SIM cards for a feature phone aren’t available separately but you can have plans that are best suited for them. A feature phone is a kind of cellphone that has only a fixed set of functions and features, unlike a smartphone. They can perform the basic functions of calling and texting and oftentimes play rudimentary video games. Moreover, a feature phone may facilitate email and web browsing, but can’t download apps from an online marketplace like Google Play Store or Apple App Store. It also has press-button-based inputs and generally a small non-touch screen. Furthermore, unlike smartphones, it doesn’t have large and complex operating systems like iOS or Android.
A feature phone uses a pre-embedded operating system that’s quite small and comes with a simple GUI (Graphical User Interface). Because a feature phone has several basic functions, there is very little need for high-speed internet or big data bundles. Quite the opposite — a small bundle of data can do the job in such phones, as they don’t tend to consume much. In contrast, you might need plans with unlimited or at least cheaply available texts and calling rates. Let’s have a look at some of the best SIM cards in India providing plans suitable for feature phone users.
1. Jio
Jio offers three plans for its feature phone customers, i.e., a 1-month plan (28 days), a 3-month plan (84 days), and a 1-year plan (336 days). First, we will talk about the 1-month plan that gets you unlimited local and STD voice calls, 300 SMSes, and 2 GB of data for Rs 129. The validity you get is 28 days. Unfortunately, the carrier offers no additional benefits with this plan.
Now let’s talk about the 3-month plan. The price of the plan is Rs 329 and in it, you will get unlimited local and STD voice minutes, 1000 SMSes, and 6 GB of data. Its validity will be 84 days. The last plan for feature phone users in Jio is the one-year plan which you get for Rs 1299. Under this plan, you get unlimited local and STD calling minutes, 3600 SMSes, and 24 GB of data with a validity of 336 days.
2. Airtel
Airtel offers three plans for its feature phone customers — a 1-month plan (28 days), a 3-month plan (84 days), and a 1-year plan (365 days). In its 1-month plan, you will get unlimited local and STD voice calls, 300 SMSes, and 2 GB of data for Rs 149. Its validity is 28 days. Apart from all this, you get some additional benefits as well e.g., Wink Music free subscription, Airtel Xtreme, Prime Video one month free trial (mobile edition), and more.
Now let’s discuss the 3-month plan, you will get unlimited local and STD voice calls, 900 SMSes, and 6 GB of data. The validity of the pack will be 84 days and the price of this plan is Rs 379. This pack also offers the same additional benefits as the Rs 149 plan.
The third and the last plan for feature phone users in Airtel is the one-year plan which you can acquire for Rs 1498. Under this plan, you get unlimited local and STD calling minutes, 3600 SMSes, 24 GB data with the validity of 365 days. Once again, this plan offers the same benefits as the Rs 149 plan.
3. Vodafone Idea
Vodafone Idea offers three plans for its feature phone customers. As you can guess, those are the 1-month plan (28 days), a 3-month plan (84 days), and their 1-year plan (365 days). Vi offers a 1-month plan in which you get unlimited local and STD voice minutes, 300 SMSes, and 2 GB of data for Rs 149. The pack’s validity is 28 days. You also get the added benefit of Vi Movies and TV subscription for free. If you recharge with the Vi app, you will get 1 GB of data more.
In the 3-month plan, you will get unlimited local and STD voice minutes, 1000 SMSes, and 6 GB of data. The validity of the pack will be 84 days and the price is Rs 379. This plan also offers the same additional benefits you get in the Rs 149 plan. The last plan for feature phone users in Airtel is the one-year plan, which you get for Rs 1499. Using this plan gets you unlimited local and STD calling minutes, 3600 SMSes, as well as 24 GB of data, all with a 365-day validity. This plan also offers the same benefits as the Rs 149 one.
4. BSNL
BSNL offers its subscribers very cheap and affordable plans which are somewhat different from its competitors. Four plans target the feature phone users — Rs 99 plan, Rs 319 plan, Rs 1199 plan, and the Rs 1499 plan. BSNL does not provide any additional benefits among the four plans other than the things we mention. Let’s go over them one by one.
The first plan, which costs Rs 99, grants unlimited local and STD voice minutes, no data, and a free BSNL Tune with a validity of only 22 days. The second plan is for Rs 319. In this plan you will get unlimited local and STD voice minutes, 10 GB 3G or 4G data, 99 free SMSes with a validity of 75 days.
The third plan is for Rs 1199. By signing up, you will get unlimited local and STD voice minutes, 24 GB 3G or 4G data, and 100 free SMSes with a validity of 365 days. The last plan is for Rs 1499, and it is the First Recharge plan. It means you may only get this plan when you purchase new BSNL prepaid SIM cards, for a feature phone or not. If you do, you will get unlimited local and STD voice minutes, 24 GB 3G or 4G data, and, finally, 100 free SMSes with a validity of 365 days.