How to buy a prepaid SIM card for Thailand?

Planning a Thailand getaway from the UK? No wonder, since this stunning country is consistently one of the top tourist destinations. Besides taking care of accommodation and your itinerary, it's also important to consider how you’ll be communicating and getting around during your stay.

To make sure you make the most out of your vacation, consider getting a Thai SIM card while you’re there. This could not only help you avoid unnecessary expenses, but also let you use translation apps and maps without needing Wi-Fi.

Also, if you need a cost-effective way to handle your finances across borders, check out the Wise card from the money services provider Wise. It can help you get ready for your stay in Thailand and save money while travelling abroad. You can pay and withdraw cash like a local in 40+ currencies including THB for low fees and great mid-market exchange rates.

Table of contents

Why should you buy a prepaid SIM card when travelling to Thailand from the UK? How much does a SIM card cost in Thailand? How to buy a prepaid Thai SIM card?¹ Where can you buy a Thai SIM card in the UK? Can you buy a Thai SIM card at the airport?² Best prepaid SIM cards for Thailand DTAC² AIS³ TrueMove H⁴ Best e-SIM cards for Thailand eSIM Thailand Holafly⁹ Airalo DTAC¹² Spend like a local in Thailand with Wise

Why should you buy a prepaid SIM card when travelling to Thailand from the UK?

Buying a Thai SIM card will actually help you budget and avoid extra expenses. International calls and data usage most likely aren’t included in your UK plan. So, your provider will charge you for using your phone abroad. With a Thailand SIM, you’ll be connected to one of the local networks, so this won’t be a problem.

Having a local SIM card will allow you not only to stay in touch with your friends, but to make new ones in Thailand. Also, translation apps and maps can help you communicate without having to rely on Wi-Fi.

If you still don’t want to buy a Thailand SIM card, you can rely on international roaming. Many networks, such as VOXI or Sky Mobile, offer global roaming packages that include Thailand. Check with your provider what your options are, but this can be a more expensive route.

How much does a SIM card cost in Thailand?

You can get a daily Thailand SIM card for as little as £1. On the other hand, plans that can last you a week cost a couple of pounds more. 15-day SIM cards start at £7 and go up to £15 for deals with unlimited data and calls.

eSIMs are slightly more expensive in Thailand, but their advantage is that they can be valid for up to a year. A monthly eSIM you can use in Thailand ranges from £13 to £59. However, some of them allow hotspots, so you could split the price with your friends and use it together.

How to buy a prepaid Thai SIM card?¹

Getting a Thailand SIM card is rather easy, since they can be bought at numerous selling points. Not only can you get them at official outlets, but also in convenience stores and online. Thailand’s three main mobile operators are AIS, DTAC, and TrueMove H.

Foreigners can buy Thai SIM cards with no restrictions, as long as they don’t own more than five per operator. When getting a SIM card, don’t forget to bring your passport. You’ll need to show it in order to register.

When it comes to payment methods, you could use your credit card, debit card or even a prepaid travel card. If you like to use cash, check if there’s an ATM near the store.

Where can you buy a Thai SIM card in the UK?

You could get a Thai SIM card while still in the UK, but you won’t get to be picky, since there aren’t too many options. To get an idea of what’s on the market, check out SimCorner’s and TravSim’s Thai SIM. If you decide to buy one, make sure you also consider the time it takes for the package to get delivered to your address.

In case you need more variety, getting an eSIM while still in the UK is a good idea – if your phone supports eSIMs. Some providers sell country-specific e-SIM cards, while others have regional or global deals. Either way, you’ll probably be able to find something that suits you, all from the comfort of your home.

📚 Read more: How to buy a SIM card in the UK?

Can you buy a Thai SIM card at the airport?²

Yes, you can get a Thai SIM as soon as you land. Some airports, such as the Suvarnabhumi International Airport, have multiple selling points, so you won’t have to waste time looking. There are stores and stands in the arrival halls, at baggage claim and close to the exits.

Best prepaid SIM cards for Thailand

Here are some of the best SIM cards for a short stay or holiday in Thailand.

DTAC²

DTAC has multiple options tailored to the needs of tourists. Their Happy Tourists SIMs have three validity periods, made for 8, 10 and 15 day stays. Whichever you end up choosing, you’ll get unlimited minutes in their network and additional credit for other networks.

The 8-day DTAC SIM costs roughly £6.5 and has 15 GB of max speed data. If you plan on staying longer, the next package has 50 GB for around £7.7. The biggest one costs around £13 for 30 GB of high speed data over the course of 30 days.

These SIMs are focused on data, but DTAC also has Happy Infinite SIMs with unlimited calls included. With this card, you can call all Thailand networks. The prices are approximately £10 for 8 days, £15 for 15 days and around £26 for a 30-day stay.

Their SIMs also have equal eSIM versions, which we’ll mention later.

AIS³

AIS has prepaid tourist SIMs with 8, 15 and 30 validity periods. The price of the 8-day plan is around £6.5 and you get 15 GB with that deal. If you’re staying up to 15 days, their package offers 30 GB of fast internet for £13. The most expensive plan can last you through the month, with 50 GB of high speed internet for around £20.

They also have a Pay as you go deal. You can get their daily card with 1 GB of internet for only £1 and get more as needed.

TrueMove H⁴

If you want to get a card and not think about how much data you have left, TrueMove H’s Infinite tourist SIMs have just that. For £10, £15 or £26, you can get unlimited data and calls to all networks in Thailand. The price depends on the length of your stay and TrueMove H’s deals are made for 8, 15 or 30 days. You even get some credit for international calls.

Best e-SIM cards for Thailand

If your phone supports eSIMs, they’re the quickest and most convenient option. You can get them with only a few clicks and they’re often cheaper than regular physical SIMs. Here are some of the best ones for trips to Thailand.

eSIM Thailand

eSIM Thailand’s offer includes three different nationwide plans - Unlimited Data & Calls, Fixed Data & Calls and Daily Data. All packages have free mobile hotspots included, so you can share the data with your friends and split the costs.

The Unlimited Data & Calls plan includes 15 days of unlimited fast data and local calls with a Thai number. The discounted price at the time of writing is $19.99.⁵

Lastly, the Daily Data plan is customisable, so you can get 0.5 GB, 1 GB or 2 GB of data per day. Depending on how long you’re staying, plan options range from 1-day to 30-day deals. Your data resets every 24 hours and the packages cost from $1.29 to $31.99.⁷

eSIM Thailand also offers city-specific plans. For example, their Phuket plan can be used in the entire country, but it guarantees best network connections in the Phuket area.⁸

Holafly⁹

Holafly offers unlimited data plans only, but you can’t share them with others through a hotspot. Their prices start at £19 for 5 days, but the more days you buy, the better the deal.

For example, the Holafly Thailand eSIM with 10 days of unlimited data costs £29, while 20 days is £49. If you plan on using your eSIM for a whole month, that will set you back £59. If you decide to extend your stay even more, the biggest package can last you up to 90 days at a £87 rate.

Airalo

If you’ve ever looked into eSIM options, it’s likely you’ve heard of Airalo, a popular provider with global coverage. Airalo has six different data plans for Thailand that cost up to $22 for a 30 day validity period. The most affordable plan costs $4.5 at the moment and it allows 1 GB of data usage in a week. From time to time, they have Thailand eSIMs that include calls and texts as well.¹⁰

They also offer regional and global eSIMs, which can be a great option if you’ll be travelling somewhere else as well. Global eSIMs can be used in 126 countries, Thailand included. The prices range from $9 for 7 days to $89 for year-long validity, calls included.¹¹

DTAC¹²

One of Thailand’s biggest providers has eSIM options along with regular SIMs. Their Happy Tourist eSIMs are good for short trips, with deals made for 8, 10 and 15 day stays. All three have unlimited minutes within the network and additional credit for outside calls.

The 8-day DTAC eSIM costs just over £6.5 and includes 15 GB of max speed data. The middle package has 50 GB for around £7.7, while the 30-day one costs roughly £13 for 30 GB of high speed data.

If being able to make calls freely is important to you, DTAC also has their Happy Infinite eSIMs. Along with unlimited max speed data, they also include unlimited calls to all Thailand networks. The prices are approximately £10 for 8 days, £15 for 15 days and just over £26 for a whole month.

Spend like a local in Thailand with Wise

After looking through the Thai SIM card options ahead of your trip, you might also want to consider how you'll manage your money while on vacation.

The Wise card from the money services provider Wise is a convenient choice. For a one-time cost of just £7, you can spend like a local in Thailand and 150+ more countries. The Wise card has no foreign transaction fees for spending abroad, no hidden fees or margins, and only a small currency conversion fee.

You can get the Wise card by opening a Wise multi-currency account. It’s not a bank account but offers many similar features.

What’s more, you can also make international payments for low fees and mid-market exchange rates. The account supports 40+ currencies, including THB. You can send money to pay for a rental car, accommodation, or the like while still in the UK.

Sign up with Wise today 💰

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Sources used for this article:

1. Phone Travel Wiz - SIM cards in Thailand
2. DTAC - Tourist SIM
3. AIS - SIM & Plans for Tourists
4. TrueMove H - Thailand Tourist SIM
5. eSIM Thailand - Unlimited Data & Calls
6. eSIM Thailand - Fixed Data & Calls
7. eSIM Thailand - Daily Data
8. eSIM Thailand - eSIM Phuket
9. Holafly - Thailand eSIM
10. Airalo - Thailand eSIM
11. Airalo - Global eSIM
12. DTAC - Tourist eSIM

Sources last checked on date: 16-Feb-2024