🇹🇭 Best SIM cards for Thailand
Comparing 37 plans from 5 providers
💡 AIS has the best overall coverage, especially in northern mountains (Chiang Mai, Pai, Chiang Rai) and remote southern islands. True Move H (formerly DTAC after merger) is a strong alternative with good tourist packages. 4G/LTE is excellent in Bangkok and all major tourist destinations (Phuket, Koh Samui, Pattaya, Koh Phi Phi). Unlimited tourist SIMs are outstanding value in Thailand — 15-day unlimited plans often cost less than $15. Expect weaker signal on very small islands and in jungle national parks. AIS is the recommended choice for island-hopping trips.
| Provider | Type | Data | Validity | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provider Saily★ Recommended | TypeeSIM | Data1.00 GB | Validity7 days | Price $2.99Best price | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily Best value 1-week starter plan for Thailand. | TypeeSIM | Data1.00 GB | Validity7 days | Price $2.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | Data1.00 GB | Validity7 days | Price $5.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly★ Recommended Holafly 1-day eSIM. Activate before boarding, works from the moment you land. | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity1 days | Price $5.90 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily★ Recommended | TypeeSIM | Data3.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $5.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily Local Thailand network. Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Koh Samui. | TypeeSIM | Data3.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $5.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | Data3.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $6.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily | TypeeSIM | Data5.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $7.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily Best balance of data and price for Thailand. | TypeeSIM | Data5.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $7.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Airalo Budget pick. AIS or True Move H network. Covers Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai. | TypeeSIM | Data5.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $8.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | Data5.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $8.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | Data10.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $10.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily | TypeeSIM | Data10.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $10.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily Best value for Thailand. Full month. | TypeeSIM | Data10.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $10.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Airalo Best value for a 2-week trip. AIS or True Move H. Island coverage included. | TypeeSIM | Data10.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $11.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity3 days | Price $11.90 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | Data50.00 GB | Validity10 days | Price $12.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad Affordable Nomad plan for Thailand. Strong city and island coverage. | TypeeSIM | Data10.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $12.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Ubigi Transatel network Thailand. Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket. Tablets and laptops supported. | TypeeSIM | Data10.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $13.90 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity10 days | Price $16.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Airalo For heavy users or long stays. AIS or True Move H. Hotspot-capable. | TypeeSIM | Data20.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $18.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily Heavy data users — streaming, remote work. | TypeeSIM | Data20.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $19.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily | TypeeSIM | Data20.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $19.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity5 days | Price $20.50 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad★ Recommended | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity15 days | Price $21.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad 20 GB across Asia-Pacific: Japan, Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia and more. | TypeeSIM | Data20.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $22.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | Data15.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $26.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity7 days | Price $27.50 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly Unlimited on True/DTAC. Covers Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui, Chiang Mai. | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity7 days | Price $27.50 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | Data20.00 GB | Validity45 days | Price $30.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity30 days | Price $33.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity10 days | Price $36.50 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity15 days | Price $38.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity15 days | Price $50.50 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly Unlimited for a 2-week Thailand stay. True/DTAC. Hotspot included. | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity15 days | Price $50.50 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly Full month unlimited Thailand. Best for digital nomads and long trips. | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity30 days | Price $73.90 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity30 days | Price $73.90 | Get this SIM |
Our recommendations for Thailand
For your exact trip length
Tell us how many days you're traveling and we'll find the best match.
Budget way
Activate a cheap eSIM the night before your flight. Use it on day 1 to order an Uber from the airport to your hotel. Next day, pop into a local operator store and buy a local SIM.
Day 1 eSIM (arrival)
Holafly · 1 day
Local SIM (from day 2)
AIS, DTAC or True Move tourist SIM at airport
Best option if you stay more than 10 days — local SIMs are often 3–5× cheaper.
Hassle-free way
Order your eSIM before departure — nothing to buy on arrival. Works from the moment you land.
Best option for short trips or if you don't want to deal with local operator stores.
About these providers
Strengths
- +Largest selection — 200+ countries, multiple local operators per country
- +Very competitive data-capped plans (cheapest overall for data)
- +Instant QR code activation — works within seconds
- +Excellent iOS & Android app with real-time data tracking
- +Physical SIM available for some destinations
Weaknesses
- −Data-only — no calls or SMS on most plans
- −Too many options can be overwhelming
- −Prices displayed in AUD (confusing for non-Australians)
- −Customer support can be slow
Strengths
- +Unlimited data on ALL plans — no data stress ever
- +1-day plans from $5.90 — perfect for arrival day
- +Simple pricing — few options, no confusion
- +Live chat customer support
- +Social media (WhatsApp, Instagram) always free on top
Weaknesses
- −More expensive than Airalo for stays over 10 days
- −Data-only — no calls or SMS
- −No physical SIM option
Strengths
- +Best multi-country regional plans in the market
- +Global plans up to 180 days or 1 year — ideal for long trips
- +Simple, clean interface — easy to choose
- +Competitive pricing for multi-destination trips
Weaknesses
- −Fewer individual country options than Airalo
- −Data-only — no calls or SMS
- −Less name recognition than Airalo/Holafly
Strengths
- +Made by Nord Security — the NordVPN creators (trusted brand)
- +Often cheaper than Airalo for data-capped plans
- +150+ countries covered
- +Clean app with real-time data usage tracker
- +Flexible packages: 1 GB to 20 GB
Weaknesses
- −Data-capped only — no unlimited plans
- −Newer provider (launched 2023) — fewer user reviews
- −No physical SIM
Strengths
- +Made by Transatel / NTT — major global telecom infrastructure provider
- +Works on smartphones, tablets AND laptops (unique)
- +Also available in connected cars (BMW, Toyota, Fiat…)
- +190+ countries covered
- +Enterprise-grade network reliability
Weaknesses
- −More expensive than Airalo and Saily for most plans
- −Primarily aimed at business / professional travelers
- −Pricing less transparent on website
Getting a local SIM in Thailand
🏪Where to buy
Tourist SIM kiosks at all major airports: Suvarnabhumi (BKK), Don Mueang (DMK) and Phuket International (HKT) — kiosks are in the arrivals hall and hard to miss. In the city: every 7-Eleven (over 13,000 across Thailand) sells AIS and True Move H tourist SIMs. Official operator stores are in all major malls (CentralWorld, MBK Center, Terminal 21 in Bangkok). In tourist areas (Phuket, Koh Samui, Chiang Mai), SIMs are sold at hotel lobbies and travel shops — but official stores offer better prices.
📄Documents needed
Passport required. Registration is done at the point of sale by the operator — they scan your passport and register the SIM in your name. This takes 2–5 minutes at airport kiosks. No visa is required to purchase a SIM — a tourist visa or visa-on-arrival is sufficient. Self-registration via app is also possible with AIS and True Move H after purchase.
💡Tips & coverage
AIS has the best overall coverage, especially in northern mountains (Chiang Mai, Pai, Chiang Rai) and remote southern islands. True Move H (formerly DTAC after merger) is a strong alternative with good tourist packages. 4G/LTE is excellent in Bangkok and all major tourist destinations (Phuket, Koh Samui, Pattaya, Koh Phi Phi). Unlimited tourist SIMs are outstanding value in Thailand — 15-day unlimited plans often cost less than $15. Expect weaker signal on very small islands and in jungle national parks. AIS is the recommended choice for island-hopping trips.
Local SIM prices in Thailand
Typical cost if you buy a physical SIM card on arrival (for comparison only).
| Data | Validity | Est. price |
|---|---|---|
| 5.00 GB | 7 days | $3.00–$7.00 |
| Unlimited | 30 days | $12.00–$22.00 |
Prices are estimates based on tourist SIM cards available locally. Actual prices vary by operator and date.