The narrative of India boasting some of the cheapest mobile data plans in the world seems to be fading. While still relatively affordable compared to some countries, we are seeing a significant data price hike in the telecom industry. This could be due to various reasons like the intense competition between Jio, Airtel, and Vi. This telco war drove data prices down to record lows in past years. However, it seems that these low prices haven’t translated into high profits for the telecom operators. The shift in recent data prices can also be attributed to the heavy infrastructure investments required to maintain and expand the networks which may not be covered by their revenue.
Whatever may be the reason, the data prices have significantly gone up and the customers are baffled with which plan to choose best. Choosing the right mobile data plan, at this time, can feel like navigating a data jungle. While three major players dominate the Indian telecom landscape- Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea (Vi), each offers a plethora of prepaid plans. Here’s looking at the cheapest option for you. Note these are only data packs which means you get only data with this recharge.
Reliance Jio: Jio offers several plans around Rs 129-200 with limited data (1-2 GB) and validity periods (28-30 days). Jio has 5 data only packs listed on its website. The cheapest one costs Rs 49 and offers 1 day unlimited data. The other plans cost Rs 175, Rs 219, Rs 289 and Rs 359 with 28 days, 30 days, 40 days and 50 days validity respectively.
Airtel: Airtel’s data only pack starts at Rs 11 but it is valid only for 1 hour. It has plans around Rs 22-49 that provide 1GB data with validity ranging for 1 day. These are ideal for occasional web browsing or social media usage. If you need more data, plans priced between Rs 121-181 offer 1GB to 15GB data with validity periods lasting 30 days or up till the existing plan’s validity. These are suitable for users who browse regularly, stream music occasionally, and use social media. For data-hungry users, it offers plans priced at Rs 211 and Rs 311. These plans offer a hefty 1.5GB daily data and 50GB data respectively. These are perfect for streaming videos, downloading large files, and staying constantly connected.
Vodafone Idea: Vodafone Idea)offers a wide range of data recharge packs to suit various needs and budgets. It offers 1GB of data for Rs 22 with a one-day validity, ideal for occasional use. For moderate users, options range from Rs 139 for 12GB data valid for 28 days to Rs 208 for 1.5GB daily data with a 30-day validity. Vi offers plans with substantial data allowances. You can get 6GB for Rs 89 with 7 days validity or Rs 169 plan with 30 days or a massive 50GB for Rs 348 (28 days) or Rs 488 (56 days) for heavy users. There’s even a year-long plan with 50GB for Rs 1189 for those who truly never want to run out. Some Vi plans bundle data with OTT subscriptions. For example, the Rs 202 plan provides 5GB data with a one-month validity and Disney+ Hotstar access, while the Rs 248 plan offers 6GB data for a month with Disney+ Hotstar and Zee5 subscriptions.
