On this Thailand sim card information, I in contrast the three finest 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 way of a good friend right here in Berlin and I have to say wow you’ve traveled rather a lot in your life!!! I’m significantly eager 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 rather a lot. What’s the finest Thailand sim card you suggest? I get blended info and completely different suggestions amongst pals so I believed 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 accumulate lots of of sim playing cards for each nation I go to so I stored 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’ll be able to go for AIS if you wish to. On this put up, I’ve in contrast the three completely different high Thai SIM card suppliers so you’ll be able to examine what works nicely for you.
As traditional, I can’t actually determine what sim card works finest for you as I don’t know the way you employ the Web. If you’re going to use it for Hotspot, undoubtedly go for DTAC however if you’re touring round the entire nation, AIS is nice!
When you’ve got any questions that weren’t answered right here, I’d be pleased to replace this put up – 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 result of its straightforward set up and activation, bypassing the necessity for bodily SIM playing cards. It’s a wonderful alternative for sustaining connectivity in Thailand with out the trouble of conventional SIM playing cards.
🙋 Is it mandatory to purchase a Thailand SIM card?
For me, it’s mandatory as a result of I work on-line however if you’re solely in Thailand for a couple of days, the wifi within the lodges are very respectable, particularly in main cities like Bangkok the place there’s higher infrastructure.
In the event you want it for work, you undoubtedly want to purchase a Thailand sim card. However in the event you don’t wish to spend additional and in addition plan to be disconnected, you’ll be able to simply hook up with your resort’s wifi.
I do perceive that on this day’s digital age, you’d seemingly wish to be linked even if you’re not a distant employee (share journey photographs and reel sto pals), so yeah, the need of shopping for a sim card in Thailand relies on 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% positive 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 help your US telephone. Nonetheless, it should 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 international locations, the e-sim doesn’t work as I count on it to (and vice versa), in order a digital nomad, I usually have each.
I do know that’s not too handy but when your livelihood relies on the Web, you bought to have all of it.
In case you are 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 important. | Instantaneous activation and setup straight out of your smartphone or pill. No want to go to a retailer or swap bodily SIM playing cards. |
| Comfort | May be much less handy for vacationers who want to keep away from the trouble of discovering a retailer and coping with potential language limitations. | Extremely handy for vacationers who wish to prepare every thing prematurely and have their information prepared upon arrival. |
| Compatibility | Works with any unlocked telephone that helps SIM playing cards, providing broader compatibility. | Appropriate with eSIM-enabled gadgets. Not all telephones help eSIM expertise, so compatibility might be a difficulty. |
| Price | Sometimes gives more cost effective 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 is perhaps barely increased than native charges as a result of comfort elements. |
| Flexibility and Plan Choices | Provides a variety of plans that may embrace limitless information, calls, and texts, usually with added advantages like native reductions. | Supplies a wide range of plans tailor-made to completely different durations and information wants, which will be simply switched or upgraded by way of the app. |
| Protection and Velocity | Direct entry to the native community supplier’s service, which might probably supply the perfect obtainable protection and speeds in distant areas. | Makes use of native networks, so protection and velocity are usually good, however efficiency can fluctuate primarily based on the underlying service. |
| Buyer Assist | Entry to in-person buyer help in shops, which will be useful for resolving points rapidly. | Assist is usually supplied on-line by way of chat or electronic mail, which will be handy however is probably not fast. |
💰 Thailand E-sim costs
The Thailand E-sim has aggressive pricing in comparison with native Thai sim. Once more, I exploit 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 decisions and they’re each straight to the purpose.
The worth distinction is just $10 USD for the 50 GB plan and the limitless information plan. And that is just for Thailand. Truly, the Asian plan covers 18 international locations 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: In case you are touring to different international locations in Asia, you’ll be able to go for the regional plan covers 18 Asian international locations for as little as $5 USD. This manner, you don’t have to fret about your sim card whereas altering international locations.
📍The place to purchase a sim card in Thailand
Getting a SIM card in Thailand is simple and handy as a result of there are lots of locations to get one. The next are among the most typical 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 beneficial than shopping for it within the metropolis. The principle cause is airports have English-speaking crew.
You possibly can 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 supply a variety of SIM card choices and might present further help in organising the cardboard, topping up credit score, or addressing another considerations.
Comfort shops
Well-liked comfort retailer chains comparable to 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Tesco Lotus Categorical will be present in practically each nook of Thailand.
Most of those shops promote SIM playing cards from the three foremost suppliers, making it a handy possibility for vacationers who could have missed the chance to buy one on the airport.
Buying malls and electronics shops
Giant purchasing malls, significantly in main cities like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket, usually home shops that promote SIM playing cards.
These shops will be discovered alongside different electronics and cell phone retailers. Moreover, standard digital chains comparable to Banana IT, Energy Purchase, and Jaymart can also carry SIM playing cards.
Cell phone kiosks and road distributors
It’s common to search out cell phone kiosks or road distributors promoting SIM playing cards in bustling areas, night time markets, and vacationer hotspots.
Whereas this selection will be handy, making certain that the Thailand SIM card is reputable and from a good supply is crucial to keep away from potential points.
To date, I’ve had no points shopping for sim playing cards on the streets of Bangkok or within the markets so I can say road distributors promote legit sim playing cards.
In the event you learn this text and have a foul expertise with shopping for Thai sim card from the road distributors, go away a remark beneath to assist different vacationers!
🇹🇭 Useful Thai phrases for getting a sim card
In case you are within the airport, there can be English-speaking employees who can help you. Nonetheless, if you’re within the metropolis, I’m afraid that not everybody can communicate English in Thailand, particularly in an important topic comparable to a sim card.
Everyone will say simply go to a 7 eleven and you can 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 shouldn’t 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 good friend of mine stated 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 high 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? | Might 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 supply English language help? |
| “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 obtainable right here? |
| “Rab chan-mai?” (รับชำระเงิน) | rab chan-mai? | Do you settle for bank card? |
It’s also possible to copy/paste the Thai translations or just present this desk in the event you encounter somebody who doesn’t communicate English whereas shopping for a sim card in Thailand.
📲 Thailand sim card sizes
As in most international locations, a Thailand SIM card is out there in three commonplace sizes: nano, micro, and commonplace (or mini) SIM.
The scale of the SIM card required relies on the precise make and mannequin of the cell machine.
Through the years, the dimensions of SIM playing cards has progressively decreased, with nano-SIM playing cards changing into probably the most generally used dimension for a lot of fashionable smartphones.
To make sure you receive the right SIM card dimension, these suppliers usually provide a 3-in-1 SIM card, consisting of a standard-sized card with micro and nano-sized cutouts.
This allows you to 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 employees may help you establish your machine’s applicable SIM card dimension.
You should purchase a SIM card adapter in the event you by accident purchase the unsuitable SIM card dimension or want to change between gadgets with completely different SIM card necessities.
These adapters are often cheap and broadly obtainable at cell phone accent shops, digital outlets, and on-line retailers.
In the event you go for a Thai E-sim, the plans are additionally primarily based on the kind of cell phone you employ. Which means that in the event you change cell phones, 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 comparable to community protection, web information costs, and web information velocity.
Right here, primarily based on these standards, I in contrast the three foremost 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 be the official native associate of my worldwide e-sim.
Protection
All three suppliers supply intensive protection all through Thailand, together with main cities, vacationer locations, and lots of rural areas.
Whereas protection can fluctuate barely relying on the placement, AIS is mostly thought-about to have probably the most complete protection, carefully 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 supplied by AIS, DTAC, and TrueMove H are fairly aggressive, with all three suppliers presenting varied 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 intervals.
Whereas the costs are comparatively related, evaluating the precise information allowances, add-ons, and bonuses every community gives is essential to find out the perfect worth in 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 fluctuate relying on location, community congestion, and machine compatibility, AIS is usually acknowledged as having the quickest and most constant information speeds, carefully adopted by TrueMove H and DTAC.
Nonetheless, the variations in information speeds between the suppliers are usually 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 supply 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 finest meets your necessities and preferences.
🏆 AIS: finest Thailand sim card
AIS, often known as Superior Information Service, is considered one of Thailand’s main cell community suppliers, providing a variety of SIM card choices catering to the varied wants of locals and vacationers.
Identified for its intensive community protection and dependable companies, AIS is a well-liked alternative for these seeking to keep linked 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 Complete 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 gives 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 in the event 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 considered one of Thailand’s main cell community suppliers, identified for its aggressive companies and intensive community protection.
TrueMove H costs
| # of days | Value in USD | Knowledge |
| 8 days | $12 | Limitless |
| 15 days | $20 | Limitless |
| 30 days | $29 | Limitless |
📳 Easy methods to activate Thailand sim card
Generally, the your bought Thailand SIM card will routinely activate upon insertion.
Nonetheless, in the event you want additional help or activation shouldn’t be automated, you’ll be able to go to any service facilities, the place the employees may help you with the activation course of.
Alternatively, you can too name hotlines for every sim card suppliers the place they are going to have an English-speaking employees who can help you on the telephone.
You might surprise how on earth you’re going to name these numbers in case your Thai sim card shouldn’t be activated. You possibly can ask your resort concierge or you’ll be able to really use your resort 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 depend upon the bundle you buy and the person service, nonetheless, it’s often 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 essential to examine the expiration date of your card after buy and hold observe of it with the intention to keep away from any inconvenience or further expenses as a result of expired SIM playing cards.
🔃 Easy methods to top-up Thai sim playing cards
Credit for topping up your Thai sim card will be added by way of varied strategies, comparable to buying top-up playing cards from comfort shops like 7-Eleven or FamilyMart, in addition to service facilities and licensed retailers.
The highest-up card, regardless of how old style it’s, remains to be getting used for including Thailand sim card credit.
So as to add credit score utilizing a top-up card, comply with the directions on the cardboard, which usually contain dialing a particular code and getting into the distinctive PIN supplied.
Alternatively, you’ll be able to high up your credit score on-line by way of the web sites of the sim card suppliers that you just selected.
