The Global eSIM works out cheaper for a short trip. Our Global eSIM starts at USD 9.99 for 3 days of unlimited data across 165+ countries. Airtel’s prepaid pack at ₹698 covers 1 GB for one day.
Roaming bills are built to be read after you land, so you pay first and do the math later.
A Maya eSIM costs less than an Airtel roaming pack on a short trip
Airtel’s prepaid ladder starts at ₹698 for 1 GB, 100 minutes and 10 SMS over one day. The ₹998 pack adds up to 4 GB, 150 minutes and 20 SMS over 5 days. The ₹1,298 pack gives 6 GB, 200 minutes and 20 SMS over 10 days, and the ₹2,998 pack gives 10 GB over 30 days.
Those packs bundle minutes and texts, so part of the price pays for things a data plan doesn’t carry. If data is your whole job, the gigabyte count is the number to watch. You land with data for the full trip and a lighter bill.
When does an Airtel international pass make sense for you?
An Airtel international pass makes sense when you need voice minutes and SMS bundled with data on your own number. Airtel’s packs auto-activate on landing and some carry in-flight benefits, and select postpaid plans include an annual free 5-day trip abroad. If data is what you need, a travel eSIM covers that job on its own.
Airtel publishes a popular 30-day tourist plan at ₹3,999, about ₹133 a day. It features daily calling minutes, high-speed data, SMS and in-flight benefits. Packs exist for both prepaid and postpaid customers.
The free trip is listed on these postpaid plans, each at 1 Free Trip per SIM per year (Airtel, Airtel Offers Free International Roaming on All Postpaid Plans, 2026):
- ₹499 Individual
- ₹749 Family of 2
- ₹1049 Family of 3
- ₹1249 Family of 4
- ₹1449 Family of 4 with Netflix Basic
- ₹1799 Family of 5 with Netflix Standard
Airtel’s postpaid terms list the free pack’s benefits as 5GB data, 60 call minutes and 25 outgoing SMS over 5 days (Airtel, Airtel Postpaid Terms and Conditions).
Then the data runs out. If a postpaid customer exhausts the high-speed data quota during pack use, speed is throttled at 80 kbps (Airtel International Roaming Terms and Conditions, Section-2 point 17, 2023).
Need to keep your calls on your own number? The pass is the job for it. Need to keep your maps working? Different job.
How do you keep your Airtel number while using a travel eSIM abroad?
For calls and texts on your Airtel number, the Airtel pack is the part of your trip that does that job.
What does unlimited data on a travel eSIM really mean?
Unlimited on a travel eSIM means no data bucket to run out, with a daily high-speed allowance stated in the provider’s terms. Our Daily Quota is that allowance, and our terms state what happens once it is used. An Airtel pack, by contrast, is a fixed number of gigabytes, so check the daily allowance and the speed after it before you buy from any provider.
Here’s how ours works. After the Daily Quota is used, data continues at standard speed for the rest of the day (our legal terms).
Airtel’s side is gigabytes: prepaid packs come in 1 GB, 4 GB, 6 GB and 10 GB. Its roaming plans start at ₹133 per day across 184+ countries, and you manage them through the Airtel IR Packs Page or the Airtel Thanks app. One plan, one allowance, one reset. No gigabyte math at the border.
How do you set up a travel eSIM before you leave India?
Install your Maya eSIM at home on Wi-Fi, using the QR code method in the Maya Mobile app. It’s marked Recommended: scan the QR code with the device you’re installing on, tap Add eSIM or Add Cellular Plan when notified, and follow the on-screen prompts.
Prefer another route? The automatic method runs from the Maya Mobile app’s Home: select the eSIM, choose Installation Instructions, tap Install eSIM Now, and follow the prompts. The manual method on iOS starts in Settings, under Cellular (or Mobile Service): tap Add eSIM or Add Data Plan, select Use QR Code, then Enter Details Manually, and enter the SM-DP+ address and activation details.
For the manual activation code, log in to your Maya Mobile account, click My eSIMs, click Install eSIM under the plan, click Manual Activation Code on the pop-up, then copy the code and enter it on the device when prompted. Our compatible-devices list runs from the iPhone XR/XS series through the iPhone 17 series, including iPhone Air, SE 2 (2020) and SE 3 (2022).
Tushar gave us five stars on Trustpilot in July 2026, writing about Maya Mobile: “Using Maya eSIM was a smooth and hassle-free experience from start to finish. The installation and activation were simple, and I was connected almost immediately. Throughout my trip, the connection remained stable, with fast data speeds that easily handled maps, social media, video calls, and web browsing. One of the biggest advantages was the convenience of using an eSIM instead of swapping physical SIM cards. The available plans offered good value for money, and everything was easy to set up and manage through the app. Whenever I needed assistance, the support team responded promptly and was helpful. Overall, Maya eSIM delivered reliable performance, excellent convenience, and great value. I wouldn’t hesitate to use it again and would happily recommend it to anyone looking for a dependable eSIM for travel.”
Apple’s published procedure for adding an eSIM to an iPhone runs in this order (Apple, Set up eSIM on iPhone: Apple Support; Google, Pixel Phone Guidebook; Google, Get a SIM or eSIM & add it to your Pixel phone: Pixel Phone Help):
- Check that your iPhone supports eSIM: it must be an iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, or later, and your wireless carrier or worldwide service provider must support eSIM. (Note: In China mainland, only iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone Duo, iPhone 17e, and iPhone Air support eSIM.)
- Connect your new iPhone to a Wi-Fi network or hotspot. (In some countries and regions, eSIM-only iPhone models can activate without one.)
- To add an eSIM after setup using a QR code from your carrier: open the Camera app and scan your QR code. Tap the Cellular Plan Detected notification when it shows up.
- On an iPhone running iOS 17.4 or later, a QR code from your carrier that arrives in a default email app or browser can be pressed and held. Then, tap Add eSIM.
- Tap Continue at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap Add Cellular Plan.
- If you’re asked to enter a confirmation code to activate your eSIM, enter the number that your carrier provided.
Airtel’s route is a toggle: switch IR on in the Airtel Thanks app, dial *121#, or send an SMS IRSTART to 121. Ours is done before you pack. Done! You’re sorted before you reach the airport.
What if your travel eSIM won’t connect when you land?
If you can’t connect after 15 minutes, see the eSIM Connection Troubleshooting Guide. If you’ve followed the steps and the eSIM is verified as not installed, contact Maya support, who will help.
Atlas has lived through tectonic shifts, so a dead signal at arrivals doesn’t rattle him. If the steps don’t resolve it, you may be in an area without service, or there may be a network issue outside our control. The best move then is to wait and check later.
Money back is covered too. Consumers have a legal right to withdraw within 14 days of buying, or until the eSIM is activated, whichever comes first. If the eSIM can’t be installed because the device is incompatible or carrier-locked, a full refund less payment processing fees is available if no data was consumed and the request is within 30 days of purchase.
Maya, Airalo, Holafly, Saily or Nomad: which unlimited plan fits your trip?
Airalo throttles to 1 Mbps once you use more than 3GB in a day, and Saily does the same after 5 GB, per their own published terms.
| Travel eSIM | How plans are sold | Unlimited plan allowance, as published | Refund terms, as published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maya Mobile | One Global eSIM for 165+ countries, unlimited data at a flat price by trip length: USD 9.99 for 3 days, USD 19.99 for 7 days, USD 27.99 for 14 days, USD 49.99 for 30 days | A daily high-speed data allowance (the Daily Quota) at up to 4G LTE or 5G where local networks offer it, reset every 24 hours; unlimited data at standard speed once the Daily Quota is used | A money-back guarantee when the eSIM cannot be installed or used, on the conditions in the return policy |
| Airalo | Per country, per region, or one global plan; priced in USD | Our unlimited data packages don’t have a fixed total data cap. However, to keep the network running fairly for everyone, when you use more than 3GB in a day, we’ll slow down (or “throttle”) your internet speed to 1 Mbps for the rest of that day. | Replacements and Refunds. If you have activated the Services but are unable to use them due to an error or omission on the part of Airalo, or because Airalo has decided to retire the Service, we will either provide a replacement Service or refund an amount equal to the price of the Service you have purchased in full, at your option. |
| Holafly | Per country, per region (Europe, Latin America, Cruise plans), and monthly global plans: Light, 25GB of data, $ 49.90USD/month; Unlimited, $ 64.90USD/month; Ultra, $ 90.95USD/month | Unlimited data means there is no fixed limit on the amount of data you can use. However, some network operators may temporarily reduce your speed after a certain amount of high-speed data usage. | Trip eSIMs: “You have up to 6 months to request a refund.” Monthly plans: “Refunds are only eligible within 14 days of purchase.” |
| Saily | Per country and per region, plus one global plan; by the gigabyte, unlimited, or both | The Unlimited plan gives you 5 GB per day at full 4G/5G speed, then keeps you online at 1 Mbps for the rest of the day, fast enough for navigation, messaging, and standard browsing. | Refunds for Non-Activated Data Plans. If the eSIM (i) has not been installed or (ii) has been installed on your device but the Data Plan is not activated, you may request a full refund, provided that no Extra(s) included with the Data Plan have been used, reserved or shared, in whole or in part. |
| Nomad | Per country, per region and global plans; by the gigabyte | How many GB of high-speed data you wish per day. You can continue to use your data at a throttled speed of 512kbps after you’ve used up your daily allocation. | Learn Nomad eSIM’s refund policy: request within 30 days. Full refunds if unused; partial refunds may apply for unused data or service issues. |
In this table, the rival cells carry each provider’s own published words or a short summary of them, and the Maya Mobile cells come from maya.net.
How Maya swaps the roaming pack for one eSIM you install once
A roaming pack means buying again for each trip, each cap and each country. We turned that into one switch. Maya is a travel eSIM giving unlimited data in 165+ countries through a single eSIM permanently installed on your phone.
One eSIM works for every trip. You install it once, and for each trip you only buy a new plan, with no reinstalling. All plans include a daily high-speed data allowance, the Daily Quota, at up to 4G LTE or 5G where local networks offer it.
Everything else stays put on your phone: the eSIM remains on the device when the plan ends, ready for the next trip. Pick your days and go.
FAQ
How do you turn on an Airtel international roaming pack?
Toggle IR on in the Airtel Thanks app, dial *121#, or send an SMS IRSTART to 121. Airtel’s roaming plans are also manageable through the Airtel IR Packs Page.
When should you buy and install a travel eSIM before a trip?
Install it any time before you fly. It won’t connect to a network until you arrive at your destination, and then you set it as the primary Cellular or Mobile Data plan. The plan clock starts when you enable the Maya eSIM in your phone settings (Maya product overview, 2026). The eSIM stays on your phone afterward.
What happens when your travel eSIM’s days run out?
The plan ends. Each Maya plan is a one-time purchase, and we’re not a subscription. Auto Top-Up is an optional feature that buys the same plan again when the current one expires; it’s off by default and you can turn it off any time from My eSIM. Need more days? Buy another plan from the Maya app.
How do you check that a travel eSIM covers the countries on your trip?
Open maya.net/coverage. Our Global eSIM covers 165+ countries, and one plan works across all of them.
How do you choose between a 3, 7, 14 or 30 day travel eSIM plan?
Match the plan to your trip length. The 3-day plan, USD 9.99 (USD 3.33/day), suits weekend trips and short getaways. The 7-day plan, USD 19.99 (USD 2.86/day), suits week-long trips and city breaks. The 14-day plan is USD 27.99 (USD 2.00/day), and the 30-day plan costs USD 49.99; if you need more days, buy another plan from the Maya app.
What do you need for a cruise: the Global eSIM or the Global + Cruise plan?
The Global + Cruise plan, bought as a separate purchase from the Global eSIM. That plan reaches 20+ cruise lines and 165+ countries, among them Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line. It’s priced on its own: USD 49.99 for 3 days, USD 109.99 for 7 days, USD 299.99 for 30 days.
What do Maya travelers say about connecting abroad?
Narinder B. gave Maya Mobile five stars on Trustpilot in April 2026: “eSIM worked perfectly, connected straight away. It was such a nice hassle free experience being able to use data immediately for taxis etc. Took all the stress away. Greatly recommended!”
How do families set up a travel eSIM for several phones?
Each eSIM installs on only one device, so buy an additional eSIM for each extra phone that needs data. On most eSIM-compatible devices, several eSIM data plans can be installed together. Installation works three ways on iPhone and Android: automatic, QR code or manual entry. You choose the device first, then the method that suits you best.
Maya gives you unlimited data in 165+ countries on one eSIM you install once and keep on your phone, in place of an Airtel roaming pack.
