans (Europe Asia and USA, Global Special) make sense if you're connecting through another country and want coverage there too.
What the eSIM actually does — and what it doesn't
The eSIM gives you a data-only line. You keep your US SIM in the phone at the same time, so calls and texts to your US number still work normally. The eSIM handles your data in India cheaply; your home SIM handles voice and SMS.
You will not get an Indian phone number with these plans. If an app or a local service needs an Indian number for verification, that won't come from this eSIM.
If you need to receive bank or app verification codes on a US number while abroad, we sell a separate US virtual number for that — it's a different product from the travel data eSIM. [VERIFY: confirm US number product is available and link to it]
How activation works
After you pay, you get a QR code by email — usually within a few minutes. Scan it on your phone to install the eSIM. On recent iPhones, there's a one-tap install option instead of the QR scan. The whole process takes about a minute once the email arrives.
Install it before you board, at home on Wi-Fi. You don't need to activate the data line right away — just having the eSIM installed means you're ready the moment you land. Check your phone settings to make sure data roaming is enabled on the eSIM line.
Your phone must be carrier-unlocked and eSIM-compatible. Most phones bought directly (not subsidised through a carrier) are unlocked, but confirm with your carrier if you're not sure. [VERIFY: add link to device compatibility checker if one exists]
A note on Diwali travel specifically
Diwali is one of the busiest domestic travel periods in India. Trains, flights, and road traffic between cities are heavily congested around [VERIFY: dates]. Mobile networks in major cities generally cope fine, but in smaller towns and during large public gatherings, speeds can slow. That's not an eSIM issue — it's network load. Plan accordingly if you're relying on maps or messaging in a crowd.
Payment options
We accept credit/debit card, PayPal, Alipay, WeChat Pay, and crypto.