Image: Wikimedia Commons / Tony Webster, CC BY-SA 3.0 (illustrative image — SIM cards, not a product shot).
📌 Key Highlights
- 28 days: Jio, Airtel and Vi all charge ₹349 for their entry unlimited-5G plan — Jio gives 2GB/day, Airtel and Vi give 1.5GB/day. BSNL's ₹225 plan gives 2.5GB/day for 30 days, but has no 5G.
- 84 days: Airtel and Vi start at ₹899 (1.5GB/day); Jio starts at ₹1,028 (2GB/day). The cheapest 2GB/day 84-day plan is Airtel's ₹979.
- Annual: Jio, Airtel and Vi all charge ₹3,599 for 365 days; BSNL charges ₹2,399 for the same validity — about ₹100 a month cheaper.
- New in November: voice-only plans under TRAI rules — Jio from ₹147, Airtel and Vi from ₹185 — with unlimited calls and 300 SMS, and no data at all.
- Caveat: prices and bundled benefits vary by telecom circle, so confirm the exact plan in your operator's app before recharging. Prices checked 6 November 2026.
Best prepaid recharge plans in India November 2026: the 28-day shortlist
If you recharge every month, the ₹349 tier is where the three private operators now line up. All three give unlimited calls, 100 SMS a day and eligible unlimited 5G data for 28 days — the difference is the daily 4G data allowance and the freebies bundled in. Jio gives the most daily data at this price; Airtel and Vi match each other.
| Operator | Price | Validity | Daily data | Unlimited 5G | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jio | ₹349 | 28 days | 2GB/day | Yes (eligible plans) | JioTV, JioCloud, 18-month Google Gemini Pro plan |
| Airtel | ₹349 | 28 days | 1.5GB/day | Yes (eligible plans) | Hellotunes, Adobe Express Premium, Apollo 24|7 Circle, Wynk Music |
| Vi | ₹349 | 28 days | 1.5GB/day | Yes (eligible users) | Weekend data rollover, unlimited night data (12am–6am) |
| BSNL | ₹225 | 30 days | 2.5GB/day | No (4G only) | BSNL Tunes and bundled apps |
BSNL's ₹225 plan is the cheapest way to get a large daily data allowance, but it is a 4G-only network — there is no 5G to unlock, and speeds are lower than Jio and Airtel in most cities. It suits a second SIM, a family member's light-use number, or anyone in an area where BSNL's 4G is the strongest signal. For keeping a number active at the lowest cost, BSNL also lists a ₹107 pack with 35 days of validity, which aggregators list as the cheapest SIM-maintenance option in India — verify it in the BSNL app, as circle availability varies.
One warning that applies to every plan in this article: "unlimited 5G" is not the same as unlimited data. It applies only to plans that list the benefit, only on a compatible 5G phone, and only inside the operator's 5G coverage — and Airtel and Vi both treat very heavy use (above 300GB in a month) as commercial use under their fair-use terms.
84-day recharge plans compared: Jio vs Airtel vs Vi
Quarterly plans are the sweet spot for most people: you pay once, forget about recharging for almost three months, and the per-day cost drops below the monthly plans. Gadgets Now's November 2026 comparison puts the three operators side by side, and the picture is clear — Airtel and Vi are cheaper at the entry level, Jio charges more but gives more data at the same price points.
| Operator | Price | Daily data | Cost per day | Unlimited 5G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airtel | ₹899 | 1.5GB | ₹10.70 | No |
| Vi | ₹899 | 1.5GB | ₹10.70 | Eligible users |
| Airtel | ₹979 | 2GB | ₹11.65 | Yes |
| Vi | ₹979 | 2GB | ₹11.65 | Eligible users |
| Jio | ₹1,028 | 2GB | ₹12.24 | Yes |
| Airtel | ₹1,099 | 3GB | ₹13.08 | Yes |
| Jio | ₹1,199 | 3GB | ₹14.27 | Yes |
All of these include unlimited voice calls and 100 SMS per day. Two details matter more than the ₹50–₹80 price gaps. First, Airtel's ₹979 is the cheapest 2GB-a-day 84-day plan with unlimited 5G — ₹49 less than Jio's equivalent. Second, Vi's ₹899 plan is the only one in this band with weekend data rollover (unused weekday data carries to the weekend) and unlimited night data between midnight and 6am, plus up to 2GB of backup data a month through the Vi app. If your usage spikes on weekends or late at night, those perks are worth more than the headline price. Airtel also sells two entertainment-led 84-day plans — ₹1,199 (2.5GB/day with Prime Video Lite and Xstream Play) and ₹1,729 (2GB/day with Netflix) — but only buy them if you would actually pay for those subscriptions anyway.
Image: Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (illustrative image — a smartphone in use).
Annual recharge plans: recharge once and forget it for a year
Annual plans are where the biggest saving hides. The three private operators all charge ₹3,599 for 365 days — about ₹300 a month — while BSNL charges ₹2,399 for the same validity, which works out to roughly ₹200 a month.
| Operator | Price | Validity | Daily data | Unlimited 5G | Cost per month* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jio | ₹3,599 | 365 days | 2.5GB | Yes | ~₹300 |
| Airtel | ₹3,599 | 365 days | 2GB | Yes | ~₹300 |
| Vi | ₹3,599 | 365 days | 2GB | Yes | ~₹300 |
| BSNL | ₹2,399 | 365 days | 2GB | No | ~₹200 |
| BSNL | ₹2,799 | 365 days | 3GB | No | ~₹233 |
*Effective monthly cost = price ÷ 12, rounded. All annual plans include unlimited calls and 100 SMS a day.
Jio's annual plan gives the most daily data of the three private operators (2.5GB against 2GB) and adds JioTV, JioCinema and JioCloud. Vi counters with 2GB of extra backup data every month on top of its daily allowance. BSNL's ₹2,399 plan is the clear value pick — ₹1,200 less than the private operators for the same validity — but you give up 5G and the fastest speeds, so it fits a secondary number or a budget-first user better than a heavy streamer. BSNL's ₹2,799 plan is the only annual option with 3GB a day under ₹3,000. There are also premium annual tiers: Jio and Airtel both list a ₹3,999 annual plan (2.5GB/day plus bundled streaming and AI benefits), and Vi lists ₹3,699 (with JioHotstar Mobile for a year) and ₹3,799 (with Amazon Prime Lite).
New voice-only plans: the November change worth knowing about
The most useful new development this month has nothing to do with data. Under a TRAI mandate, Jio, Airtel and Vi must now sell standalone voice-and-SMS packs — so if you mainly call and text, you no longer have to buy a data bundle to keep your number alive. Airtel moved first in mid-October, ahead of TRAI's 21 October deadline; Jio and Vi followed with short-validity packs from 30 October.
| Validity | Jio | Airtel | Vi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22–25 days | ₹147 (22 days) | — | ₹179 (25 days) |
| 28 days | ₹177 | ₹185 | ₹185 |
| 30 days / calendar month | ₹196 / ₹197 | ₹203 / ₹206 | ₹203 / ₹206 |
| 84 days | ₹448 | ₹469 | ₹470 |
| About a year | ₹1,748 (336 days) | ₹1,849 (365 days) | ₹1,849 (365 days) |
Every voice-only plan includes unlimited calls and 300 SMS for the validity period (1,000 SMS on Jio's 84-day plan, 900 on Airtel and Vi), with no mobile data. Jio is cheapest on every short and medium validity — ₹147 is the lowest-priced voice-only pack in India — but over a full year Airtel and Vi work out cheaper per day, because their ₹1,849 covers 365 days against Jio's 336 days for ₹1,748. These plans are ideal for a parent's phone, a second SIM kept for OTPs and banking, or anyone who uses Wi-Fi for data and only needs the number to stay live.
Why it matters for India readers
Two things changed the maths this year. First, tariffs rose 10–20% over last year, so the plan you have been auto-recharging since 2025 probably costs more than you think — the annual ₹3,599 tier is the clearest example of the new pricing. Second, the voice-only packs and the 5G eligibility rules mean the cheapest plan and the right plan are no longer the same thing: a ₹349 plan without 5G eligibility is worse value than a ₹349 plan with it if you own a 5G phone, and a ₹2,399 BSNL annual plan is a bargain only if BSNL's 4G is strong where you live and work.
Coverage should decide before price does. Opensignal's 2026 India network report, linked in the sources below, names Jio the most reliable network with the fastest consistent speeds, while Airtel leads on gaming, voice-app and upload experience; Vi's 5G has improved through 2026 and now covers 17 priority circles, and BSNL has brought 97,213 of its 98,557 4G sites live (as of 31 July 2026). Before switching operators to save ₹50 a month, check the signal at your home, office and daily commute — a cheap plan on a weak network is the most expensive mistake in this list.
Which plan should you pick?
- Heavy data user with a 5G phone: Jio ₹349 (28 days) or Jio ₹1,028 (84 days) — the most daily data at each step, with unlimited True 5G.
- Best value 84-day plan: Airtel ₹979 — the cheapest 2GB-a-day plan with unlimited 5G.
- Weekend and night usage: Vi ₹899 — rollover and night data beat a small price difference.
- Recharge once a year: BSNL ₹2,399 if you want the lowest bill; Jio ₹3,599 if you want the most data plus 5G.
- Calls only, or a second SIM: Jio ₹147 (22 days) or Jio ₹177 (28 days) voice-only — the cheapest way to keep a number active.
- Just bought a new phone? Pair the plan with a handset that fits your budget — see our best phones under ₹20,000 in India guide, or the best smartphones under ₹30,000 in India if you want 5G at a mid-range price. The Tecno Spark 50s 5G at ₹19,999 is one of the cheapest ways to get on a 5G plan at all.
Should you care?
Verdict: ✅ Yes — if you recharge every month, this is a five-minute check that can save you ₹1,000+ a year. The three private operators have converged on the same prices (₹349, ₹979, ₹3,599), so the decision is now about data allowance, 5G eligibility and perks — not the price tag. The two moves that pay off most are switching a monthly recharge to an 84-day or annual plan, and moving a calls-only number to a voice-only pack. Just verify the exact plan in your operator's app first: prices and benefits vary by circle, and a plan that looks cheaper on paper is worthless on a weak signal.
FAQs
Which is the cheapest 84-day recharge plan in India?
Among the regular daily-data combo plans, Airtel and Vi have the cheapest 84-day options at ₹899, with 1.5GB of data per day, unlimited calls and 100 SMS a day. Vi's ₹899 plan adds weekend data rollover and unlimited night data for eligible users. Availability and exact benefits can vary by telecom circle.
Which recharge plan is best for 365 days in India?
For the lowest bill, BSNL's ₹2,399 annual plan (2GB a day, 365 days) is the cheapest — about ₹200 a month. For the most data with 5G, Jio's ₹3,599 plan gives 2.5GB a day with unlimited True 5G. Airtel and Vi also charge ₹3,599 with 2GB a day. Choose on coverage and 5G needs, not price alone.
Which is the best prepaid recharge plan in India in November 2026?
There is no single best plan. For most 5G phone owners, Jio's ₹349 (28 days) or Airtel's ₹979 (84 days) are the strongest all-rounders. For the lowest annual cost, BSNL's ₹2,399 wins. For calls-only use, Jio's ₹147 voice-only pack is the cheapest. Match the plan to your daily data use and your operator's signal where you live.
What is the cheapest way to keep a SIM active in India?
BSNL's ₹107 pack with 35 days of validity is the cheapest listed SIM-maintenance option, and Jio's ₹147 voice-only pack (22 days, unlimited calls and 300 SMS) is the cheapest among private operators. For a full year, Airtel and Vi's ₹1,849 voice-only plans (365 days) work out cheapest per day at about ₹5.07. Always confirm the pack in the operator's app, as circle availability varies.
Takeaway
November 2026's prepaid market is a tie on price and a contest on benefits: ₹349 a month, ₹899–₹979 a quarter, ₹3,599 a year at Jio, Airtel and Vi, with BSNL undercutting them all at ₹2,399 a year. Pick by data, 5G eligibility and coverage — and if you only call and text, the new voice-only packs from ₹147 are the first plans that stop charging you for data you never use.
Before you recharge, open your operator's app and check the exact plan for your circle — prices and bundled benefits change by region, and the app shows what your number actually gets. We will refresh this list next month with December 2026's prices.
Sources
- Jio — Prepaid recharge plans (official plan page)
- Airtel — Prepaid recharge plans (official plan page)
- Gadgets Now — Which 84-day recharge plan is the best: Jio, Airtel or Vi? (updated 5 November 2026)
- Cashify — BSNL vs Jio vs Airtel vs Vi plans: which is the best? (annual and 84-day comparisons)
- PaisaBazaar — Jio vs Airtel vs Vi vs BSNL: best recharge plans 2026 (28-day and annual tables)
- MobiGyaan — Airtel vs Jio vs Vi voice-only plans: which one costs least? (1 November 2026)
- Opensignal — India Mobile Network Experience, February 2026
Comments
Post a Comment