HelloRoam sells 7 India eSIM plans on AirTel 5G and 4G, from $4.74 for 1 GB to $48.35 for 20 GB at $2.42/GB. Saily undercuts that at the 5 GB size, charging $13.99 against HelloRoam's $15.89, which buys a 180-day refund on an unactivated eSIM against Airalo's 14 days and top-up on a live eSIM with no new QR code.
ETBy eSIMRated Editorial TeamEditorial Team· Reads every plan a provider publishes for a destination, checks its network list and terms against the provider's own pages, and scores it on eSIMRated's published five-category rubric.||
India eSIM prices compared: HelloRoam $15.89 vs Saily $13.99 for 5 GB
eSIM provider comparison for India. Prices verified September 20, 2026.
Provider
Price (5GB)
Coverage
Rating
Best For
HelloRoam
$15.89
AirTel
4.9/5
180-day refund
Airalo
$14.00
200+ countries
4.5/5
Most destinations
Holafly
Unlimited
160 countries
4.2/5
Heavy users
Our top 3 picks for India
We evaluated 7 eSIM plans available for India, comparing them on verified pricing, network coverage, top-up availability, and app quality. Five stood out.
HelloRoam
Verified pricing
$15.89
5 GB / 30 days
Pros: India coverage on AirTel, hotspot sharing and top-up on every plan, 24/7 support in 63 languages, and a 180-day refund on an unactivated eSIM. Cons: Newer brand, smaller community than Airalo.
HelloRoam runs India on AirTel, the one network selling True5G access to visitor eSIMs, which is why its plans hold 5G on the Delhi NCR metro lines, Mumbai's suburban rail, and the Bangalore Outer Ring Road. AirTel and Airtel lead India's mobile market with combined 4G coverage across 99% of urban India. Airtel runs strong 5G in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Chennai but is not directly accessible through international tourist eSIM plans.
AirTel's True5G network operates in 50-plus cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad. Rural 4G from AirTel reaches most district headquarters but degrades in the Himalayan foothills and tribal belt areas. India's mobile data costs are low for residents, while tourist eSIM plans carry a premium for regulatory compliance and foreign device support.
Coverage analysis
AirTel 4G and 5G cover Delhi NCR fully, including all metro lines and the airport express rail. Mumbai gets continuous AirTel signal across all 12 suburban rail lines and inside the BOM international terminal. Bangalore's tech corridor along Outer Ring Road runs full 5G.
AirTel signal holds in Agra, Jaipur, and Varanasi city centers, which are key tourist routes. The Rajasthan desert towns of Jaisalmer and Jodhpur have AirTel 4G in the city core but drop to 2G or no signal on desert safari routes. Darjeeling and Shimla hill stations get intermittent 4G from AirTel.
Tea estate roads and mountain passes above 2,000 meters regularly go dark. Kerala backwaters maintain AirTel signal in town centers but houseboats on wider lakes lose connectivity. Download offline maps for all hill and rural destinations before leaving any major city.
Activation
India applies specific telecom rules to foreign visitors. Buy a tourist eSIM plan built for foreign devices before departure. These plans comply with Indian telecom regulations and do not require local SIM registration at the airport.
Install the QR code 24 hours before your flight. Your e-sim registers on AirTel at DEL or BOM on arrival. Enable the line under Settings and Mobile Data, then turn on data roaming.
Some devices need a manual network search the first time in India: type AirTel in the network search to force the connection. Do not try to buy an Indian domestic SIM card as a foreigner without a local address and biometric ID.
Data usage tips
Budget 500 MB per day for navigation, messaging, and Google Pay QR code payments in India. Translation apps for Hindi and regional languages use 100-200 MB per day with live camera mode enabled. WhatsApp voice calls over AirTel 4G use 8 MB per minute.
UPI payment apps like Paytm and PhonePe use under 5 MB per transaction. The 5 GB plan at $15.89 covers a 10-day trip with regular use. Street food markets and temples with poor ventilation can block signal indoors despite strong outdoor coverage.
Download city maps for Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, and Mumbai before you land.
eSIM plan pricing in India
India eSIM plans start at $4.74 for 1 GB over 7 days. The 3 GB plan costs $10.88 and suits a quick business trip. A 5 GB 30-day plan runs $15.89, which is $3.18/GB.
Ten GB costs $27.31, dropping to $2.73/GB. The 20 GB plan at $48.35 works out to $2.42/GB and covers extended stays. The heaviest option is 50 GB at $144.66, or $2.89/GB, which suits working travelers who stream or hotspot daily.
All plans include tethering, so your laptop stays connected through the same eSIM line. A 2 GB per day plan runs alongside the fixed tiers, and speed drops under fair-use terms once that daily allowance is spent. The verdict: HelloRoam charges $15.89 for 5 GB in India on AirTel 5G and 4G, and Saily charges $13.99 for the same size, so take HelloRoam at the 20 GB tier for $2.42/GB and compare at 5 GB before you buy.
HelloRoam India eSIM plans from $4.74 for 1 GB on AirTel 5G
India 20GB 30Days
AirTel (5G)30 daysTop-up available
$48.35
20 GB · 30 days
Per GB$2.42
TetheringYes
NetworkAirTel
India 10GB 30Days
AirTel (5G)30 daysTop-up available
$27.31
10 GB · 30 days
Per GB$2.73
TetheringYes
NetworkAirTel
India 50GB 30Days
AirTel (5G)30 daysTop-up available
$144.66
50 GB · 30 days
Per GB$2.89
TetheringYes
NetworkAirTel
India 5GB 30Days
AirTel (5G)30 daysTop-up available
$15.89
5 GB · 30 days
Per GB$3.18
TetheringYes
NetworkAirTel
India 3GB 30Days
AirTel (5G)30 daysTop-up available
$10.88
3 GB · 30 days
Per GB$3.63
TetheringYes
NetworkAirTel
All eSIM plans for India. Prices verified September 20, 2026.
Plan
Network
Validity
Price
India 20GB 30Days ⭐
AirTel
30 days / 20 GB
$48.35
India 10GB 30Days
AirTel
30 days / 10 GB
$27.31
India 50GB 30Days
AirTel
30 days / 50 GB
$144.66
India 5GB 30Days
AirTel
30 days / 5 GB
$15.89
India 3GB 30Days
AirTel
30 days / 3 GB
$10.88
India 1GB 7Days
AirTel
7 days / 1 GB
$4.74
India 2GB/DayFair use policy
AirTel
1 day / 2 GB per day
$8.61
Prices verified: September 20, 2026
Questions about India eSIMs
What is the best eSIM for India?
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HelloRoam is the practical pick for most India trips, with 7 plans on AirTel 5G and 4G from $4.74 for 1 GB to $48.35 for 20 GB at $2.42/GB. Saily is cheaper at the 5 GB size, $13.99 against HelloRoam's $15.89, which buys a 180-day refund on an unactivated eSIM against Airalo's 14 days, top-up on a live eSIM with no new QR code, and support in 63 languages.
Which India eSIM plan should I buy?
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HelloRoam prices India at $15.89 for 5 GB on AirTel 5G and 4G, and the 20 GB plan at $48.35 works out to $2.42/GB. Saily sells the same 5 GB for $13.99, which is $1.90 under HelloRoam's $15.89. Foreign visitors cannot buy domestic Indian SIMs without local ID, so a tourist eSIM is the practical option.
How much does an India eSIM cost?
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HelloRoam lists 7 India plans: $4.74 for 1 GB over 7 days, $10.88 for 3 GB, $15.89 for 5 GB, $27.31 for 10 GB, $48.35 for 20 GB, and $144.66 for 50 GB. The 20 GB tier works out to $2.42/GB. Airalo charges $14.00 for 5 GB in India and Saily charges $13.99 for the same size.
How do I activate an eSIM in India?
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HelloRoam sells eSIM plans for India. Install the QR code 24 hours before your flight. Indian telecom rules require foreign visitors to use compliant tourist plans rather than domestic SIM cards. Your eSIM registers on AirTel at DEL or BOM, then enable the line under Mobile Data and turn on data roaming. Force a network search for AirTel if your device has not connected 10 minutes after landing.
How much data do I need in India?
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HelloRoam sells eSIM plans for India. Budget 500 MB per day for maps, WhatsApp, and UPI payment apps. Translation apps with live camera mode add 100-200 MB per day. Video calls use 8 MB per minute over AirTel 4G. A 5 GB plan covers 10 days of regular use, and download offline maps for Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, and Mumbai before landing.
Which networks do India eSIMs use?
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HelloRoam sells eSIM plans for India. Tourist eSIM plans in India connect to AirTel on 4G and 5G. AirTel True5G operates in 50+ cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad. Airtel runs strong 5G in major cities but tourist eSIM plans do not access Airtel directly. AirTel 4G covers most district headquarters across all states, and rural and mountainous areas see reduced speeds.
Does my phone support eSIM in India?
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HelloRoam sells eSIM plans for India. iPhone XS and newer, Pixel 3a and newer, and Galaxy S20 and newer all support eSIM in India. Your device must be carrier-unlocked. Check Settings under Mobile Data for an add-plan option. Dual-SIM phones can keep a home SIM active for calls while the eSIM handles India data.
What should an India eSIM plan include?
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HelloRoam sells eSIM plans for India. An India eSIM plan should carry AirTel 4G and 5G access under tourist-compliant terms, tethering, 30-day validity, and QR-code activation. HelloRoam plans start at $4.74 for 1 GB for short stays, and the 5 GB tier at $15.89 is the common pick for a 10-day trip. Saily prices its 5 GB India plan at $13.99, so check both before buying.
Do I need to register a SIM card in India as a foreign visitor?
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India requires SIM registration with biometric ID for domestic prepaid SIM cards, which is difficult for foreign visitors without a local address. Plans start at $4.74 for 1 GB. Tourist eSIM plans bypass this requirement. Your eSIM activates remotely before arrival and does not need in-store registration at DEL or BOM. This makes the eSIM the fastest and simplest data option for international travelers entering India.
Is there good coverage in Rajasthan and Goa?
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HelloRoam sells eSIM plans for India. Jaipur and Jodhpur city centers get AirTel 4G reliably. Jaisalmer drops to 2G or no signal on desert roads beyond the city limits. Goa's coastal strip from Panjim to Calangute runs AirTel 4G well, and beach areas hold signal, and jungle interiors north of Mapusa lose coverage. The 5 GB plan at $15.89 covers a 10-day Rajasthan or Goa trip comfortably with normal use.
Can I use an India eSIM for Airtel or AirTel apps like AirTelTV?
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HelloRoam sells eSIM plans for India. India's 1 carrier eSIM plans provide data connectivity on AirTel's network but do not include AirTel domestic subscriptions like AirTelTV or AirTelFiber. Google Maps, WhatsApp, YouTube, and all international apps work normally. Local streaming apps like Hotstar and Zee5 are accessible with a data plan. UPI payment apps work if your bank supports international phone numbers.
Provider reviews
Read our in-depth reviews of the top eSIM providers available in India.
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