Everyone knows that having internet on a trip to India is a great advantage, not only to share your photos of the Taj Mahal with friends and family, but also to navigate, find restaurants or answer any questions you may have in this wonderful country. Travel eSIM cards for India are the most recommended option to have internet fast, simple and economical compared to other options such as roaming or SIM cards.
In this post we selected the top brands selling eSIM cards in India to save you the trouble of searching for information and help you choose. In addition, we will discuss all their features, such as browsing speed, price, duration of data plans or data sharing.
Below, you can read about all the details of Holafly, Ubigi, SimOptions, Maya Mobile and Airalo, although we can already tell you that our favorite travel eSIM is Holafly because of the confidence their 24/7 multilingual customer service and the quality of their products, which will never let you down, make us feel.
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Comparison of eSIMs for a trip to India
When comparing different eSIM brands we must take into account all the features that will determine if the card fits the needs of our trip. That’s why we prepared this table with all the essential information about each brand to help you choose. Later on we will go into all the important details so that you don’t miss any of the information.
| Brand | Plan duration | Data sharing | Unlimited data | App | GB per plan | Support | Price | Trustpilot | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holafly | 5, 7, 10, 15, 15, 20 and 30 days | No | Yes | Yes | Unlimited data on all plans | In English and other languages, direct chat and WhatsApp | 29€ – 79€ | 4,7 | 4,5 |
| Airalo | 15 and 30 days | Yes | No | Yes | 2GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB and 20GB | In English, via a bot | 8$ – 40$ | 2,6 | 3,8 |
| Maya Mobile | 5, 10, 15 and 30 days | Only in some plans | Yes | Yes | 3GB, 5GB, 10GB and 20GB and unlimited | In English, via email | 10€ – 118€ | 4,7 | 3,7 |
| Ubigi | 30 days | Yes | No | Yes | 3GB, 10GB | By email in 8 languages | 18€ -36€ | 1,8 | 4 |
| Simoptions | 7, 10, 14 and 30 days | No | No | No | 1GB, 4GB, 6GB, 8 GB and 10GB | In English via chat | 9,9$ – 39,9$ | 4,4 | 3,5 |
1. Holafly, eSIM for India with Unlimited Data and multilingual customer support
Holafly is a Spanish company with offices around the world and more than 100 employees that offers the eSIM cards with more data for India. Also, it is one of the best options to buy eSIM cards and travel with peace of mind as it offers a 24/7 customer support service in Spanish, English, German, French Italian and Japanese that responds in less than a minute by chat or WhatsApp, and it is currently the company with the best customer rating on Trustpilot with a score of 4,7.
On Holafly s website you can find 6 unlimited data plans between 5 and 30 days available from 29€.
| Data plan | Price in Euros | Price in US Dollars | Price in Canadian Dollars | Price in Australian Dollars | Price in Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days – Unlimited data | 29€ | 29$ | $37 | $44 | 24£ |
| 7 days – Unlimited data | 37€ | 37$ | $47 | $54 | 34£ |
| 10 days – Unlimited data | 44€ | 44$ | $57 | $64 | 37£ |
| 15 days – Unlimited data | 47€ | 47$ | $64 | $67 | 39£ |
| 20 days – Unlimited data | 59€ | 59$ | $77 | $84 | 49£ |
| 30 days – Unlimited data | 79€ | 79$ | $104 | $114 | 67£ |
The Holafly eSIM cards can be installed easily by scanning the QR code that you will receive by email once you have completed the purchase. The installation can also be done manually without the need for a computer, simply writing a code in the settings of your mobile that you can consult in the mail or in your App, which is very convenient to control the duration of the data plan.
After testing Holafly’s eSIM cards we can say that they are one of the most expensive options on the market, but in the end they pay off because you will not have to recharge again because you will never run out of data. Here we share with you this ranking where we evaluate from 1 to 5 all the features of the Holafly’s eSIM cards for India based on our experience.
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data Sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 4,8 | 3,5 | 3,5 | 4,8 | 0 | 4,5 | 4,5 |
In this post you can read about our experience with Holafly eSIM cards and some users’ opinions: Our review of Holafly eSIM: is it worth it?
| Advantages | They offer data packages by continent and by country. Holafly’s eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install with QR code or manually. They have eSIM cards for 160 destinations. 24/7 technical support in Spanish, English, German, French, Italian, and Japanese. Very flexible pricing. All of its plans for India have unlimited data. Payment can be made in Euros, US dollars, Canadian dollars, Australian dollars, pounds and Mexican pesos. They have App where you can check the consumption and the remaining days of the contract. |
| Inconveniences | Their eSIM cards do not include calls or sms. Holafly’s India eSIM card does not support data sharing. It is not possible to do the installation through their App. |
2. Airalo and their flexible plans
Although Airalo is one of the cheapest brands on the market, the truth is that in the long run it can get expensive since their data plans have very limited gigabytes that can run out at any time, and their customer service takes a long time to respond.
This company, founded in Singapore in 2019 by Turkish entrepreneurs Abraham Burak and Ahmet Bahadir Özdemir, was one of the first to offer these services, and has a wide coverage of countries where they offer eSIM cards.
Airalo’s eSIM card data plans for India have a duration of 7 and 30 days, and prices range from $4.5 to $27. The brand has an App through which you can buy and install the eSIM, and later recharge it when you run out of data.
| Data plan | Price in U.S. Dollars |
|---|---|
| 7 days – 1 GB | 4,5$ |
| 30 days – 3 GB | 10,5$ |
| 30 days – 5 GB | 15$ |
| 30 days – 10 GB | 25$ |
| 30 days – 20 GB | 40$ |
| 15 days – 2 GB | 8$ |
Airalo’s eSIM for India offers 6 data plans for you to choose the one that best suits your trip. We compared customer reviews and feedback on Trustpilot and found that Airalo has one of the lowest scores at 2,6. Here’s the ranking for every aspect of Airalo and in this post you can also read about our opinion of the brand: Our review of Airalo eSIM: is it worth it?
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data Sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 3 | 4.5 | 4 | 4 | 4,5 | 3 | 3,8 |
| Advantages | They offer regional, country or global data packages. Airalo eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install. It is one of the cheapest brands in the market. They offer a wide variety of eSIM cards with different duration, price and gigabytes. They have eSIM cards for 190 countries. Their eSIM card allows you to share data with other devices. They allow you to recharge the eSIM. They have an App and you can buy and install the eSIM from it. |
| Inconveniences | Gigabytes are limited to 10GB or less and do not have unlimited data cards. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes. Their eSIM cards do not include calls and sms. The duration of the data plans is limited to 7 and 30 days. Their services and technical support is exclusively in English and takes a long time to respond. |
4. Ubigi and their eSIM cards for smart cars in India
Ubigi is a different eSIM card provider from the rest of the data plan companies for traveling abroad. While with other brands you have to choose and buy the plan and then proceed to install the eSIM, with Ubigi it’s the other way around. First you can install the eSIM for free and then deposit money depending on how many gigabytes you are going to use. You can pay in dollars, euros, pounds and yen.
On its website and App you will see 2 data plans of 3GB and 10GB, with a duration of 30 days. These eSIMs are intended for people who travel a lot and for long periods. The downside is that all their plans have data limits and you can run out of internet in the middle of your trip.
| Data plan | Price in U.S. Dollars | Price in Euros | Price in Pounds | Price in Yens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 days – 3 GB | 18$ | 18€ | 16£ | 2600Â¥ |
| 30 days – 10 GB | 36$ | 36€ | 32£ | 5100Â¥ |
Luckily, their App works very well and in addition to buying the eSIM from there, you can install and recharge it if necessary. Also, Ubigi’s eSIMs allow for data sharing with other devices
A curious thing about Ubigi eSIM cards is that they also work in cars with internet. Some models of Jaguar, Fiat, Land Rover, Alfa Romeo or Jeep already incorporate this technology.
In this table you can see how we evaluate each feature of Ubigi’s eSIM cards. And if you want to know our opinion about Ubigi eSIMs, check out this post: Our review of Ubigi eSIM: is it worth it?
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data Sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4,5 | 4 | 4 | 4,8 | 4 |
| Andvantages | They offer regional, country or global data packages. Ubigi eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install via the web or App. Ubigi’s eSIM is installed for free from the App. They offer a wide variety of eSIM cards with different duration, price and gigabytes. They have eSIM cards for 190 destinations. 24/7 real time technical support. They offer eSIM cards for smart cars. Their eSIM cards allow data sharing. You can recharge the eSIM card from the App. |
| Inconveniences | The gigabytes are limited to 10GB or less and do not have unlimited data plans. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes. Their eSIMs do not include calls or SMS. They only have plans of 30 days. Their support service is exclusively in English. |
2. SimOptions y their marketplace
SimOptions is an eSIM card marketplace where local mobile carriers in each country sell their eSIM cards. The brand, with offices in Paris, Thailand and Hong Kong, offers data plans for eSIM cards in more than 160 countries and also have regional and global plans.
For India you will find only five data plans of 7, 10, 14 and 30 days with a limit of 1GB, 6GB, 4GB, 8GB and 10GB. The price ranges from $9.9 to $39.9.
The main drawback of Simoptions is that its website is a bit chaotic and the data plans, as they are from different brands, are very disparate and their features vary a lot, not only price, speed or duration, but also technical support, the possibility of recharging or data sharing. This will force you to look in detail at each brand and will make it harder for you to make a decision.
| Data plan | Price in U.S. Dollars |
|---|---|
| 7 days – 1 GB | 9,9$ |
| 10 days – 6 GB | 17,9$ |
| 30 days – 4 GB | 24,9$ |
| 30 days – 8 GB | 34,9$ |
| 30 days – 10 GB | 39,9$ |
Our personal experience is that with SimOptions cards you waste a lot of time comparing different companies they offer. In addition, the price is high, you can only pay in dollars and they can’t guarantee good technical support. Here is the ranking where we score SimOptions eSIM cards from 1 to 5 and we also have a post where you can read our (and other customers’) opinion about the brand: Our review of Sim Options eSIM: is it worth it?
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data Sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 4 | 3 | 3,5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3,5 |
| Advantages | They offer regional, country or global data packages. SimOptions eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install. They have eSIM cards for 160 countries. |
| Inconveniences | Gigabytes are limited to 10GB or less and do not have unlimited data cards. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes. The features of eSIMs for the same country vary according to the brand contracted. Not all eSIM cards allow recharging data. Technical support depends on each brand and good customer service cannot be guaranteed. Speed depends on each eSIM card brand. There is no App to control data consumption. |
5. Maya Mobile, 30-day data plans
This company offers eSIM cards for 5, 10, 15 and 30 days in India. In this case, the price of the data packages varies depending on the gigabytes. In total they have 4 packages of 3, 5, 10 and 20 gigabytes, and another with unlimited data. Maya Mobile’s unlimited data plans have a catch as once the first 2 gigabytes are spent, the browsing speed will drop from 5Mbps to 1Mbps. Prices for the plans range between €10 and €118.
Like Holafly, Maya Mobile is characterized by the speed and simplicity of its sign-up and installation process, which is also done via a QR code received via email. In addition, they have a 100% refund policy of the purchase in the event that the data does not work, which is not usually the case since they have at least two data providers in each country where they offer their services.
| Data plan | Price in U.S. Dollars |
|---|---|
| 5, 10, 15 and 30 days – 1 GB | 10 – 13€ |
| 5, 10, 15 and 30 days – 3 GB | 13 – 17€ |
| 5, 10, 15 and 30 days – 5 GB | 24 – 31€ |
| 5, 10, 15 and 30 days – 10 GB | 43 – 52€ |
| 5, 10, 15 and 30 days – unlimited data* | 36 – 118€ |
On Trustpilot you can see that the brand has an average score of 4.7, but there are hardly any comments. Here we leave you this table with the score for each of the features of their eSIM cards.
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data Sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4,5 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3,7 |
| Advantages | They offer data packages by continents and countries. Maya Mobile eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install with a QR code or manually. They have eSIM cards for 194 destinations. Data plans limited to 3GB, 5GB, 10GB, 20GB, which can run out quickly. Flexible pricing. Rechargeable after 30 days. Data sharing with other devices. Plans for 5, 10, 15 and 30 days. |
| Inconveniences | Their eSIM cards do not include calls or sms. They do not have an App. Technical support in English via a bot. |
Conclusion: what is the best eSIM for India
When we compare eSIM cards for India we can notice that each brand has its own characteristics that in the end will make the difference. That’s why we prepared this section where we share our experience which eSIM card is the best for India.
When we travel we don’t want to run out of data in the middle of our vacation, that’s why eSIM cards with unlimited data are the best option if we want to travel without worries. In India, the only brands that offer unlimited data are Holafly and Maya Mobile, but in the case of Maya Mobile, they are not real as after the first 2 gigabytes per day of the contract the browsing speed drops from 5Mbps to 1Mbps.
Here’s a table to help you make an estimate of the gigabytes you’ll need based on your usual usage.
| Plataform | Gigabyte consumption per hour |
| 0,12GB – 0,18 GB | |
| 0,12GB – 0,18 GB | |
| 0,06 GB | |
| Tiktok | 0,18 GB – 0,8 GB |
| Netflix | 0,3GB – 7GB |
| Youtube | 0,14GB – 1,7 GB |
| Amazon Prime | 0,8GB – 6GB |
The installation process of eSIM cards is always simple and fast, but it is true that there are some companies that make it even easier. The first thing is to check if your mobile is compatible with the eSIM of the brand. This information you can check on the website of each provider, and in the case of Ubigi, when you download the App it informs you if your mobile is compatible.
The purchase of the eSIM for India can be done through the web in the case of some brands such as Holafly or SimOptions, or through the app such as Airalo or Ubigi. Holafly’s website is very intuitive and easy to use, while SimOptions’ is quite complicated to understand and you will have to read a lot.
The only brand that allows the installation through the App is Ubigi, and in the case of Holafly, in the App you can get the code to install the eSIM manually without using a computer. You can also do the installation by scanning a QR code that you will receive by email as soon as you complete the purchase with Holafly, Airalo, SimOptions or Maya Mobile.
On the other hand, it is very important to consider the customer service to help you in the installation process and solve any doubt or problem. Most brands such as Maya Mobile or Airalo have a chat bot that takes a long time to respond and only does so in English. In the case of SimOptions, customer support will depend on the brand of eSIM card you have chosen. In this aspect Holafly’s technical support is the best as it responds in less than 1 minute in Spanish, English, German, French, Italian and Japanese via web chat or WhatsApp.
Many times when we travel we want toshare data with other devices and only some providers like Holafly, Airalo, Ubigi and some SimOptions brands make it possible. But remember that if you share data they will run out sooner.
But one of the most important aspects is price. The cheapest brands are Airalo and Maya Mobile, however, their data plans are very limited and you’re likely to run out and have to pay again with the top-up. That’s why it’s sometimes advisable to pay a little more and get a Holafly eSIM card with unlimited data and the assurance that everything will be fine.
All in all, Holafly eSIM cards are the best choice for travel to India because of their data and multi-language technical support that responds in less than a minute. With Holafly you’ll never be stranded on your trip.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This will cost you nothing but helps us offset the costs of paying our writing team. All opinions are our own. Thank you for your support 🙂 .
Other options to have internet in India
Although eSIM cards are the best option to have internet in India for all the advantages and conveniences they offer, there are also other alternatives as we tell you below. For the moment, here we leave you this table with all the reasons why we prefer to use travel eSIM cards rather than other options.
| Convenience | Immediate delivery and activation upon purchase. Purchase prior to travel. Easy installation; unlike SIM cards, there is no need to remove the original card. You’ll be connected as soon as you land, no need to find a store first. You’ll find tailor-made plans to suit the duration and needs of your trip. No need to rely on batteries, as with Pocket wifi. You won’t have to carry an extra device during your trip, like the Pocket Wifi. |
| Peace of mind | You will have 24h technical support in English, unlike with a SIM or Pocket Wifi. You will not have to worry about forgetting or losing any device other than your cell phone. |
| Security | You will avoid using public wifi networks vulnerable to hacking. You will avoid entering personal data in endless forms to get Wifi. No need to open or manipulate your mobile phone like with SIM cards. |
1. SIM cards for India
SIM cards are one of the most widespread options today, but that does not imply that they are the best option since as we show below they have quite a few drawbacks.
| Advantages | There are a variety of brands and data plans to choose from. Installation is fast. They can be purchased online or in physical stores. You can make calls and send messages with a local number. |
| Inconveniences | It always replaces your regular SIM, which can be lost or damaged. The cell phone must be opened and handled during the installation process. You have to travel to buy it or wait for the card to be delivered. When the contract of your travel SIM expires, it must be replaced by another one. You will not be able to keep your regular phone number. |
In India there are several companies that sell eSIM cards both at the airport and in commercial or tourist areas. The brands you will see most often are Vodafone India, Airtel India, Idea Cellular and Reliance JIO. The price varies greatly depending on gigabytes or contract length, but SIM should not cost more than 300 or 400 INR. Compared to other countries, they are quite cheap. Just be aware of which areas each eSIM works in and remember that not all of them include calls.
2. Rent a Pocket WiFi
Another alternative for connecting to the Internet in India is to rent a Pocket WiFi, i.e. a portable router with which you can access the Internet wherever you go.
| Advantages | Can be used by several devices at the same time. You can choose the gigabyte package that suits you best. No need to install anything on our cell phones. |
| Inconveniences | It is one of the most expensive options. There are few brands to choose from. Contracts are usually of long duration. In addition to the data plan, you have to pay for rental, insurance and shipping costs. The battery lasts 6 hours maximum. If you use it with more people you have to be in the same room. You have to carry it with you wherever you go and you run the risk of losing it. |
One brand that rents these routers in India is TravelersWifi. The price is $7.2 per day and you can connect to 5 devices. It is a global plan that includes many more countries.
This option is interesting when we only need internet in a very specific space, for long periods of time or when we travel with more people, as everyone can benefit from the connection and share the costs.
3. Search for free WiFi networks in India
As you can imagine, this isthe cheapest option. However, as you may already know, it is also the most frustrating option in most cases. Slow connection, time limit or eternal forms promising WIFI after giving all your data. And in India, it’s not exactly easy to find places to connect on the street.
| Advantages | It is free of charge. There is nothing to install on our cell phones. |
| Inconveniences | It is difficult to find free access wifi networks. Public wifi networks are often slow or give connection problems. You often have to fill in forms and share your personal data. Some free wifi networks have limited time. You have to be near the router to connect. These networks are vulnerable to hacking. |
This is an option that should be used with caution for security reasons. Public WiFi hotspots are vulnerable to hacking or cyber-attacks through which they can access your private data. It is therefore recommended to spend as little time as possible connected, use it for specific queries and do not expose personal data.
These are some places where you can find WiFi on your trip in India in case you need it: airports, cafes, restaurants and hotels. There are also APPs that tell you where to find WiFi hotspots, as well as Facebook, which also offers this service.
4. Activate roaming for India
One of the options that is losing more and more popularity due to its high costs is roaming, also known as data roaming. It is the simplest option as you can receive calls and connect to the Internet without having to install anything or change your phone number, however, the bills are very high.
There are several companies offering roaming service in India such as Movistar, Yoigo and Orange. The price is really high, up to 25€ a gigabyte. Think that only for €29 you will get unlimited data with Holafly.
Before embarking on a trip it is recommended to ask your usual carrier about the cost of roaming so that you can compare with other services such as eSIM cards.
If in the end you decide to use another option, remember to turn off data roaming on your cell phones or change the main line in the case of using an eSIM.
| Advantages | There is no need to install anything on our cell phone. There is no need to contract any extra service. You can receive calls, send messages and connect to the internet immediately. |
| Inconveniences | This is the most expensive option. Sometimes it is activated without us realizing it. Not all telephone companies offer this service. |
Frequently asked questions about eSIM cards in India
eSIM cards, also known as embedded Sim or integrated SIM cards, are virtual cards that allow us to connect to the Internet in a foreign country without the need to insert any physical card into our cell phones or devices that can connect to the Internet. This is possible thanks to a chip that the latest generation devices include by default in their hardware that allows you to connect to local mobile companies in the country where you are traveling. Once you have chosen and purchased the eSIM card that best suits you, you will receive an email with a QR code and instructions to activate the card. The instructions are perfectly detailed for all operating systems and devices. Scan the code from your phone’s settings, turn on mobile data and you’re ready to use the internet in India. Sounds easy, doesn’t it?
Most models of popular brands such as Apple, Samsung, Motorola, Huawei or Google are compatible as long as they are recent models. Several iPads are also compatible. However, it is best to consult the website of each provider, where they will indicate all the compatible models.
SIM cards can be purchased in physical stores or online, with delivery times ranging from 48 to 72 hours. There are also companies that offer same-day express shipping.
Most companies offer packages with data limits. Holafly, unlike the others, offers a wide variety of unlimited data packages.
It is best to activate it just before your trip as you will need an internet connection to do so.
Unlimited data plans usually do not allow data sharing, but the plans with a specific number of GB included do.
Holafly is a Spanish company launched in 2018 that you can trust, it has been tested by more than 400,000 customers, travel bloggers and Youtubers. Holafly has been marketing eSIMs since 2019.
Holafly has over 10,000 positive experiences posted on Trustpilot, with a rating of “Excellent” and 4.6 average score.
No, with SIM Options you can find data plans up to 10GB or 20GB, depending on the plan. Once the data runs out, it will be reduced to an unusable speed (128kb).
SIM Options has both positive and negative reviews, and an average Trustpilot score of 3.8 which is lower than Holafly’s.
Maya Mobile is owned by a US company, Maya Virtual Inc. Reviews of Maya on Truspilot are good, 4.5 being its average rating.
Airalo reviews on Truspilot are good, with an average score of 2.6.
Holafly is the brand that offers the most data at the best price. On their website you will find a 6GB plan for 15 days.
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