Best Thailand SIM Cards for Tourists

Plan to visit Thailand soon? Staying connected is key if you want to have a rewarding and convenient trip!

Prepaid Thailand SIM cards with data plan helps you stay connected and in touch with loved ones and share your adventures with ease. Wondering if you should get one? We’ll cover best Thailand SIM card types, costs, best plans and where to buy in this guide.

I. Where to Buy a Tourist SIM Card for Thailand?

Now that you know which SIM card packages are available and their costs, let’s discuss where you can purchase Thailand tourist SIM:

1. Buy prepaid Thailand eSIM card online before traveling

You can order prepaid eSIM card packages for Thailand online from websites like Gigago, ThailandeSIM.com before your trip.

After paying online, you will receive the activation code via email or SMS which you can redeem on your eSIM supported smartphone.

Chances are, you can get a travel eSIM for Thailand travel, which may be cheaper than getting a SIM card from the network carrier directly.

Especially, if you buy a  regional eSIM (like Asia 8 countries eSIM) or a global esIM (visiting multiple continents), the price may be better. 

Pros: Very convenient as you don’t need to look for SIM stores or wait for SIM delivery. Super easy to install, and you can activate it from home. Start using data as soon as you land. Comes with good data packages. 

Cons: Your phone must support eSIM. You cannot change packages while traveling.

2. Buy physical Thailand SIM at Thai airports

You can purchase prepaid SIM cards from counters of main mobile operators like True, AIS, DTAC at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi (BKK), Phuket airport (HKT), Samui airport (USM), Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI), and other major airports. They are usually located near the baggage claim area. To buy a SIM card, you need to show your passport.

In the past, SIM Cards sold at airports were often overpriced. However, from 2023 onwards, the SIM cards price at the airport is similar to the official listing price. 

Tourists must register SIM cards at the point of sale (not self-register anymore). 

Pros: Allow to activate SIM right away. Convenient if arriving late at night when stores may be closed.

Cons: Limited package choices.

3. Buy physical Thailand SIM online

Order prepaid SIM packages from official websites of mobile network operators or other prestigious websites to get it delivered at your home before the trip or pick it up at the airport.

Just SIMply plug and play SIM once you land without much hassle.

Pros: Arrive prepared with data. No need to hunt for SIM stores.

Cons: Expensive for short trips. Cannot change packages while traveling.

4. Buy physical Thailand SIM in the cities

Purchase from official retail stores of True, AIS, DTAC located throughout Thailand. Major malls and shopping areas have these stores. You can also buy from convenience stores(7-Eleven, 108 Shop, Big C, FamilyMart, Lawson 108 & Tesco Lotus).

Pros: Wide choices of data packages. Best rates. Can get assistance in stores.

Cons: Require passport copy for registration. Limited English assistance outside big cities.

► Our recommendation: Here are some advice on choosing where to buy Thailand SIM for tourists:

• If prioritizing immediate use and convenience: Buying at the airport might be suitable, despite higher prices and limited package choices.
• For preparedness and flexibility: Purchasing online beforehand ensures readiness on arrival, although it might be costlier for shorter trips.
• For cost-conscious travelers with time flexibility: Buying in cities offers the best rates and diverse plans but requires a store visit and registration with a passport copy.
• For convenience, preparedness, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness: buying eSIM may help you save your time on queuing in line, waiting for delivery and avoid the hassle of switching SIM cards.

They have SIM card plans made for tourists, with different prices and deals. We will introduce some best tourist SIM plans for Thailand below. But keep in mind that details like package name or features might change, so use this as a reference only. 

II. What Are The Best SIM Cards for Tourists?

The best SIM cards for tourists are: Thai AIS, Thai TrueMove H and DTAC Thailand.

1. Best Thai AIS SIM Card Plans and Price

AIS Thailand offers a range of packages and offers to cater to different usage preferences. They have data plans, combo plans, and special packs such as social media packs. These packages provide different allowances for data, voice calls, and SMS. But in this article, we give some noticeable SIM card packages of data for tourists to help you have an overview about what AIS offer: 

Price	Data	Validity	Activation code
39 THB	3 GB	8 days	*777*7102#
59 THB	5 GB	8 days	*777*7104#
90 THB	10 GB	8 days	*777*7106#
150 THB	20 GB	8 days	*777*7442#

Note that: these packages are not allowed to 5G access.

2. Best Thai TrueMove H SIM Card Plans and Price

TrueMove H is a popular mobile operator in Thailand that offers various plans and packages for prepaid SIM cards. They basically have 3 data-featured prepaid plans which are data, unlimited data, and 5G speed data packages. Here we just introduce their full speed extra data packages (แพ็กเสริม เน็ตเต็มสปีด):

Data	Validity	Price	Activation Code
100 MB	1 day	9 THB	*900*3301#
200 MB	1 day	15 THB	*900*3306#
400 MB	1 day	17 THB	*900*1923#
600 MB	1 day	19 THB	*900*8149#
1 GB	1 day	29 THB	*900*8997#
1.5 GB	1 day	35 THB	*900*8150#
1 GB	7 days	39 THB	*900*1767#
3 GB	1 day	45 THB	*900*8151#
1.5 GB	2 days	49 THB	*900*8383#
3 GB	1 day	49 THB	*900*8304#
1.5 GB	3 days	55 THB	*900*8152#
3 GB	2 days	69 THB	*900*8384#
4 GB	1 day	69 THB	*900*8382#
3 GB	3 days	75 THB	*900*8153#
1.5 GB	7 days	79 THB	*900*8155#
5 GB	3 days	95 THB	*900*8154#
4 GB	7 days	99 THB	*900*8156#
1 GB	15 days	99 THB	*900*8925#
5 GB	7 days	99 THB	*900*1937#
8 GB	7 days	149 THB	*900*8311#
1 GB	15 days	150 THB	*900*8903#
15 GB	7 days	150 THB	*900*3756#
2 GB	30 days	199 THB	*900*8157#
1.5 GB	30 days	199 THB	*900*8982#
10 GB	15 days	199 THB	*900*8301#
15 GB	15 days	249 THB	*900*8302#
2 GB	30 days	250 THB	*900*3325#
6 GB	30 days	299 THB	*900*8158#
12 GB	30 days	499 THB	*900*8159#

Note: These packages allow 5G NR access.

3. DTAC Thailand (Total Access Communication)

DTAC Thailand has many SIM card plans for tourists. In most cases, you will pay from 29 THB to 99 THB for a DTAC SIM card that includes starter perks such as data, credit, minutes and/or SMS.

Here we just introduce the tourist offering of DTAC called DTAC Happy Tourist SIM cards: 

Credit	Data	Social Data (for Facebook Messenger, Line, Kao, WeChat, WhatsApp)	On-Net Minutes	Validity	Price
15 THB	1 GB	Unlimited	Unlimited	1 day	49 THB
15 THB	15 GB	Unlimited	Unlimited	15 days	299 THB (eSIM available)
15 THB	50 GB	Unlimited	Unlimited	10 days	349 THB
15 THB	30 GB	Unlimited	Unlimited	15 days	599 THB (eSIM available)

► Our recommendation:

 Among three operators, only AIS and DTAC (which merged TrueMove H) offer packages including both data and voice. AIS has the best coverage while DTAC’s weak 5G coverage is a downside. But, only DTAC has true unlimited data plan while AIS’s are thresholded at 384kbps. Therefore, when traveling in Thailand, you can choose either AIS or DTAC. Consider your budgets and network priorities.

III. Do I Need to Buy a Sim Card for Thailand travel?

Yes, definitely. 

The most prominent reasons why getting a SIM card for Thailand instead of other options are about reliability, accessibility, and cost. 

Free WiFi is common in many hotels and cafes, especially in big cities, but it can be unreliable and hard to find outside urban areas. A local SIM card ensures internet access everywhere, making it easier to navigate and stay connected.

Additionally, using your home country’s SIM card in Thailand can result in high fees for calls, texts, and data. A Thailand SIM card saves you money on international roaming charges.

IV. What to Prepare When Buying A SIM Card in Thailand?

Here are what to prepare to buy a prepaid tourist SIM card for Thailand:

• Passport: You are required to provide a copy of your valid passport for registration purposes.
• Phone: Make sure to have the phone you want the SIM card for ready.
• Identification details: Be prepared to provide your full name, date of birth, nationality and other identification details for registration.
• 1-2 passport-sized photos: Some sellers may require a recent passport-sized photo of yourself for registration. Have a digital copy ready on your phone.

► Our recommendation: It is recommended to complete the registration process at an official retail store for smooth assistance. Have all the required documents and details organized ahead of time to avoid delays. Consider registering up to 3 SIM cards on one passport to avoid frequent registrations.

An extra tip is to check if your phone is eSIM compatible. You can purchase a prepaid eSIM for Thailand online before your trip and avoid the registration process altogether by using the eSIM straight away in Thailand. Some eSIM providers offer better value plans than physical SIM cards too.

V. What Types Of Thailand SIM Cards Are Available For Tourist?

Based on form, there are primarily 02 types of Thailand SIM options for tourists: physical prepaid Thailand SIM card and prepaid eSIM for Thailand. 

1. Physical prepaid SIM card for Thailand (mini SIM, micro SIM, nano SIM)

Physical prepaid Thailand SIM cards for tourists comes into 02 main variations (plan types): 

• Data-only plans: this type of plan DOES NOT OFFER PHONE NUMBER for tourists to make dialog calls and texts. It is for those primarily needing internet access to navigate the map, browse the web, contact family and friends via apps like Whatsapp, Telegram,…
• Data + voice and text plans: This type of plan HAS PHONE NUMBER. It is for those who want to use data to browse the Internet and make dialog phone calls and texts.

2. Prepaid eSIM Thailand (Virtual SIM)

eSIM is a virtual SIM card embedded with supported services in the main board of a mobile device. No need to insert or remove a physical SIM card when changing plans or carriers. Prepaid Thailand eSIM is online 100% and functions like the traditional one. 

To activate an eSIM, users typically scan a QR code or use an activation link provided by their network carrier. 

Similar to physical SIM’s, eSIM Thailand plans for tourists also come into 2 main categories: data only and data + voice and text. 

To help you have a better understanding, thereby easily making decision about which type of Thailand SIM to choose, we make a comparison table below:

	Prepaid Thailand SIM	Prepaid eSIM for Thailand
Pros	– Affordable price – Variety of plans for different needs / budgets	– Need to buy or wait for SIM delivery before use – Main SIM might get lost when removed – One phone uses only one SIM, need to remove to use another (if the phone has only one SIM slot)
Cons	– Buy online, no need to go to SIM card store anymore – Available at anytime, anywhere – Just scan QR code, no more SIM card swapping – Use two SIMs simultaneously – Allow to install multiple eSIM plans on the same phone, but only 1-2 plans being activated at a certain time (depending on the phone model). The number of eSIM plans depends on the phone’s memory. Often up to 20 eSIMs / phone.  – No risk of SIM lossPrimary SIM remains intact on the device	– Just eSIM-support devices can work with eSIM – Phone needs to be unlocked to use eSIM

► Our recommendation: 

As a tourist to Thailand, which type of SIM should you choose? 

• Choose PREPAID DATA SIM CARD if your phone does not support eSIM + you only need to navigate the map, browse the Internet and make calls / texts by apps during the trip.
• Choose PREPAID DATA eSIM if your phone is compatible with virtual/digital SIM. This is considered the best way to get the internet on the phone when traveling to Thailand in 2023.

VI. Thailand eSIM – Best Alternative to Getting Internet in Thailand for Tourists

A prepaid eSIM is a great alternative to physical SIM cards for travelers due to its convenience and ease of use. An eSIM from a provider like Gigago offers several advantages, making it the best choice.

Some advantages of getting a prepaid Thailand eSIM over other options include:

• Easy Activation: Buy and activate online before your trip; use it instantly upon arrival.
• Device Flexibility: Use the same eSIM number across multiple devices without swapping physical SIM cards.
• Reliable Speed and Coverage: Access major Thailand networks like AIS and DTAC without the limitations of pocket WiFi or free public WiFi.
• Cost Savings: Avoid high roaming fees and keep your home number through internet calling apps.
• Customizable Plans: Choose from data-only plans or bundles with call credits, suitable for both short and long trips.

Gigago offers various flexible eSIM plans that provide both data connectivity as well as call credits, not commonly found with many other eSIM providers.

For Thailand, Gigago offers multiple data plan options, starting from an 8-day plan with 15GB of data for $8.90 as their most minimal plan. They also have 8-day unlimited data, 10-day 50GB, 15-day unlimited data, and 30-day unlimited data plans ranging from 15GB to unlimited data, with prices from $8.90 up to $34.90.

To see more details about plan features and installation guide, check Gigago Thailand eSIM.

Overall, a prepaid eSIM is a very convenient option for travelers visiting Thailand wanting fast, affordable cellular data access without the hassle of a physical SIM. Gigago offers competitive plans at good rates.

VII. How long does a tourist SIM card last in Thailand?

Most Thailand SIM cards for tourists are valid for 1, 3, 7, 15, or 30 days. Some can be extended by adding credit or data packages, while others expire once their validity period ends. For long-term use, you may need to buy a new SIM card that offers extendable options.

VIII. FAQs about Thailand travel SIM Card

XI. Conclusion

In conclusion, getting a SIM card in Thailand is highly recommended for tourists. It will not only save you money on international roaming charges but also provide you with reliable internet access wherever you go. The three main mobile network operators in Thailand offer various packages at affordable prices, making it easy for travelers to stay connected. You can purchase a SIM card at the airport, online, or in the cities, depending on your preference and convenience. So, make sure to get a SIM card for your next trip to Thailand and stay connected with ease.