Which carriers matter, what buying a SIM involves, and when an eSIM is the smarter move.
Reliable mobile internet at better prices than most travel eSIMs, with polished iOS and Android apps and support for making and receiving phone calls.
One of the biggest travel eSIM brands, with a very large destination catalog.
Known for unlimited-data plans in many destinations, at a higher price per gigabyte.
Avoid the pre-activated SIMs pushed in tourist districts like Paharganj in Delhi or Colaba in Mumbai: they are registered to a stranger's ID and typically die after about two days, so only buy where your passport and photo are taken. Activation is not instant, count on a few hours and occasionally up to two days, so plan for your arrival day to be partly offline. The SIM may also expire on the same date as your visa. One more thing: when you activate an Indian number, WhatsApp will offer to switch your account to it; decline unless you actually want to move it.
Best all-round pick for tourists, with the widest coverage including mountains and rural areas and the smoothest airport sign-up process for foreigners.
Often the fastest 5G in major cities, with competitive entry pricing.
A shrinking network with spotty coverage, and often hard to get without a local contact. Best avoided.
KYC rules are strict: you need your original physical passport (not a copy), a valid Indian visa, proof of local accommodation with a full address (hotels are easier than Airbnb), and a live photo taken by staff at the counter. Postpaid is not available to tourists, and a tele-verification call may be required after the signal first appears.
Roughly 2 to 3 times city prices: about INR 800 to 1,000 at airport kiosks versus INR 300 to 400 at a city shop. The markup buys faster activation, English-speaking staff and near-zero risk of being turned away, which is arguably worth it on arrival day.
Guac eSIM covers India with data plans starting from $1.50 per GB and instant activation, so your phone is online the moment you land. Airalo and Holafly are popular alternatives.
SIM cards and eSIM in India