The day all of us feared has unfortunately arrived. Mobile data rates in the country have received a hike as a measure for telecom operators to stay alive in the cut-throat competition spearheaded by Jio. All three major telecom operators in India – Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone have announced price hikes so a lot of you might be thinking of porting to a network that offers better benefits at lower costs, so we are going to compare the new plans and tariffs of all the three network operators to tell you which one is best suited for you. We will also be answering a few frequently asked questions regarding this entire topic.
Jio vs Airtel vs Vodafone
If we have to go solely by the price, Jio seems to be offering the cheapest packages with updated tariffs, whereas Vodafone and Airtel have very similar prices. Considering the more popular recharge for 84 days, Jio offers an updated plan for Rs. 555 which provides the user with 1.5GB of 4G data along with an FUP for off-net calls of 3000 minutes. Both Airtel and Vodafone have unlimited plans for 84 days that are priced Rs. 598 and Rs. 599 respectively and while Vodafone mentions FUP for off-net calls as 3000 minutes, Airtel does not mention it explicitly anywhere as of yet. Even then, Jio is Rs. 45 cheaper so you would be saving about Rs. 180 per annum as compared to Airtel or Vodafone-Idea.
Even with monthly or bi-monthly plans, Jio seems to be providing better deals when compared to Airtel or Vodafone-Idea. Based on your usage, you can decide which network provider would be the most beneficial for you. If you are on Airtel or Vodafone, the deadline has already expired for you but if you are on Jio, you can still stack up a yearly recharge to save a good amount of money.
We have included snapshots of the tariffs of all three operators, you can compare them to see which one suits you the best. Let’s now answer some frequently asked questions.
Jio vs Airtel vs Vodafone: FAQs
From when will the new tariffs be applicable?
For Airtel and Vodafone users, the new tariffs will be applicable from December 3rd, whereas for Jio users, the new tariffs and plans will be applicable from December 6th.
Can I recharge before 3rd/6th December with current tariffs and will the new plan carry over once my existing plan expires?
If you’re on Jio, you can recharge for any plan including the yearly plan and it will carry over once your existing plan expires, regardless of the number of days remaining in your existing recharge.
For Airtel users, however, one cannot have a combined validity of more than 180 days. This means, if you already have a validity of 60 days, for example, you cannot recharge for a pack with a validity of more than 120 days if you want your current plan to continue. If you recharge for a plan with a higher validity, for example, the yearly plan, it will override your existing plan and your validity will be just for 1 year.
Vodafone-Idea users, you cannot stack plans at all.
Will my current plan get expired post 3rd/6th December?
No, your currently activated plan will be applicable till the date of expiry after which you will have to recharge your phone number as per the newer plans.
What to do once I run out of FUP for off-net calls?
Every operator has add-on packs for recharge/IUC so you can opt for that depending on the number of minutes of talk-time you want.
What tariffs will apply if I switch carriers through MNP or get a new SIM before 6th December?
If you manage to switch your network by the stipulated dates, you can still recharge using the existing cheaper tariffs.
Should I switch to Jio because of the cheaper tariffs?
Before you switch networks, make sure you’re aware of the network coverage of that particular network provider in your area. One network may work very well in your locality but the other may not.