Jio Fiber and Airtel Xstream offer similar-priced plans with a wide range of benefits. In this article, we will compare the pricing, benefits, and overall value of these broadband services to help you determine which one is more suitable for your needs.
Pricing and Benefits:
Both Jio Fiber and Airtel Xstream offer basic, entertainment, and professional plans ranging from 500 to 1200 INR per month. These plans include approximately 2TB of monthly data and unlimited calling. However, the major difference lies in the additional benefits provided.
Airtel Xstream offers a subscription to the Airtel Xtream and Wink music apps with all its plans. Airtel Xtream allows access to movies, TV shows, and regional content. On the other hand, Jio’s basic plans do not include any additional offers.
When it comes to pricing, Airtel’s basic plan costs around 587 INR with a speed of 40 Mbps, while Jio’s plan costs around 472 INR with a speed of 30 Mbps. If you have multiple mobile devices for YouTube and WhatsApp usage, Jio’s 30-40 Mbps plan should suffice.
For online gaming or work-from-home scenarios, the 100 Mbps plan would be a perfect option. Airtel offers this plan for around 943 INR, while Jio offers it for around 824 INR.
Entertainment Plans:
In terms of entertainment plans, both Jio Fiber and Airtel Xstream provide benefits from multiple OTT apps. To access these apps, a refundable amount of 1000 INR is required for the set-top box. Airtel offers a 4K Xtream fiber setup box that works with Android TV, while Jio provides a 4K supported customized setup box compatible with popular OTT apps. Jio’s setup box allows access to free content, including YouTube, without additional charges. Airtel’s set-top box requires an additional DTH recharge of 153 INR to use any app, even free apps like YouTube.
For Jio’s 999 INR plan, users can enjoy a speed of 150 Mbps, access to around 200 live TV channels, and subscriptions to multiple OTT apps. Airtel’s 1200 INR plan offers 200 Mbps speed but provides subscriptions only to Amazon Prime, Hotstar, and Airtel Xtream. If entertainment is a priority, Jio’s plan is the better option.
Additional Features:
Jio offers an OTT top-up option that allows users to pay extra (100 or 200 INR) for premium app subscriptions like Hotstar, Voot, or SonyLIV with the basic 499 INR plan. If you opt for a 3-month postpaid top-up plan, Jio provides the setup box and router free of cost, eliminating the need for additional expenses.
Airtel offers a 699 INR plan with around 300 live TV channels and OTT apps, while the 899 INR plan includes subscriptions only to Amazon Prime, Hotstar, and SonyLIV.
Both Jio and Airtel offer unlimited calling facilities, but Jio provides the added benefit of the Jio Join app, allowing users to make landline calls directly from their smartphones. This app can be set up on up to five smartphones, enabling easy landline calling from any room.
Real-Life Speed Test and Downtime:
Based on real-life speed tests, Jio consistently provides download speeds close to the advertised rates, while Airtel offers speeds 10-15 Mbps higher than the subscribed plan.
Regarding downtime, both services experienced downtime on rare occasions, but the service was restored within 30-40 minutes. It is worth noting that customers receive notifications about downtime and estimated resumption times.
Conclusion:
Considering the pricing, OTT app collection, and overall value, Jio Fiber currently offers better options. However, it is recommended to check the service quality in your specific area before finalizing a decision.
Disclaimer: The pricing and benefits mentioned in this article are subject to change. It is advised to refer to the official websites of Jio Fiber and Airtel Xstream for the latest information.
