Airtel vs BSNL: Recharge Plan Comparison (2026)
Published: 1 March 2026|Updated: 9 August 2026
Quick Answer
BSNL's 107 plan costs less than half of Airtel's lowest listed plan and still provides 2GB of total data with unlimited calls, making BSNL the stronger choice for users prioritizing low cost over data volume.
Provider Snapshot
Airtel
Bharti Airtel
Airtel offers prepaid and postpaid recharge plans with unlimited calling, daily data, and OTT benefits across India.
- Total plans
- 64
- Starts at
- Rs 10
- Longest validity
- 365 days
- Official app
- Airtel Thanks
BSNL
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited
BSNL offers budget prepaid recharge plans, with pricing and validity that can differ slightly across telecom circles.
- Total plans
- 79
- Starts at
- Rs 10
- Longest validity
- 365 days
- Official app
- BSNL Selfcare
Category-by-Category Winners
| Category | Airtel | BSNL | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest plan | Rs 10 (Rs 10) | Rs 10 (Rs 10) | Tie |
| Longest validity | 365 days (Rs 1849) | 365 days (Rs 321) | Tie |
| Most daily data | 3GB/day (Rs 39) | 3GB/day (Rs 299) | Tie |
| Best daily cost | Rs 0.36/day (Rs 10) | Rs 0.36/day (Rs 10) | Tie |
How Do Airtel and BSNL Plans Compare on Price and Data?
| Provider | Price | Validity | Data | Daily Cost | Voice / SMS | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airtel | Rs 10 | 28 days | NA | Rs 0.36 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 10 | 28 days | NA | Rs 0.36 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 11 | 30 days | NA | Rs 0.37 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 14 | 28 days | NA | Rs 0.5 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 15 | 3 days | NA | Rs 5 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 16 | 1 days | 2 GB | Rs 16 | NA / NA | None |
| Airtel | Rs 18 | 28 days | NA | Rs 0.64 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 20 | 28 days | NA | Rs 0.71 | NA / NA | None |
| Airtel | Rs 22 | 1 days | 1GB | Rs 22 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 23 | 30 days | NA | Rs 0.77 | NA / NA | None |
| Airtel | Rs 26 | 1 days | 1.5GB | Rs 26 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 31 | 30 days | NA | Rs 1.03 | NA / NA | None |
| Airtel | Rs 33 | 1 days | 2GB | Rs 33 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 36 | 30 days | NA | Rs 1.2 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 37 | 30 days | NA | Rs 1.23 | NA / NA | None |
| Airtel | Rs 39 | 3 days | 3GB/day | Rs 13 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 45 | 15 days | NA | Rs 3 | NA / NA | None |
| Airtel | Rs 49 | 1 days | 20GB | Rs 49 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 49 | 30 days | 10 GB | Rs 1.63 | NA / 300 | None |
| BSNL | Rs 50 | 28 days | NA | Rs 1.79 | NA / NA | None |
| Airtel | Rs 51 | 28 days | 1GB | Rs 1.82 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 51 | 28 days | 2GB/day | Rs 1.82 | Unlimited / 100 /day | None |
| BSNL | Rs 58 | 7 days | 8 GB | Rs 8.29 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 69 | 30 days | 1GB/day | Rs 2.3 | Unlimited / 300 | None |
| BSNL | Rs 73 | 30 days | NA | Rs 2.43 | NA / NA | None |
| Airtel | Rs 77 | 7 days | 5GB | Rs 11 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 81 | 30 days | NA | Rs 2.7 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 85 | 30 days | NA | Rs 2.83 | NA / NA | None |
| Airtel | Rs 99 | 2 days | 20GB | Rs 49.5 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 99 | 14 days | 50 MB | Rs 7.07 | Unlimited / NA | None |
| Airtel | Rs 100 | 30 days | 6GB | Rs 3.33 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 100 | 28 days | NA | Rs 3.57 | NA / NA | None |
| Airtel | Rs 101 | 28 days | 2GB | Rs 3.61 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 105 | 7 days | 20 GB | Rs 15 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 107 | 35 days | 2GB total data | Rs 3.06 | Unlimited voice calls / 100 SMS per day | Low cost entry recharge |
| Airtel | Rs 118 | 28 days | NA | Rs 4.21 | NA / NA | None |
| Airtel | Rs 120 | 28 days | NA | Rs 4.29 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 141 | 30 days | 1.5GB/day | Rs 4.7 | NA / 200 | None |
| BSNL | Rs 147 | 24 days | 2GB per day | Rs 6.13 | Unlimited voice calls / 100 SMS per day | Daily data focus |
| BSNL | Rs 148 | 22 days | 2GB/day | Rs 6.73 | Unlimited / 100 /day | None |
| BSNL | Rs 149 | 21 days | 1GB/day | Rs 7.1 | Unlimited / 100 /Day | None |
| Airtel | Rs 151 | 28 days | 3GB | Rs 5.39 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 153 | 24 days | 1GB/day | Rs 6.38 | Unlimited / 100 /day | None |
| Airtel | Rs 161 | 30 days | 12 GB | Rs 5.37 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 167 | 30 days | NA | Rs 5.57 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 169 | 30 days | 2GB/day | Rs 5.63 | NA / 100 /Day | None |
| Airtel | Rs 195 | 30 days | 12GB | Rs 6.5 | NA / NA | None |
| Airtel | Rs 196 | 1 days | 250 MB | Rs 196 | NA / 100 | None |
| BSNL | Rs 197 | 30 days | 2GB per day | Rs 6.57 | Unlimited voice calls / 100 SMS per day | Standard monthly recharge |
| BSNL | Rs 198 | 30 days | 40 GB | Rs 6.6 | NA / NA | None |
| Airtel | Rs 199 | 28 days | 2GB total data | Rs 7.11 | Unlimited local, STD and roaming calls / 100 SMS per day | Wynk Music, Apollo 24x7 |
| BSNL | Rs 199 | 28 days | 2GB/day | Rs 7.11 | Unlimited / 100 /day | None |
| Airtel | Rs 219 | 28 days | 3GB | Rs 7.82 | Unlimited local STD & Roaming / 300 | None |
| BSNL | Rs 220 | 28 days | NA | Rs 7.86 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 225 | 30 days | 2.5GB/day | Rs 7.5 | Unlimited / 100 /day | None |
| BSNL | Rs 228 | 30 days | 2GB/day | Rs 7.6 | Unlimited / 100 /day | None |
| BSNL | Rs 229 | 30 days | 2GB/day | Rs 7.63 | Unlimited / 100 /day | None |
| BSNL | Rs 239 | 30 days | 2GB/day | Rs 7.97 | Unlimited / 100 /day | None |
| BSNL | Rs 247 | 30 days | 50 GB | Rs 8.23 | NA / 100 /day | None |
| BSNL | Rs 249 | 35 days | 2GB/day | Rs 7.11 | Unlimited / 100 /day | None |
| Airtel | Rs 279 | 30 days | 1GB | Rs 9.3 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 279 | 28 days | NA | Rs 9.96 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 292 | 46 days | 2GB/day | Rs 6.35 | Unlimited / 100 /day | None |
| Airtel | Rs 295 | 1 days | 500 MB | Rs 295 | NA / 100 | None |
| Airtel | Rs 299 | 28 days | 1GB per day (28GB total) | Rs 10.68 | Unlimited local, STD and roaming calls / 100 SMS per day | Disney+ Hotstar Mobile (3 months) |
| BSNL | Rs 299 | 30 days | 3GB/day | Rs 9.97 | Unlimited / 100 /day | None |
| Airtel | Rs 319 | 30 days | 1.5 GB/day | Rs 10.63 | Unlimited local, STD & Roaming / 100/day | None |
| BSNL | Rs 319 | 60 days | 10 GB | Rs 5.32 | Unlimited / 300 | None |
| BSNL | Rs 321 | 365 days | 15 GB | Rs 0.88 | NA / 250 | None |
| BSNL | Rs 347 | 50 days | 2GB/day | Rs 6.94 | Unlimited / 100 /day | None |
| Airtel | Rs 349 | 28 days | 1.5GB per day (42GB total) | Rs 12.46 | Unlimited local, STD and roaming calls / 100 SMS per day | Apollo 24x7, Airtel Xstream Play |
| Airtel | Rs 355 | 30 days | 25GB | Rs 11.83 | Unlimited local STD & Roaming / 300 | None |
| Airtel | Rs 361 | 30 days | 50GB | Rs 12.03 | NA / NA | None |
| Airtel | Rs 379 | 30 days | Unlimited 5G + 2 GB/day | Rs 12.63 | Unlimited local, STD & Roaming / 100/day | None |
| BSNL | Rs 398 | 64 days | 2GB/day | Rs 6.22 | Unlimited / 100 /day | None |
| Airtel | Rs 399 | 28 days | 2.5 GB/day | Rs 14.25 | Unlimited / 100/day | None |
| Airtel | Rs 409 | 28 days | Unlimited 5G + 2.5GB/day | Rs 14.61 | Unlimited local STD & Roaming / 100/day | None |
| BSNL | Rs 411 | 60 days | 100 GB | Rs 6.85 | NA / NA | None |
| Airtel | Rs 429 | 30 days | Unlimited 5G + 2.5GB/day | Rs 14.3 | Unlimited local STD & Roaming / 100/day | None |
| BSNL | Rs 439 | 80 days | NA | Rs 5.49 | Unlimited / 300 | None |
| Airtel | Rs 449 | 28 days | Unlimited 4G + 5G | Rs 16.04 | Unlimited / 100/day | None |
| Airtel | Rs 469 | 84 days | NA | Rs 5.58 | Unlimited local STD & Roaming / 900 | None |
| BSNL | Rs 485 | 72 days | 2GB/day | Rs 6.74 | Unlimited / NA | None |
| Airtel | Rs 489 | 77 days | 6 GB | Rs 6.35 | Unlimited Local, STD & Roaming / 600 | None |
| BSNL | Rs 497 | 1 days | 100 MB | Rs 497 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 498 | 82 days | 1.5GB/day | Rs 6.07 | Unlimited / 100 /day | None |
| Airtel | Rs 500 | 28 days | NA | Rs 17.86 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 500 | 28 days | NA | Rs 17.86 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 511 | 1 days | 200 MB | Rs 511 | NA / NA | None |
| Airtel | Rs 548 | 84 days | 7 GB | Rs 6.52 | Unlimited local STD & Roaming / 900 | None |
| BSNL | Rs 559 | 90 days | 1GB/day | Rs 6.21 | NA / 100 /day | None |
| Airtel | Rs 579 | 56 days | 1.5GB/Day | Rs 10.34 | Unlimited local STD & Roaming / 100/day | None |
| Airtel | Rs 589 | 30 days | 50GB | Rs 19.63 | Unlimited local STD & Roaming / 300 | None |
| Airtel | Rs 595 | 1 days | 1 GB | Rs 595 | NA / 100 | None |
| Airtel | Rs 598 | 28 days | Unlimited 5G + 2GB/day | Rs 21.36 | Unlimited local, STD & Roaming / 100/day | None |
| BSNL | Rs 599 | 70 days | 3GB/day | Rs 8.56 | Unlimited / 100 /day | None |
| Airtel | Rs 609 | 30 days | 60GB | Rs 20.3 | Unlimited local STD & Roaming / 300 | None |
| Airtel | Rs 619 | 60 days | 1.5GB/Day | Rs 10.32 | Unlimited local STD & Roaming / 100/day | None |
| Airtel | Rs 649 | 56 days | Unlimited 5G + 2GB/day | Rs 11.59 | Unlimited Local STD & Roaming / 100/day | None |
| BSNL | Rs 659 | 1 days | 50 MB | Rs 659 | NA / NA | None |
| Airtel | Rs 698 | 1 days | 1 GB | Rs 698 | NA / 10 | None |
| Airtel | Rs 699 | 28 days | 2 GB | Rs 24.96 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 705 | 1 days | 200 MB | Rs 705 | NA / 5 | None |
| BSNL | Rs 776 | 180 days | 1.5GB/day | Rs 4.31 | NA / 1200 | None |
| Airtel | Rs 838 | 56 days | Unlimited 5G + 3GB/day | Rs 14.96 | Unlimited local STD & Roaming / 100/day | None |
| BSNL | Rs 895 | 1 days | 200 MB | Rs 895 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 897 | 165 days | 24 GB | Rs 5.44 | NA / 100 /day | None |
| Airtel | Rs 898 | 5 days | 4 GB | Rs 179.6 | NA / 20 | None |
| BSNL | Rs 898 | 3 days | 250 MB | Rs 299.33 | NA / NA | None |
| Airtel | Rs 899 | 84 days | 1.5GB/day | Rs 10.7 | Unlimited Local, STD & Roaming / 100 per day | None |
| BSNL | Rs 930 | 180 days | 2GB/day | Rs 5.17 | NA / 100 /Day | None |
| Airtel | Rs 979 | 84 days | Unlimited 5G + 2GB/day | Rs 11.65 | Unlimited local, STD & Roaming / 100/day | None |
| BSNL | Rs 997 | 150 days | 2GB/day | Rs 6.65 | Unlimited / 100 /day | None |
| Airtel | Rs 1000 | 28 days | NA | Rs 35.71 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 1000 | 28 days | NA | Rs 35.71 | NA / NA | None |
| Airtel | Rs 1029 | 84 days | Unlimited 5G + 2GB/day | Rs 12.25 | Unlimited local, STD & Roaming / 100/day | None |
| Airtel | Rs 1099 | 84 days | Unlimited 4G + 5G | Rs 13.08 | Unlimited / 100/day | None |
| Airtel | Rs 1198 | 10 days | 6 GB | Rs 119.8 | NA / 20 | None |
| Airtel | Rs 1199 | 84 days | Unlimited 5G + 2.5GB/day | Rs 14.27 | Unlimited Local, STD & Roaming / 100 per day | None |
| BSNL | Rs 1359 | 3 days | 100 MB | Rs 453 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 1361 | 7 days | NA | Rs 194.43 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 1498 | 300 days | 32 GB | Rs 4.99 | Unlimited / 100 /day | None |
| BSNL | Rs 1499 | 300 days | 32 GB | Rs 5 | Unlimited / 100 /day | None |
| BSNL | Rs 1551 | 365 days | 2GB/day | Rs 4.25 | Unlimited / 2400 | None |
| Airtel | Rs 1729 | 84 days | Unlimited 5G + 2GB/day | Rs 20.58 | Unlimited local, STD & Roaming / 100/day | None |
| Airtel | Rs 1798 | 84 days | Unlimited 5G + 3GB/day | Rs 21.4 | Unlimited local, STD & Roaming / 100/day | None |
| BSNL | Rs 1799 | 7 days | 1 GB | Rs 257 | NA / 5 | None |
| Airtel | Rs 1849 | 365 days | NA | Rs 5.07 | Unlimited local STD & Roaming / 3600 | None |
| BSNL | Rs 1859 | 365 days | 2GB/day | Rs 5.09 | NA / 100 /Day | None |
| BSNL | Rs 1999 | 330 days | 1.5GB/day | Rs 6.06 | Unlimited / 100 /day | None |
| BSNL | Rs 2199 | 7 days | 1000 MB | Rs 314.14 | NA / NA | None |
| Airtel | Rs 2249 | 365 days | 30GB | Rs 6.16 | Unlimited local STD & Roaming / 3600 | None |
| BSNL | Rs 2398 | 365 days | 2GB/day | Rs 6.57 | Unlimited / 100 /day | None |
| BSNL | Rs 2399 | 365 days | 2GB/day | Rs 6.57 | Unlimited / 100 /day | None |
| BSNL | Rs 2799 | 365 days | 3GB/day | Rs 7.67 | Unlimited / 100 /day | None |
| Airtel | Rs 2998 | 30 days | 10 GB | Rs 99.93 | NA / 20 | None |
| Airtel | Rs 3599 | 365 days | Unlimited 5G + 2GB/day | Rs 9.86 | Unlimited local STD & Roaming / 100/day | None |
| BSNL | Rs 3599 | 14 days | 2 GB | Rs 257.07 | NA / 10 | None |
| Airtel | Rs 3999 | 365 days | Unlimited 5G + 2.5GB/day | Rs 10.96 | Unlimited local, STD & Roaming / 100/day | None |
| Airtel | Rs 4099 | 365 days | Unlimited 4G + 5G | Rs 11.23 | Unlimited / 100/day | None |
| Airtel | Rs 4999 | 365 days | 2.5GB/day | Rs 13.7 | Unlimited / 100 /day | None |
| Airtel | Rs 5000 | 28 days | NA | Rs 178.57 | NA / NA | None |
| BSNL | Rs 5399 | 28 days | 3 GB | Rs 192.82 | NA / 15 | None |
Which Provider Is Better for Best for budget users?
BSNL wins. BSNL's 107 plan costs less than half of Airtel's lowest listed plan and still provides 2GB of total data with unlimited calls, making BSNL the stronger choice for users prioritizing low cost over data volume.