AIS is Thailand’s largest mobile network by revenue. This mobile network carrier offers strong coverage from Bangkok’s BTS stations to Koh Tao’s dive sites, fast 5G in major cities, and tourist SIM plans available at every airport. Whether it’s worth buying over a DTAC/True Move H alternative depends on where you’re going and what you need.
Here we show you everything you need to know about what AIS actually offers, AIS SIM card and eSIM plan comparisons, where to buy, how to avoid the “unlimited” confusion, a free SIM option most travelers don’t know about, and a better alternative to stay connected in Thailand.
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AIS (Advanced Info Service Public Company Limited) is Thailand’s leading mobile network operator, established in 1991. With over 45 million subscribers, it holds the largest market share by revenue among Thailand’s three major carriers.
Key facts about AIS Thailand:
AIS leads on coverage and consistency while DTAC/True Move H lead on video experience and download speed. For most tourist destinations, the difference is minimal — it matters mainly when you go off the beaten track.
AIS has the most extensive coverage in Thailand, including remote areas and islands. According to a report by Opensignal, AIS wins the Coverage Experience award outright — while DTAC and True Move H share a Joint Winner position.
💡 Practical tip for tourists: If your trip involves Kanchanaburi, Pai, Koh Tao, or any national park or border region, AIS is the safer choice. In Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai, all three networks work fine.
AIS wins on upload and consistency, useful if you’re making video calls, uploading content, or need a reliable connection throughout the day. DTAC/True Move H wins on video streaming and reliability.
To put those awards in real-world context, we ran speed tests across networks in Bangkok and Chiang Mai:
| Network | Location | Download | Upload |
| AIS | Chiang Mai | 14.92 Mbps | 92.65 Mbps |
| True Move H | Bangkok | 15.39 Mbps | 96.31 Mbps |
| DTAC | Pathum Wan, Bangkok | 16.97Mbps | 89.65 Mbps |
Note: Individual speed test samples — results vary by location, time of day, and device
A few things stand out: All three networks land within 2 Mbps of each other on download speed — in major cities, the difference is negligible for everyday tourist use. Where AIS stands out is consistency across locations, which matters more on a multi-city trip than peak download numbers.
AIS offers both physical SIM and eSIM with generous 5G/4G data, calls, and free access to apps including Facebook, WhatsApp, and TikTok.
Compared to DTAC/True Move H, AIS plans tend to be slightly pricier but include more call credit and broader rural coverage.
→ A quick guide about DTAC Thailand SIM cards & eSIM for tourists
AIS offers both physical SIM and eSIM plans for tourists. The difference is how you get the SIM, how you set it up, and whether you can keep your home number active at the same time.
Read the following comparison to know which fits your needs:
| AIS SIM Card | AIS eSIM | |
| Availability | Airports, AIS shops, 7-Eleven, FamilyMart | Online (AIS website or third-party providers) |
| Price | From 299 THB (8 days, 15GB) | From 399 THB (8 days, 25GB) |
| Setup | Insert SIM, activate at counter | Scan QR code — works before you land |
| Keep home SIM | ❌ Must swap | ✅ Dual SIM supported |
| Passport required | ✅ At counter | ✅ If buying from AIS directly |
| Best for | Any unlocked phone, prefer physical | carrier-unlocked, eSIM-compatible phones, want to set up before flying |
If your phone supports eSIM, choose it. eSIM supports dual SIM, meaning that your home number stays active for OTPs and calls while the AIS eSIM handles data in Thailand. No swapping, no queue at the counter, and you can activate it from home before you fly. → Check compatibility at this updated eSIM compatible device list.
If your device doesn’t support eSIM or you prefer a physical card, get it from any AIS airport counter. Just bring your passport.
Note: To use either Thailand physical SIM card or eSIM, your phone needs to be carrier-unlocked.
The physical SIM plans are the most widely available and cover the widest range of validity periods.
| Plan | Price | Data | Validity | Call Credit | Int’l Call Rate |
| Pay-as-you-go | 49 THB | 1GB high speed | Flexible | — | 1 THB/min |
| 5-day plan | 349 THB | Unlimited 5G/4G | 5 days | 100 THB | 1 THB/min |
| 8-day plan ⭐ | 449 THB | Unlimited 5G/4G | 8 days | 100 THB | 1 THB/min |
| 15-day plan | 699 THB | Unlimited 5G/4G | 15 days | 100 THB | 1 THB/min |
| 30-day plan | 1,199 THB | Unlimited 5G/4G | 30 days | 100 THB | 1 THB/min |
Before you pick a plan, you need to know upfront about how “unlimited” works on all Thai networks.
⚠️ What “unlimited” actually means on AIS: All AIS tourist plans include a high-speed data cap. Once you hit that cap, data continues at reduced speed — typically 384Kbps. That’s enough for WhatsApp and basic maps, but not for streaming video or navigation with satellite imagery. This is standard across all Thai carriers — AIS, True Move H, and DTAC all work the same way. It’s not a scam, but it does catch tourists off guard. So, know your usage before picking a plan.
AIS eSIM plans have a different pricing structure from physical SIMs — fewer validity options but higher data caps and some added bonuses.
Both plans include free access to AIS SUPER WiFi at hotspots across malls, airports, and tourist areas.
| Plan | Price | Data | Validity | Call Credit | Bonus |
| 8-day plan | 399 THB (~$12) | 25GB 5G/4G | 8 days | 15 THB | – Free AIS SUPER WiFi – 10GB social apps at 10Mbps – extra 5GB via promo code 7777640# |
| 30-day unlimited | 1,699 THB (~$52) | Unlimited 5G/4G | 30 days | — | – Free AIS SUPER WiFi – unlimited 7 social apps (Facebook, WhatsApp, TikTok, etc.) |
Note: AIS eSIM plans carry less call credit than physical SIM plans at comparable price points. If making local calls is important for your trip — booking tours, calling hotels — the physical SIM’s 100 THB credit goes further than the eSIM’s 15 THB. For most tourists who use WhatsApp or LINE for calls, this doesn’t matter.
You can buy AIS SIM cards at airports, AIS shops, convenient stores, and via TAGTHAi App (free). Here’s a breakdown of each option.
This is the most convenient option for tourists arriving in Thailand. You can easily find official AIS counters at all major international airports:
What to bring: passport because registration is required by Thai law for all SIM purchases.
Staff at official AIS counters speak English and will configure the SIM for you on the counter.
⚠️ Airport vendor warning: Only buy from the official AIS counter — clearly branded with the AIS logo. Independent vendors also operate in arrival terminals and sometimes charge 3–4x the standard price for the same plans. The price difference between a 449 THB AIS 8-day plan and what some vendors charge (1,500–1,800 THB) for the same plan is real. If the price seems high, walk to the official counter.
A good option if you’re already in the city and want to compare plans without airport-queue pressure.
AIS shops are available in most major malls across Thailand. In Bangkok: CentralWorld, Siam Paragon, MBK Center, Terminal 21, ICON Siam.
What to bring: your passport
Staff speak English and can help with plan selection, registration, and troubleshooting.
Convenient for top-ups and SIM replacements. Basic AIS SIM cards are available at most 7-Eleven and FamilyMart stores across Thailand.
What to bring: your passport
Staff may have limited English and you need to provide your passport for registration according to Thai laws. If the staff can’t complete it on the spot, you’ll need to visit an AIS store to finish activation.
Most tourists don’t know this option exists. AIS offers a free tourist SIM card through the TAGTHAi application — Thailand’s official tourism app, backed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
How to get it:
Where to get it: Airport Link Suvarnabhumi, Airport Link Phaya Thai, Siam Paragon, MBK Center, Khaosan Road, Asiatique The Riverfront, Central Festival Phuket, MAYA Lifestyle Shopping Center Chiang Mai, and more.
What’s included in the free SIM: basic high-speed internet + AIS SUPER WiFi access – enough for light use, maps, and messaging.
✅ Our recommendation: For travelers who need more data, longer validity, or a Thai phone number throughout their trip, a paid plan is worth upgrading to. But if you’re on a tight budget or doing a short trip, this is a legitimate free option.
You can get an AIS eSIM in two ways — directly from AIS, or from an online provider. Here’s what’s different between the two.
AIS eSIM plans are available via the AIS website or the AIS eSIM portal.
What to prepare: your passport details for registration.
Suitable for: Travelers who specifically want the AIS network and are comfortable completing the online registration process before their trip.
If you want to skip registration and get set up before departure, Gigago.com is a faster alternative.
One thing to be aware of upfront: Gigago’s Thailand eSIM runs on the True Move H / DTAC network — not AIS. In major tourist destinations like Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai, the difference in day-to-day performance between AIS and True Move H is minimal. But if your trip includes rural areas, national parks, or smaller islands where AIS has stronger coverage, this is worth factoring into your decision.
That said, Gigago offers a few things AIS’s own eSIM doesn’t:
Here is a comparison table between two options:
| Plan | AIS eSIM (direct) | Gigago Thailand eSIM |
| Network | AIS | DTAC / True Move H |
| Price range | 399 THB (~$12) – 1,699 THB (~$52) | $8.90 (~320 THB) – $44.90 (~1,615 THB) |
| Starting data | From 25GB | From 35GB |
| Passport required | Yes | No |
| Thai phone number | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Setup | Before trip (online) | Before trip (online) |
| Top-up in Thailand | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Best for | AIS coverage priority | Faster setup, Thai number |
You can choose the best eSIM plan for Thailand from Gigago quickly below:
Standard rates apply after your included call credit runs out, or if you’re on the pay-as-you-go plan. For most tourists on standard tourist SIM plans, the included 100 THB credit covers basic local calling. Here are the rates if you go beyond that:
| Service | Rate |
| Calls to AIS numbers | 1 THB/minute |
| Calls to other Thai networks | 1 THB/minute |
| International calls (with tourist plan) | 1 THB/minute |
| Domestic SMS | 3 THB/SMS |
| International SMS | 5 THB/SMS |
| Data (pay-as-you-go, no package) | 1 THB/MB |
For international calls, WhatsApp, LINE, or FaceTime calls over data are free and far more practical than using call credit. The 1 THB/minute rate applies when you need to call a local Thai number from your phone’s dialer — useful for booking restaurants, calling hotels, or reaching a taxi driver.
You can top up an AIS SIM card using the following methods. The myAIS app is the easiest method for most tourists, but the USSD codes work without any app or internet connection — useful when your data runs out and you need to check or recharge quickly.
*120# and follow prompts1213#*121#Buy at any 7-Eleven or FamilyMart. Scratch the card to reveal the code, then dial 120[code]# to add credit.
Thai banks including Kasikorn (KBank) support AIS top-up directly through their ATM menu or online banking portal.
💡 Pro tip: Check your remaining data with 1213# before you hit the FUP cap — getting a top-up sorted while you still have data is much easier than troubleshooting on throttled 384Kbps.
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