Vi & Airtel Free International Roaming vs Matrix eSIM: What's New?
Vi and Airtel now include free international roaming in some of their plans. It costs nothing extra and keeps your Indian number working abroad, but trips, data and days are limited. A Matrix eSIM is a paid travel data plan: you choose the data and days, there's no trip limit, and it works whatever your Indian plan. Free roaming suits short trips; an eSIM suits longer or data-heavy ones.
What's New? The Update in 30 Seconds
Vi
- Free roaming on select plans
- Works in 170+ countries
- Up to 3 trips a year, depending on plan
- Postpaid from ₹501, annual prepaid from ₹3,599, enterprise from ₹451
- Data, minutes and days vary by plan
Airtel (from 8 Oct 2026)
- Free roaming on new postpaid plans
- From ₹499 a month + GST
- 1 trip per SIM a year
- 5 GB data, 60 min calls, 25 SMS
- Valid for 5 days
- On the ₹499 plan, claimable after 90 days
Matrix eSIM
- Paid travel data plan, per trip
- From ₹949 (Thailand, 50 GB / 10 days)
- You choose data and days
- No trip limit
- Needs an unlocked, eSIM-compatible phone
Quick Comparison
| Vi free roaming | Airtel free roaming | Matrix eSIM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who can use it | Select Vi postpaid, annual prepaid and enterprise plans | New Airtel postpaid plans (₹499 plan: claimable after 90 days) | Anyone with an unlocked, eSIM-compatible phone |
| Trips a year | Up to 3, depends on plan | 1 per SIM | No limit |
| Data | Varies by plan | 5 GB | You choose, 1 GB to unlimited |
| Days | Varies by plan | 5 | You choose, e.g. 7, 10, 28 or 30 |
| Calls | Outgoing minutes can be included | 60 minutes + 25 outgoing SMS | Many plans data-only; calling plans cost more |
| Your Indian number | Same SIM abroad | Same SIM abroad | Stays in your phone alongside the eSIM |
| Countries | 170+ | Not stated yet | Per plan: one country, a region or global |
| Setup | Activate in Vi App | Start the pack when you choose | Buy, complete KYC, scan QR code |
Vi Free International Roaming
Vi has built free roaming into eligible plans, so you don't buy a separate roaming pack. You activate it in the Vi App by choosing an eligible International Roam-Free plan.
- Postpaid: eligible Vi Max plans from ₹501
- Prepaid: only eligible daily-data and NonStop Hero annual packs, from ₹3,599 (not in Assam, J&K and North East circles)
- Enterprise: eligible corporate plans from ₹451
- Benefit: up to 3 trips a year depending on the plan, with international data and outgoing minutes. Vi says customers can save up to ₹9,000 a year.
Good
- ₹0 extra on eligible plans
- 170+ countries
- Up to 3 trips a year on some plans
- Same number for calls and OTPs
Limits
- Allowance isn't published as one figure; check your plan
- Only select plans; monthly prepaid packs don't qualify
- Prepaid offer not in Assam, J&K and North East
Airtel Free International Roaming
From 8 October 2026, every new Airtel postpaid plan includes one free 5-day roaming pack per SIM, every year: 5 GB data, 60 minutes of calls, 25 outgoing SMS and free incoming SMS. You choose when to start it, and every family member gets their own pack.
| Airtel plan (per month) | SIMs | Free packs a year |
|---|---|---|
| ₹499 | Individual | 1 |
| ₹749 | Family of 2 | 2 |
| ₹1,049 | Family of 3 | 3 |
| ₹1,249 | Family of 4 | 4 |
| ₹1,449 | Family of 4 | 4 |
| ₹1,799 | Family of 5 | 5 |
Plan prices are before GST: Airtel's plan page lists the individual plan as ₹499/month + GST. All plans also include unlimited data and calling in India and subscriptions that vary by plan. The ₹499 plan, for example, includes 100 SMS a day, Google One (100 GB), Airtel Xstream Play Premium and Adobe Express Premium for 12 months. Airtel prepaid and older postpaid users must upgrade via the Airtel App or an Airtel Store.
Important: the 90-day wait
Airtel's plan page for the ₹499 individual plan says the free international roaming is "claimable after 90 days". So if you've just joined or upgraded, you may not be able to use it on a trip soon after. Airtel also hasn't listed the covered countries or what happens after the 5 GB is used. Check these, and when your 90 days end, in the Airtel App before you travel.
Good
- ₹0 extra on new postpaid plans
- Clear, published allowance
- 60 minutes of normal calls included
- Every family member gets a pack
Limits
- Only 1 trip per SIM a year
- Only 5 days and 5 GB (about 1 GB a day)
- ₹499 plan: claimable only after 90 days
- Prepaid users must move to postpaid
Matrix eSIM
A Matrix eSIM is a prepaid travel plan for a destination or region, from Matrix, a travel connectivity company founded in New Delhi in 1995. You buy it online, get a QR code by email or in the GoMatrix app, complete KYC (required as per DoT guidelines) and scan it. Your Indian SIM stays in the phone for calls and OTPs.
| Destination | Example plans | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| UAE / Dubai | 1 GB / 30 days: ₹599 7 GB / 10 days: ₹999 |
du network |
| Thailand | 50 GB / 10 days: ₹949 Unlimited / 10 days: ₹999 |
DTAC network |
| Europe (37 countries) | 5 GB / 28 days: ₹949 Same with 200 min: ₹1,769 |
Hotspot allowed |
| USA | 12 GB / 28 days: ₹1,599 | T-Mobile network; calling plans available |
| Japan | 5 GB / 28 days: ₹899 | Data-only |
| Vietnam | 75 GB / 15 days: ₹1,149 | Data stops after 5 GB a day |
Prices checked on matrix.in on 8 October 2026. Prices and stock change, so check the plan page before you buy.
Good
- Works whatever your Indian plan or operator
- Choose data and days, up to unlimited
- No yearly trip limit
- Uses a network in your destination
- Easy steps: KYC and QR setup
Limits
- You pay for every trip
- Needs an unlocked, eSIM-compatible phone
- Many plans data-only; calling plans cost more
- "Unlimited" plans have daily fair-usage limits
Real Trips: Which One Fits?
| Your trip | Free roaming | Matrix eSIM | Better fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 nights in Dubai, light use | Airtel covers it at ₹0; Vi depends on plan | From ₹599 | Free roaming |
| Short trip, lots of normal calls | Airtel: 60 min; Vi: minutes vary | Calling plans cost more | Free roaming |
| 10 days in Thailand | Airtel covers only 5 days, 5 GB | 50 GB / 10 days, ₹949 | Matrix eSIM |
| 2 weeks in Europe | Airtel covers only 5 days; Vi depends on plan | 5 GB / 28 days, ₹949 | Matrix eSIM |
| Just joined Airtel's ₹499 plan, flying next month | Not yet claimable: the free pack opens after 90 days | Works right away | Matrix eSIM |
| 2nd trip of the year | Airtel used up; Vi depends on plan | Buy another eSIM | Matrix eSIM |
| On Jio or a monthly prepaid plan | Not covered | Works with an eSIM phone | Matrix eSIM |
| Older phone without eSIM | Works on your current SIM | eSIM won't work (physical SIM available) | Free roaming |
Which Should You Choose?
- Free roaming (Vi or Airtel): you're on an eligible plan (and, on Airtel's ₹499 plan, past the 90-day mark), the trip is short, data use is light, and you want normal calls with zero setup.
- Matrix eSIM: the trip is longer than your free allowance, you need lots of data, you've used your free trips, or you're not on an eligible plan.
- Both: keep your Indian SIM for calls and OTPs and use the eSIM for data, with free roaming as a backup.
Not sure your phone supports eSIM? Dial *#06#. If you see an EID number, it does. Or check handset compatibility.
The Verdict
Free roaming from Vi and Airtel is a real improvement. For a short trip on an eligible plan it's hard to beat: no extra cost, no setup, and your number keeps working.
A Matrix eSIM makes more sense when the trip is longer, data-heavy or one of several in a year, or when you're not on a qualifying plan. It costs money and needs an eSIM-ready phone, but you control the data, days and trips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Matrix eSIM better than Airtel's free roaming pack?
It depends on the trip. For one short trip of up to 5 days with light use, Airtel's free pack is better value because it costs nothing extra. For longer trips, more than 5 GB of data, a second trip in the year, or a trip within your first 90 days on the ₹499 plan, a Matrix eSIM is more practical. For example, it offers 50 GB for 10 days in Thailand at ₹949.
Is Matrix eSIM better than Vi free roaming?
Vi's benefit costs nothing extra, covers 170+ countries and can include up to 3 trips a year, so check your plan's allowance first. If that allowance is too small for your trip, or you're not on an eligible Vi plan, a Matrix eSIM lets you choose the exact data and days you need.
Is Airtel's free roaming better than Vi's?
They suit different people. Airtel's pack is fixed and clear: 1 trip per SIM, 5 GB, 60 minutes and 5 days. Vi can offer up to 3 trips and lists 170+ countries, but its data and minutes vary by plan and circle.
Which option is cheapest?
If you're already on an eligible Vi or Airtel plan, free roaming is cheapest because it's ₹0 extra. If you'd have to upgrade or switch plans just to get it, compare that monthly cost (Airtel's ₹499 plan is plus GST, and its free roaming is claimable after 90 days) with a Matrix eSIM for your trip.
Do I still need an eSIM if I have free roaming?
Not for a short trip within your free allowance. You may need one if the trip is longer than your free days, you need more data, or you've already used your free trips this year.
Does free international roaming mean unlimited data?
No. Both Vi and Airtel give a set allowance of data and minutes for a limited period, and the number of free trips is capped.
Does the ₹499 Airtel plan include free roaming?
Yes. The ₹499/month + GST individual postpaid plan includes one free trip a year (5 GB, 60 minutes, 25 outgoing SMS, 5 days). But Airtel's plan page says it is claimable only after 90 days, so new or upgrading customers can't use it straight away. Check the exact date in the Airtel App.
Can I use Airtel's free roaming right after joining?
Not on the ₹499 plan. Airtel says the free international roaming is claimable after 90 days. If you're travelling sooner, you'd need a paid roaming pack or a travel eSIM for that trip.
Can I make normal calls with a Matrix eSIM?
Many Matrix plans are data-only, so you'd use WhatsApp or other internet calling. Some destinations, like Europe and the USA, have calling plans at a higher price. Your Indian SIM also stays in the phone.
Can I use free roaming and a Matrix eSIM together?
Yes, on an unlocked, eSIM-compatible phone. Keep your Vi or Airtel SIM for calls and OTPs, and use the Matrix eSIM for data.
