India Digital Nomad Guide: eSIM Plans With Coverage in India

There are three main eSIM plans offering coverage in India that are worth investigating for tourists and digital nomads. Each comes with its own unique benefits and limitations. Different trips, activities, and personal requirements may determine which eSIM is best for different users. There are three main local SIM carriers in India—Jio, Airtel, and Vi (Vodafone Idea). All three local SIM providers operate in a similar capacity and offer similar pricing. There are, however, no eSIM options available directly from the carriers. Instead, users must purchase an eSIM package from a third-party independent provider.

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Airalo

Airalo is one of the biggest names in international eSIMs offering a huge range of different digital SIMs for destinations throughout the world. Over one million travelers, tourists, and digital nomads use their eSIMs on their devices with a trusted platform and a range of local, regional, and global products.

Airalo’s Local Indian eSIM

The Airalo Indicomm local Indian eSIM is one of the most popular products for those specifically traveling to India for between seven and 30 days. The bulk of the local Airalo eSIMs are offered as 30-day packages, but an inexpensive seven-day, 1GB package can be purchased by frugal travelers. A full breakdown of each of the four main packages can be found below:

1GB Mobile Data, 7 Days Validity, $4.50 USD
3GB Mobile Data, 30 Days Validity, $11 USD
5GB Mobile Data, 30 Days Validity, $16 USD
10GB Mobile Data, 30 Days Validity, $27 USD

All of these local plans are data only and function via the Airtel (LTE) network. The option of topping up the eSIM to use more data is permitted.

Airalo’s Regional eSIM

The regional eSIM from Airalo would be perfect for those interested in traveling in both India and the neighboring areas during the same trip. Unfortunately, there are currently no regional eSIMs offered that include coverage in India.

Airalo’s Global eSIM

The only alternative offered to Airalo’s local Indian eSIM is, therefore, the Discover Global eSIM. The Discover Global eSIM offers coverage across 84 different countries (including India) with five main packages detailed below:

1GB Mobile Data, 7 Days Validity, $9 USD
3GB Mobile Data, 15 Days Validity, $24 USD
5GB Mobile Data, 30 Days Validity, $35 USD
10GB Mobile Data, 60 Days Validity, $59 USD
20GB Mobile Data, 180 Days Validity, $89 USD

These eSIM packages are more expensive than the local eSIMs offered by Airalo, but these also offer much more flexibility in the covered destinations. Top-ups are, once again, offered by the company if data runs low at any point during the stay.

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Holafly

Holafly is a company offering international eSIMs in over 160 different destinations, allowing users to access mobile data around the world. It’s quick and easy to sign up, pay for, and install a 4G-permitting eSIM with only a simple QR code required.

The Holafly India eSIM offers a fast and reliable 3G/4G/LTE speed digital SIM that works with the Airtel network. At the moment, there is only a single plan available for travel to India with the following tech spec offered:

6GB Mobile Data, 15 Days Validity, $44 USD

The eSIM reportedly offered good coverage in Agra, Delhi, Jaipur, Bombay, Bangalore, Chennai, and other major cities and tourist destinations throughout India. A phone number, calls, and SMS are not offered in the package.

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Flexiroam

Founded in 2011, Flexiroam has focused on connecting the world with any device for any application. The versatile network spans 520 network operators in more than 200 countries and territories and is one of the most powerful eSIM providers on the market.

Digital nomads, travelers, and tourists traveling to India will be spoiled for choice with a range of both India-specific eSIMs and a selection of worldwide eSIMs offering coverage in more than 150 countries (including India, of course). To activate the eSIM, users should download the Flexiroam app and purchase their chosen plan. This must then be activated within 3 months of the purchase date.

The Flexiroam eSIMs will be connected to the strongest available network at any given time. However, if the user prefers a specific network provider, this can be locked in the app.

Flexiroam India eSIM

The first kind of the two eSIM types offered by Flexiroam is India-specific eSIMs. These SIMs are designed for the Indian market and only function when within the borders. Flexiroam offers 11 different India eSIM packages ranging from a 500MB three-day pass to a 10GB 24-day eSIM. The full list of available packages can be found both below and on the Flexiroam site:

500MB Mobile Data, 3 Days Validity, $3 USD
1GB Mobile Data, 3 Days Validity, $5 USD
1GB Mobile Data, 8 Days Validity, $7 USD
1GB Mobile Data, 15 Days Validity, $10 USD
3GB Mobile Data, 8 Days Validity, $15 USD
3GB Mobile Data, 15 Days Validity, $19 USD
5GB Mobile Data, 15 Days Validity, $26 USD
7GB Mobile Data, 15 Days Validity, $30 USD
5GB Mobile Data, 24 Days Validity, $28 USD
7GB Mobile Data, 24 Days Validity, $32 USD
10GB Mobile Data, 24 Days Validity, $41 USD

The India-focused eSIMs are a better value than the alternative 150+ Country Data eSIMs but are confined only to India. If you plan to continue your travels after India, the worldwide pack may be a better deal.

Flexiroam 150+ Country Data eSIM

The second option offered by Flexiroam for those looking for an eSIM for India is the Flexiroam 150+ Country Data eSIM. These eSIMs are more expensive than the location-specific SIM options available but do provide much more flexibility with the following options available:

500MB Mobile Data, 30 Days Validity, $20.00 USD
1GB Mobile Data, 15 Days Validity, $21.99 USD
1GB Mobile Data, 90 Days Validity, $29.99 USD
2GB Mobile Data, 100 Days Validity, $59.99 USD
2GB Mobile Data, 200 Days Validity, $64.99 USD
3GB Mobile Data, 150 Days Validity, $79.99 USD
3GB Mobile Data, 360 Days Validity, $109.99 USD
5GB Mobile Data, 180 Days Validity, $39.00 USD
5GB Mobile Data, 360 Days Validity, $45.00 USD
11GB Mobile Data, 360 Days Validity, $96.00 USD

If you're country-hopping, compare the cost of buying a different eSIM for every country with a single global plan.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is an eSIM?

An eSIM offers a modern solution to the traditional physical SIM card found in the majority of smartphones today. An eSIM offers the same function as a SIM, but multiple SIMs can be used in a single device. With the technology rapidly advancing, the future of SIM cards is expected to be fully digital—especially with the North American launch of the iPhone 14 featuring an eSIM-only design.

Is my phone compatible with an eSIM?

If you have an Apple iPhone, all devices including the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, and later will support an eSIM. The iPhone must, of course, also be unlocked to allow an eSIM to be used. Android devices vary in how eSIM compatibility can be checked with the navigation of the settings menu required. Alternatively, users can dial and call “*#06#” to view whether or not their phone has a unique EID number.