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Hello friends, We hope you are enjoying our articles. Today, we are going to publish a different type of article. If you want to know which is the best mobile SIM network in India then go ahead and read this post till the end.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, India is the 2nd largest populated country in the world after China. You can see more about the population of India here.



You might have experienced that your mobile signal becomes much poorer when you move to a different room or place or you’re in a moving vehicle. It is one of the big problems for Indian telecom operators to provide its services with consistency in every corner of the country.
Now all telecom companies are trying to improve their services. Not only trying to improve their services but also reducing their plan rate. According to BCC, India is at the top where data is cheapest compared to other countries.
In India, there are around 8 big and small mobile network operators offering prepaid and postpaid services but all can’t top the charts. So, let us look at the top 6 best mobile network providers in India.
Top 5 Best Mobile SIM Networks in India 2020
These are the top 5 best cellular networks available in India:
#1 Airtel India



Bharati Airtel is the best mobile operator in India in our opinion. As of 31 October 2019, Airtel has 141.66 million subscribers. Airtel provides some of the very good internet speeds and with its solid coverage. You can say that Airtel is second next to BSNL in terms of remote regional availability in India.
Airtel achieved a Speed Score of 10.14. With average download speeds of 11.51 Mbps and average upload speeds of 3.41 Mbps, Airtel won the Ookla Speedtest Awards for mobile network speed during Q1-Q2 2018.



Now due to increased market competition, they are offering data at an affordable price and voice for FREE where Reliance charging 6p/min when you call to other networks.
Airtel also offers other popular services such as Airtel Money (a digital wallet like Paytm), a savings bank account (Like Paytm Payments Bank), online bill payment, DTH, Airtel Internet TV, and internet broadband.
As per OpenSignal, Airtel is the fastest 4g network in India, you can check their popular plan below:
Popular Airtel Plans & Benefits
Price | Benefits | Validity |
₹49 | ₹38.52 Talktime | 28 Days |
₹149 | TRULY unlimited Local, STD & Roaming calls on any network, 2GB Data & 300 SMS | 28 Days |
₹249 | TRULY unlimited Local, STD & Roaming calls on any network, 1.5GB/Day, 100 SMS/Day | 28 Days |
₹399 | TRULY unlimited Local, STD & Roaming calls on any network, 1.5GB/ Day, 100 SMS/Day | 56 Days |
₹449 | TRULY unlimited Local, STD & Roaming calls on any network, 2GB/ Day, 100 SMS/Day | 56 Days |
₹598 | TRULY unlimited Local, STD & Roaming calls on any network, 1.5GB/ Day, 100 SMS/Day | 84 Days |
₹2398 | TRULY unlimited Local, STD & Roaming calls on any network, 1.5GB/ Day, 100 SMS/Day | 365 Days |
Here are the pros and cons of Airtel:
Pros
- Strong urban and rural coverage
- 4G Connectivity
- 2G available for feature mobile
- Good customer support
- Truly Unlimited Local, STD & Roaming calls (No charges over voice calls)
- Solid network
- VoLTE Available
- Free Live TV subscription
Cons
- Price is high compared to Jio
After a lot of research, we found Airtel provides the fastest mobile internet in India, however, it’s plans are a bit costly. You can choose Airtel if you can afford it and the coverage is good enough in your area.
#2 Reliance Jio



Reliance Jio is the largest and fastest 4g network in India. The company owned by India’s one of the richest men Mukesh Ambani. He has invested about 1.5 Lakh Crore initially. Unlike other mobile service providers in India, they directly started only 4G LTE (Long-Term Evolution) services all over India.
Jio first offers voice over Long-Term Evolution (VoLTE) service which was a great revolution on voice calls. When Jio first launce, it offered unlimited free voice calls and unlimited data for 1 year with FREE Live TV and more. Due to those attractive offers, they build a large customer base quickly.
Jio’s owner Mukesh Ambani promised that you’ll always have to pay the cheapest rate compared to other SIM companies. Under Jio Prime membership it offers extra benefits which are surely exciting for the customers.



Jio claims that they have the world’s largest data network based on data consumption. They are providing 3 GB/Day + Unlimited (100 / day) + Unlimited Jio to Jio and 1000 Minutes Jio to Non-Jio Call + All it’s premium apps (Jio TV, Jio Cinema, Jio Cloud, Jio News, Jio Security, and Jio Health Hub) for free at just for ₹349 only for full 28 days.



Popular Reliance Jio Plans & Benefits
Price | Benefits | Validity |
₹98 | Unlimited Onnet Call (Jio to Jio), Offnet call 6p/Min & 2GB Data | 28 Days |
₹129 | Unlimited Onnet Local, STD & Roaming calls, 1000 Min Free Offnet call then 6p/Min, 2GB Data & 300 SMS | 28 Days |
₹149 | Unlimited Onnet Local, STD & Roaming calls, 300 Min Free Offnet call then 6p/Min, 1GB Data/Day & 100 SMS/Day | 28 Days |
₹199 | Unlimited Onnet Local, STD & Roaming calls, 1000 Min Free Offnet call then 6p/Min, 1.5GB Data/Day & 100 SMS/Day | 28 Days |
₹249 | Unlimited Onnet Local, STD & Roaming calls, 1000 Min Free Offnet call then 6p/Min, 2GB Data/Day & 100 SMS/Day | 28 Days |
₹399 | Unlimited Onnet Local, STD & Roaming calls, 2000 Min Free Offnet call then 6p/Min, 1.5GB Data/Day & 100 SMS/Day | 56 Days |
₹444 | Unlimited Onnet Local, STD & Roaming calls, 2000 Min Free Offnet call then 6p/Min, 2GB Data/Day & 100 SMS/Day | 56 Days |
₹555 | Unlimited Onnet Local, STD & Roaming calls, 3000 Min Free Offnet call then 6p/Min, 1.5GB Data/Day & 100 SMS/Day | 84 Days |
₹2119 | Unlimited Onnet Local, STD & Roaming calls, 12000 Min Free Offnet call then 6p/Min, 1.5GB Data/Day & 100 SMS/Day | 365 Days |
Here are the pros and cons of Reliance Jio:
Pros
- Good 4G Coverage
- Low tariff plans rate
- Free subscription to its premium Apps
- VoLTE Available
- Customer Support
- Voice Call Quality
Cons
- No 2G network available for feature phone
- Need VoLTE to call JioCall App as an alternative
- Voice Call is not Free
- Good but not best 4G Coverage
You can say that Reliance Jio is the best 4g network in India also the cheapest network in India. Reliance Jio is the network provider that I currently use because of its good coverage & seed in our area. You can also use Jio if the coverage is good enough in your area.
#3 Vodafone India



Vodafone is one of the best mobile networks in India. Not only in India but also in the globe. Currently, Vodafone providing its services in 28 countries including India, UK, Australia, Netherlands and more.
If you are searching for the best telecom network in India, you can go with Vodafone. According to Statisa, Vodafone was the second largest mobile telecom provider in India with over 212 million subscribers as of June 2017.
It is also the world’s second-largest mobile telecommunications company measured by both subscribers and 2013 revenues and had over 434 million global subscribers in March 2014.



Now, Vodafone is providing 1 year ZEE5 subscription worth rs. 999 with their unlimited plans. The cheapest Vodafone unlimited plan is ₹19 only where you will get unlimited calling to any networks 150 MB data & FREE ZEE5 subscription. The plan validity of ₹19 is 2 days only.
The most popular plan of Vodafone is ₹399 where you’ll get 1.5GB/Day + 100 SMS/Day + Unlimited Local/STD/Roaming calls to any networks + FREE 1 Year ZEE5 Subscription + Vodafone Play APP with 56 days validity. Unlike Jio, Vodafone offers truly unlimited calls to any network. So, it is one of the big advantages of choosing the Vodafone sim card in India for the internet or calls.
Popular Vodafone Plans & Benefits
Price | Benefits | Validity |
₹49 | ₹38 Talktime & 100 MB | 28 Days |
₹149 | TRULY unlimited Local, STD & Roaming calls on any network, 2GB Data & 300 SMS | 28 Days |
₹249 | TRULY unlimited Local, STD & Roaming calls on any network, 1.5GB/Day, 100 SMS/Day | 28 Days |
₹399 | TRULY unlimited Local, STD & Roaming calls on any network, 1.5GB/ Day, 100 SMS/Day | 56 Days |
₹449 | TRULY unlimited Local, STD & Roaming calls on any network, 2GB/ Day, 100 SMS/Day | 56 Days |
₹599 | TRULY unlimited Local, STD & Roaming calls on any network, 1.5GB/ Day, 100 SMS/Day | 84 Days |
₹2399 | TRULY unlimited Local, STD & Roaming calls on any network, 1.5GB/ Day, 100 SMS/Day | 365 Days |
Here are the pros and cons of Vodafone:
Pros
- Excellent coverage in urban and rural areas
- 4G & VoLTE available
- Good customer care service
- Good Internet Speed
- Free Live TV subscription
- It has 2G for feature phones
Cons
- 4G service is not fast as Airtel or Jio
- Call Drop Problem
- The 4G network is not stable
Now, Vodafone is the 3rd best cellular network in India. You can choose Vodafone if the coverage and internet speed are good enough in your area. You can ask your friends for it who are using Vodafone in your area.
#4 Idea



Idea was one of the best networks in India. After Jio comes to the telecom service, Idea merged with Vodafone India. With the merger of two leading telecom operator in India, Vodafone Idea becomes India’s largest telecom operator.
They have over 387 million customers all over India. Now, they are silently growing their customer base. It provides good 4G internet speed but sometime you may face few issues like call drops and low signals while traveling. However, they are working on it to solve it as soon as possible.
If you are looking for the best network in India for 4g with good speed and stability with good rural coverage then Idea is that SIM what you have been looking for.
Idea 4G Speed in Different State: (As per TRAI)
State | Download (Mbps) | Upload (Mbps) |
Andhra Pradesh | 3.4 | 2.8 |
Assam | 19.1 | 8.3 |
Bihar | 6.6 | 4.6 |
Chennai | 10.0 | 4.6 |
Gujarat | 9.4 | 8.6 |
Haryana | 5.9 | 7.9 |
Himachal Pradesh | 4.5 | 4.1 |
Jammu & Kashmir | 7.1 | 5.6 |
Karnataka | 4.9 | 3.3 |
Kerala | 5.5 | 5.3 |
Madhya Pradesh | 7.4 | 6.9 |
Maharashtra | 5.8 | 5.7 |
Mumbai | 5.2 | 4.8 |
North East | 3.0 | 3.8 |
Orissa | 7.0 | 5.3 |
Punjab | 7.0 | 8.0 |
Rajasthan | 5.4 | 3.5 |
Tamil Nadu | 6.0 | 4.9 |
UP East | 3.8 | 3.5 |
UP West | 5.7 | 7.5 |
West Bengal | 8.0 | 4.4 |
Idea not only provides 4G service but it also provides 2G and 3G services for feature & old phone.
Popular Idea Plans & Benefits
Price | Benefits | Validity |
₹49 | ₹38 Talktime & 100 MB, Call 2.5p/Min | 28 Days |
₹149 | TRULY unlimited Local, STD & Roaming calls on any network, 2GB Data & 300 SMS | 28 Days |
₹249 | TRULY unlimited Local, STD & Roaming calls on any network, 1.5GB/Day, 100 SMS/Day | 28 Days |
₹399 | TRULY unlimited Local, STD & Roaming calls on any network, 1.5GB/ Day, 100 SMS/Day | 56 Days |
₹449 | TRULY unlimited Local, STD & Roaming calls on any network, 2GB/ Day, 100 SMS/Day | 56 Days |
₹599 | TRULY unlimited Local, STD & Roaming calls on any network, 1.5GB/ Day, 100 SMS/Day | 84 Days |
Here are the pros and cons of Idea:
Pros
- Good coverage in both rural and urban areas
- Good 4G internet speed
- Great Customer Support
- VoLTE Available
- It has 2G for feature phones
Cons
- Call Drop Problem
- Not good during travel
Now, the Idea merged with the Vodafone India (called Vodafone-Idea) and become the biggest SIM network in India. You can choose Idea if the coverage and internet speed are good enough in your area.
#5 BSNL



BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited) owned and operated by Govt of India. It is the largest cell phone network company in India. You can find the BSNL network everywhere it doesn’t matter where you are in an airplane or boarder.
With a BSNL SIM card, you can travel every corner in India without any worry about the network signal. You’ll be stay connected with social media, friends & family by call or the Internet.
The best part of BSNL is it offers 2G & 3G data speed at the same price but it depend on your handset. If your handset support 3G then you’ll get 3G speed otherwise 2G speed. It has not acquired 4G rights for PAN India. Believe me, BSNL 3G is faster than Reliance Jio 4G.
For BSNL Current Plans Refer Official Website: https://portal2.bsnl.in/myportal/tariffs.do?PREPAID
Here are the pros and cons of BSNL:
Pros
- It provides network coverage in every corner in India
- Low Internet price
- Special plans for voice call users (No need to pay extra when you are not using Data)
- Special plans for Data Hunger users (No need to pay extra when you are not using voice call)
- Truly Unlimited call to any network
- Low validity plan
Cons
- No 4G network available (BSNL 3G is faster then Jio 4G)
- Average support
- Different plans for different states
We strongly recommend BSNL if you are looking for the fastest network in India and the coverage is good enough in your area.
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Best SIM Network of India: FAQs
Which 4G network is best in India?
Ans: As per my personal view, Airtel is the best 4G network in India, however, Reliance Jio has the best coverage and stable network in India.
Which is the fastest network in India?
Ans: Again same answer. Airtel is the fastest network in India. Remember that it totally depends on the network strength and available band in your area. Also, Ookla (Global internet speed test company) announced that Airtel is India’s fastest 4G network.
Is Vodafone better than Airtel?
Ans: Obviously not, Vodafone launched the 4G network in a few circles till now (9th Jan’20). Also, Vodafone 4G is not stable.
Which is the No 1 SIM in India?
Ans: If you want to use for a single purpose (Internet or Call) then BSNL is the best because you have to pay less. If you want great Internet speed and unlimited call then Airtel is the best. We are not recommending Jio now because they are charging 6p/min for calls to other networks.
Which SIM is the best for rural areas and villages?
Ans: If you live in rural areas then it is more challenging to get a stable network. We think you should use BSNL or Airtel or Vodafone. For this answer, ask your local friends who are using the mobile phone.
Conclusion: Best SIM Network in India
So, These are the top 5 top mobile networks in India. We have collected data from various sources like surveys, polls, third-party websites, official network websites.
Hope you enjoyed reading this informative and useful post. If you have any queries regarding the list of top 5 best networks available in India then comment below, we will love to solve them.
Note: The list of best 4g networks in India based on our personal experience and may be wrong. Some of the detail taken by third party websites. Readers’ personals views may vary.