International roaming plans from Airtel, Jio, and Vi allow Indians to stay connected globally in over 160 countries while keeping their phone numbers active. By recharging with an international roaming plan, travelers can stay in touch with family and friends in India and access high-speed internet without the hassle of getting a new SIM card, which can be expensive and offer limited benefits.
All three major Indian telcos offer plans tailored for various needs, including short-term vacations and week- or month-long business trips. Typically, international roaming must be manually enabled and requires a special recharge plan for calls and data access.
Most affordable international roaming plans in 2024:
Airtel, Jio, and Vi offer international roaming plans with both data and calling benefits or just data benefits. Jio’s most affordable plan starts at Rs 499 per day, offering 250 MB of data and 100 minutes of calling to India for 24 hours. They also have a Rs 1,499 plan with 14 days of validity, 1 GB of data, and 150 minutes of calling to India.
Airtel’s most affordable international roaming plan costs Rs 648 per day, providing 500 MB of data and 100 minutes of calling to India. They also have a 10-day plan for Rs 899, which includes 1 GB of data and 100 minutes of calling to India.
Vi’s one-day plan costs Rs 695 and provides 1 GB of data along with 120 minutes of calling to India. For Rs 995, you get seven days of validity with 500 MB of data and 150 minutes of calling. Out of these options, Jio offers the most value with more benefits at a lower cost.
International roaming plans with one-month validity in 2024:
Jio’s most affordable one-month validity plan costs Rs 3,999, offering 4 GB of data and 250 minutes of calling for 30 days. Airtel’s international roaming plan with one-month validity is cheaper at Rs 2,998, providing 5 GB of data and 200 minutes of calling for 30 days. Both plans also include in-flight data.
Vi’s one-month validity plan also costs Rs 2,998, offering 5 GB of data and 200 minutes of calling. Compared to Jio, Airtel and Vi offer more economical long-term international roaming plans.
International roaming plans with one-year validity:
These plans are ideal for those traveling abroad for work or studies. For Rs 2,799, Jio offers 365 days of validity with 2 GB of data and 100 minutes of calling. Similarly, Airtel and Vi offer a plan with 365 days of validity for Rs 2,997; however, Vi offers 1.5 GB of data with 125 minutes of outgoing calls to India, while Airtel offers 2 GB of data. Airtel also provides 250 MB of in-flight data and 100 minutes of outgoing calls for a day.
Summary of International Roaming Plans 2024:
| Telco | Plan Validity | Price (INR) | Data | Calling to India |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jio | 1 Day | 499 | 250 MB | 100 minutes |
| Jio | 14 Days | 1,499 | 1 GB | 150 minutes |
| Jio | 30 Days | 3,999 | 4 GB | 250 minutes |
| Jio | 365 Days | 2,799 | 2 GB | 100 minutes |
| Airtel | 1 Day | 648 | 500 MB | 100 minutes |
| Airtel | 10 Days | 899 | 1 GB | 100 minutes |
| Airtel | 30 Days | 2,998 | 5 GB | 200 minutes |
| Airtel | 365 Days | 2,997 | 2 GB | 100 minutes |
| Vi | 1 Day | 695 | 1 GB | 120 minutes |
| Vi | 7 Days | 995 | 500 MB | 150 minutes |
| Vi | 30 Days | 2,998 | 5 GB | 200 minutes |
| Vi | 365 Days | 2,997 | 1.5 GB | 125 minutes |