Last updated: 20 October 2026
Yes, your Airtel or Jio number works in the USA, but only with an international roaming (IR) pack, and the packs include little data for the price. Airtel's 30-day prepaid pack for the USA costs ₹2,998, and its shorter packs carry between 500 MB and 3 GB in all. Jio's US packs are listed from ₹1,555. For most visits, the cheaper setup is to keep your Indian SIM for calls and OTPs and use a US travel eSIM for data: US$17.99 (about ₹1,708) for 15 days with 1.5 GB a day.
Rupee amounts for our plans use 1 US$ = ₹94.93 (European Central Bank rate, 19 October 2026). Your bank or card may add a forex markup, so the amount you pay can be a little higher. Airtel and Jio prices are in rupees.
Airtel international roaming packs
Airtel only shows its pack list after you enter your mobile number, and the published listings we found in October 2026 do not agree with each other, which usually means packs change by circle and by month. What we can say with sources:
| Pack | What it includes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ₹2,998 prepaid, 30 days | Calls, SMS and data for the USA; Airtel adds extra high-speed data for US travellers on this pack | Airtel's own blog on US trips (updated May 2026) |
| ₹3,999 postpaid, 30 days | 100 minutes a day, 20 SMS, data, with extra high-speed data for US travellers | Same Airtel blog |
| 1-day packs | ₹698 with 1 GB, 100 min and 10 SMS (Komparify, 17 October 2026); ₹649 with 500 MB, 100 min and 100 SMS (Digit, 18 October 2026) | Third-party listings |
| 5 to 30-day packs | ₹755 for 5 days with 1 GB, ₹1,199 for 30 days with 1 GB (Digit, 18 October 2026); ₹1,198 for 10 days with 3 GB (listed in September 2026) | Third-party listings |
| ₹4,999 prepaid, 365 days | A yearly pack, raised from ₹4,000 in early 2026 | TelecomTalk |
Airtel's own blog gives two different data figures for the ₹2,998 pack (10 GB in its pack table, 5 GB plus 10 GB of extra US data in its text), so check the exact allowance in the Airtel Thanks app when you buy. The pattern holds across every listing, though: Airtel's short packs carry 0.5 to 3 GB in total, while our US eSIM gives 1.5 GB every day.
Jio international roaming packs for the USA
Jio's IR page did not show the USA packs to us. Komparify's Jio listing, updated in July 2026, shows three packs for the USA, Mexico and Canada:
| Pack | Validity | Data | Outgoing calls | SMS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ₹1,555 | 15 days | 12 GB | 150 min | 100 |
| ₹2,555 | 30 days | 25 GB | 250 min | 100 |
| ₹3,455 | 35 days | 40 GB | 250 min | 100 |
Reports differ on these packs. Jio's launch coverage, such as TelecomTalk's report, listed the ₹1,555 pack at 10 days with 7 GB, the ₹2,555 pack at 21 days with 15 GB and the ₹3,455 pack at 30 days with 25 GB. Check the validity and data in the MyJio app before you pay. Jio's own international services page says the validity of an IR plan starts with your first use abroad (a call, a text or data), not when you buy it.
What a US stay costs: pack or US eSIM
For data on one phone. Our prices in US dollars, with rupees in brackets:
| Stay | Airtel | Jio | Our US eSIM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 days | Short packs from about ₹1,198, with 1 to 3 GB in all, depending on the listing | ₹1,555 (12 GB per the July listing, 7 GB per launch reports) | US$17.99 (₹1,708) for 15 days, 1.5 GB a day |
| 30 days | ₹2,998 prepaid, or ₹3,999 postpaid | ₹2,555 (25 GB per the July listing) | US$23.99 (₹2,277) for 30 days, 1.5 GB a day |
| 3 months (parents visiting) | About ₹8,994 for three 30-day prepaid packs, or the postpaid packs on your plan | About ₹7,665 for three ₹2,555 packs | About US$72 (₹6,832) for three 30-day plans |
The honest reading:
- For a short trip, an Airtel pack can cost a little less in rupees, but 1 to 3 GB in total is enough for WhatsApp and maps, not for video calls home. Our 15-day plan gives 1.5 GB every day.
- For a month, the US eSIM costs less than Airtel's ₹2,998 prepaid pack and gives more data per day. Jio's 30-day pack is close in price, so compare the data you actually need.
- For a long family visit, Airtel postpaid customers can check the longer postpaid packs in the Airtel Thanks app if they want calls included. On prepaid, the US eSIM is the cheapest way to have data for three months.
- If you need unlimited data for remote work or study, our unlimited US plan costs US$17.99 (₹1,708) for 7 days or US$27.99 (₹2,657) for 15 days.
Students moving to the US for a semester or more usually end up with a US phone plan; an eSIM covers the first weeks until that is set up.
Keeping your Indian number for OTPs and UPI
Bank OTPs, UPI alerts and family calls go to your Indian number, so keep that SIM active. Most recent phones take a physical SIM and an eSIM at the same time:
- Keep the Indian SIM in the phone for calls and SMS.
- Add the US eSIM and make it your data line: iPhone or Android.
- Turn data roaming off on the Indian SIM, so it never uses data in the US.
- Check how incoming SMS and calls are charged on your Indian number while roaming. Airtel's ₹118 IR activation pack lists free incoming SMS (Komparify, 17 October 2026); for other packs and for Jio, check in the Airtel Thanks or MyJio app before you fly, so you can still receive OTPs.
To use a travel eSIM, your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked: does my phone support eSIM? and is my phone unlocked? If it shows No Service when you land, see eSIM not working abroad.
Visiting from the UK, Australia or elsewhere instead? Our guide to a USA SIM card for tourists covers the other options, and our US plans list every duration.
FAQ
Does Jio work in the USA?
Yes, with a Jio international roaming pack. Jio lists US packs from ₹1,555, which also cover Mexico and Canada. The pack's validity starts with your first call, text or data use abroad. Check the current data allowance in the MyJio app, since published figures differ.
Which Airtel pack is best for the USA?
For a month, the ₹2,998 prepaid pack or the ₹3,999 postpaid pack, both of which Airtel says carry extra high-speed data for US travellers. Shorter packs change often and listings disagree, so compare them in the Airtel Thanks app. If you mainly need data, a US eSIM gives more data per day for a similar or lower price.
Is a US eSIM cheaper than Airtel international roaming?
For a month or longer, yes: a 30-day US eSIM costs US$23.99 (about ₹2,277) with 1.5 GB a day, against ₹2,998 for Airtel's 30-day prepaid pack. For a short trip, an Airtel pack can cost a little less but includes only 0.5 to 3 GB in total.
Will I get OTPs on my Indian number in the USA?
Yes, if your Indian SIM stays active on international roaming. Keep it in the phone for calls and SMS, use the eSIM for data, and check in your operator's app whether incoming SMS are free on your pack while roaming.
How do I activate international roaming on Jio?
Buy a Jio international roaming pack in the MyJio app or on jio.com before you travel. The pack's validity starts with your first use abroad. Turn data roaming on only if you want the pack's data; with a US eSIM for data, keep data roaming off on the Jio line.
Facts checked on 20 October 2026. Airtel: its own blog on US trips (updated May 2026), Komparify (17 October 2026), Digit (18 October 2026) and TelecomTalk; Airtel's pack page needs a mobile number, so we could not read it directly. Jio: Komparify's July 2026 listing, TelecomTalk's launch report and Jio's international services page. Our prices from our catalogue. Exchange rate: European Central Bank, 19 October 2026. Confirm current packs in the Airtel Thanks or MyJio app before you travel.