Thailand is one of the most eSIM-friendly travel destinations in the world. The biggest advantage over a local SIM at the airport: no registration bureaucracy. While you have to show passport and visa stamp for a Thai prepaid SIM, you activate a travel eSIM in two minutes — directly after landing at Phuket or Suvarnabhumi airport.
AIS and True Corporation — Thailand's 2 big carriers
Thailand historically had three mobile carriers — since the dtac/TrueMove merger (March 2023) only two big players remain, together covering more than 95% of the population. Which network your travel eSIM uses depends on the provider:
| Network | Market share | 5G coverage | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIS | ~44% | Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui | Best overall coverage in Thailand, including the islands |
| True Corporation (formerly TrueMove H + dtac) | ~55% | Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai | Market leader since the 2023 merger, often the cheapest roaming deals for travel eSIMs |
AIS — the heavyweight
AIS (Advanced Info Service) is the market leader with the broadest coverage. In Bangkok and all tourist hubs, 5G is rolled out blanket-style; on the islands Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Phi Phi it's also reliable. International travel eSIMs like Airalo, Saily and Yesim use AIS as the roaming partner by default — anyone wanting maximum coverage practically always lands here.
TrueMove H — often the price leader
TrueMove H is the second-largest brand and often the best price for local tourist SIMs. 5G is well rolled out in Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya, weaker in Isaan (northeast Thailand). Travel eSIMs from Holafly, Simbye and some MobiMatter plans use TrueMove — also no restrictions for tourist hotspots here.
dtac — winding down
Since the merger with TrueMove (2023), the dtac network has been gradually integrated into TrueMove H. Meaning: if your eSIM displays "dtac", you're technically already on the TrueMove network anyway. For travelers this makes no practical difference — 4G/5G performance is identical to TrueMove H.
Current plans for Thailand
From our current provider database — sorted by price per gigabyte:
| Provider | Data | Validity | Price | €/GB | 5G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best €/GB | 500 GB | 30 days | 25,50 € | 0,05 € | — | Visit deal → |
 | 35 GB | 7 days | 3,66 € | 0,10 €+105 % | ✓ | Visit deal → |
| 35 GB | 7 days | 4,06 € | 0,12 €+127 % | ✓ | Visit deal → |
 | 50 GB | 10 days | 6,86 € | 0,14 €+169 % | — | Visit deal → |
 | 50 GB | 10 days | 7,29 € | 0,15 €+186 % | ✓ | Visit deal → |
 | 50 GB | 10 days | 7,68 € | 0,15 €+201 % | ✓ | Visit deal → |
| 50 GB | 10 days | 7,70 € | 0,15 €+202 % | — | Visit deal → |
| 80 GB | 10 days | 13,73 € | 0,17 €+237 % | ✓ | Visit deal → |
| 50 GB | 10 days | 10,30 € | 0,21 €+304 % | — | Visit deal → |
| 30 GB | 10 days | 7,08 € | 0,24 €+363 % | ✓ | Visit deal → |
Bangkok, islands, the north — coverage differences
Bangkok & surroundings: Seamless 4G/5G coverage. AIS and TrueMove H compete aggressively for speed in the capital. Even in BTS stations (skytrain) and MRT (subway) there are repeaters. Streaming, video calls, fast uploads work everywhere.
Phuket / Krabi / Koh Samui: Tourist zones very well served, 4G everywhere, partial 5G. Beaches and resort complexes blanket-covered. On hilltops and cave tours (e. g. Phang Nga Bay) occasional dropouts.
Koh Phi Phi / Koh Tao / Koh Lanta: AIS and TrueMove cover the main piers and beaches well. For dive boats and remote bays, expect dead spots.
Chiang Mai / north: Good in Chiang Mai city and Pai. In Doi Inthanon National Park and on trekking routes through the backcountry (Mae Hong Son Loop) regular dropouts — that's normal, local cards have no signal there either. Use offline maps.
South & border areas (Yala, Pattani): Partial mobile restrictions due to political unrest. Heed travel advisories from your foreign ministry.
Which plan for which Thailand trip?
| Trip type | Recommendation | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend in Bangkok | Simbye 3 GB / 7 days | around €6 |
| 2 weeks beach holiday Phuket / Koh Samui | Simbye or Airalo 5 GB / 15 days | €8–10 |
| 3-week backpacker through Thailand | Airalo 10 GB / 30 days | €13–18 |
| Multiple Southeast-Asia countries (backpacker tour) | Airalo Asialink 10 GB / 30 days | around €29 |
| Heavy user / streamer | Holafly Unlimited 15 days | around €47 |
| Family with hotspot for the iPad | Simbye 20 GB / 30 days | around €28 |
Common questions about eSIMs in Thailand
Which Thai network is best?
AIS (Advanced Info Service) has the best overall coverage and 5G reach — including the islands (Koh Phi Phi, Koh Tao). TrueMove H is competitive in Bangkok and tourist areas, often a bit cheaper for roaming. dtac was the third-largest provider, but since March 2023 it has been absorbed into True Corporation — the brand still exists in roaming, but technically it's TrueMove H. Travel eSIMs typically use AIS or TrueMove as the roaming partner. Both are easily enough for standard tourist locations.
Does a travel eSIM also work on the islands?
Yes, on most tourist islands Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Tao, Koh Lanta coverage is good to very good. Even on Koh Lipe data reception is possible. Weaker: Similan Islands (national park, often no signal), remote bays (e. g. Maya Bay), mountain regions in the north (Doi Inthanon, Pai backcountry). Plan offline maps for hiking trips.
Do I need to register a SIM in Thailand?
For local Thai SIMs yes — since 2017 you've had to show your passport + visa stamp when buying a Thai prepaid SIM. Takes 5–15 minutes at the airport. For travel eSIMs (Airalo, Simbye, Holafly): no. They run via foreign roaming partners and aren't subject to Thai registration. That's one of the main advantages of travel eSIMs over local cards.
How much data do I need for 2 weeks in Thailand?
For moderate tourist use (maps, photo uploads, WhatsApp, some streaming in the evening): 5–10 GB are usually plenty. Example: maps 1 h/day = 70 MB, WhatsApp 2 h = 10 MB, Instagram 1 h = 150 MB, occasional streaming = 500 MB → around 700 MB/day. Over 14 days that's 10 GB. Heavy users (daily Netflix, lots of hotspot) should take 20 GB or unlimited. More precisely: data calculator.
What does a travel eSIM for Thailand cost?
Concrete examples as of Q1 2026: 3 GB / 15 days: from €5.50 (Simbye), 5 GB / 15 days: from €8, 10 GB / 30 days: from €14, Unlimited 7 days: from €27 (Holafly, with fair use), Unlimited 30 days: around €60. A local Thai tourist SIM at the airport costs 299–599 THB (€8–17) for 5–15 GB / 15 days — comparable, but registration required.
Does a travel eSIM work in the Bangkok BTS/MRT underground?
Most Bangkok BTS and MRT stations have 4G repeaters — reception works at least sporadically while moving. In the tunnels between stations the signal often drops, then comes back at the station. Practical tip: BTS/MRT offer free Wi-Fi you can use for short WhatsApp messages if your eSIM connection wobbles.
What about 5G in Thailand?
Thailand has been rolling out 5G since 2020 in Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai — AIS and TrueMove are the driving forces. Speeds in Bangkok: 200–400 Mbit/s realistic. Outside the big cities 5G coverage is still patchy (as of Q1 2026), 4G/LTE remains standard there at 30–80 Mbit/s. For travel eSIMs, 5G must be explicitly included in the plan — check the spec sheet.
Can I use the eSIM for Bangkok phone calls (hotel, reservations)?
Standard travel eSIMs are data-only — no phone number of their own, no SMS, no outgoing voice calls over the telephone network. Workaround: voice/video calls over WhatsApp or Line (Line is more common in Thailand than WhatsApp). Hotels and restaurants usually accept WhatsApp reservations. If you really need a Thai phone number (banking, apps): add a local tourist SIM (€8–17) at the airport.
