Reliance Jio Post 31 March: Should You Switch to Jio Prime or Not?

What happens to Reliance Jio 4G users after 31 March, and is it a good idea to not opt for Jio Prime?

Time to say goodbye to free Jio 4G? (Photo: The Quint)

The free internet run on Reliance Jio 4G will come to an end on 31 March. As the offer draws to close, Jio 4G users will have to shell out money to continue using the services.

The company has made it its mission to remind every user on its network (whether they have subscribed to it or not) to avail the benefits that come with Jio Prime.

Jio Prime Free Nahi ‘Hyonga’

While the Jio ads say “Free Hyonga”, you’ll be paying for the internet, so clearly Jio will be anything but free.

Jio Prime, for the uninitiated, is a Rs 99 annual plan that offers users a daily data usage limit up to 2GB per day, all the way to 31 March 2018. The plans go as high as Rs 499, offering 56 GB data per month.

Also Read: Reliance Jio Prime: What Will You Get for Rs 99?

Reports this week suggest Jio could extend its Jio Prime subscription deadline by another month, but nothing has been officially confirmed by the company yet.

Many users want to know if there’s any point going for Jio Prime, especially when Airtel and Vodafone seem to have become generous with their offers. Here’s a look at what non-Jio Prime users stand to gain or lose.

But first, a quick guide on getting Jio Prime.

How to Get Jio Prime?

Here’s how you can get Jio Prime.

• 1. Go to the My Jio app, select Jio Prime
• 2. Click on the Jio Prime Membership tab
• 3. Pay for Jio Prime via Paytm, Jio Money or internet banking
• 4. You can also pay Rs 402 and get Jio Prime and Rs 303 data plan on Jio

Those who find the deals too good to miss out on can opt for Jio Prime before 31 March and get extra data up to 10 GB every month. The rate works out to Rs 10 per 1 GB data every month for the next 12 months.

After utilising their allotted data for the day, the internet speed for users will go down to 128kbps.

Don’t Take Jio Prime, Lose Lot of 4G Data

For those who aren’t part of the Jio family, and are keen on joining them post 1 April, their plans give as much as 2.5 GB for a month at Rs 303. For those who don’t get Jio Prime, here’s what you get, and what you lose at the same time.

As you can see, the difference between the rates for Jio Prime and non-Jio Prime Reliance Jio users is definitely a big one.

At Rs 999, where Jio Prime gives 60 GB data per month, non-Jio Prime users get merely 12.5 GB for the month. The plans go as high as Rs 9,999 with validity for 360 days, which gives you a mammoth 750 GB of data.

Airtel and Vodafone are doing their best impression of Jio, with plans priced at Rs 346 that offer 1GB data per day.

Also Read: Airtel & Vodafone’s Plans to Fight Jio Prime: Are They Any Good?

Airtel is offering 28 GB 4G data per month for Rs 345 and 84 GB for Rs 549. Postpaid users are also getting surprise data which can be availed through the My Airtel app.

Vodafone is offering a Rs 346 prepaid plan for its users in select circles, which is why it is hard to locate the plan on the company’s website and mobile app. Vodafone has limited its benefits for those who recharge with this amount by 15 March this year.

Free Voice Calls on Jio For Lifetime, But...

While voice calls via 4G VoLTE on Jio will be free for lifetime, users will have to recharge their Jio number with a minimal amount.

If you don’t recharge the Jio number, you won’t get internet benefits, and after lack of activity for over 90 days, your number will be closed (as per TRAI rules).