Airtel vs BSNL: Recharge Plan Comparison (2026)
Published: 1 March 2026|Updated: 18 June 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
- 3
- Starts at
- Rs 199
- Longest validity
- 28 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
- 3
- Starts at
- Rs 107
- Longest validity
- 35 days
- Official app
- BSNL Selfcare
Category-by-Category Winners
| Category | Airtel | BSNL | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest plan | Rs 199 (Rs 199) | Rs 107 (Rs 107) | BSNL |
| Longest validity | 28 days (Rs 199) | 35 days (Rs 107) | BSNL |
| Most daily data | 1.5GB per day (42GB total) (Rs 349) | 2GB per day (Rs 147) | BSNL |
| Best daily cost | Rs 7.11/day (Rs 199) | Rs 3.06/day (Rs 107) | BSNL |
How Do Airtel and BSNL Plans Compare on Price and Data?
| Provider | Price | Validity | Data | Daily Cost | Voice / SMS | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BSNL | Rs 107 | 35 days | 2GB total data | Rs 3.06 | Unlimited voice calls / 100 SMS per day | Low cost entry recharge |
| BSNL | Rs 147 | 24 days | 2GB per day | Rs 6.13 | Unlimited voice calls / 100 SMS per day | Daily data focus |
| BSNL | Rs 197 | 30 days | 2GB per day | Rs 6.57 | Unlimited voice calls / 100 SMS per day | Standard monthly recharge |
| 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 |
| 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) |
| 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 |
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.