Quick answer
For most trips, a travel eSIM for data plus your Indian SIM on roaming for SMS gives the best value: roughly ₹600–1,300 for 7–10 days of data in Thailand, against ₹1,200–2,500 for an Indian operator's roaming pack. Roaming packs win for very short trips, heavy calling and phones without eSIM. To check eSIM support, dial *#06# and look for an EID number.
Key takeaways
- Travel eSIMs are usually the cheapest way to get data abroad, often half the price of a roaming pack.
- Indian roaming packs cost more but need no setup and keep calls and SMS on your own number.
- Keep your Indian SIM active in the phone for bank OTPs; incoming SMS on roaming is usually free.
- Most iPhones from the XS and XR onwards, recent Pixels and recent Samsung flagships support eSIM; many budget Android phones don't.
- Install the eSIM in India on Wi-Fi, and switch it on when you land.
What are your options?
You have three ways to get mobile data abroad:
- An Indian operator's international roaming pack from Jio, Airtel or Vi, bought in their app before you leave
- A travel eSIM from an international eSIM provider, downloaded to your phone as a second line
- A local physical SIM bought at the destination airport or a phone shop
How much does each cost?
Indicative prices per person at the time of review. Operators and eSIM sellers change prices and data allowances often, so check the current offer.
| Trip | Indian roaming pack | Travel eSIM, data only | Local SIM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai, 5 days | ₹900–2,000 | ₹500–1,200 for 3–10 GB | AED 50–100 (₹1,200–2,400); free tourist SIMs with small allowances are sometimes handed out at Dubai airport |
| Thailand, 7–10 days | ₹1,200–2,500 | ₹600–1,300 for 10–20 GB | THB 300–600 (₹800–1,600) with large data |
| Europe, 15 days | ₹2,500–5,000 | ₹1,500–3,000 for 10–20 GB, multi-country | €15–30 (₹1,500–3,000); EU SIMs usually work across the EU, but not always in Switzerland or the UK |
| USA, 15 days | ₹3,000–5,500 | ₹2,000–4,000 for 10 GB to unlimited | USD 30–50 (₹2,600–4,400) |
Roaming packs usually include some calling minutes and SMS, but their data allowance is often small, a few GB. eSIMs are mostly data-only; you call home on WhatsApp.
When does a travel eSIM win?
- You mainly need data: maps, WhatsApp, ride-hailing apps, translation and bookings
- The trip is a week or longer
- You're visiting several countries, such as a Europe tour, and want one regional plan
- Your phone supports eSIM
Setup takes about ten minutes. You buy the plan in the provider's app or website, scan a QR code or tap install, and the eSIM appears as a second line. When you land, set it as your data line and turn on data roaming for that line only. WhatsApp keeps working on your Indian number, since it's tied to the number, not to the SIM providing data.
When does an Indian roaming pack win?
- Very short trips of one to three days, such as a Dubai long weekend or a stopover
- You need to make and take calls on your Indian number, for work or family
- Your phone doesn't support eSIM and you don't want to swap SIMs
- Older parents who'd rather not change phone settings
You pay for convenience: no setup, your number works as usual, and you buy the pack in your operator's app. The trade-off is a higher price per GB. Without a pack, pay-per-use roaming can cost thousands of rupees in a day, so never land abroad with data roaming on and no pack active.
When does a local SIM win?
For stays of three weeks or more, heavy data use, or when you need a local number for deliveries, restaurant bookings or tour pick-ups. Expect to show your passport at purchase. The catch is that on a single-SIM phone, you lose your Indian number for the trip.
Will your phone support eSIM?
Dial *#06#. If the screen shows an EID number along with the IMEI, your phone supports eSIM. You can also look under Settings, then Mobile network or Cellular, for an option to add an eSIM.
Broadly, at the time of review:
- iPhone XS, XR and later support eSIM. iPhones sold in India still have a physical SIM slot as well.
- Google Pixel phones from the Pixel 3 onwards generally support eSIM.
- Recent Samsung Galaxy S and Z models support eSIM. Some older Indian-market Galaxy models had it disabled, and many Galaxy A and M phones lack it.
- Many budget and mid-range Android phones sold in India still don't support eSIM.
Your phone must also be unlocked. Phones bought outright in India almost always are.
How do you keep receiving bank OTPs?
This is the part people forget. Indian banks send OTPs by SMS to your registered number, and you'll need them for card payments, UPI and password resets.
- Keep your Indian SIM active in the phone alongside the eSIM.
- Turn on roaming for the Indian line but turn data roaming off on it, so it receives SMS without running up data charges.
- Incoming SMS while roaming is usually free with Indian operators; confirm with yours.
- Recharge a prepaid Indian SIM before you go so it doesn't lapse mid-trip.
On a phone with one physical slot and no eSIM, a local SIM means losing your Indian number for the trip, and with it your OTPs. A roaming pack is usually the better choice then.
Install your eSIM in India, on home Wi-Fi, a day or two before you fly, but leave it switched off until you land. Many eSIMs start their validity only when they first connect to a network at the destination.
Worked example: a family in Europe
A Delhi family of four takes a 12-day tour through France, Switzerland and Italy. The two adults need data; the children manage on hotel and coach Wi-Fi.
| Option | Approximate cost for two adults |
|---|---|
| Indian roaming packs | ₹5,000–10,000 |
| Europe regional eSIM, 10 GB each for 15 days | ₹3,000–5,000 |
| Local French SIMs | ₹3,000–5,000, but may not work in Switzerland |
Check that a "Europe" eSIM covers Switzerland, which isn't in the EU. Most regional plans include it, but not all. The Switzerland trip cost guide has the rest of the budget.
What about UPI and payments abroad?
A data connection matters for more than maps. UPI payments abroad, ride-hailing and many attraction tickets need it at the moment you pay. See using UPI abroad for where it works. Add a universal adapter and a power bank to your packing list, since navigation and hotspotting drain batteries fast, and browse our travel guides for more planning basics.
Frequently asked questions
Is an eSIM cheaper than international roaming?
Will WhatsApp work on a travel eSIM?
Will I get bank OTPs abroad if I use an eSIM?
How do I know if my phone supports eSIM?
When should I install a travel eSIM?
Do Indian roaming packs include incoming calls?
How we checked this page
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Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
