Cellular carriers in Thailand
These are the 3 main companies that offer cellular service:
- AIS – The company with the widest and most reliable coverage—even in remote areas and on islands.
A great pick for travelers who want to get outside the big cities.
Popular options: unlimited data plans for 7, 15, or 30 days. - True Move H – Offers super budget-friendly tourist packages, with excellent coverage in major cities and the most popular islands. Plans sometimes come with little perks like free Wi‑Fi access in public places.
- DTAC (Happy) – Known for solid customer service and flexible plans. Best if you’ll mostly be hanging around urban areas.
– All three are big, legit providers and offer speeds up to 5G (mostly inside the cities)
– There are also virtual networks (MVNOs) under various names
Buying and using a local SIM in Thailand
Pros:
- It’s cheap! And it usually works great. The SIMs most tourists use are for about a month, typically around 500–1,000 baht, and they usually include local calls plus an unlimited data package.
- You can buy them at airport counters, at 7/11 locations, and at phone shops all over the country.
- In most places, they’ll happily pop it into your phone and make sure everything’s working properly.
- Perfect for longer trips where you’re really going to burn through data.
- Lets you use apps that require a local number, like Grab and Bolt (deliveries, taxis of all kinds, etc.).
Cons:
- You have to deal with it… and yeah, that’s not everyone’s idea of fun.
- Tourists need to show an ID/passport.
- Your first contact with customer service will usually be in a language you don’t know—so you’ll need to ask to be transferred to an English-speaking rep.
- Most local SIM cards connect to just one carrier network, which is totally fine… until you roll into the middle of nowhere and the only tower around belongs to the competitor 🙂
Our recommendation 🤳
Arrive with a solid international SIM card or a strong eSIM that connects to 2–3 local networks + tech support in your native language.
And then, once you’re in Thailand, pick up extra local SIMs too – for kids, for example.
Click here or here for fast, affordable eSIM packages we personally tested…
If your phone supports dual SIM, you can keep your regular SIM to receive SMS from back home and add a local one. Otherwise, we think it’s best to use an eSIM for data and keep your regular SIM active just in case.
Thailand’s international dialing code
- The country code for calling a phone in Thailand from abroad is +66
- For example, to call the Tourist Police in Bangkok from outside Thailand, the number is: +66-2-2815051
- Just remember: replace the + at the beginning with your country’s international access code. For example, calling from New York would look roughly like: 011-66-2-2815051.
6 tips for data and phone calls in Thailand
- Buy a SIM card or an eSIM plan from a provider that guarantees connection to multiple networks.
- Get enough data. The daily average is about 400 MB—and a lot of the time you’ll use double that. So for 10 days, for example, you’ll want 4–8GB (and that’s before family sharing and random overages… better to buy enough). And for a month-long trip (because, come on, it’s Thailand…) you’ll need significantly more.
- Buy a few SIMs / plans so your family can browse and stay in touch with each other too.
- Install and set everything up in advance back home so you know it’s all clear—then double-check again right after you land.
- If your SIM provider gave you a local number in your home country, consider forwarding calls to it so you can stay reachable while you’re traveling in Thailand.
Where do you buy an ESIM / SIM for Thailand?
Local SIM – As mentioned, you can buy them at the airports in Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai. You’ll find company booths there and sometimes a vending machine. It’s just a bit pricier at the airport. And of course, you can also get one at basically any phone shop on the streets or in malls—and at any 7-11.
ESIM – Best to buy in advance, we buy here and here..
FAQ
Can tourists buy a local SIM in Thailand, and what does it involve?
Yes—tourists can easily buy a local SIM card in Thailand.
Purchase process: You’ll need to show a valid passport for registration (a regulatory requirement in Thailand).
You can buy one at airport kiosks, convenience stores like 7‑Eleven, mobile shops, or in shopping malls.
Prices: Tourist SIM cards usually include data, calls, and messages at reasonable rates, starting around 300–500 baht (for 7 days) and going up depending on the length of time and data amount.
Setup: In most places, they’ll help you install and configure the SIM in your device, including quick guidance on how to activate the plan.
Is it worth buying a local SIM?
In most cases, yes—especially if you’re staying in Thailand for more than a few days.
Which carrier is most recommended?
If you’re planning to travel in rural areas or on less-touristy islands, AIS is the best choice. If you’re mostly staying in cities like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, or Phuket, any of the companies will do a great job.
Can you top up a data plan on a local SIM card?
Yes. You can top up by buying recharge cards at convenience stores like 7‑Eleven, or via the carriers’ dedicated apps.
Can you use an international SIM card in Thailand?
Yes, but the costs may be higher. It’s recommended to check with your home carrier about Thailand data and calling packages.
What are the benefits of using an eSIM in Thailand?
eSIM lets you connect to cellular networks without a physical card and makes it easy to switch providers. You can also buy and activate data plans in advance, which makes pre-trip planning way easier. eSIM is also a simple, handy solution if you’re planning to hop to neighboring countries like Cambodia or Laos.
Wishing you nonstop connectivity—and the right amount of unplugging when you need it.