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Airtel, Jio, and Vi are bundling Netflix, Hotstar, and Amazon Prime with select prepaid and postpaid plans in 2026.
Airtel focuses on balanced premium OTT bundles with Netflix and Hotstar.
Jio offers the widest OTT variety, while Vi targets long-term users with annual Prime benefits.
The rise of OTT platforms is a major turning point in the Indian entertainment sector. These platforms offer a diverse range of content that goes beyond language differences. They provide access to popular films in various languages, along with original series that are exclusive to each platform.
The popularity of these entertainment services is influenced by several factors, such as increasing subscription costs and the availability of bundled OTT access through mobile recharge plans.
In India, Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone Idea (Vi) are the most prominent networks that offer OTT access to platforms like Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Amazon Prime Video, and SonyLIV, with specific recharge plans. Different networks offer access to different streaming plans. This article breaks down the best recharge plans from each telecom giant, helping users decide which one offers the most value.
Airtel is one of the oldest and most widely used telecom service providers in India. Over the last few years, the telecom provider has been revising its recharge plans to include OTT benefits to make them more attractive.
Its higher-tier prepaid and postpaid plans include access to OTT bundles featuring Netflix Basic, Disney+ Hotstar, Zee5 Premium, and Airtel Xstream Play. Most popular plans of Airtel include:
Airtel Plan Rs. 279/month: Netflix Basic + JioCinema (Hotstar) + Zee5 + Airtel Xstream Play Premium.
Airtel Prepaid Plan Rs. 598 (28 days): Netflix Basic + Hotstar + Zee5 + Xstream + Unlimited 5g & calls
Airtel Prepaid Plan Rs. 1,729 (84 days): The same OTT benefits as the Rs. 598 plan, but the validity will be longer.
These Airtel plans offer daily data benefits with premium access to OTT platforms. This combination ensures users are not affected by data usage while streaming movies or series. Additionally, Airtel’s broadband plans (Rs. 899, Rs. 1,099, Rs. 1,599) offer access to the OTT ecosystem, including Disney+ Hotstar, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and more than 20 other OTTs, depending on the recharge plan.
What makes it reliable? The consistency of plans. Airtel does not rotate platforms within bundles. Users can go for their preferred plan every time to keep watching their favorite shows and series without extra recharge amounts.
Also Read: How OTT Platforms Use AI for Content Recommendations
Jio is a leader in India's telecom market. Across India, Jio has a reliable network, which makes it one of the most widely used networks. Though Jio plans are on the higher side, they provide OTT access to top platforms like Netflix, JioHotstar, Amazon Prime Video, SonyLIV, Zee5, Discovery+, and YouTube Premium under a single subscription. The popular plans include:
Jio Prepaid Plan Rs. 398 (28 days): JioCinema Premium + OTT suite + 56GB Data
Jio Prepaid Plan Rs. 857 (84 days): Amazon Prime Video mobile + Disney+ Hotstar mobile + OTT suite + 168GB Data
Jio Prepaid Plan Rs. 1,099 (84 days): Netflix Mobile + JioCinema + OTT suite + 168GB Data
Jio Prepaid Annual Rs. 3,227 (365 days): Amazon Prime Video + OTT suite + 730GB Data
Jio’s OTT strategy is designed to attract a wide range of users, going beyond those who watch just movies and series. Jio covers a wider range of content, from sports and original creations to documentaries and live TV, without individual subscriptions for each. Some Jio plans even unlock access to the cloud storage and TV streaming apps.
What backfires? The limited access to Netflix. Only a handful of Jio plans offer Netflix, though the telecom giant compensates for it with other streaming platforms.
Another renowned telecom company in India is Vodafone Idea. This telecom provider takes a different approach and emphasizes long-term affordability rather than short-term OTT access in its plans. Vi’s annual plan includes an Amazon Prime membership for a full year. The most popular plans include:
Vi Max Family Plan Rs. 871: Netflix included + access to 18+ other OTT platforms via Vi Movies and TV+ Unlimited Night Data
Vi Prepaid Plan Rs. 1,198 (70 Days): 140GB Data + Netflix + Unlimited Voice + 100 SMS + Unlimited Data Between 12 AM and 6 AM.
Vi Prepaid Plan Rs. 1599 (84 Days): 210 GB Data + Netflix + Unlimited Voice + 100 SMS + Unlimited Data Between 12 AM and 6 AM.
One of Vi's best offerings is the unlimited night data feature. Users can binge on series and shows between 12 AM and 6 AM without worrying about exceeding their daily quota. This unlimited internet does not count toward users’ daily data. Though Vi offers fewer plans than other brands, the appeal of its data plans is massive.
All telecom operators have their strengths and weaknesses. With the plans they offer, each of them caters to a different segment of users. There is no one ‘best’ plan. But every user will have one that is best for them, depending on data usage, viewing habits, and other preferences.
Jio plans are the best for users who look for a plan that offers maximum OTT benefits. Vi works best for users looking for long-term stability in plans. On the other hand, Airtel is for those users who want access to multiple OTTs within an optimal budget.
OTT bundling is one of the most competitive sections in the Indian telecom market. Recharge plans for Airtel, Jio, and Vi have transformed from mobile recharge for talktime and SMS into all-rounder entertainment packages. This significantly eliminates the barrier between connectivity and entertainment.
While Airtel excels in offering a refined balance between premium platform access, Jio dominates with unparalleled OTT variety. Vi is in line with its competitors for long-term stability.
1. Which telecom operator offers the best OTT plans in 2026?
Ans: Airtel offers a balanced mix of premium OTT platforms; Jio provides the widest variety of streaming apps; while Vi focuses on long-term value through Amazon Prime and Netflix benefits.
2. Do all Airtel, Jio, and Vi plans include free Netflix?
Ans: No. Netflix is available only with select prepaid and postpaid plans. Airtel and Vi offer Netflix with specific recharge packs, while Jio includes it in limited premium plans.
3. Which OTT platforms are included in Airtel OTT plans?
Ans: Airtel OTT plans typically include Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Zee5, and Airtel Xstream Play, depending on the plan value and validity.
4. Does Jio offer more OTT apps than Airtel and Vi?
Ans: Yes. Jio generally bundles more OTT platforms, such as JioHotstar, Amazon Prime Video, SonyLIV, Zee5, Discovery+, and YouTube Premium, with selected plans.
5. Are OTT subscriptions valid for the entire recharge period?
Ans: In most cases, OTT access remains active for the full validity of the recharge. However, the duration may vary depending on the specific plan and platform.
