Jio and Airtel, two of the biggest telecom operators in India, have hiked the tariffs of their mobile plans by a significant amount. These plans will go live on July 3, 2024 at 12 midnight. Both telecom operators have increased their tariffs by up to 20%. In this article, we will take a closer look at how much each operator has hiked its tariffs and which one could he the more affordable alternative for you.
Airtel vs Jio Recharge Plans 2024
When it comes to monthly plans, both Airtel and Jio have implemented notable price hikes. For instance, Airtel’s 1 GB/day plan increased from INR 299 to INR 349, reflecting a 16.72% hike, while Jio’s similar plan jumped from INR 209 to INR 249, a substantial 19.14% increase.
However, Jio’s plan is much more affordable than Airtel’s (INR 100 lesser). There is a similar trend across all the plans but Jio’s monthly plans seem to be more affordable than Airtel’s in all prepaid plans. Jio also offers more plans, giving you more flexibility over the plan you want to choose.
| Plan | Airtel Old Price (INR) | Airtel New Price (Hike %) | Jio Old Price (INR) | Jio New Price (Hike %) | Validity (Days) | More Affordable Provider |
| 1 GB/day | 265 | 299 (12.83%) | 209 | 249 (19.14%) | 28 | Jio |
| 1.5 GB/day | 299 | 349 (16.72%) | 239 | 299 (25.01%) | 28 | Jio |
| 2 GB/day | NA | NA | 299 | 349 (16.72%) | 28 | Jio |
| 2.5 GB/day | 359 | 409 (13.93%) | 349 | 399 (14.33%) | 28 | Jio |
| 3 GB/day | 399 | 449 (12.53%) | 399 | 449 (12.53%) | 28 | Jio |
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Airtel vs Jio plans: 2-Month and 3-Month Validity Plans
Looking at the 2-month and 3-month plans, both operators show a similar strategy with significant hikes. Airtel’s 1.5 GB/day plan for 2 months rose by 20.88%, matching Jio’s exact percentage increase. For the 3-month plans, Airtel’s increases hover around the 20% mark, similar to Jio’s.
Even then, if we compare the prices of the plans, Jio’s plans are still cheaper than Airtel’s. The 2 GB/day 2-month plan on Jio will cost you INR 629 while on Airtel, the same plan will cost you INR 649. The 2 GB/day 3-month plan will cost you INR 859 on Jio but INR 979 on Airtel.
| Plan | Airtel Old Price (INR) | Airtel New Price (Hike %) | Jio Old Price (INR) | Jio New Price (Hike %) | Validity (Days) |
| 1.5 GB/day | 479 | 579 (20.88%) | 479 | 579 (20.88%) | 56 |
| 2 GB/day | 549 | 649 (18.21%) | 533 | 629 (18.01%) | 84 |
| 1.5 GB/day | 719 | 859 (19.47%) | 666 | 799 (19.97%) | 84 |
| 2 GB/day | 839 | 979 (16.67%) | 719 | 859 (19.47%) | 84 |
| 3 GB/day | NA | NA | 999 | 1199 (20.02%) | 84 |
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Jio vs Airtel Annual Plans
Jio also has more options when it comes to annual plans. It offers a 336-day 24 GB plan with unlimited voice for INR 1899 (previously 1559). The actual annual plans for 365 days will cost you the same on both carriers – INR 3599.
However, Jio provides more data, 2.5 GB/day as opposed to 2 GB/day that Airtel provides. If we talk about the price hike, both operators hiked the prices by INR 600 which is 20% more than the previous price of the plan.
| Plan | Airtel Old Price (INR) | Airtel New Price (Hike %) | Jio Old Price (INR) | Jio New Price (Hike %) | Validity (Days) |
| 24 GB | NA | NA | 1559 | 1899 (21.80%) | 336 |
| 2 GB/day (2.5 GB on Jio) | 2999 | 3599 (20.01%) | 2999 | 3599 (20.01%) | 365 |
Data Add-Ons
When it comes to data add-ons, Jio appears to have higher percentage increases, particularly for the 1 GB and 2 GB add-ons. Jio’s 1 GB add-on increased by 26.67%, significantly higher than Airtel’s 15.79%. Nevertheless, Jio is still cheaper than Airtel even after the significant price hike.
| Plan | Airtel Old Price (INR) | Airtel New Price (Hike %) | Jio Old Price (INR) | Jio New Price (Hike %) | Validity |
| 1 GB | 19 | 22 (15.79%) | 15 | 19 (26.67%) | Plan validity |
| 2 GB | 29 | 33 (13.79%) | 25 | 29 (16%) | Plan validity |
| 4 GB | 65 | 77 (18.46%) | NA | NA | Plan validity |
| 6 GB | NA | NA | 61 | 69 (13.11%) | Plan validity |
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Airtel vs Jio Postpaid Plans
In the postpaid segment, both providers show identical percentage hikes of 12.53% for their entry-level plans. The top-end plan of Airtel saw a hike of 20.02%, going from INR 999 to INR 1199. Jio’s postpaid plans are, once again, cheaper than Airtel’s.
Conclusion
Now, to conclude which one is more affordable post the tariff hike—it’s Jio. Now, I am not saying that you should jump the gun and switch to Jio. Consider subscribing to an annual plan before July 3, 2024 for the best savings. If you are not comfortable with an annual plan, then sure, you can make the decision you want.
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