On this Thailand sim card information, I in contrast the three greatest suppliers, AIS, DTAC, TrueMove H, and Thailand E-SIM concerning pricing, Web protection within the nation, and information velocity.
Hello Trisha! I discovered your digital nomad weblog by a pal right here in Berlin and I have to say wow you have got traveled loads in your life!!! I’m significantly serious about all of your Asia content material since I’ve not been. Thanks for all of the solo feminine journey and distant work suggestions. I can see that you just go to Thailand loads. What’s the greatest Thailand sim card you advocate? I get blended data and completely different suggestions amongst pals so I assumed to ask you. Thanks a lot prematurely!
Bernd Finkel, Germany
Hello Bernd!
Thanks for the message and for supporting this weblog! AIS is often the popular Thailand sim card however I’ve been utilizing my DTAC sim for years so I didn’t change it to AIS.
I noticed I don’t wish to acquire a whole lot of sim playing cards for each nation I go to so I saved my Thai sim since I all the time go to this nation.
I’m solely with DTAC due to the time I’ve been utilizing it, however you possibly can go for AIS if you wish to. On this submit, I’ve in contrast the three completely different prime Thai SIM card suppliers so you possibly can examine what works nicely for you.
As ordinary, I can’t actually resolve what sim card works greatest for you as I don’t understand how you employ the Web. If you’ll use it for Hotspot, positively go for DTAC however in case you are touring round the entire nation, AIS is nice!
If in case you have any questions that weren’t answered right here, I’d be pleased to replace this submit – simply let me know! Good luck in your journey and luxuriate in Thailand!
Xx,
Trisha
Need a Thailand E-sim as an alternative?
BEST THAILAND E-SIM
This revolutionary eSIM resolution by Airalo stands out as a consequence of its simple set up and activation, bypassing the necessity for bodily SIM playing cards. It’s a superb alternative for sustaining connectivity in Thailand with out the trouble of conventional SIM playing cards.
🙋 Is it obligatory to purchase a Thailand SIM card?
For me, it’s obligatory as a result of I work on-line however in case you are solely in Thailand for a number of days, the wifi within the motels are very first rate, particularly in main cities like Bangkok the place there’s higher infrastructure.
If you happen to want it for work, you positively want to purchase a Thailand sim card. However when you don’t wish to spend further and likewise plan to be disconnected, you possibly can simply hook up with your lodge’s wifi.
I do perceive that on this day’s digital age, you’d seemingly wish to be related even in case you are not a distant employee (share journey pictures and reel sto pals), so yeah, the need of shopping for a sim card in Thailand is dependent upon yor private desire.
Many vacationers ask if they’ll use their US cellphone in Thailand and the reply is YES! Verizon and AT&T has worldwide plans though I’m way back unsubscribred to those since I’m all the time touring.
However I’m 100% certain that native Thai sim card information plans are approach cheaper than Verizon or AT&T. I imply, you will get a information plan in Asia for $5 USD for 8 days!
In case your telephone is locked to any of those US suppliers, the native Thailand SIM card suppliers could not assist your US telephone. Nonetheless, it is going to nonetheless work with Wi-Fi in Thailand.
🆚 Thailand sim card vs Thailand E-sim
I’m a fan of each native SIM playing cards and E-sim. In lots of nations, the e-sim doesn’t work as I anticipate it to (and vice versa), in order a digital nomad, I typically have each.
I do know that’s not too handy but when your livelihood is dependent upon the Web, you bought to have all of it.
If you’re deciding between a neighborhood Thai sim card versus a Thailand E-sim, listed here are some factors to think about:
| Thai Sim Card | Thailand E-sim | |
| Set up and Setup | Requires a go to to a retailer or kiosk to buy and activate. Bodily set up in your machine is critical. | Immediate activation and setup immediately out of your smartphone or pill. No want to go to a retailer or swap bodily SIM playing cards. |
| Comfort | Could be much less handy for vacationers who want to keep away from the trouble of discovering a retailer and coping with potential language boundaries. | Extremely handy for vacationers who wish to prepare all the things prematurely and have their information prepared upon arrival. |
| Compatibility | Works with any unlocked telephone that helps SIM playing cards, providing broader compatibility. | Suitable with eSIM-enabled gadgets. Not all telephones assist eSIM know-how, so compatibility could possibly be a problem. |
| Value | Sometimes affords less expensive choices, particularly for longer stays or heavier information utilization, with native charges and promotions. | Costs are aggressive and are sometimes tailor-made for short-term use, however may be barely greater than native charges as a consequence of comfort elements. |
| Flexibility and Plan Choices | Gives a variety of plans that may embrace limitless information, calls, and texts, typically with added advantages like native reductions. | Offers a wide range of plans tailor-made to completely different durations and information wants, which could be simply switched or upgraded by the app. |
| Protection and Pace | Direct entry to the native community supplier’s service, which might probably provide the perfect out there protection and speeds in distant areas. | Makes use of native networks, so protection and velocity are typically good, however efficiency can range primarily based on the underlying service. |
| Buyer Help | Entry to in-person buyer assist in shops, which could be useful for resolving points shortly. | Help is usually offered on-line by chat or electronic mail, which could be handy however will not be quick. |
💰 Thailand E-sim costs
The Thailand E-sim has aggressive pricing in comparison with native Thai sim. Once more, I take advantage of each in an emergency since my job is 100% depending on the Web.
I additionally love these pricing plans as a result of it’s not so overwhelming: there are solely 2 selections and they’re each straight to the purpose.
The worth distinction is simply $10 USD for the 50 GB plan and the limitless information plan. And that is just for Thailand. Truly, the Asian plan covers 18 nations and begins at $5 USD for 7 days!
Thailand E-sim (Fundamental)
$9.90 USD
HAPPY TOURIST SIM
Thailand E-sim (Infinite)
$19.95 USD
HAPPY TOURIST INFINITE
🤳 Bonus: If you’re touring to different nations in Asia, you possibly can go for the regional plan covers 18 Asian nations for as little as $5 USD. This fashion, you don’t have to fret about your sim card whereas altering nations.
📍The place to purchase a sim card in Thailand
Getting a SIM card in Thailand is straightforward and handy as a result of there are various locations to get one. The next are a few of the commonest locations to purchase a SIM card in Thailand:
Can I get a SIM card at Bangkok airport?
Completely!Shopping for a sim card at Bangkok Airport is extra really helpful than shopping for it within the metropolis. The principle motive is airports have English-speaking crew.
You’ll be able to examine the Thai sim card kiosks on the Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Worldwide Arrival Terminal at gates 7 & 9, and on the baggage declare areas 10 & 19, from 7 AM – 10 PM day by day.
Official cell community supplier shops
AIS, DTAC, and TrueMove H all have official shops and repair facilities all through the nation, significantly in main cities and vacationer locations.
These shops provide a variety of SIM card choices and might present further help in organising the cardboard, topping up credit score, or addressing every other issues.
Comfort shops
Standard comfort retailer chains resembling 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Tesco Lotus Categorical could be present in practically each nook of Thailand.
Most of those shops promote SIM playing cards from the three essential suppliers, making it a handy choice for vacationers who could have missed the chance to buy one on the airport.
Buying malls and electronics shops
Massive procuring malls, significantly in main cities like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket, typically home shops that promote SIM playing cards.
These shops could be discovered alongside different electronics and cell phone retailers. Moreover, well-liked digital chains resembling Banana IT, Energy Purchase, and Jaymart may additionally carry SIM playing cards.
Cell phone kiosks and avenue distributors
It is not uncommon to seek out cell phone kiosks or avenue distributors promoting SIM playing cards in bustling areas, evening markets, and vacationer hotspots.
Whereas this feature could be handy, making certain that the Thailand SIM card is respectable and from a good supply is crucial to keep away from potential points.
Thus far, I’ve had no points shopping for sim playing cards on the streets of Bangkok or within the markets so I can say avenue distributors promote legit sim playing cards.
If you happen to learn this text and have a nasty expertise with shopping for Thai sim card from the road distributors, depart a remark under to assist different vacationers!
🇹🇭 Useful Thai phrases for getting a sim card
If you’re within the airport, there will likely be English-speaking workers who can help you. Nonetheless, in case you are within the metropolis, I’m afraid that not everybody can converse English in Thailand, particularly in an important topic resembling a sim card.
Everyone will say simply go to a 7 eleven and you’ll be good to go as the method is fairly straight ahead. However some readers of this weblog have reported that’s is extraordinarily troublesome for them, particularly when receiving textual content messages from the networks.
As in each nation, these textual content messages or confirmations that you just get are within the native language. I’m so sorry, I should not have any recommendation.
I simply wing it and usually ignore these Thai textual content messages. It’s what it’s.
I all the time have these Thai phrases useful when shopping for a SIM card in Thailand. I solely used Google Translate, however a Thai pal of mine mentioned it’s acceptable and comprehensible.
| Thai | Pronunciation | English |
| “Kho sim card dai mai?” (คอ ซิม การ์ด ได้ ไหม?) | khaw sim kahd dai mai? | Can I purchase a SIM card? |
| “Mee web mai?” (มี อินเทอร์เน็ต ไหม?) | mee in-ter-net mai? | Does it have web? |
| “Tao rai?” (เท่า ไร?) | tao rai? | How a lot is it? |
| “Lod information dai mai?” (โหลด ดาต้า ได้ ไหม?) | loht da-taa dai mai? | Can I prime up information? |
| “Mee prom-chun a-rai baang?” (มี โปรโมชั่น อะไร บ้าง?) | mee pro-mo-chun a-rai baang? | What promotions are there? |
| “Chuay dton-triap sim card hai noi dai mai?” (ช่วยต่อเนื่องซิมการ์ดให้หน่อยได้ไหม?) | chuay dton-nueang sim kahd hai noy dai mai? | May you assist arrange the SIM card? |
| “Sim ni mi khuam sam-rap phut passa ang-grit dai mai?” (ซิมนี้มีความสามารถพูดภาษาอังกฤษได้ไหม?) | sim nee mee khuam sa-mat phoot pha-sa ang-grit dai mai? | Does this SIM provide English language assist? |
| “Kho sim sam-rap tho-ra-sap dai mai?” (ขอซิมสำหรับโทรศัพท์ได้ไหม?) | kho sim sam-rap tho-ra-sap dai mai? | Can I get a SIM for the telephone? |
| “Mee wi-fi pheun-thi mai?” (มี WiFi เพื่อนที่ไหม?) | mee Wi-Fi pheuun thee mai? | Is there WiFi out there right here? |
| “Rab chan-mai?” (รับชำระเงิน) | rab chan-mai? | Do you settle for bank card? |
You too can copy/paste the Thai translations or just present this desk when you encounter somebody who doesn’t converse English whereas shopping for a sim card in Thailand.
📲 Thailand sim card sizes
As in most nations, a Thailand SIM card is out there in three customary sizes: nano, micro, and customary (or mini) SIM.
The dimensions of the SIM card required is dependent upon the precise make and mannequin of the cell machine.
Through the years, the scale of SIM playing cards has progressively decreased, with nano-SIM playing cards turning into probably the most generally used dimension for a lot of trendy smartphones.
To make sure you get hold of the right SIM card dimension, these suppliers typically provide a 3-in-1 SIM card, consisting of a standard-sized card with micro and nano-sized cutouts.
This lets you break free their machine’s appropriately sized SIM card simply.
Alternatively, when buying a Thailand SIM card from an official cell community supplier retailer or a service counter, the workers will help you identify your machine’s applicable SIM card dimension.
You should purchase a SIM card adapter when you by accident purchase the incorrect SIM card dimension or want to change between gadgets with completely different SIM card necessities.
These adapters are normally cheap and broadly out there at cell phone accent shops, digital retailers, and on-line retailers.
If you happen to go for a Thai E-sim, the plans are additionally primarily based on the kind of cell phone you employ. Which means that when you change cellphones, you additionally want to change your e-sim plan. (i.e. change from iPhone 15 to iPhone 15 professional).
🤳 How to decide on the perfect Thailand sim card
When selecting a Thailand SIM card supplier, it’s important to think about elements resembling community protection, web information costs, and web information velocity.
Right here, primarily based on these standards, I in contrast the three essential suppliers that are AIS, DTAC, and TrueMove H.
FYI, I do know that AIS is utilized by many however I’ve all the time used DTAC as a result of I’ve had the identical sim card for a very long time. DTAC can also be the official native accomplice of my worldwide e-sim.
Protection
All three suppliers provide intensive protection all through Thailand, together with main cities, vacationer locations, and lots of rural areas.
Whereas protection can range barely relying on the situation, AIS is usually thought-about to have probably the most complete protection, intently adopted by TrueMove H and DTAC.
Nonetheless, the distinction in vary between these suppliers is minimal, and you must discover all three networks dependable and accessible throughout the nation.
Thailand sim card information costs
The costs for web information plans provided by AIS, DTAC, and TrueMove H are fairly aggressive, with all three suppliers presenting numerous choices to cater to completely different wants and budgets.
Thailand SIM card plans from every supplier usually vary from 299 THB to 899 THB, with various information allowances, calling minutes, and validity durations.
Whereas the costs are comparatively comparable, evaluating the precise information allowances, add-ons, and bonuses every community supplies is essential to find out the perfect worth to your necessities.
Web information velocity
Concerning web information velocity, all three suppliers have invested considerably in upgrading their networks to 4G and 5G applied sciences, making certain quick and secure connections for his or her customers.
Whereas the velocity can range relying on location, community congestion, and machine compatibility, AIS is usually acknowledged as having the quickest and most constant information speeds, intently adopted by TrueMove H and DTAC.
Nonetheless, the variations in information speeds between the suppliers are typically minor, and most customers ought to discover the web speeds of all three networks enough for his or her wants.
Backside line
AIS, DTAC, and TrueMove H all provide dependable protection, aggressive web information costs, and spectacular information speeds all through Thailand.
Whereas AIS could have a slight edge concerning protection and information velocity, the variations between the three suppliers are marginal.
To get a greater overview, listed here are every supplier’s particular plans and choices to find out which greatest meets your necessities and preferences.
🏆 AIS: greatest Thailand sim card
AIS, often known as Superior Data Service, is one in every of Thailand’s main cell community suppliers, providing a variety of SIM card choices catering to the various wants of locals and vacationers.
Recognized for its intensive community protection and dependable providers, AIS is a well-liked alternative for these trying to keep related whereas exploring the nation.
AIS sim card costs
| # of days | Value in USD | Gigabytes |
| 30 days | $36 | 300 GB |
| 15 days | $17 | 30 GB |
| 8 days | $9 | 15 GB |
| Pay as you go | from $1.50 | N/A |
All AIS plans have limitless social media plans for Fb, Line, Whatsapp, Instagram, WeChat, Tiktok, and Twitter.
Limitless calls to AIS numbers solely and worldwide calls are charged at 1 BHT ($0.0029 USD) per minute.
📱 DTAC: Thailand sim card that locals use
DTAC, quick for Whole Entry Communication, is one other outstanding cell community supplier in Thailand, identified for its aggressive pricing and complete protection.
DTAC Thailand sim card costs
| # of days | Value in USD | Gigabytes |
| 8 days | $12 | Limitless |
| 15 days | $19 | Limitless |
| 30 days | $33 | Limitless |
DTAC additionally affords social media solely packages for as little as $1.50 USD for 7 days of limitless utilization for platforms like Tiktok or Instagram.
That is the best choice when you don’t wish to pay for calls and texts.
📳 Thailand sim card with intensive information plan: TrueMove H
TrueMove H, a subsidiary of the True Company, is one in every of Thailand’s main cell community suppliers, identified for its aggressive providers and intensive community protection.
TrueMove H costs
| # of days | Value in USD | Information |
| 8 days | $12 | Limitless |
| 15 days | $20 | Limitless |
| 30 days | $29 | Limitless |
📳 How you can activate Thailand sim card
Normally, the your bought Thailand SIM card will robotically activate upon insertion.
Nonetheless, when you want additional help or activation shouldn’t be automated, you possibly can go to any service facilities, the place the workers will help you with the activation course of.
Alternatively, you may as well name hotlines for every sim card suppliers the place they’ll have an English-speaking workers who can help you on the telephone.
Chances are you’ll marvel how on earth you’ll name these numbers in case your Thai sim card shouldn’t be activated. You’ll be able to ask your lodge concierge or you possibly can truly use your lodge room’s telephone to name these hotlines:
- dtac: dial 1678
- True: dial 1242
Do Thai SIM playing cards expire?
Sure, Thailand SIM playing cards do expire. The validity interval of every card will rely on the bundle you buy and the person service, nevertheless, it’s normally between 30 days to at least one yr.
After this era has expired, your unused information allowance will usually expire as nicely. It’s due to this fact vital to examine the expiration date of your card after buy and hold monitor of it with a purpose to keep away from any inconvenience or further fees as a consequence of expired SIM playing cards.
🔃 How you can top-up Thai sim playing cards
Credit for topping up your Thai sim card could be added by numerous strategies, resembling buying top-up playing cards from comfort shops like 7-Eleven or FamilyMart, in addition to service facilities and approved retailers.
The highest-up card, irrespective of how old fashioned it’s, continues to be getting used for including Thailand sim card credit.
So as to add credit score utilizing a top-up card, observe the directions on the cardboard, which generally contain dialing a particular code and coming into the distinctive PIN offered.
Alternatively, you possibly can prime up your credit score on-line by the web sites of the sim card suppliers that you just selected.
