The best Airtel prepaid plans under ₹500 in 2025. We compare daily‑data, voice‑only and OTT‑packed recharges, reveal which plans unlock unlimited 5G and streaming subscriptions, and share tips for choosing the right pack for your usage and budget.

Why choosing the right plan matters

Did you know that Airtel’s new entertainment packs offer access to more than 50,000 films and web series from over 25 streaming platforms In 2025, India’s digital appetite has exploded: 5G adoption is accelerating, streaming platforms are ubiquitous and mobile data usage often rivals household broadband. Picking the wrong recharge not only wastes money but can also leave you paying for benefits you never use. If you’re confused by the long list of plans, this guide breaks down Airtel’s best prepaid recharges under ₹500, covering voice‑only options, daily‑data packs and entertainment bundles. Each recommendation is backed by official sources and recent reports, ensuring you get trusted, up‑to‑date information.

What counts as a plan under ₹500?

Airtel’s prepaid catalogue is organised into categories. For the purpose of this guide, we consider any recharge with a MRP up to ₹500 (including talk‑time top‑ups and data‑only packs). Within that range, you’ll find four broad types:

• Voice‑centric plans – Unlimited calls with a small data allowance; ideal for light internet users.
• Daily‑data plans – Set amount of high‑speed data each day (1–3 GB) plus unlimited voice and SMS.
• Entertainment/OTT bundles – Includes access to streaming services such as Netflix, JioCinema/Hotstar, Zee5 and Airtel Xstream Play along with data and calls
• Top‑up and data‑only vouchers – Add extra talk‑time or a fixed data quota without changing your primary plan

Understanding your usage—whether you stream, game, browse or simply call—will help you pick the right category.

Voice‑centric packs (₹189 – ₹489)

These plans prioritise voice calls and SMS with a modest data allowance. They suit users who rely on Wi‑Fi for most online tasks or prefer a backup data connection.

₹189 plan – cheapest unlimited calling

• Price & validity: ₹189 for 21 days.
• Benefits: Unlimited voice calls, 300 SMS and 1 GB total data. After the quota, data is charged at ₹0.50/MB.
• Extras: Airtel Rewards include a year of access to Perplexity Pro AI assistant.

Use it if: you need a short‑term, no‑frills calling pack—maybe for a secondary SIM or to keep a number active.

₹199 plan – small data boost

• Price & validity: ₹199 for 28 days.
• Benefits: Unlimited calls, 2 GB total data and 100 SMS/day.
• Extras: Airtel Xstream App access, Perplexity Pro AI and free Hellotunes.

Use it if: you occasionally browse or stream music but don’t need daily high‑speed data.

₹219 plan – slightly more data

• Price & validity: ₹219 for 28 days.
• Benefits: Unlimited calls, 3 GB total data and 300 SMS.
• Extras: Same rewards as the ₹199 plan.

Use it if: you need a bit more data for occasional video calls or navigation without stepping into daily‑data pricing.

₹489 and ₹548 – longer validity for minimal data

• ₹489 plan: Offers unlimited calls, 6 GB data and 600 SMS with a 77‑day validity.
• ₹548 plan: Increases data to 7 GB and SMS to 900 with an 84‑day validity.
• Extras: Both include Perplexity Pro AI and free Hellotunes.

Use them if: you want a “set and forget” calling pack for two to three months and rarely use mobile data. Long validity makes them popular with seniors or users keeping a SIM active.

Daily‑data plans (₹249 – ₹449)

Daily‑data packs include high‑speed data allowances each day plus unlimited calls and 100 SMS/day. Airtel also offers unlimited 5G usage on plans with 2 GB/day or more, so if you’re buying a 2 GB/day pack you won’t hit a fair‑usage cap.

₹249 plan – basic daily data

• Price & validity: ₹249 for 24 days
• Data: 1 GB/day. After the daily quota, speed drops to 64 kbps.
• Calls & SMS: Unlimited calls and 100 SMS/day

Use it if: you need a short‑duration plan for social media and messaging or when travelling.

₹299 plan – bestseller 1 GB/day

• Price & validity: ₹299 for 28 days
• Data: 1 GB/day; unlimited calls and 100 SMS/day
• Extras: New plans sometimes bundle Perplexity Pro or Apple Music—check current promotions.

Use it if: you want a month‑long plan with consistent data but don’t need heavy streaming.

₹349 plan – unlimited 5G with entertainment

• Price & validity: ₹349 for 28 days
• Data: 2 GB/day with unlimited 5G usage
• Calls & SMS: Unlimited calls and 100 SMS/day
• Extras: Airtel Xstream Play Premium, Sony LIV access, six‑month Apple Music subscription, scam/spam call protection and Perplexity Pro AI

Use it if: you’re a moderate streamer who wants OTT content and unlimited 5G at a mid‑range price. Bajaj Finserv confirms that the ₹349 plan provides 1.5 GB/day of high‑speed data plus unlimited calls and 100 SMS/day Airtel’s festive edition increases it to 2 GB/day Always check which variant is currently on sale.

₹379 plan – 2 GB/day with 1‑month validity

• Price & validity: ₹379 for one month.
• Data: 2 GB/day with unlimited 5G; unlimited calls and 100 SMS/day.
• Extras: Airtel Xstream App access, Perplexity Pro AI and free Hellotunes.

Use it if: you need just over four weeks of usage and prefer per‑month validity rather than the 28‑day cycle. It’s a good choice for students or remote workers who need consistent connectivity.

₹398 and ₹399 plans – OTT upgrades

Airtel offers two near‑identical entertainment packs:

• ₹398 plan: 2 GB/day, unlimited calls and 100 SMS/day with unlimited 5G for 28 days. Includes Disney+ Hotstar (mobile) for 30 days and Perplexity Pro AI.
• ₹399 plan: For ₹1 more, the data allowance increases to 2.5 GB/day Availability is limited to specific circles such as Bihar, Delhi and Karnataka.

Use them if: you want Hotstar for sports or shows and need a higher daily data cap for streaming and video calls.

₹409 & ₹429 – all‑in‑one OTT packs

• ₹409 plan: 2.5 GB/day, unlimited calls, 100 SMS/day and unlimited 5G for 28 days. Bundles Airtel Xstream Play Premium (over 22 OTTs) and Perplexity Pro.
• ₹429 plan: Same 2.5 GB/day allowance but a full one‑month validity. Includes Airtel Xstream Play App access and Perplexity Pro.

Use them if: you stream across multiple platforms and want unlimited 5G with a generous data cap. The ₹409 plan is especially good for binge‑watching because it includes a premium Xstream Play subscription.

₹449 plan – heavy data users

• Price & validity: ₹449 for 28 days.
• Data: 3 GB/day with unlimited 5G; unlimited calls and 100 SMS/day.
• Extras: Xstream Play Premium (22+ OTTs) and Perplexity Pro AI.

Use it if: you work from your phone, game online or stream HD content regularly. It’s one of the most data‑heavy sub‑₹500 plans and includes extensive entertainment benefits.

Special mention: ₹355 data voucher

For those who already have an active voice plan and need extra data, Airtel’s ₹355 voucher provides 25 GB of data and unlimited calls for 30 days. It doesn’t include SMS or OTT benefits but is a cost‑effective way to top up data.

Entertainment‑centric bundles (₹181 – ₹440)

Airtel’s recent strategy is to bundle OTT subscriptions with prepaid recharges. According to The New Indian Express, the company’s new packs give subscribers access to Netflix, JioCinema/Hotstar, Zee5 and its own Xstream Play Premium service with over 25 streaming partners, totalling more than 50,000 movies and series. Here are the key options under ₹500:

₹181 content‑only pack

• Price & validity: ₹181 for 30 days.
• Benefits: 15 GB of data plus Airtel Xstream Play Premium (22+ OTTs). No voice or SMS benefits.

Use it if: you already have a separate voice plan and want a low‑cost data + OTT bundle for binge‑watching.

₹195 pack – Hotstar mobile & 15 GB

• Price & validity: ₹195 with up to 90 days validity
• Benefits: 15 GB data and Disney+ Hotstar access

Use it if: you need a longer‑validity OTT add‑on for occasional streaming.

₹275 plan – all‑in‑one OTT sampler

• Price & validity: ₹275 for 30 days
• Benefits: 1 GB total data plus subscriptions to Netflix Basic, Disney+ Hotstar Super, ZEE5 and SonyLIV via Airtel Xstream. Voice and SMS aren’t included.

Use it if: you want to trial multiple OTT services cheaply. The low data allotment suits users who mainly stream over Wi‑Fi.

₹398/399/409/429/440 plans – OTT + unlimited 5G

These plans, already discussed in the daily‑data section, deserve repetition because they target entertainment lovers:

• ₹398: 2 GB/day, Hotstar mobile and Perplexity Pro
• ₹399 (selected circles): 2.5 GB/day, Hotstar mobile and Perplexity Pro.
• ₹409: 2.5 GB/day with Xstream Play Premium (22+ OTTs).
• ₹429: same as ₹409 but one‑month validity.
• ₹440: 3 GB/day with OTT access for 28 days

Use them if: you want one recharge to cover calls, data and entertainment. These packs essentially turn your phone into a portable streaming hub and are competitive with standalone OTT subscriptions.

Top‑up and data‑only vouchers

Beyond bundled packs, Airtel offers top‑ups for talk‑time or data that can be used alongside existing plans.

₹500 top‑up – high talk‑time

According to Bajaj Finserv, the ₹500 recharge is a straight talk‑time voucher providing ₹423.73 of balance and no set validity period. It’s useful for users who primarily make outgoing calls, including international dialing, and don’t want to worry about expiry dates The high balance can be used at standard per‑minute rates.

Other data/top‑up vouchers

• ₹99 plan: 200 MB data, ₹99 talk‑time and 28 days validity Useful for emergencies or as a secondary SIM.
• ₹121 plan: 6 GB data for 30 days. Great for short‑term travel.
• ₹149 plan: 1 GB data with unlimited calls and flexible validity
• ₹160 plan: 7 GB data over 7 days
• ₹181/195/275 content‑only packs described above.
• ₹355 data voucher: 25 GB for 30 days with calls

How to choose the right Airtel plan

With so many options, selecting the best plan means balancing data needs, entertainment habits and budget. Here’s a simple framework:

1. Estimate your daily data usage. For WhatsApp, email and occasional browsing, 1 GB/day is sufficient. Video calls, HD streaming or gaming require 2 GB/day or more, which also unlocks unlimited 5G speeds on Airtel’s network.
2. Check if you need OTT subscriptions. If you already pay for Netflix or Hotstar separately, bundled packs can save money. Airtel’s entertainment bundles provide access to 25+ OTT platforms potentially replacing multiple standalone subscriptions.
3. Decide on validity. Most plans renew every 28 days, but one‑month options (₹379, ₹429) align with the calendar month. Long‑validity voice packs (₹489, ₹548) are cost‑effective for light data users.
4. Consider network coverage and 5G availability. Airtel’s unlimited 5G benefits apply only in cities where the network is live. If you’re in a 4G‑only area, the extra 5G allowance offers no advantage.
5. Factor in rewards and extras. Perplexity Pro AI subscriptions, Apple Music trials and scam‑call protection may not have obvious monetary value, but they enhance the overall package

Latest trends and expert insights

Airtel’s 2025 strategy emphasises converged services. The company is bundling telecom, OTT and digital security in prepaid packs, effectively turning recharges into mini‑subscription boxes. The New Indian Express notes that Airtel Xstream Play aggregates over 25 streaming partners and offers more than 50,000 titles This breadth is unique among Indian telcos. Meanwhile, TelecomTalk’s August 2025 roundup observes that even entry‑level voice plans now include AI‑powered rewards like Perplexity Pro.

In addition, Airtel’s own blog promotes festive offers such as the ₹349 plan, which bundles unlimited 5G usage, Apple Music and Xstream Play Premium. These benefits highlight how telcos are collaborating with streaming and music platforms to differentiate themselves. For heavy data users, the ₹449 plan remains the best value, offering 3 GB/day and unlimited 5G along with a full OTT suite.

Key takeaways

• Light users: Choose the ₹189 or ₹199 plan for affordable calls and minimal data.
• Moderate users: The ₹349 or ₹379 plans offer daily data (2 GB) with unlimited 5G and extras like Apple Music and Xstream Play.
• Entertainment lovers: Opt for ₹398/₹399/₹409/₹429 or ₹440 to enjoy Hotstar, Xstream Play Premium and other OTT benefits.
• Heavy users: ₹449 provides 3 GB/day, unlimited 5G and an expansive OTT bundle.
• Voice‑only or long‑term: ₹489 and ₹548 plans prioritise calls and SMS over data.
• Top‑ups and vouchers: Use ₹355 or ₹500 vouchers for additional data or talk‑time without changing your base plan

Final thought

Airtel’s prepaid ecosystem has evolved into more than just talk‑time and data. It now includes streaming, music, AI tools and security features. By matching your usage profile to the right plan, you can maximize value while minimising spend. Check Airtel’s official website or thanks app for the latest offers and circle‑specific packs, and remember to compare the total cost against standalone OTT subscriptions. An informed choice not only saves money but also ensures you never run out of data or entertainment when you need it most.

Sources & references

Information and statistics cited in this article were obtained from reputable news and industry sources, including Digit’s breakdown of Airtel plansdigit.in, TelecomTalk’s August 2025 list of voice and unlimited 5G packs, the New Indian Express report on Airtel’s OTT bundlesnewindianexpress.com, Airtel’s official blog detailing the ₹349 festive planairtel.in, and Bajaj Finserv’s overviews of the ₹500 top‑up and ₹349 planbajajfinserv.inbajajfinserv.in. These sources were accessed on 27 September 2025.