Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Vi: Recharges & Payments vs Paytm

Vi: Recharges & Payments 4.5★ · Free to download 40
Winner Paytm
Paytm 4.7★ · Free to download 70

Paytm is the better choice for a comprehensive digital payment and financial management app, offering a wider range of services and generally positive user experiences despite some issues with international number support and customer service, while Vi primarily focuses on telecom services and struggles with app functionality and customer support.

Full reviews: Vi: Recharges & Payments · Paytm

Paytm offers a robust all-in-one payment solution with fast QR code payments, bill pay, and ticket booking, though it faces criticism for international number support and customer service. Vi, a telecom app, is primarily used for recharges and payments but is plagued by network issues, poor app performance, and inadequate customer support.

Head to head

Features & Functionality edge: PaytmR1R6R7R9
Vi: Recharges & Payments Vi users report issues with basic app functionality, such as not supporting certain payment cards, frequent crashes, blank screens, and the inability to update auto-pay settings R1R18R46. Many find the app to be primarily a marketing tool with excessive ads and confusing package information, lacking essential accessibility features like font size adjustment R6R7R9R19.
Paytm Paytm is praised as an 'All In One Payment Solution' for its speed in QR payments, money transfers, utility bill payments, and travel bookings . However, users frequently complain about the app's inability to support international phone numbers for registration and certain features, despite UPI allowing it R63R66R69R73. Some also experience UI glitches and issues with specific features like Paytm Gold or linking bank accounts .
Ease of Use & Reliability edge: PaytmR12R18R35R71
Vi: Recharges & Payments Vi is described as 'not at all smooth to operate,' requiring high-speed data, and prone to hanging R12. Users report the app going into loops or showing blank screens, especially with network interruptions R18. There are also complaints about forced updates being irritating R35.
Paytm Paytm is generally found to be 'easy and simple' to use for quick payments R71. However, some users report the app hanging frequently, signing out during transactions, and having only a 60% success rate for recharging the Paytm wallet . There are also complaints about constant updates being annoying .
Network & Service Quality (Telecom specific for Vi) edge: PaytmR2R27R33R34
Vi: Recharges & Payments Many Vi users report significant issues with network connectivity, including slow internet, not getting 4G (only 2G), and poor network in indoor areas R2R27R33. There are also complaints about false advertising regarding 5G speeds R34 and services like SMS not working even after recharge . International roaming plans are particularly problematic, with users paying for services that don't work or result in unexpected high bills .
Paytm Paytm, as a payment app, does not have direct network or service quality issues related to telecom. Its reliability concerns are more about app functionality and transaction success rates.
Customer Support tieR13R28R37R46
Vi: Recharges & Payments Vi receives widespread criticism for its 'poor customer service' R13R37. Users report staff being unknowledgeable, providing wrong instructions, lacking comprehension of simple English, and being poorly trained R13. There are also complaints about the inability to speak with a customer care person, with awkward procedures and unfulfilled promises of call-backs R28R46.
Paytm Paytm's customer support is a frequent point of frustration. Users struggle to talk to a human representative, often being directed to 'smart' chatbots that are described as 'ridiculously dumb' . Promises of 24-hour replies are often not met, and some users report being unable to resolve issues or close accounts due to poor support . However, one user did report a 'pleasant experience' with a courteous and helpful representative .
Price & Value tieR3R24R25R26
Vi: Recharges & Payments Vi users frequently complain about 'comparatively high rates' and 'high charges unnecessary' compared to competitors R3R24. Some feel their recharges disappear quickly or that they are charged unnecessarily R25. International roaming is specifically noted as expensive R26.
Paytm Paytm users note that cashback offers, which were initially a benefit, are no longer consistently provided . Some users also report 'fake offers' where a ₹1 product costs ₹200 at checkout . While the app is free to use, the perceived value from offers has diminished for some.
Pick Vi: Recharges & Payments if

You are an existing Vi customer primarily looking to manage your telecom recharges and account, and you are willing to overlook app performance issues and potentially higher rates .

Pick Paytm if

You need an all-in-one digital payment solution for QR payments, bill payments, and booking services, and you have an India-based phone number R71.

Evidence note: Reviews for Vi are heavily skewed towards complaints about network issues and poor customer service, which are inherent to a telecom provider, rather than just the app itself. Paytm's reviews are more focused on app functionality and payment features, with a significant recurring complaint about international phone number support.

Frequently asked

Does Paytm support international phone numbers?
No, Paytm currently requires an India-based phone number to get started and for many features, despite UPI allowing international numbers R63R66R69R73.
Are there many ads in the Vi app?
Yes, Vi users report that the app is 'full of ads which constantly pops up' and that it should prioritize balance and usage details over advertisements R6R19R60.
Is Vi's customer service helpful?
Many Vi users describe the customer service as 'poor' and 'pathetic,' with staff lacking knowledge, providing incorrect instructions, and being difficult to reach R13R28R37R46.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R1] Vi: Recharges & Payments 1/5 · US Meaningless app: I have a communications prepaid card meant to pay only telecom providers as per the govt directive. And this app does not support such cards , whereas its website supports payment through such cards. What a waste of time.
  2. [R6] Vi: Recharges & Payments 3/5 · US More ads: It should have a dashboard with current balance and validity and option to get usage details and ads can follow that.
  3. [R7] Vi: Recharges & Payments 1/5 · US No accessibility features: Apple has provided multiple ways for apps to be more accessible for visually impaired people. Vodafone has decided against implementing any of them. I can’t even increase the font size to read when my service validity date. Ability to increase text size is a minimum feature necessary for all old people who can no longer read faint text in small size.
  4. [R9] Vi: Recharges & Payments 3/5 · US Confusing: Packages are convoluted and confusing
  5. [R12] Vi: Recharges & Payments 3/5 · US Hang: Very bad app not at all smooth to oprate needs very high speed data to operate
  6. [R18] Vi: Recharges & Payments 3/5 · US Goes in loop or just blank white screen: Poor error and exception handling. This app goes into loop if mobile data goes off. Or just show blank white screen when I tried to make recharge from roaming screen.
  7. [R35] Vi: Recharges & Payments 5/5 · US Forced updates: This app forces me to update almost every time I use it. It is the most irritating thing ever.
  8. [R71] Paytm 5/5 · US Life is easy: Very Good platform, easy and simple and always worked for me
  9. [R2] Vi: Recharges & Payments 4/5 · US Network slow in our area: Same
  10. [R27] Vi: Recharges & Payments 3/5 · US I'm not getting 4g I'm getting only 2g what to do: I'm not getting 4g I'm getting only 2g what to do
  11. [R33] Vi: Recharges & Payments 3/5 · US Worthless: Not useful when you have issues with network connection
  12. [R34] Vi: Recharges & Payments 1/5 · US 5G marketing says 1GB/S but only goes upto 13Mbps: They sell 5G plan by saying it reaches speed upto 1 GB/S. But in reality it's just few mbps. Biggest liars.
  13. [R13] Vi: Recharges & Payments 1/5 · US poor customer service: they are not knowledgable and provide wrong instructions. they also lack ability to comprehend simple english. extremely poorly trained staff. also tell them not to breathe into microphone.
  14. [R28] Vi: Recharges & Payments 1/5 · US Hi: Next time I will not continue with you because no facility to talk with your coustmer care person and very awkward procedure, which at this age we couldn’t follow Third class
  15. [R37] Vi: Recharges & Payments 1/5 · US Tatti customer care service: Tattti customer care service
  16. [R46] Vi: Recharges & Payments 1/5 · US Many complaints: Not able to update end date for auto pay even after multiple visits to vi help cente and the customer service agent did the updation on the app. I have been charged late fees. I even tried calling but I’m not getting any English speaking agent and I’m getting promised that I’d get a call back but do one calls. It’s been a month since I’ve been trying to update information.
  17. [R3] Vi: Recharges & Payments 3/5 · US Comparatively High Rates: The Vodafone has high rates compared to the services offered by other competitive companies for same types of services.
  18. [R24] Vi: Recharges & Payments 3/5 · US Charges high: Not happy with the service. So high charges unnecessary
  19. [R25] Vi: Recharges & Payments 1/5 · US So bad about Vodafone: Your recharge disappears in just in couple of days
  20. [R26] Vi: Recharges & Payments 4/5 · US Otp on email is helpful for helping elderly but roaming is expensive and Wi-Fi need international: Otp on email is helpful in cases where trying to do refill for elderly parents but there is a lot of lag and timing of OTP reaching is not consistent. Roaming is expensive. Wi-Fi calling should be worldwide
  21. [R63] Paytm 3/5 · US Doesn’t support international phone number: Many NRIs have recently started trying UPI because UPI now allows using international phone number to register. I wanted to use paytm to add money into its virtual wallet, but it requires a India based phone number to get started. A big positive for paytm is its integration with apple wallet, but I couldn’t use the app
  22. [R66] Paytm 3/5 · US Add option to add international phone number: UPI has been made available for NRI and OCI for long time but PayTm still doesn't allow to add +1 phone numbers.
  23. [R69] Paytm 3/5 · US International mobile number: Unable to register through USA mobile number. Developer needs to add that feature. Since Phonepe has already supporting international numbers.
  24. [R73] Paytm 1/5 · US Did not allow international number: I have international number from US. Im able to receive text messages but my mobile data is not working. Paytm wants my mobile data to verify my sim card. This is stupidity. Just send me otp. I will enter and that’s it
  25. [R19] Vi: Recharges & Payments 1/5 · US Pathetic app: This indian app is full of ads which constantly pops up my phone every now and then. Back in US, I never faced cellphone carriers apps like ATT, Verizon or TMobile to push even one such advertisement on my phone.
  26. [R60] Vi: Recharges & Payments 5/5 · US Unnecessary advertisements should be stopped: Pl

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store