Prices checked 20 Sep 2026 | 19 min read
Thailand SIM Card 2026: Best Tourist SIMs, Prices & Where to Buy
Which is the best SIM card for Thailand? This guide to Thailand SIM cards for tourists covers AIS and True-dtac prepaid SIM plans, what they cost, where to buy one and what you'll need. It also shows why most travelers now skip the counter with an eSIM instead.
Quick answer: SIM card or eSIM for Thailand?
For most trips, the best SIM card for Thailand is an eSIM, if your phone supports it. A physical Thailand SIM card from AIS or True-dtac gets you mobile data too, but it means a counter, a passport check and a queue on arrival. An eSIM installs before you fly and is active the moment you land.
Physical SIM vs eSIM: the real tradeoffs
Both get you the same networks and the same data. The difference is entirely in the process, not the connection quality.
Physical SIM (AIS, True-dtac): pros and cons
- Available the moment you land, no advance setup needed
- Works in any unlocked phone, no eSIM support required
- Staff at the counter can help if something goes wrong
- You'll queue at the counter, sometimes 15 to 30 minutes after a long flight
- You need your passport on you at the moment of purchase
- You're filling out a paper or tablet registration form
Thailand eSIM: pros and cons
- Install before you fly, active the second you land
- No queue, no counter, no handing over your passport on arrival
- Keep your home SIM active for calls and texts at the same time
- Needs an eSIM-compatible phone (most from the last few years are)
- No physical backup if you somehow lose phone access entirely
Thailand tourist SIM card: AIS and True-dtac
Two carriers sell tourist SIM cards across Thailand: AIS and True-dtac. Both are prepaid SIM cards, so you pay up front and there's no contract. An AIS SIM card and a True-dtac SIM card both run on 4G and 5G and work the same way at the counter, so the real choice usually comes down to coverage in the specific area you're visiting. Buying either one gets you a real Thai mobile number, not just data, so calls and local top-ups work the same as any Thai SIM.
Where to buy a SIM card in Thailand
AIS shops, airport counters and some 7-Eleven stores sell AIS SIMs; True-dtac and dtac shops, airport counters and some 7-Eleven stores sell True-dtac's. Both are sold as eSIM or physical SIM. Prices for both, plus the cheaper regular plans locals use, are in the table below.
Buying a SIM card at the airport
The easiest option: no travel, activated on the spot.
- AIS, True, and dtac counters are right in arrivals at both Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and Don Mueang (DMK), open 24/7
- Staff fill out the registration form and activate the SIM for you on the spot
- Expect a queue, especially right after a big international flight lands
- Payment: the SIM kiosks in the baggage claim hall take cash only, while the phone shops in the arrivals hall take cards
First trip to Thailand, or only here a few days? Sort your connection before you leave the airport rather than risk no signal on the way to your hotel: either an eSIM installed before you fly (see the eSIM section below) or a tourist SIM from the arrivals counter.
Which of the two to actually buy comes down almost entirely to network coverage in the area you're visiting, not the buying process itself, see the full coverage breakdown and carrier recommendation further down the page.
How to top up a Thai prepaid SIM
Three ways: 7-Eleven, the carrier's app, or a carrier shop.
At any 7-Eleven or convenience store counter, tell the cashier your number and how much credit you want. Through the carrier's own app once you've registered an account. Or at a carrier shop directly. Top-up vouchers are also sold at supermarkets and some hotels. An eSIM from MiloAway skips this step entirely since the plan is prepaid and bundled upfront.
Thailand SIM card prices
Pick your trip length to see the nearest prepaid SIM plan from each carrier, including the unlimited data SIM card each carrier sells to tourists. Prices last checked 20 September 2026: True-dtac's and the regular plans from dtac's own site, AIS's from published AIS plan lists. GBP is approximate at today's rate. Confirm the exact price at the counter.
How long is your trip?
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
AIS tourist SIM 8 days, unlimited Found at airport arrivals counters (Bangkok, Phuket, Samui), AIS shops and some 7-Elevens. | ฿499(≈£11) |
True-dtac tourist SIM 8 days, unlimited Found at airport arrivals counters, True-dtac shops and some 7-Elevens. | ฿449(≈£10) |
The cheaper Thai option: regular plan (dtac) 7 days, unlimited at 12 Mbps Found at dtac shops, 7-Eleven and Family Mart. Bring your passport. Ask for dtac's 7-day "unlimited internet at 12Mbps" package. | ฿180(≈£4) |
MiloAway eSIM 7 days, unlimited data
| £5.99 |
Tourist SIMs cost the same at the airport counter, in carrier shops and when you buy a 7-Eleven SIM card. We found no source charging more at the airport. What it costs you is the queue, not extra baht.
Getting a regular Thai prepaid SIM as a foreigner
The cheaper row in the table is a regular prepaid plan, the kind most people in Thailand use. These are dtac's own published prices.
The catch on speed: regular plans are capped at 10 to 20 Mbps, where tourist SIMs run at the network's full 5G/4G speed. That's plenty for maps, messaging and video calls, but you'll notice it on big downloads.
How to buy a regular Thai SIM, step by step
- 1Bring your passport. It's required for any SIM in Thailand, and the cashier scans it to register the SIM on the spot.
- 2Buy a starter SIM at a carrier shop, 7-Eleven or Family Mart. Starter SIMs start at around ฿49, and what you're really paying for is the first plan on it, not the card.
- 3Tell the cashier which plan you want. They pick it from their screen and give you a short code to dial to switch it on.
- 4Ask them to activate it before you leave the counter. Registration and plan activation on a blank SIM are in Thai by default, so getting the staff to do it is the easy way.
- 5Top up later in the carrier's app (MyAIS, the dtac app, TrueID) or with a 7-Eleven top-up voucher.
Some 7-Elevens in tourist resorts refuse to sell regular SIMs to foreigners and say only tourist SIMs are available. That's the store's choice, not a rule. Try another store or chain, or go to a carrier shop, where staff speak English and prices are fixed.
Getting a Thai phone number with a physical SIM
Every physical SIM comes with a Thai number. What differs is how many calls are included.
True-dtac Tourist INFINITE (8, 15 and 30 days)
Free local calls to all Thai networks, up to 15 minutes each, plus some call credit.
AIS tourist SIM (8, 15 and 30 days)
Free calls to other AIS numbers, plus some call credit for other networks.
1 to 5 day tourist SIMs
You still get a Thai number. Ask at the counter what calls are included.
Regular dtac plan (the cheaper option)
A normal Thai number. Calls come out of your top-up credit, from 0.99 baht a minute within Thailand before VAT.
Plan details come from True's tourist SIM page and dtac's prepaid page. Bundles change, so confirm at the counter.
Thailand SIM card mistakes to avoid
- 1Buying from an unofficial airport tout instead of the actual AIS/True-dtac counter. You'll pay more for the same SIM.
- 2Forgetting your passport. Thai regulations require ID registration for any SIM card, tourist or otherwise. No passport, no SIM.
- 3Assuming "unlimited" data on a physical SIM means uncapped at full speed all trip. Most tourist plans throttle speed after a daily cap. Check the fair-use terms before you rely on it for something time-sensitive.
- 4Buying a plan sized for a light trip and running out of data halfway through. If you're planning to video call home or stream anything, size up rather than guessing low.
- 5Not checking whether your phone is carrier-locked before you fly. A phone locked to your home carrier usually can't use a Thai SIM, so ask your carrier to unlock it first.
Thailand eSIM: install before you fly
The alternative to a physical SIM: install it digitally before you fly, skip the counter entirely, and it's active the moment you land. It runs on the same 4G/5G AIS and True-dtac networks as a physical SIM, so connection quality is identical, only the setup process differs. Here's what you need to know before choosing it.
Can you keep your regular number with an eSIM?
Yes, if your phone supports dual SIM.
Most eSIM-compatible phones from the last several years support running two SIM profiles at once, so your home number keeps working for calls and texts while the Thai SIM or eSIM handles data. A physical Thai SIM in a single-SIM-slot phone will replace your home SIM while it's in, meaning you'd need to swap back to receive calls or texts on your home number.
How to install and activate a Thailand eSIM
- 1Buy your eSIM and receive a QR code by email, before you fly.
- 2Connect to WiFi (you need internet to download the eSIM profile).
- 3Go to your phone's Settings, find the eSIM or "Add Cellular Plan" option, and scan the QR code.
- 4Leave the eSIM installed but inactive until you land, so your home SIM keeps working normally until then.
- 5When you land, turn on the eSIM and enable data roaming for it in your phone's settings. You're connected within a minute or two.
Does your phone support eSIM for Thailand?
Most phones sold in the last several years do. As a general guide:
Check your phone
This covers most travelers, but device and carrier restrictions vary by country of purchase. If you're not sure, check your phone's settings under Mobile/Cellular Data for an "Add eSIM" option, or search your exact model plus "eSIM support" before you fly.
Best eSIM for Thailand: MiloAway, Airalo, Saily and Holafly compared
MiloAway and the three other eSIM brands most people weigh up for Thailand. Pick your trip length to see what each one charges for unlimited data.
| Brand | Unlimited, 7 days |
|---|---|
MiloAway Unlimited only Thailand only, free Thailand guide included Get the 7-day eSIM | £5.99 |
Airalo Unlimited and GB tiers Many countries | £16.50 |
Saily Unlimited and GB tiers Many countries | £15.99 |
Holafly Unlimited only Many countries | £22.00 |
Based on the above: MiloAway is the cheapest of the four for a 7-day Thailand plan, and the only one built specifically around this one country rather than run as a multi-country platform. Airalo and Saily make more sense if you're covering several countries on the same trip; Holafly's appeal is being unlimited-only like MiloAway, at a higher price.
See every plan length in the full Thailand eSIM price comparisonGetting a Thai phone number with an eSIM
None of the four eSIMs we compared gives you a Thai number, and most travellers don't need one.
MiloAway
Data only. Keep your home SIM for calls and texts.
Airalo
Data only. No calls, SMS or phone number.
Saily
Data only by default. An optional add-on gives you a US (+1) number, not a Thai one.
Holafly
Data only for Thailand. Its separate subscription plans add a US or UK number that receives texts only.
Do you actually need one?
- Your home number keeps working alongside an eSIM for calls and texts
- WhatsApp, FaceTime and LINE calls run over data, so they work on any plan here
- Google Maps and Grab work with your home number. Set Grab up before you fly, while your home SIM can still receive the verification text
- If something specifically needs a Thai number, see below
If you really want a Thai number
- Cheap eSIM: dtac's Happy Tourist eSIM starts at 299 baht for 8 days and comes with a Thai number and calls
- Physical SIM: buy a tourist SIM at the airport or a 7-Eleven and use it for the number
- Either way your phone needs a free SIM slot to run it alongside MiloAway's eSIM, so you may have to switch your home SIM off
Plan details come from each eSIM brand's own help pages and dtac's tourist SIM page. Bundles change, so check before you buy.
Thailand eSIM mistakes to avoid
- 1Assuming your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked without checking first. Most phones from the last few years do support eSIM, but a phone locked to your home carrier usually can't use a travel eSIM, and you can't switch to a physical SIM after landing without finding a shop.
- 2Assuming "unlimited" means uncapped at full speed all trip. Most unlimited eSIM plans slow down after a daily allowance too, so check the fair-use terms before you rely on it for something time-sensitive.
- 3Leaving your home SIM on data roaming while you sort out a local connection. Until a local SIM or eSIM is active, you're on international roaming rates unless you've set up a roaming plan and are comfortable with the cost.
How much data do you need in Thailand?
Pick your trip length and what you'll do on a normal day. You'll get one rough total, so you can see what a fixed-size data plan would need to cover.
How long is your trip?
What will you do on a normal day? Tick all that apply.
Maps, messaging and browsing
Always included: navigation, WhatsApp, hotel and taxi apps
These are typical published figures, not measurements of your phone. For each activity we use the middle of the published range, and the ranges are wide because app data use depends on quality settings and signal. Netflix's own help centre gives about 1 GB an hour in standard definition and up to 3 GB in HD. Other app figures come from StarHub, Holafly and Meter.
The best SIM card for Thailand: get an eSIM
For almost every trip, an eSIM is the smart choice. You land with data already working, with no queue, no passport check and no shop to find.
Get an eSIM if
- Your phone supports eSIM and isn't carrier-locked
- You want to be online the moment you land
- Your trip is 3 days or more: MiloAway costs less than the AIS and True-dtac tourist SIMs sold at the airport
A physical SIM only makes sense if
- Your phone doesn't support eSIM
- You need a Thai number for calls and texts (MiloAway's plans are data only, while some tourist SIMs include local calls)
- You're staying a month or more. A regular Thai plan can save you a little, but it means a trip to 7-Eleven or a carrier shop with your passport, so the saving is marginal
Thailand mobile coverage: AIS vs True-dtac by region
Both networks cover the main tourist routes. Where they differ is in less-visited areas.
This applies whether you end up with a physical SIM or an eSIM, both AIS and True-dtac run the same network either way, so the choice below is about the network, not the SIM format.
| Region | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Bangkok | Both strong and reliable citywide, including the BTS and MRT lines. |
| Chiang Mai & the north | Both cover the city centre well. AIS extends further into rural and mountain areas. |
| Phuket, Koh Samui & main islands | Both solid in resort areas and main towns. Thins out on smaller, less-developed islands. |
| Deep south provinces | More limited on both networks. Not a typical tourist route. |
AIS or True-dtac: which should you actually pick?
Choose AIS if
- Your trip goes beyond Bangkok and the main tourist cities
- You're visiting national parks, mountains, or rural provinces in the north
- Reach matters more to you than a small price difference
Choose True-dtac if
- Your trip stays within Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui, or other main tourist areas
- You're not relying on coverage in remote or rural areas
- You'd rather pick whichever counter has the shorter queue when you land
On real-world performance: Opensignal's independent August 2026 Thailand report names AIS the most-awarded operator overall, while True and DTAC jointly hold the "Best Network in Thailand" title on their combined network. Neither is a clear loser on quality, this is really about coverage on your specific route.
Thailand SIM card FAQ
For most trips, an eSIM: you install it before you fly and it's active when you land, with no queue or passport check. If your phone doesn't support eSIM, buy a tourist SIM from AIS or True-dtac at the airport arrivals counters, a carrier shop or a 7-Eleven. Both run on 4G and 5G, so choose by coverage where you're going (see the coverage section above).
Tourist SIMs with unlimited data cost about 449 to 499 baht for 8 days, 699 baht for 15 days and 1,199 baht for 30 days, and a 1-day AIS SIM with 1 GB is 49 baht. A regular dtac plan costs less, for example 180 baht for 7 days or 329 baht for 30 days with 50 GB, but you need to buy it in a shop or 7-Eleven with your passport. Prices change, so check the price table above.
Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and Don Mueang (DMK) airports have AIS, True and dtac counters in arrivals. AIS counters are also at Phuket and Samui airports. Expect a queue after a busy flight lands.
Roaming needs no setup, but your home provider bills it at its own daily or per-MB rates, which are often higher than a local SIM or eSIM. Check your provider's Thailand rate before you fly and compare it with the plan prices above.
Yes. A phone locked to your home carrier usually can't use a Thai SIM, and travel eSIM providers such as Airalo say their eSIMs need an unlocked device. Ask your carrier to unlock it before you fly.
A physical SIM from AIS or True-dtac works fine and is easy to find at the airport. An eSIM does the same job, data the moment you land, but installs before you fly, so there's no counter, no queue, and no handing over your passport on arrival. Most travelers with an eSIM-compatible phone find it the simpler option. A physical SIM makes more sense if your phone doesn't support eSIM.
AIS and True-dtac counters at Bangkok's airports (Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang), carrier shops in most towns and cities, and some 7-Eleven stores. Availability and stock varies by location, so the airport is the most reliable option on arrival.
Yes. Thai regulations require ID registration for any SIM card, tourist or otherwise. Bring your passport to the counter. This step doesn't apply to an eSIM, which you install digitally before you travel.
AIS is Thailand's largest network with the widest coverage, including more remote areas. True-dtac (the merged DTAC and True networks) has strong coverage in cities and popular tourist areas. Both sell tourist SIMs at similar counters and price points. For most trips confined to Bangkok, the islands, and major cities, either works well.
At any 7-Eleven or convenience store, through the carrier's own app, at a carrier shop, or with vouchers sold at supermarkets and some hotels. Tell the cashier your number and how much credit you want. An eSIM skips this entirely since the plan is paid upfront.
Yes, if your phone supports dual SIM or has an eSIM alongside a physical SIM slot. Most phones from the last few years do. Your home number keeps working for calls and texts while the Thai SIM or eSIM handles data. A single-SIM-slot phone with a physical Thai SIM inserted will temporarily replace your home SIM instead.
Yes, tethering works on both a physical SIM and an eSIM, the same as it would on your home SIM. Share your data with a laptop or another device through your phone's hotspot settings; just be aware it'll use up your data allowance faster than browsing on the phone alone.
Prices are broadly similar between the two for equivalent tourist plans, and both change periodically, so there's rarely a large or consistent gap either way. The more useful question for most trips is coverage in the specific area you're visiting rather than a small price difference. Check both carriers' current rates directly if the exact price matters to you.
AIS and True-dtac both offer some tourist SIM and eSIM options through their own sites and authorised resellers, which can be worth arranging ahead of a trip. A physical SIM still needs to be physically collected or delivered, so it doesn't fully remove the counter step, whereas an eSIM bought online installs entirely on your phone with nothing to collect.
Depends on the specific plan. True-dtac's Tourist INFINITE SIM includes free local calls (up to 15 minutes per call) alongside the data. Some AIS and True-dtac tourist plans are data-only. Check the exact plan details before you buy if calling locally matters to you. An eSIM handles data the same way; calls and texts on your own number still work through your home SIM if your phone supports dual SIM, covered above.
A physical SIM or eSIM that hits its data cap typically throttles to a slower speed rather than cutting off completely, the same fair-use pattern covered above, so you're not left with nothing. If the SIM's fixed validity period (its 8, 15, or 30-day window) actually expires, you'll generally need to buy a new plan or top up before that date, since tourist SIMs don't auto-renew. Keep an eye on your plan's end date if your trip runs long.
Hotel, café, and restaurant WiFi covers you while you're sitting in those places, but not the moments in between: navigating on foot or by taxi, translating something on the street, messaging a driver, or checking a map when you're lost. Most travelers end up wanting mobile data for exactly those in-between moments, even if they're happy to switch to WiFi once they're settled somewhere. If your trip is genuinely one hotel with no independent exploring, you may be able to skip it, but that's a fairly narrow case.
Not every 7-Eleven stocks tourist SIMs, and it's not always self-service, so treat it as a backup option rather than your main plan. Where it's available, you ask at the counter, show your passport for registration the same as at a carrier shop or the airport, and staff activate it for you. If a specific branch doesn't have stock or isn't able to register a tourist SIM, an AIS or True-dtac shop, or the airport counter, is the more reliable choice.
Skip the counter. Get connected before you land
See Thailand eSIM plans and pricesPhoto credits: True shop, dtac Center by Sry85 via Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.