It is said that planning a trip to India is a challenge, but the experience is definitely worth it and we know that those little challenges are part of every trip. However, we also know that the last thing you should worry about is how expensive it can be to get cellphone service abroad. So to make your trip easier, today we introduce you to eSIMs, a new way to travel always connected, without the need to use a pocket wifi and without having to pay excessive roaming charges.
In this article, we will teach you everything you need to know about eSIMs, from how they work, the providers on the market, and even a comparison of their plans and prices. The goal is that with this guide you can better organize your trip to India and enjoy it to the fullest.
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What you should know about the Indian eSIM card
eSIMs are SIM cards that work virtually, but before we go into detail about their benefits or where to buy them. The first thing we recommend you to check is their minimum requirements, since there are still mobile devices that are not compatible with this technology.
- Start by checking that your cell phone is compatible with eSIM and also make sure that the operator or provider with which you are planning to buy your eSIM card is compatible. We anticipate that the iPhone XR or newer versions are preferred by virtual SIM providers.
- Keep in mind that you must have an email address in order to register and receive your eSIM.
- Remember that to activate your eSIM you must have an internet connection, as your eSIM profile will be downloaded from the operator’s servers, this can be done in India, from a Wifi point.
- Something else important to know is that some providers will ask you to install their App to download the eSIM.
- You receive it immediately in your email.
- No passport or ID required.
- Immediate installation through QR code.
Mobile eSIM card providers for travel to India
The next thing to do is to know the suppliers available on the market. The important thing to know about these companies is that they sell eSIMs to be used for tourism or business trips abroad.
- HolaFly
- TravelSIM
- Flexiroam
Rates and data plans from eSIM providers for travel to India
The following are the plans and prices of the companies mentioned above, the idea is that with the data presented below, plan and choose the best option according to your travel plan and budget. The variation in prices may be due to several reasons, from the coverage itself, to the plans and payment methods available for each of these companies.
Holafly plans and prices in India
- 6GB for 15 days at 44 USD
TravelSIM plans and pricing in India
- 3GB for 30 days at $49.00 USD
Flexiroam plans and pricing in India
- 7GB for 24 days at 32.00 USD
- 5GB for 15 days at 25.00 USD
- 3GB for 8 days at 15.00 USD
Comparison of eSIM providers to India
| Supplier | Data | Days | Price | Support | Sales channels |
| HolaFly | 6GB | 15 | 44 USD | Spanish, English, German, French | Web |
| TravelSIM | 3GB | 30 | 49.00 USD | English, Spanish, Portuguese | Web |
| Flexiroam | 7GB | 24 | 32.00 USD | English | Web, Play Store, App Store |
| Flexiroam | 5GB | 15 | 25.00 USD | English | Web, Play Store, App Store |
| Flexiroam | 3GB | 8 | 15.00 USD | English | Web, Play Store, App Store |
Features of eSIMs for travel to India
After going through the plans and prices, you will surely be ready to buy your virtual card, and let us tell you, it’s fantastic. The only thing left to do is to review the features offered by the eSIM, because as you may have detailed, its operation is totally virtual and because of this it differs in several aspects of the traditional physical SIM.
- Most eSIM cards do not offer analog calls, only data. But with the plans offered, you can communicate by voice using Apps such as Skype or WhatsApp. However, confirm this with your provider.
- eSIMs can only be installed once, so if you experience problems with your virtual card, do not remove it from your phone, instead contact your eSIM provider.
- Keep in mind that some eSIMs may configure the APN automatically.
- You can add several data plans on your iPhone, this depends on the available memory, although it is only possible to use one at a time.
- Some eSIMs allow you to share data.
- With your dual SIM iPhone, you can keep your local SIM when you travel. Remember to set up your iPhone to avoid surprise bills.
eSIM coverage for travel to India
When planning your trip to India, another important point when purchasing an eSIM or any other type of device that provides internet, is the coverage, since you can find yourself with a super affordable plan, but with a very bad coverage in the place of your stay.
Therefore, we encourage you to review the following coverage maps of the companies: BSNL, Idea Cellular, Reliance Communications and Tata DOCOMO, as these are the companies with the largest coverage in India.
Coverage map of BSNL operator in India
Coverage map of Idea Cellular operator in India
Coverage map of Reliance Communications in India
Tata DOCOMO operator coverage map in India
Local mobile operators offering eSIM in India
If you are a resident of India and wish to have an eSIM card with data plan and minutes you can do it and here we present the operators that offer this service in India. Remember that users who opt for the purchase of the virtual card must meet certain requirements and carry out certain procedures that each operator has stipulated.
Having said the above, the companies that provide Indian residents the possibility to purchase or change the physical chip to an eSIM are:
- Airtel
- Reliance Jio
- Vi
Frequently Asked Questions about eSIM for India
Thank you for making it this far! We hope you found this article useful. We’ve prepared some common questions travelers often have when purchasing an eSIM for travel to India. If you have more, drop us a line in the comments!
The local eSIM from Airtel or Reliance Jio are mainly intended for people residing in India. The international eSIM for India from Holafly or TravelSIM, is used to connect to the Internet during your travels to India.
It is not necessary to present a passport, some providers do require your address. This applies only to the tourist eSIM. Not for the eSIM offered by Airtel or Reliance Jio, who will ask for your information.
Yes, eSIMs for India will allow you to share your data to other devices. However, we recommend that you check with the provider’s customer service.
After installing the virtual SIM profile you must choose it as the default cellular medium, turn on data and roaming and your virtual SIM should be working.
Yes, just like physical cards, virtual SIM cards also have an expiration date.
The days start counting from the moment you activate your eSIM by scanning the QR code on your phone.
India’s eSIM compatible mobiles are increasing every day. Remember that if you reside in a European or Latin country and plan to travel to India, it is imperative that you carry a cell phone compatible with both eSIM and its bands, otherwise, you will be left without service in this country and will be forced to rent or buy a new cell phone.
These are the mobiles on which you will be able to install and activate an eSIM India . Make sure the eSIM provider supports it first: iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone SE 2020, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S20, Samsung Galaxy S20+, Samsung Galaxy S20+, Samsung Galaxy S20+ Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S21, Samsung Galaxy S21+, Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, Huawei P40, Huawei P40 Pro, Google Pixel 3a, Google Pixel 3a XL, Google Pixel 4, Google Pixel 4a, Google Pixel 4a, Google Pixel 4a XL.
The eSIM is the evolution of traditional SIM cards. The operation of the eSIM is due to a chip inserted inside the cell phone, which allows storing and configuring the profile.
