Thailand SIM Card for Tourists: Prices & Where to Buy
A Thailand SIM card for tourists is a practical choice when you need a Thai phone number, traditional calls, or in-store setup. If you only need mobile data and would rather be connected as soon as you land, a travel eSIM can be simpler: buy it before departure, keep your home SIM in place, and skip the airport registration queue.
Quick answer: which option should you choose?
Local tourist SIM
Choose this when you need a Thai number, conventional calls, or staff to install and test the service.
Operator eSIM
Choose an AIS or True-dtac tourist package without a removable card, while completing the operator’s identity process.
Travel data eSIM
Choose this when data is enough and you want to keep your home SIM installed. Ezigo Thailand plans do not include a Thai number.
Do you need a SIM card in Thailand?
You need reliable mobile data in Thailand, but you may not need a physical SIM card. Google Maps, Grab, Bolt, LINE, WhatsApp, translation apps, transport bookings, and hotel messages all work over data. The real decision is whether you also need a Thai mobile number.
A local tourist SIM is useful when you expect to make conventional local calls, want a local number for businesses that prefer phone contact, or want a shop employee to complete registration and setup. A travel eSIM suits visitors who mainly use app-based calls and messages and want internet ready before leaving the airport.
If you are still comparing every connection method, read how to get internet in Thailand. That guide covers local SIMs, eSIMs, roaming, and Pocket WiFi; this article goes deeper into tourist SIM cards and buying decisions.
If you already know you want a travel eSIM and are comparing providers, plans, and networks instead, use the separate best eSIM for Thailand guide.
What to check before buying a Thailand tourist SIM
For WhatsApp, you can normally keep using the number already registered to your account. You do not need to change the WhatsApp number merely because mobile data comes from another SIM. If you leave your home line enabled for calls or SMS, check its roaming charges.
Maps and messages are relatively light; streaming, cloud photo uploads, video calls, and laptop tethering change the calculation quickly. Use the separate guide to estimate how much data you need in Thailand.
AIS vs True-dtac tourist SIM cards
Tourists will mainly encounter AIS and the True/dtac brands. TrueMove H and dtac are now presented under True Corporation, although their names and plan benefits may still appear separately. Treat “AIS vs True vs dtac” as a comparison of current retail offers, not three permanently separate corporate networks.
Official prices rechecked October 8, 2026| Provider | Selected tourist offers checked | Calls and number | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIS Lucky Tourist SIM/eSIM |
| Local number. Multi-day plans list free calls within AIS plus ฿100 credit for other Thai networks and specified international calls. | A broad set of validity periods and both physical SIM/eSIM buying routes. |
| True-dtac Tourist SIM/eSIM |
| Benefits vary. Infinite packages include local-call benefits; the 10-day data-only plan restricts outgoing voice except listed service and emergency numbers. | Visitors comparing a data-only local plan with packages that include more calling benefits. |
Which network is best for Thailand tourists?
There is no responsible one-word answer for every itinerary. AIS and True-dtac both publish tourist products for major Thai destinations. Actual performance depends on the exact island, rural road, building, device bands, congestion, and whether the plan receives 4G or 5G access.
- Check the operator’s live coverage map for the least urban part of your itinerary.
- Confirm the high-speed allowance, validity, hotspot rules, and voice benefits.
- Prefer a validity period that covers the whole trip without an avoidable extension.
- If two offers still look equal, choose the easier official sales channel or clearer support route.
Where to buy a SIM card in Thailand
The best place to buy depends on whether you value immediate setup, plan choice, or preparing before departure.
Airport counters
Official staff can check your passport, register the SIM, install it, and test mobile data. AIS lists BKK, DMK, HKT, CNX, Samui, Chiang Rai, and Hat Yai airport sales points. Compare the displayed package with the official website and allow for queues.
Operator stores
AIS and True-dtac shops can explain current packages and help when registration or activation fails. Use the official store locator rather than handing a passport to an unverified street seller.
Convenience stores
Starter packs and top-ups may be available, but stock, eligible plans, registration equipment, and staff assistance vary. If the branch cannot register a foreign passport, visit an operator store.
Online eSIM
A local operator eSIM keeps local-plan features but still follows local identity rules. A travel data eSIM is simpler when you do not need a Thai number.
Ezigo Thailand plans currently include fixed Total data, one-day Daily data, and Unlimited options. Fixed and Daily plans use AIS and DTAC access; Unlimited plans list DTAC connectivity. The service is data-only, supports hotspot sharing, and delivers the QR code by email. Check Thailand eSIM plans and device compatibility before purchase.
Thailand SIM card registration rules for tourists
A local Thai tourist SIM must be registered with a valid passport. In June 2025, Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) announced measures limiting foreign nationals to no more than three mobile numbers per person per mobile operator and limiting tourist SIM use to 60 days. Continued use after that period requires identity verification again.
True-dtac’s published self-registration process includes scanning the SIM barcode, scanning the passport, completing face verification, reviewing the details, and accepting the terms.
- Buy from an official or clearly authorized seller.
- Keep the packaging and receipt until the service works.
- Check the registered number, validity, and balance before leaving.
- Do not send passport images to an informal seller through a personal chat account.
Ezigo states that its Thailand data eSIM does not require passport submission or eKYC. The product is data-only and does not issue a native Thai phone number.
Physical SIM vs local eSIM vs travel eSIM in Thailand
The SIM format is only one part of the decision. A local operator eSIM can carry many of the same number, call, and registration features as its physical equivalent; a travel eSIM is usually designed around data and pre-trip convenience.
| Decision point | Physical tourist SIM | Local operator eSIM | Travel data eSIM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buy before departure | Sometimes through resellers | Often possible online | Yes |
| Needs eSIM-compatible phone | No | Yes | Yes |
| Needs unlocked phone | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Passport/identity process | Yes | Yes for a local Thai tourist service | Provider-specific; Ezigo Thailand states no passport/eKYC |
| Thai phone number | Usually | Usually, depending on package | No on Ezigo Thailand plans |
| Calls and SMS | Plan-specific | Plan-specific | Data apps only on Ezigo Thailand plans |
| Keep home SIM installed | No on a single-slot phone | Yes on compatible dual-SIM devices | Yes on compatible dual-SIM devices |
| Best fit | Local number or assisted setup | Local operator package without plastic | Data ready before arrival |
Which Thailand SIM option fits your trip?
3–7 day city break
Use a travel eSIM for maps and rides from landing, or an airport tourist SIM when the phone lacks eSIM support or you want staff setup.
10–30 day holiday
Compare full-trip validity and cost. Choose a local SIM for calls and a Thai number; choose a travel eSIM when data and keeping the home SIM matter more.
Remote work or heavy hotspot
Check high-speed allowances, fair-use limits, hotspot terms, and coverage at the accommodation. Keep Wi-Fi as a backup for critical calls and large uploads.
Need a Thai number
Choose a local AIS or True-dtac tourist SIM/eSIM whose voice terms match your needs. A data-only travel eSIM cannot replace a Thai number.
Family or several devices
One hotspot plan can cover light shared use, but it drains the host phone and fails if the group separates. Separate plans may be more practical.
Multi-country Southeast Asia trip
Compare a regional eSIM with buying another local SIM at each border. Decide whether you need local numbers in more than one country.
Frequently asked questions
Can foreigners buy a SIM card in Thailand?
Yes. Foreign tourists can buy local prepaid tourist SIMs, but the number must be registered with a valid passport. Current NBTC measures limit foreign nationals to three mobile numbers per person per operator.
How much does a tourist SIM card cost in Thailand?
The selected official offers checked for this guide run from ฿349 for a True-dtac 10-day data-only tourist plan to ฿1,599 for a 60-day AIS package. AIS also lists a ฿49 one-day 1GB option. Prices and benefits can change.
Is AIS or True-dtac better for tourists?
Both sell dedicated tourist plans. Choose according to coverage at your least urban destination, validity, local-call benefits, hotspot terms, and the official price available on your travel date.
Is it better to buy a SIM at the airport or at 7-Eleven?
The airport is better for immediate assistance and a tested connection. Convenience-store stock and foreign-passport registration support vary. An official operator store is the safer fallback when registration needs help.
Does a Thailand tourist SIM include a phone number?
Local operator tourist SIMs usually issue a Thai number, but voice and SMS allowances differ. Some local data-only plans restrict outgoing voice. Ezigo’s Thailand travel eSIM is data-only and does not issue a Thai number.
Can I keep WhatsApp on my old number?
Usually, yes. WhatsApp remains linked to the number already registered unless you change it inside the app. Your home carrier may still charge for conventional calls, outgoing SMS, or roaming data.
Can I use a hotspot with a Thailand SIM or eSIM?
Often, but not universally. Check the selected package and fair-use terms. Ezigo currently lists hotspot support for its Thailand eSIM plans.
Can I buy and install a Thailand eSIM before I travel?
Yes, if the phone is carrier-unlocked and eSIM-compatible. Install over stable Wi-Fi, then follow the plan’s activation timing. See the eSIM installation guide before departure.
Final recommendation
The best Thailand SIM card for tourists is the one that matches the service you actually need. Choose a local AIS or True-dtac tourist SIM when a Thai number, conventional calls, or in-person setup matters. Choose a travel eSIM when data is enough and preparing before the flight is more valuable than having a local number.
Before checkout, confirm device compatibility, validity, high-speed data, hotspot terms, and the activation rule.
Compare Thailand eSIM plans before you fly
Choose fixed Total data, a one-day Daily allowance, or an Unlimited plan, then receive the QR code by email.
View Thailand eSIM plansHigh-speed data, wherever your journey leads
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