Whether you are supporting parents in Punjab, a sibling at university in Bengaluru or a friend in Kerala, a mobile recharge keeps their phone working without them having to visit a shop. Below you will find a practical walk-through of our India mobile recharge, written for people ordering from the UK and paying in pounds.
Which Indian networks can I recharge from the UK?
Three Indian networks are available: Airtel, Vi and Jio. Unlike some countries, India’s price list differs by network, and each one offers its own set of recharge values. Start by finding out which of the three the person uses, because the amounts you can pick only appear after you select the matching network on the product page.
Vi is the brand formed when Vodafone and Idea combined, so a relative who still says “Vodafone” or “Idea” almost certainly means Vi. Numbers can also be ported between operators in India, so ask rather than guessing from the first digits.
The service is for prepaid connections. Postpaid (monthly bill) numbers are handled by the operator’s own billing and cannot be recharged here.
What is the correct format for an Indian mobile number?
India uses the country code +91, and mobile numbers have ten digits that normally begin with 6, 7, 8 or 9. Written in full for an international recharge, a number looks like +91 xxxxx xxxxx. If the number you have starts with a 0, remove that zero first, since it is only used for dialling within India.
- As a contact might save it: 0xxxxx xxxxx or xxxxx xxxxx
- As it should go into the India Mobile Number field: +91 xxxxx xxxxx
A useful sanity check: after the 91 there must be exactly ten digits. If you count nine or eleven, something has been dropped or doubled. Watch for numbers copied from WhatsApp that already include +91, so you do not end up typing the code twice.
Which recharge amounts can I choose, and what do they cost?
Airtel offers 10, 20, 100, 500 and 1,000 INR, priced from £0.19 to £12.19. Vi has smaller steps of 10, 20, 30, 50 and 100 INR, costing £0.19 to £1.29. Jio uses fixed recharge values of 239, 349 and 719 INR, at £3.69 to £10.89. Across all three, prices start at £0.19 and reach £12.19.
| Network | Amounts (INR) | Price range (GBP) |
|---|---|---|
| Airtel | 10, 20, 100, 500, 1,000 | £0.19 to £12.19 |
| Vi | 10, 20, 30, 50, 100 | £0.19 to £1.29 |
| Jio | 239, 349, 719 | £3.69 to £10.89 |
Jio’s values look unusual because the network sells recharges as set packs rather than open amounts. What each pack includes on the Jio side is decided by Jio and can change, so if the person has a particular plan in mind, ask them to confirm the rupee value they need before you order.
For Airtel and Vi, the small values are handy for topping up a balance that has run low, while the larger Airtel amounts suit a monthly send.
What do I need to double-check at checkout?
Four details matter most: the network, the ten-digit number, the amount and your own email address. Picking Airtel for a Jio number, or mistyping a single digit, is the usual cause of trouble. Read each field back slowly before you place the order, ideally comparing the number against a message the recipient has sent you.
- Is the network the one the SIM is on today, not the one it used to be on?
- Does the number begin with 91 followed by ten digits?
- Is the INR value the one the person asked for?
- Will our emails reach the address you entered?
How does UK bank transfer payment work for an India recharge?
We take payment by UK bank transfer only. Once you place the order, your order number and our bank details appear on screen. Open your banking app, send the exact total, and put the order number in the reference field. The reference lets us link your payment to the right recharge.
First-time transfers to a new payee sometimes trigger a confirmation step or a short hold by your bank. If that happens, follow your bank’s prompts. Our step-by-step guide to paying by bank transfer shows what the process looks like in most UK banking apps.
When is the credit added to the Indian number?
Processing starts once your payment is confirmed. Credit is usually applied to the Indian number when we process the order, and we send you an email to say the recharge has gone through. The recipient generally receives a text from Airtel, Vi or Jio too. Because bank checks vary, there is no set time we can promise.
If our email has arrived but the person cannot see the credit, ask them to check their balance in the operator’s app or restart the phone. Still missing? Reply with your order number and we will investigate with the operator.
What if I recharge the wrong Indian number?
Credit sent to a real number that happens to be the wrong one lands on that stranger’s account, and operators do not pull it back. For that reason, a recharge sent to a number mistyped at checkout cannot be refunded. Copying the number directly from the recipient, rather than typing it from memory, is the simplest protection.
If you notice an error before you have transferred any money, do not pay; get in touch and the order can be cancelled. After your transfer is confirmed and the recharge is processed, it is final.
If you also send credit to other countries, our general guide on topping up a phone abroad explains how the same steps apply elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
Why can I only see some amounts?
Amounts depend on the network. Choose Airtel, Vi or Jio first on the India recharge page and the matching values will appear.
Can I recharge a Jio number with 100 INR?
Not on our site. Jio is listed with three fixed values: 239, 349 and 719 INR.
Does the person in India need to share a code or approve anything?
No. The recharge goes onto their prepaid balance without any action from them, as long as the number is active.
Can I recharge two numbers in one order?
Yes. Add the product to your basket once for each number, entering a different number each time.