Choosing a best telecom network which caters your need as well as is cost-efficient could be cumbersome process. That’s why we have simplified the work for you, providing you the comparison of recharge plans between Jio, Airtel, BSNL and Vi networks. The page not only compares the plans among the telecom companies but also guides you to choose the best telecom based on your need and location.
Before heading to the core-content of this topic, here’s a brief of the telecom networks with their USPs (unique selling point) which can also aide you in your decision.
Reliance Jio
Reliance Jio, established in 2017, is India’s leading telecom provider, known for its affordable pricing and high-speed connectivity. It revolutionized the market by offering budget-friendly data and calling plans, making mobile internet accessible to millions. Jio provides high-speed 4G and 5G services with extensive coverage across urban and rural areas.
Most plans come with unlimited calls, free SMS, and access to Jio’s suite of apps like JioHotstar, and JioTV, enhancing the overall user experience. Additionally, Jio is among the first in India to roll out 5G services, ensuring future-ready connectivity. Jio also provides AI Cloud storage facility offering 50GB of storage for each SIM-card.
However, some users experience network congestion in high-traffic areas, and indoor coverage may sometimes be weaker. If you’re looking for an affordable, high-speed network with added entertainment benefits, Jio is a strong choice.
Bharti Airtel
Airtel is one of India’s top telecom providers, known for its reliable network, fast internet speeds, and premium service quality. It offers strong 4G and expanding 5G coverage, ensuring seamless connectivity across urban and rural areas. Airtel’s plans include unlimited calls, high-speed data, and added benefits like Airtel Xstream, Wynk Music, and a free Hello Tunes subscription.
The network is praised for its stable performance, especially in indoor coverage and during peak usage hours. Airtel also provides excellent customer service and innovative features like Airtel Thanks rewards, offering cashback, subscriptions, and priority service.
However, its plans are often priced slightly higher than competitors like Jio. If you prioritize a stable and high-speed network with premium features, Airtel is a great choice.
Vi
Vi (Vodafone Idea) is known for its strong voice call quality and decent 4G coverage, especially in urban areas. It offers competitive plans with unlimited calling, high-speed data, and added perks like Vi Movies & TV for entertainment. The network provides unique benefits like weekend data rollover and Vi Hero Unlimited, which includes data backup and OTT subscriptions.
However, Vi’s 4G coverage is weaker in some rural areas compared to Jio and Airtel, and its 5G rollout is slower. If you need a cost-effective plan with entertainment perks and good urban network coverage, Vi can be a suitable option.
BSNL
BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited) is a government-owned telecom provider offering affordable plans, especially in rural areas where private networks may have limited reach. It provides unlimited calling, budget-friendly data packs, and excellent coverage in remote regions.
However, BSNL still relies on 3G/4G services in many areas, and its 5G rollout is yet to expand. The network speed and customer service may not match private competitors, but if you prioritize affordability and rural connectivity, BSNL is a strong choice.
You may also like to read this: Google Pay vs PhonePe vs PayTM – Which one is best to use?
Which Network is best for you?
If you’ve to choose the best network among the telecom companies, it’s suggested to consider these factors: 1) Network Coverage and Reliability 2) Data Speed & Internet Quality, 3) Cost of plans and variety of packages, 4) Value-added services and others.
First and foremost, check which network has the best coverage in and around your area by asking your neighbors or friends. Experiment the network’s call and internet quality, since a low-speed network may cost you time in the daily run. Next comes the cost of recharge plans and the variety of plans the company has. If you’re a cinephile, you may also look for the plans with additional services like JioHotstar or Prime or Netflix subscription. Usually, a cross-sold product / service will cut down the price from what its marked.
Recharge plan comparison for 28 Days
| 1GB / Day | ||||
| Network | Jio | Airtel | BSNL | Vi |
| Price (in ₹) | 249 | 299 | 153 | 299 |
| Data / Day | 1GB/Day | 1GB/Day | 1GB/Day | 1GB/Day |
| Voice Calls | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| SMS | 100/day | 100/day | 100/day | 100/day |
| Validity (in Days) | 28 | 28 | 26 | 28 |
| Other Benefits | JioTV, Jio Cloud | Hellotunes, Blocks Spam | – | – |
| Price / Day (in ₹) | 8.89 | 10.68 | 5.88 | 10.68 |
| Ranking | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 1.5GB / Day | ||||
| Network | Jio | Airtel | BSNL | Vi |
| Price (in ₹) | 299 | 349 | No 1.5 GB / Day plan | 349 |
| Data / Day | 1.5GB/Day | 1.5GB/Day | 1.5GB/Day | |
| Voice Calls | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | |
| SMS | 100/day | 100/day | 100/day | |
| Validity (in Days) | 28 | 28 | 28 | |
| Other Benefits | JioTV, Jio Cloud | Hellotunes, SPAM block, Apollo 24/7 Circle | – | |
| Price / Day (in ₹) | 10.68 | 12.46 | 12.46 | |
| Ranking | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 2GB / Day | ||||
| Network | Jio | Airtel | BSNL | Vi |
| Price (in ₹) | 349 | 379 | 199 | 365 |
| Data / Day | 2GB/Day | 2GB/Day | 2GB/Day | 2GB/Day |
| Voice Calls | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| SMS | 100/day | 100/day | 100/day | 100/day |
| Validity (in Days) | 28 | 30 | 28 | 28 |
| Other Benefits | Free JioHotstar for 3 M, JioTV, Jio Cloud | Hellotunes, Blocks Spam | – | – |
| Price / Day (in ₹) | 12.46 | 12.63 | 7.11 | 13.04 |
| Ranking | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 3GB / Day | ||||
| Network | Jio | Airtel | BSNL | Vi |
| Price (in ₹) | 449 | 449 | No 3 GB / Day plan for 28 days | 449 |
| Data / Day | 3GB/Day | 3GB/Day | 3GB/Day | |
| Voice Calls | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | |
| SMS | 100/day | 100/day | 100/day | |
| Validity (in Days) | 28 | 28 | 28 | |
| Other Benefits | JioTV, Jio Cloud | Airtel Xstream OTT, Hellotunes, Blocks SPAM, Apollo 24/7 Circle | Vi Movies & TV | |
| Price / Day (in ₹) | 16.04 | 16.04 | 16.04 | |
| Ranking | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
Which plan is best for you?
Jio Users
Users who need 1.5GB / day data can go for ₹666 or ₹799 plan instead of ₹299 or ₹579 plan, as it saves nearly ₹33 / month (or ₹400/year).
You can also opt for ₹859 plan which provides 2GB/day for 84 days, which is better than the 1.5GB/day for 28 days plan. In case if you’re ready to a lump amount at once for recharge, ₹2025 plan with 2.5GB/day for 365 days can be a good choice as you get more data for less cost than that of 1.5GB/day for 28 days plan.
Best plan:
- ₹799 – 1.5GB / Day for 84 days
- ₹859 – 2GB / day for 84 days
- ₹249 – 1 GB / day for 28 days
To Avoid: ₹349 and ₹399 plan with 2GB/day & 2.5GB/day for 28 days.
Airtel users
If you’re an Airtel user looking for the most cost-effective data plan, here’s how to make the smartest choice:
1.5GB/day Users: Skip the ₹349 and ₹579 plans. Instead, go for the ₹799 plan which gives you 77 days validity at just ₹10.38/day, better than the ₹579 plan’s ₹10.34/day for 56 days — more value for just a little more money.
You can also consider the ₹859 plan (84 days) — it’s slightly cheaper per day (₹10.23/day) than the ₹579 and ₹929 plans, and gives better long-term value.
2GB/day Users: The ₹649 plan for 56 days (₹11.59/day) is the sweet spot. The ₹979 plan (84 days, ₹11.65/day) is also a good pick if you want a longer validity. Avoid the ₹379 plan — its cost per day is higher at ₹12.63.
2.5GB/day Users: Avoid short-term plans like ₹429 for 30 days (₹14.30/day). Instead, if you’re okay with a one-time lump sum, ₹1,199 for 84 days (₹14.27/day) is relatively better for heavier data usage.
1GB/day Users: Stick to the ₹249 plan (24 days) or ₹299 plan (28 days). They cost almost the same per day (~₹10.38–10.68/day), and are good for light to moderate users.
Best Plans:
- ₹799 – 1.5GB / day for 77 days
- ₹859 – 1.5GB / day for 84 days
- ₹649 – 2GB / day for 56 days
Plans to Avoid:
- ₹349 – 1.5GB / day for 28 days
- ₹429 – 2.5GB / day for 30 days
- ₹379 – 2GB / day for 30 days
Vi Users
Looking to save on your Vi mobile recharge while getting the most data? Here’s a breakdown to help you make the smartest choice:
1.5GB/day Users: Vi’s ₹579 (56 days) and ₹859 (84 days) plans offer excellent per-day value (₹10.34 and ₹10.23 respectively). In comparison, the ₹349 plan for 28 days is costlier per day at ₹12.46 — best to skip that.
2GB/day Users: Avoid the ₹408 plan (₹14.57/day for 28 days). Instead, opt for:
- ₹649 (56 days, ₹11.59/day)
- ₹996 (84 days, ₹11.86/day)
These are better long-term value options for moderate to heavy users.
2.5GB/day Users: This segment is Vi’s most expensive. Both the ₹409 and ₹1,499 plans cost ₹14.61/day and ₹17.85/day respectively — quite steep. These are not recommended unless you have extremely high daily usage.
1GB/day Users: ₹249 for 24 days (₹10.38/day) and ₹299 for 28 days (₹10.68/day) are solid picks for light users. Both offer decent value — pick based on your usage frequency and billing cycle.
Best Plans:
- ₹859 – 1.5GB / day for 84 days
- ₹649 – 2GB / day for 56 days
- ₹249 – 1GB / day for 24 days
Plans to Avoid:
- ₹349 – 1.5GB / day for 28 days
- ₹408 – 2GB / day for 28 days
- ₹409 – 2.5GB / day for 28 days
BSNL Users
BSNL offers competitive pricing but comes with network and 4G availability concerns. Still, for light users or secondary numbers, it’s worth considering.
1.5GB/day Users: BSNL’s ₹151 plan gives 1.5GB/day for 28 days (₹5.39/day) — much cheaper than any private telco. For longer validity, ₹599 gives 84 days of 5GB/day (₹7.13/day for high data), which can be cost-effective for heavy users.
2GB/day Users: ₹198 for 28 days gives 2GB/day (₹7.07/day) — still lower than Jio, Airtel, or Vi. If you’re on a budget and don’t need top-speed data, this is a solid plan.
3GB/day Option (Bonus): ₹247 gives 3GB/day for 30 days (₹8.23/day) — excellent for binge users. BSNL’s plans often include free BSNL tunes, Lokdhun, or Eros Now access.
Annual Plan: ₹1999 gives 2GB/day for 365 days — that’s ₹5.48/day! One of the cheapest annual plans across all networks.
Best Plans:
- ₹151 – 1.5GB / day for 28 days
- ₹198 – 2GB / day for 28 days
- ₹1,999 – 2GB / day for 365 days
Plans to Avoid:
- ₹187 – 2GB / day for 28 days (similar to ₹198, but with fewer extras)
- Any plan in areas with poor BSNL 4G coverage (check before you choose)
Here’s the final comparison across Jio, Airtel, Vi, and BSNL, focused on value, daily cost, and who should choose what. We analyzed all 4 major telecoms on cost/day, data allowance, and validity to find the best options for each type of user.
Best Value for Money (Light to Moderate Users – 1.5GB/day)
| Network | Plan | Validity | Price | Price/day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jio | ₹799 | 84 days | ₹799 | ₹9.51/day |
| Airtel | ₹859 | 84 days | ₹859 | ₹10.23/day |
| Vi | ₹859 | 84 days | ₹859 | ₹10.23/day |
| BSNL | ₹151 | 28 days | ₹151 | ₹5.39/day ✅ |
Winner: BSNL (if 4G is available), otherwise Jio ₹799
Best Long-Term Plan (Annual Packs)
| 365 Days Plan | JIo | Airtel | BSNL | Vi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 GB / day | – | ₹ 3,599.00 | ₹ 1,999.00 | ₹ 3,599.00 |
| Price/day | ₹ 9.86 | ₹ 5.48 | ₹ 9.86 | |
| 2.5 GB / day | ₹ 3,599.00 | ₹ 3,999.00 | ||
| Price/day | ₹ 9.86 | ₹ 10.96 |
Winner: BSNL (best price), Jio if network quality is a priority
Best for Heavy Data Users (2.5GB/day and above)
| Network | Plan | Validity | Price/Day | Add-ons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jio | ₹3599 | 365 days | ₹9.86/day | Jio Hotstar & Jio Cloud (50GB) |
| Airtel | ₹3999 | 365 days | ₹10.96/day | Jio Hotstar for 1 year |
| Vi | ₹1499 | 84 days | ₹17.85/day | Netflix for 1 year |
BSNL doesn’t offer 2.5GB /day plan.
Plans to Avoid (Poor value/day)
- Airtel: ₹349 – 1.5GB/day for 28 days (₹12.46/day)
- Vi: ₹408 – 2GB/day for 28 days (₹14.57/day)
- BSNL: No real “bad” plan, but avoid if 4G is unstable in your area.
Who Should Pick What?
| User Type | Best Option |
|---|---|
| Budget Users | BSNL ₹151 / ₹198 |
| Balanced Users | Jio ₹799 or Vi/Airtel ₹859 |
| Long-Term Value | BSNL ₹2,000 or Jio ₹2,999 |
| Heavy Users | Jio ₹3599 (2.5GB/day) |
(For more such interesting informational, technology and innovation stuffs, keep reading The Inner Detail).
Kindly add ‘The Inner Detail’ to your Google News Feed by following us!
References:
https://www.myvi.in/prepaid/best-prepaid-plans
https://www.airtel.in/recharge-online
https://www.jio.com/selfcare/plans/mobility/prepaid-plans-list