Most Indian travelers heading to Thailand either recharge a Jio/Airtel roaming pack or plan to grab a physical SIM at the Bangkok airport. Both work, but neither is the cheapest way to stay connected anymore.
A Thailand eSIM costs a fraction of what Jio or Airtel charge for international roaming, gives you significantly more data, and can be fully set up from home before you even board your flight. The best part? Your Indian number stays active for UPI apps and bank OTPs the entire time.
This guide compares Thailand eSIM vs. Jio/Airtel roaming packs — with prices in rupees, so you can decide before you fly.
👉 Get your Thailand eSIM, activate before you fly:
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Jio offers several categories of international roaming (IR) packs. Here are the most relevant ones for a tourist visa holiday, from Jio’s official IR page:
These packs are best for travelers who need a traditional mix of minutes and data.
| Pack | Validity | Data | Calls | SMS | Price |
| Basic | 1 day | 250MB | 100 min | 100 | ₹499 (~$5) |
| Mid-range + inflight | 10 days | 250MB/day | 100 min/day | 100/day | ₹2,499 (~$26) |
| Standard 30-day | 30 days | 4GB | 250 min | 100 | ₹3,999 (~$42) |
| Premium 30-day + inflight | 30 days | 5GB | 1,500 min | 1,500 | ₹4,999 (~$53) |
| High-end 30-day + inflight | 30 days | 6GB | 400 min | 500 | ₹5,999 (~$63) |
| Annual | 365 days | 2GB | 100 min | 100 | ₹2,799 (~$29) |
If you use WhatsApp for calling, these are Jio’s specific data roaming buckets:
| Validity | High-Speed Data | After Limit | Price |
| 7 days | 1GB | 64 Kbps | ₹999 (~$11) |
| 7 days | 5GB | 64 Kbps | ₹2,999 (~$32) |
| 14 days | 2GB | 64 Kbps | ₹1,999 (~$21) |
| 14 days | 8GB | 64 Kbps | ₹4,499 (~$47) |
| 21 days | 10GB | 64 Kbps | ₹5,899 (~$62) |
| Validity | Data | Calls | SMS | Price |
| 14 days | 8GB high-speed | 250 min | 95 | ₹1,851 (~$19) |
| 30 days | 10GB high-speed | 250 min | 100 | ₹3,851 (~$4 |
If you activate IR but don’t buy a pack, per-use charges apply:
| Usage | Rate |
| Local calls in Thailand | ₹2/min (~$0.02) |
| Calls to India | ₹2/min (~$0.02) |
| Calls to rest of world | ₹150/min (~$1.58) |
| Incoming calls | ₹2/min (~$0.02) |
| Outgoing SMS | ₹4/SMS (~$0.04) |
| Mobile data | ₹0.01/10KB — about ₹1/MB (~$0.01/MB) |
⚠️ Avoid Jio PayGo Rates: Without a pack, Jio charges ₹0.01 per 10KB (about ₹1,024 per GB). One hour of accidental social media background refreshing can easily cost you ₹200+.
Airtel has separate packs for postpaid and prepaid customers. Postpaid plans generally offer “unlimited data” with high-speed caps, while prepaid plans give you a strict, fixed data bucket.
| Pack | Validity | Data | Calls | SMS | Price |
| Daily | 1 day | Unlimited (250MB high-speed) | 100 min | 10 | ₹648 (~$7) |
| 10-Day | 10 days | Unlimited (fair use) | 100 min/day | 20 | ₹2,999 (~$32) |
| 30-Day + inflight | 30 days | Unlimited | 100 min/day | 20 | ₹3,999 (~$42) |
| 90-Day + inflight | 90 days | Unlimited | 100 min/day | 100 | ₹5,999 (~$63) |
| Annual + inflight | 365 days | Unlimited | 300 min/day | 100 | ₹14,999 (~$158) |
| Pack | Validity | Data | Calls | Price |
| 1-Day | 1 day | 1GB | 100 min | ₹698 (~$7) |
| 5-Day | 5 days | 2GB | 150 min | ₹898 (~$9) |
| 10-Day | 10 days | 3GB | 200 min | ₹1,198 (~$13) |
| 30-Day + inflight | 30 days | 10GB | 300 min, 100 SMS | ₹2,998 (~$32) |
| Annual + inflight | 365 days | 5GB | 100 min, 100 SMS | ₹4,999 (~$53) |
Note: The packs’ details can be changed by time.Check the Airtel Thanks app for the most current pricing.
💡 The Airtel Postpaid “No-Pack” Trick
If you are an Airtel Postpaid user, you can toggle “International Roaming” ON in the Airtel Thanks app without buying any pack.
Just ensure your Mobile Data Roaming is turned OFF for the Airtel SIM to prevent steep data tracking charges.
This is a smart strategy if you’re buying a Thailand eSIM or physical SIM for data and only need your Airtel number alive for OTPs.
Note: This is based on traveler reports, not officially promoted by Airtel. Confirm with Airtel support if you want certainty before your trip.
A Thailand eSIM is a better alternative to roaming plans from your Indian carriers. It can also function digitally alongside your Indian SIM card. You can buy it online, install it via a QR code while still in India, and it automatically activates the second you land in Thailand.
Here are 6 Thailand eSIM plans that Gigago offers running directly on the massive local dtac / True Move H and AIS networks:
| Plan | Data | Price (USD – INR approx) | Other features | Best for |
| 1 day | Unlimited (FUP applied) | ~$3.5 (~₹333) | 1GB/day high-speed + unlimited at 5Mbps ❌ Data only — no phone number | Travelers on a short transit or layover |
| 7 days | 35 GB | $8.90 (~₹846) | Local Thai Number (Incoming voice only) | Short weekend getaways (Bangkok + one beach). |
| 8 days | Unlimited | $15.90 (~₹1,511) | Local Number + Free local calls + 100 Baht intl. credit | Standard holiday with heavy social media/streaming. |
| 10 days | Unlimited | $15.90 (~₹1,511) | Best Value! Get 2 extra days of unlimited data for free. | Best Value! Same price as the 8-day plan. Pick this if your trip is around 9–10 days to get 2 free days. |
| 15 days | Unlimited | $24.90 (~₹2,366) | Local Number + Free local calls + 100 Baht intl. credit | Multi-city trips (Bangkok → Chiang Mai → Islands). |
| 30 days | Unlimited | $44.90 (~₹4,266) | Perfect for remote work or extended stays. | Long stays, remote work, or cross-border travel. |
💳 Payment Tip for Indians: International websites do not accept Indian UPI. Use your Visa/Mastercard, but ensure “International Transactions” is toggled ON in your banking app. To avoid the annoying 1.5%–3.5% currency markup fee, complete the checkout using a zero-forex travel card like Niyo, Fi, or BookMyForex.
👉 Choose the best Thailand eSIM plan for your trip here:
If you are choosing between activating an Indian roaming pack and getting a Thailand eSIM from Gigago, here is a quick reality check on what you pay per gigabyte (GB) for a typical 1-week trip to Thailand:
Gigago Thailand eSIM wins in every aspect. Here are 3 main ones why:
→ Learn more: eSIM for Thailand from India
Yes, you can absolutely keep using Google Pay, PhonePe, and receiving bank OTPs while using a Thai eSIM — but only if you configure your phone’s Dual SIM settings correctly upon landing
UPI apps (GPay, PhonePe, Paytm), net banking, and Aadhaar verification all require your Indian SIM to catch network signals abroad to receive automated SMS codes.
Once your eSIM is installed. Simply adjust your phone’s cellular settings like this:
Note: Turning off data roaming on your Indian SIM blocks your home network from charging you for background data leaks, while keeping the network tower signal alive for free incoming OTP texts.
📌 Important: Activation Notes for Your Indian Carrier
While incoming SMS is completely free while roaming abroad, your Indian SIM must be registered on international networks to catch signals. Ensure your line is ready before leaving India:
💡 Pro-Tip for UPI Users: Some strict Indian banking apps (like HDFC or ICICI) occasionally force a silent security data verification ping through your registered Indian number during a checkout payment. If your app acts up while transacting, simply toggle mobile data back to your Indian SIM for 30 seconds, authorize the payment, and switch it right back to your Thai data.
The eSIM setup process takes less than 5 minutes. Always complete the setup at home using your domestic Wi-Fi network before boarding your flight.
→ See more details on how to set up an eSIM.
👉 Browse all Thailand eSIM plans:
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