Cheapest Recharge Plans to Keep Your SIM Active: Jio, Airtel, Vi, and BSNL Plans for 2025
Cheapest Recharge Plans to Keep Your SIM Active: Jio, Airtel, Vi, and BSNL Plans for 2025
In an evolving telecom landscape, maintaining an active SIM card has become a notable expense for users. Major telecom providers—Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea (Vi), and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)—have revised their minimum recharge plans in recent months. While Jio markets itself as the most affordable private operator, its lowest recharge plan is not necessarily the cheapest option available. The cost of keeping a SIM card active varies by provider, with some prioritizing extended validity while others offer enhanced data benefits.
Here’s a look at the most affordable recharge plans from each telecom operator in 2025:
Vodafone Idea (Vi): Minimum Recharge Plan
Vi’s lowest recharge plan depends on location, with some regions offering a ₹99 plan and others requiring ₹155. The ₹99 plan provides 15 days of validity, 200MB of data, and ₹99 talk time but does not include SMS benefits, except for port-out messages at standard rates. Users seeking better benefits may need to opt for the ₹155 plan, which varies in availability.
Reliance Jio: Minimum Recharge Plan
Jio users must recharge with at least ₹189 to keep their SIM active. This plan includes 28 days of validity, unlimited voice calls, 300 SMS, and a total of 2GB of data. Additionally, subscribers gain access to JioTV, JioCinema (non-premium), and JioCloud services.
Airtel: Minimum Recharge Plan
Airtel’s lowest recharge plan is priced at ₹199, slightly higher than Jio’s. It offers 28 days of validity, unlimited voice calls, 100 SMS per day, and 2GB of total data. While the benefits are similar to Jio’s plan, Airtel provides a higher SMS allowance, making it a better option for users who send frequent text messages.
BSNL: Most Affordable Recharge Plan
BSNL offers the most budget-friendly options. The ₹59 plan provides seven days of validity with unlimited calls and 1GB of daily data. A ₹99 plan extends validity to 17 days with unlimited calling but does not include SMS or data benefits.
Which Plan Offers the Best Value?
For short-term use, BSNL’s ₹59 plan is the most economical choice, despite its one-week validity. For a full month, Jio’s ₹189 plan is more affordable than Airtel’s ₹199 plan, although Airtel offers a higher SMS limit. Vi’s ₹99 plan is the cheapest among private operators but comes with limited benefits. The best option ultimately depends on individual usage needs for calls, data, and messaging.
