Tripmojo vs Airalo for Indian travellers
Airalo is one of the best-known travel eSIM sellers. This page sets it beside Tripmojo on the five things an Indian buyer tends to get stuck on: paying in rupees, refunds, a locked phone, when validity starts and ID checks. Every line comes from Airalo's own help pages.
Head to head: Tripmojo and Airalo
| What matters | Tripmojo | Airalo | What we found |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay in rupees, by UPIAvoids your bank's forex markup on dollar prices | Yes: ₹ + UPI | No: No INR, no UPI | Airalo's currency list has no rupee and its payment list has no UPI; Nomad takes cards, Apple/Google Pay and PayPal. A dollar price on an Indian card usually picks up your bank's forex markup. |
| Refund if your phone is lockedThe most common reason an eSIM won't install | Yes: Full refund | Not stated: Not stated | A carrier-locked phone is the most common reason a travel eSIM won't install. Matrix's policy says no refund for an incompatible handset; Saily refunds only plans that were never activated, within 30 days. Matrix refundsSaily refundsNomad install-failTripmojo refunds |
| Refund if it never connectsIf it installs but never gets signal | Yes: Full refund | Yes: Yes, on request | Airalo refunds an eSIM that isn't working to your original payment method. Nomad wants proof the fault was theirs; Matrix's window is five days from purchase. Ours runs for the plan's whole validity. |
| Days start when you landNo days used while you wait at home | Yes: First connection | Partly: Most plans | Airalo starts most plans on first connection but some on install, so check each plan's policy. Saily auto-activates an unused plan after 180 days. |
| No ID upload to buyQR right after payment | Yes: None | Not stated: Not stated | Matrix sends the QR within about four hours, after you email a passport copy. Ours shows on screen as soon as you pay. |
Checked on each provider's own pages on 27 October 2026. Policies change. ‘Not stated’ means we couldn't find it on their site, not that they don't do it.
Where Airalo does well
- Airalo offers 24/7 support through in-app chat or WhatsApp. Airalo refunds
- Its Discover+ packages include calls and texts, which a data-only Tripmojo eSIM does not. Airalo validity
Other facts we checked
- Airalo's currency list has no Indian rupee. Airalo currencies
- Airalo accepts cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, UnionPay, JCB), PayPal, Airmoney, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Alipay. UPI is not on the list. Airalo payments
- Validity starts at first connection for most packages, but some start at install, so each package's own validity policy is worth reading before you buy. Airalo validity
- A refund for a wrong purchase or changed plans goes to Airmoney credit only. Installation issues or an eSIM not working can go back to the original payment method in 7-10 business days. Expired or fully used eSIMs are not eligible. Airalo refunds
Questions about Tripmojo vs Airalo
Can I pay for Airalo in rupees or by UPI?
Airalo's currency list has no rupee and its payment list has no UPI, so prices are not in rupees and your bank may add a forex markup on an Indian card. Tripmojo prices in rupees and takes UPI, Indian cards and netbanking.
What if my phone is locked and the eSIM will not install?
We did not find a locked-phone refund rule on Airalo's help pages, so check with them before you buy. Tripmojo gives a full refund if the eSIM cannot install, including on a locked phone, and support cannot fix it.
Does an Airalo eSIM start counting days when I install it?
For most packages validity starts at first connection, but some start at install, so check each package's validity policy. A Tripmojo plan always starts at first connection abroad.
Can I get an Airalo refund back to my card or UPI?
Airalo can refund installation issues or an eSIM not working to the original payment method in 7-10 business days. Wrong purchase and changed-plans refunds go to Airmoney credit only.
Do I need to upload ID to buy a Tripmojo eSIM?
No. The QR appears on screen in about 2 minutes after you pay and is also emailed. We did not find an ID rule for Airalo on its help pages.
Ready to pick a plan?
Rupee pricing, UPI, and a QR on screen in about 2 minutes.
