Sim card in Thailand: Choose the best plan for you

Regardless of whether you want to stay in Thailand for a few weeks or a few years, you probably still want to communicate with your loved ones and use the internet wherever you are. When you are staying in a new country, it is not easy to figure out which package and which company offering mobile services will be the best for you. Fortunately, the Sim card in Thailand can be found virtually anywhere.

Sim or roaming card?

People who go to Thailand only for holidays often choose to roam. I used this option myself during my first stay in the Land of Smile. The bill was not very high and I tried to use calls and the internet only in emergencies. However, I think that it is always much more profitable to buy a local Sim card, which is extremely simple in Thailand.

Before you buy a Sim card in Thailand

Before leaving, check if your phone has a Simlock downloaded. In Thailand, downloading it can be a challenge. In the case of an iPhone it can take up to two weeks!

It is also worth checking which Sim card you will need. Different models have different card sizes. This knowledge will help you communicate in the store and buy a new card.

Sim card in Thailand

Buying a Sim card in Thailand will depend on for how long you intend to stay in the Land of Smiles. Below you will find a brief information about places and offers of mobile telephony in Thailand.

Where can I buy a Sim card in Thailand?

If you only stay in Thailand for a few weeks, the card can be bought at the airport. Often, cell phones deal cards for free. They are only valid for a week or two, but for shorter stays they really pay off.

Are you staying in Thailand for longer? Buy a sim card directly in the store. Representatives of all companies can be found in your local shopping center.

Read about how to open a bank account in Thailand 

How to buy a sim card?

All you need is an ID document. In Thailand, card registration is currently in force. In smaller stores and provinces, service is a bit more flexible when it comes to the law, but it is better to have a passport with you.

Sim cards in Thailand – offers

AIS

• Daily unlimited internet – 19 Baht
• Weekly unlimited internet – 79 – 89 Baht
• Monthly unlimited internet – 488 Baht
• 14 GB – 888 Baht per month

TrueMove

• Daily unlimited internet – 15 Baht
• Weekly internet, depending on consumption – 55-199 Baht
• Monthly internet – 199-899 Baht
• Monthly unlimited internet – 599 Baht

DTAC

• Daily internet depending on consumption – 19 – 49 Baht
• Weekly unlimited internet – 59 Baht
• Monthly internet, depending on consumption – 299 – 799 Baht

Personally, I recommend True. It has the best range and the hottest spots in Thailand. DTAC is very friendly to western expats and offers the best service in English.

How do I top up the sim card?

In the case of DTAC networks, you can do it very easily via the internet or via SMS. However, the other two networks do not have such options in English. For example, the True website, despite having English information, is very difficult to navigate. The best way is to go to 7-11 and ask for top-up (you can simply say “top up phone” or try in Thai: dterm ngern). In most stores, the cash registers have a special device that looks like a credit card reader. You can just write your phone number, pay the right amount, and after a few seconds you will receive a text message confirming the top-up.

Otherwise, the cashier will give you a receipt with a top-up code, which you must send to the number provided by your cellular network. I definitely prefer the first method.