5 Best 4G Internet Plans Available in India

83 thoughts on “5 Best 4G Internet Plans Available in India”

1. If your phone is unlocked yes you can. In India the popular SIM is the nano one, so yes it should fit in. Jio is your best bet for the best data service.

2. Hi Kartik! I am traveling from US to India for a month. I have an iPhone X from Tmobile. Do you think I can use an Indian sim in that phone?

   Do I have to get it unlocked or would an indian sim work?
   I am hoping to make video calls often, what data plans in India do you recommend?

3. IDEA will get soon a *Guinness book of world record award”

   Because of it’s world worst network (Drop Signal/ No Signal) Coverage and it’s slowest internet Speed.

   ideacares knows for it’s False promises

   Kaleem Khan

4. Hi Mani,
   Thanks so very much for this detailed review. I’m travelling to India for two months in December spending time in Goa, Karnataka and Kerala. I fly into Mumbai from Canada. Do you think I can get a sim card and set up my unlocked phone at the airport when I arrive? Would the Idea Nirvana plans work for me? Very grateful for any advice and looking forward to reading the rest of your blog!

5. Could you tell if any Unlimited data(no restriction) with 4g speed on dongle is available with any operator in India?

6. Hi Raghu, Your best bet would be to get a prepaid plan. Keep it recharged with a plan that has validity for the time you are in US. Example, if you are visiting India in Jan through March, get a plan with validity through 3 months. Then when she’s flying to US, make sure you recharge it for the time she’s there. That way you can keep using the number when she’s visiting India.

7. Hey Mrudula, I’m in Kochi as well now. I’d suggest Jio or AirTel. I use AirTel and it works great in the city. Unless you are roaming around to distant areas, these two are your best bets.

8. Hi I have moved to kochi and wanted to use a 4g card in the iPad for connecting to the net as Wi-Fi might not be available . What card do u suggest

9. My mom spends time between India and US. Mostly in US and may be 4-5 months in India once every year to year and half. Data needs are minimal unless I am visiting for 2-3 weeks. What are the best plans to keep the same number with minimal cost for most of the time and change to a better usage plan. How do I keep the phone number active if she is out of the country for more than a year at a time?

10. Hi Yuvraj,

    Yes there is a Kiosk in Delhi Airport where if you give your passport etc you can get a mobile connection. You can go to Jodhpur from Delhi in the same day but it will take up to 10 hours. Plan it accordingly.

    Enjoy your stay in India!

11. Hello Mani
    I live in Mission Viejo, 55 mikes south of Los Angeles. I will be in India this April for 4 months. I will be in Rajasthan most of the time, but will be taking vacations to other states of India.

    I an USA citizen and also have PIO (person of indian origion ) ID card from India. Can I get indian SIM card in Rajasthan ( Jodhpur). I will be landing in Delhi, and go to Jodhpur same day? What do I need to get sim card?
    .

    I don’t have any other Indian Id card.
    I need Data and phone access on my mobile phone.

    Thanks.

    Yuvaraj Yadav

12. If you’re in Mumbai and Hyderabad, I’d recommend Jio Daulton. With Jio data is generous but expect some call drops though.

13. Hi Karthik,

    I will be visiting Mumbai and Hyderabad and looking for a good and stable connection as will be communicating on video a lot….

    Will be In India for two weeks …..what would you recommend…..

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20. Hi
    I need plan with 1gb per day or around
    That and its okay without calls and messages and at an average rs 150 per month is ok i live in bangalore
    I searched many plans but only jio comes to my needs but i think it is no permanent if i am wrong please reply me

21. Hi Mani,

    You seem to be extremely knowledgeable concerning mobile SIMs in India.
    I am planning to visit India early next year and seek to get an instant 4g connection SIM upon arrival at Mumbai airport. Would you know of any Indian operator that offers a e-kyc at the airport, if I show them my Aadhar card?
    Your help will be deeply appreciated. Thanks.

22. Hi Mani,

    A really in depth coverage of mobile network choices! Quick question, Do you have any idea if I will be able to purchase any of these from Jaipur international airport as I will be arriving there and moving around for 3 weeks or so. Thanks!

23. With 40 GB monthly consumption, I think you are better off taking a 4G mobile connection instead of dongle/hotspot. Hotspots have limits on data but mobile network’s are slightly generous with about Rs.799/monthly for 40 GB (AirTel). I think that is your best bet.

24. Hi
    I am residing in a urban area, need an wifi internet connection without daily limits like 1 GB or 2 GB for a month, may be monthly usage is hardly 30 to 40 GB, Suggest me a good plan also what is the future of 4G network, if I buy any such dongle, whether it would be useful for atleast next 2 to 3 years.
    Earlier i used MTS 3G dongle 40 GB limit.

25. Hi Upas,
    I would recommend AirTel or BSNL.
    Have a good trip!

26. Hi Mani,
    Thanks for the clear and detailed article.
    We plan to visit India for 3 weeks and will be visiting, Hyderabad, Varanasi, Rishikesh, Jim Corbett national park, Moradabad and surrounding areas.
    we are looking for a reasonable data plan with good connectivity.
    which SIM do you recommend?

27. Hi,
    I hope you understand that unlimited is not technically unlimited. There will be FUP limits after which your speed will be throttled down. I use AirTel and it’s great in the city and well connected regions. BSNL WiMax is a good option but there are connectivity and frequent network disruptions reported widely. I would suggest making a decision based on where you are located.

28. Hi Mani,

    I would like to buy an unlimited wifi dongle plan with no fixed data by day. Just unlimited per month. I previously used MTS unlimited . Is buying BSNL wimax is good option,? or go with vodafone, jio, airtel.

    Please advise….

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30. Yes, I’ve mentioned it here – https://manikarthik.com/blog/10-best-high-speed-internet-broadband-plans-in-india/technology/

31. Perhaps. Again, it depends on your location. Prepaid plans have gotten a lot more aggressive now and you might have more unlimited (or in effect unlimited) options now to choose from.

32. Jio is probably your best option. But find out if it is available in your area.

33. Depends on your location. If you are in the metros or cities, you have a lot more options like Jio/AirTel as opposed to rural areas where the connectivity is not that great and options are less.

34. Haha, true. Disruption is always good for the industry. More competition, more brands, more offers and at the end the end-user/consumer gets benefited. 🙂

35. Thank you for this wonderful info. Jio rocks! Thanks to Mukesh Amabani

36. Which company very good service data

37. Maximum how many GB can I use a pen that is speed with a slow down

38. I need unlimited Internet plan mobile

39. Hi, only BSNL is what you can rely upon. No hidden charges, good speed all across India and truly unlimited. All others are liars

40. Hi,

    What about BSNL 1099 unlimited plan? Looks like it’s the best plan in the market with great speed without any restrictions and unlimited too.

41. I bought the Jio 4G VoLTE device but its performance was dismal with a connection speed of only 1Mbps .This is not a 4G device at all.However this was a part of the free offer and I only paid for the device. I am planning to visit India again in September 2017.Do you think it is wise to pay for a prepaid plan and this might actually deliver 4G speed once the promotional free period is over?

42. In present situation bsnl stv 1099 which give us 250 balance if done by stv .. is best Internet u can have .. if range allows .. it’s unlimited 16mbps /2 mb per sec .. for online gamers .. xbox users and you tubers .. jio is not dependable .. others have no unlimited plan and robs your money with .. call drops and so many offers and bad service

43. Best one is bsnl I play online .. I do load 60 to 170 gb in xbox 1 for each games .. without unlimited net there’s no use .. bsnl gives 16mbps with stv 1099

44. Hello Mani,
    Kudos! You are running an awesome blog!
    I am living in Pune, Pimple Gurav area ( currently abroad but will be in Pune next week).
    Want to get good reliable internet at home.
    Heard Airtel is so far best by most reviews I read/heard around.
    Could you please guide what is the difference in connectivity/reliability for HotSpot, Wifi-Router, Broadband (wired), dongle plans?
    My main purpose is to do work from home, so reliability and connectivity is IMP.
    Data limit and download speed (video etc) is not that IMP but ya, speed is IMP from work point of view (emails, website access, online meetings, remote ssh etc)

    Thanks & Regards,
    Nikhil

45. Hi Mani,
    I plan to visit India for about 3-4 weeks max and I would be in different places like Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Raipur, Indore, and some interior places in West Bengal. I would need kinda uninterrupted unlimited internet from 6:30PM to 2:30AM Indian Time in order to connect to my work through VPN. For day time use I don’t think I would need more than 4-5 GB of data. Can you please suggest me which 4G connection I should opt for which I can use in order to create a WiFi Hotspot on my phone so that I can use that HotSpot to connect my laptop? What’s the average speed offered on these 4G networks at the peak time and during the evenings and late nights?

    Currently I’ve an Airtel 3G SIM which has a terrible speed, so I’m looking for a better option. I use this SIM for International Roaming as well. I’m wondering if I move to Reliance Jio can I port my number and use the Reliance Jio for international Roaming? Currently I pay Rs150 to keep the number active on International Roaming and I don’t mind paying for activating International Roaming on the Reliance Jio SIM and paying comparable fees for keeping the number active on International Roaming. Any thoughts?

    Looking forward to hearing back from you soon.

46. Super and clear explanation! 🙂

47. For no limit at all you will need to get a corporate plan Ramesh. Most regular plans mentioned above comes with FUP limits. Please check the ones mentioned in the list above.

48. Dear Mani,

    I am staying in Andhra Pradesh and I would like to check with you for the unlimited internet access, which means there should not be any limit for the internet. Please suggest the service providers in this respect with the cost. Please do note that cost does not matter in this respect.

49. Hey Prakash,

    Kerala has a lot of option. However connectivity in interior areas could be a problem. If you are traveling to interiors, then you will find that BSNL is the only option, but through out the cities, AirTel and Idea are good options. Kerala is a great place to stay, I hope you enjoy your stay. Let me know if you need any help. Cheers!

50. Hi Mani,

    I will be in Central-Eastern Kerala for 30days (esp in Pathanamthitta District) with my Android, heavily dependent on internet. Could you please suggest the best plan and ISP I should use?

51. From what is available now, Reliance Jio. There’s some uncertainty on what’ll happen after Dec 31st though. AirTel is a good option too.

52. Hi Mani,
    I am planning to be in Delhi. Got a nexus 6p. Very heavy internet user. What is the best carrier for me ? Reliance JIO ? Thank you for helping out a lot of us out there with your recommendations.

53. I need wireless internet connection please suggest which is best at thergaon kunal residency chinchwad Pune 411033 arena

54. Thanks Suraj.

55. Excellent review sir.

56. Hey Harmon, you got a great name there!

    From my experience and my friends over at Kochi, AirTel is probably the most reliable. I know that you won’t get the broadband outside the city, but assuming that you are in the “dug up” area, you will and that’s the best broadband you can get in Kochi. For gamers, I would assume you need a decent customer service too. BSNL may not be your best bet. Peakair looks great on paper, but if I was you, I would ask them a thousand questions on availability, speed, guarantee etc. And if possible, get things in writing. Because new players are always a risk and unless you have a bunch of new happy customers, I wouldn’t want to be the crash test bunny.

57. Sir ,
    Can you please tell me the best broadband internet provider in kerala,cochin ? I am big online gamer so the ping (latency) matters a loot to me … Airtel gives me very high ping …. The is one new provider here known as peakair .. Will that be good ?? … And is bsnl fiber good for gaming ??? Pls reply … Thank you

58. AirTel and Reliance are both good for you but it really depends on your usage. Do you move around a lot or use it primarily for office/home purposes?

59. If you can email me the exact location/city, I might be able to find what network is available at your place. Thanks

60. Dear Sir
    I would like to inform you that during the past 20 years back I was using Unlimited Broad Band connection from BSNL, Shillong, Meghalaya. As of now, I am shifting my resident to a new constructed building which is 17km far away from Shillong City. In this new location which I am staying, there is no Broad Band facility and no Internet Net work is available either from 4G, 3G, 2G or from any of the company.
    In View of the absence of the internet facility in this new location which is 17 km far away from Shillong. I am therefore to request you to kindly provide me the latest internet equipments either Unlimited Broad Band connection or Internet Wifi connection so that I can enjoy the facility as usually enjoy in the previous area in which I was staying.
    Thanking you once again and assuring you of my best services at all times.

61. Hi, In London, you have contract based phones if you are going to live there for some time. If you are only visiting, then it’s a different case. If it is for just contacting relatives, I recommend using a VOIP service like the ones mentioned here.

62. hello sir,
    currently i’m using airtel nd in a month we are moving to london may i know best sim to use there for contacting my indian relatives. I use internet alot for watching nd downloading movies nd tele shows nd I use social networks alot.
    pls help me sir

63. Hi Mani,

    Thanks for such information,I need your help to decide my internet plan,
    I am NRI, coming to India in Dec.2016, I am very heavy internet user(always on youtube)And also I need internet package to work through company VPN.I usually stay in South Maharashtra(Solapur)and Hyderabad
    So please suggest me which data package/provider is suitable for me, for a month?

64. 4G is more speedy than 3G and has better streaming, speed etc. But you need to have compatible handsets for it.

65. Why 4G is required to replace 3G, what kind of users should opt for it, which particular usage would make it compulsory to have 4G and 3G wont work.

66. sir i live in pune as well as latur …….which one should i use??
    also tell me which should i use if i live only in latur or pune seperately??

67. Hi Gopi,

    Hotspot may not work in remote areas. Best way to check it is see if AirTel has network in that area online, (see https://www.airtel.in/opennetwork/). Even though cities have strong signals, AirTel (or any other provider) does not have carpet coverage in remote areas. In certain cities like HYD, I’ve seen that even the signal strength is different inside and outside the house. Currently, our infrastructure is not sufficient to provide seamless coverage, but I’m sure it will change in the future.

68. I would like to get Airtel 4G hotspot. I travel between Andhra Pradesh and Bangalore.
    Would the hotspot work in remote areas where there’s no 4G network?

69. Rahul, before even getting your hopes up high, let me tell you that getting a red carpet coverage is almost non existent in those parts. Connectivity differs from city to city even with a difference of few kilometers. Having said that, I would recommend BSNL if you are looking at coverage even at the remotest places. But if you’re mostly within city limits, then AirTel is a good option. They’re really good within core city limits and not so good in the remotest parts but given your travel route, it looks more like a feasible solution.

70. Hi Mani,

    Thanks for your time and such a valuable article. I’ve just moved back to India and I use Vodafone currently. I live in North Kerala around 100KM from Karnataka border. Vodafone has suddenly gone bust, and we barely get signal and coverage. Call drops have become a common issue. I’m really looking to switch to another network and I can’t decide. I extensively travel between Karnataka (Bangalore mostly) and Kerala (Cochin mostly). What other network would you recommend which can give me coverage for both states. Mobile Internet (3G is sufficient) is also important, so keeping these in mind would you be able to recommend me something.

    Appreciate your time, and looking forward to hearing from you.

    Regards
    Rahul

71. Best 4G Network In Gujarat

72. I will suggest AirTel’s 4G plan Jalaluddin.

73. Hi Vikas,

    Try the AirTel 4G Hotpost.

74. Sir i live in mp.i want 4g sim in good connectivity.. plz choose network company name….

75. Hi Anurag,

    I suggest you go for Reliance or AirTel. They have comparatively better customer service (not amazing but you know). But at the same time, their plans may be a little pricier.

76. Hello, Sir I am a Anurag,

    And can u pls pls pls tell me about a Unlimited internet plan because I am really a heavy User
    I dont know How much I use but my Net is on 24×7 whole year. So i want a good internet plan currently I am using BSNL which is really bad ( in support and other things) like if something went wrong your 1 week is just gone hoping when the net will be back soon and this happens about every month. I am sure about it. So if u could pls find a plan for me that is Unlimited in UP East. that will help a lot pls. and love ur site bro. I am a new visitor but as it is said – The first expresion in the last expresion. Keep up the good work.

77. I want 4G for normal use at home. Which one do U suggest ?

78. AirTel is a good option in Hyderabad. Little expensive but their starter plans are good.

79. Hello !

    I need your help. Below mentioned bands are compatible with my Samsung S7 Edge.
    But when contacted my service provider (Delhi), they are saying that my phone is not compatible with the 4G Band they are providing. They are saying something like, they are providing 2300 Mhz TDD and my phone is of 850 Mhz FDD. Is it true ?. If so, which service provider should I go. Phone is of latest features..

    4G bands
    LTE band 1(2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 4(1700/2100), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 12(700), 13(700), 17(700), 18(800), 19(800), 20(800), 25(1900), 26(850), 28(700), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500) – G935F

    Regards,

80. It turned out to be a hoax and not valid information Anand – Wish BSNL came up with the 50 Rupees 4G offer soon. There is huge demand for it.

81. Go for AirTel Anshuman.

82. Hi..I hv a new 4G enabled android OS phone..I m from Hyd..planing for a new simcard … So what’s the best option for me..

83. I think the best one is BSNL. When is the 50 Rupees plan available?