Jio vs Airtel vs Vi roaming packs (October 2026) vs a travel eSIM
Every main pack in one table, the cost per GB, and the trips where an eSIM saves you money and the ones where it doesn't.
Jio, Airtel and Vi all sell international roaming packs, and they change often. Here is every main pack in one place, what each costs per gigabyte, and how that compares with a travel eSIM for the places Indians travel to most.
For data, a travel eSIM is usually cheaper: Thailand 5 GB for 30 days is ₹499 on eSIMKite, while Jio's 10-day pack is ₹951 for 4 GB. A roaming pack is the better buy when you need many normal calls on your Indian number. Check first whether your postpaid plan now includes a free roaming trip.
All the packs
| Operator and pack | Price | Days | Data | Calls | SMS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jio, 75 countries | ₹589 | 1 | 1 GB | 100 min | 20 |
| Jio, UAE | ₹898 | 7 | 1 GB | 100 min | 100 |
| Jio, 100 countries | ₹951 | 10 | 4 GB | 200 min | 25 |
| Jio, 132 countries | ₹1,499 | 14 | 2 GB | 100 min | 100 |
| Jio, 100 countries | ₹1,551 | 14 | 8 GB | 200 min | 50 |
| Jio, USA region | ₹1,555 | 15 | 12 GB | 150 min | 100 |
| Jio, 100 countries | ₹2,851 | 30 | 12 GB | 300 min | 100 |
| Airtel | ₹998 | 5 | 4 GB | 150 min | 20 |
| Airtel | ₹1,298 | 10 | 6 GB | 200 min | 20 |
| Airtel | ₹2,998 | 30 | 10 GB | 300 min | 100 |
| Vi iRoamFree | ₹5,195 | 14 | Depends on the country | Depends | Depends |
From FoneArena (13 Jul 2026), TelecomTalk (1 and 6 Aug 2026) and Jio's UAE launch. Country lists differ by pack. Vi lists its 1 to 30 day packs in the Vi app.
Cost per GB: roaming vs travel eSIM
| Destination | Roaming pack | Per GB | eSIMKite | Per GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | Jio ₹951: 4 GB, 10 days | ₹238 | 5 GB ₹499, 30 days | ₹100 |
| Singapore | Jio ₹951: 4 GB, 10 days | ₹238 | 5 GB ₹449, 30 days | ₹90 |
| USA | Jio ₹1,555: 12 GB, 15 days | ₹130 | 10 GB ₹1,099, 30 days | ₹110 |
| UAE | Jio ₹898: 1 GB, 7 days, 100 min | ₹898 | 1 GB ₹299, 7 days | ₹299 |
eSIMKite prices from esimkite.com on 20 Oct 2026.
Unlimited plans change the maths for heavy users: 1 GB a day at full speed costs ₹549 for 7 days in Singapore and ₹849 for 7 days in the USA.
When a roaming pack is the better buy
- You will make many normal calls to Indian numbers. Packs include 100 to 300 minutes; a data eSIM has none.
- Your postpaid plan includes a free roaming trip: Airtel and Vi now offer this.
- Your phone does not support eSIM.
When a travel eSIM is the better buy
- You use more than about 1 GB a day: maps, Instagram, video calls.
- Trips longer than 10 days. Most eSIMKite plans last 30 days.
- Family members on prepaid, where each roaming pack is bought separately.
- You want your Indian SIM only for OTPs, with data roaming off and no pack.
What happens without a pack
| Operator | Calls | Data | SMS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airtel, after the pack runs out | ₹10 a min; international calls ₹45 a min | Blocked | ₹5 each |
| Vi, no pack | ₹21 to ₹399 a min out; ₹30 to ₹315 a min in | ₹650 per MB | ₹15 to ₹25 each |
| Jio, no pack | By country: see Jio's rate list | By country | Incoming free |
Airtel: TelecomTalk, 6 Aug 2026. Vi: myvi.in. Jio: jio.com.
Questions
Is Jio or Airtel roaming cheaper?
For a 10-day trip, Jio's ₹951 pack (4 GB) is cheaper than Airtel's ₹1,298 (6 GB), but Airtel gives more data. Both cost more per GB than a travel eSIM.
Do I need a roaming pack if I use a travel eSIM?
Not for data. You only need one if you want normal calls on your Indian number. Vi prepaid users need the ₹118 pack to receive SMS abroad.
Can I use a roaming pack and an eSIM together?
Yes, on a dual-SIM phone. Use the pack for calls and the eSIM for data.
Which is cheaper for Dubai?
For data, the eSIM: 1 GB for 7 days is ₹299 against ₹898 for Jio's UAE pack. Jio's pack also includes 100 minutes of calls.
Does a travel eSIM give me a phone number?
No. eSIMKite plans are data only. Your Indian SIM keeps your number for calls, SMS and WhatsApp.
- Jio international roaming packs, FoneArena, 13 Jul 2026
- Airtel revises its 5-day and 10-day roaming packs, TelecomTalk, 6 Aug 2026
- Roaming abroad from India in 2026: Jio, Airtel and Vi packs, TelecomTalk, 1 Aug 2026
- Jio launches UAE and USA roaming packs from ₹898, Curly Tales
- Vi international roaming packs and standard rates, myvi.in, read 20 Oct 2026
- Jio standard pay-as-you-go roaming rates (PDF), jio.com
- eSIMKite plan prices, read 20 Oct 2026
Written by the eSIMKite team and checked by Vicky Pathak. Prices checked on 20 October 2026. We sell travel eSIMs, so every outside figure links to where we found it.
Mexico
Canada
UK
Europe
