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Thailand is one of Southeast Asia’s most popular tourist destinations. As you prepare for your trip, it’s important to consider how you’ll stay connected while you’re here. One option that is gaining popularity among travelers is the use of eSIMs. In this article, we’ll take a look at the top 5 Thailand eSIM providers for tourists visiting Thailand. Whether you’re here for business or pleasure, these eSIMs will help ensure that you stay connected and informed during your stay.
The eSIM (embedded SIM) market in Thailand is currently developing. Yet, it is anticipated to expand quickly in the upcoming years. Compared to conventional SIM cards, eSIM technology has several benefits, such as improved security, simpler device activation and switching, and more carrier and data plan flexibility.
A few significant companies, notably AIS, TrueMove H, and dtac, currently control most of the Thai eSIM market. For a few handsets, including the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy, as well as various wearables and IoT devices, these telecom operators provide eSIM services.
The rising demand for connected devices, such as smartwatches, fitness trackers, and other IoT devices, is one of the main factors driving the adoption of eSIM in Thailand. These devices can connect to cellular networks using eSIM technology without requiring a physical SIM card, making it simpler for consumers to activate and maintain their devices.
The popularity of mobile wallets and digital payments is another reason fueling the expansion of the eSIM industry in Thailand. Users may access other digital services and make mobile payments because of eSIM technology’s ability to store payment details securely.
In Thailand, the eSIM market is expected to increase significantly over the next few years due to rising demand for linked devices, digital payments, and more convenient and flexible mobile service management.
You may need to consider many factors to choose the best eSIM plans for your Thailand trips. These factors are often mentioned in the product descriptions.
Look for an eSIM provider offering good network coverage in the areas you’ll visit. This will ensure a reliable connection for making calls, sending messages, and accessing the internet.
While choosing an eSIM provider, consider the network speed, especially if you want to use data-intensive activities like online gaming or streaming video.
Tips: The speed may depend on the network coverage. You may need to check your destination and coverage map before purchasing an eSIM.
In order to get the greatest deal, look for an eSIM provider that provides data packages that correspond to your need. Make careful to confirm whether the data packages offer limitless data or impose use limitations.
Examine the eSIM activation process’ simplicity and any associated costs or requirements. Choose an eSIM vendor who offers a simple and hassle-free activation procedure.
If you want to use the eSIM for a long time, look for an eSIM provider with excellent customer service. Take into account elements like accessibility, response speed, and the standard of service offered.
eSIM seems to be the best option for travelers to stay connected when visiting Thailand. You can refer to some eSIM plans from different providers to get the best plans for your trip.
ThailandeSIM.com is one of the leading eSIM providers offering tourist eSIM for travelers to Thailand.
It’s one of the projects of GIGAGO, the top eSIM service provider in Vietnam. They provide eSIM as a digital service, giving visitors to Thailand a simple and practical method to stay connected while visiting the Land of Smiles.
You’ll want to be connected the entire time you’re traveling, whether you’re seeing the energetic city of Bangkok, visiting the historic ruins of Ayutthaya, or relaxing on the stunning beaches of Phuket. And Thailand eSIM is here to help; they’ve got you covered.
Below are some eSIM plans from ThailandeSIM that you can refer to:
Features | THAI 15GB – 8D Ultd | THAI 30GB – 15D Ultd | ASIA – 8 countries | GO Inter 6GB – 10D Ultd | Thailand local eSIM | Sing Malay Thai Indo Cam (1) |
Types | Prepaid data & voice | Prepaid data & voice | Data only | Prepaid data & voice | Data only | Data only |
Data | Unlimited (15GB at MAX Speed) | Unlimited (30GB at MAX Speed) | 500MB/day, 3GB-10GB | Unlimited (6GB at MAX Speed) | 3-50GB total / 1-3GB daily | 3-50GB total / 1-3GB daily |
Validity | 8 days | 15 days | 5-30 days | 10 days | 3-7 days | 5-30 days |
Price | $8.90 | $17.90 | $7.5 – $25.4 | $11.90 | $4.9-$70 | $5.00 – $89.50 |
Network operator | DTAC | DTAC | Varies by destination (2) | Varies by destination | Varies by destination | Varies by destination |
Coverage | Thailand | Thailand | 8 Asian countries including Thailand | Asia, Australia, USA | Thailand and 7 other countries (3) | Thailand and 7 other countries |
Speed | 4G/5G + 384kbps after max speed | 4G/5G + 384kbps after max speed | 3G/4G + 128kbps max speed | 4G/5G + 384kbps after max speed | 4G/5G | 4G/5G |
Phone number | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
Calls & Messages | 15 Baht credit + Unlimited calls among DTAC network | 15 Baht credit + Unlimited calls among DTAC network | No | Call Thailand while abroad from 6 Baht/minFREE call to DTAC call center | No | No |
Top up | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Hotspot | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Activation | When connecting to Thailand networks | When connecting to Thailand networks | After installtion | When connecting to Thailand networks | After installation | After installation |
Waiting validity after payment (4) | 12 months | 12 months | 30 days | 12 months | 30 days | 30 days |
Bonus features | FREE chat within 5 apps (5) | FREE chat within 5 apps | No | 6 hoursFREE unlimited data in Thailand | No | No |
Notes:
(1) The multi countries plans are divided into several plans like Singapore-Thailand, Malaysia – Thailand, Singapore – Malaysia – Thailand, Thailand – Vietnam – Cambodia, Singapore – Malaysia – Indonesia – Thailand, Singapore – Malaysia – Thailand- Indonesia – Cambodia,…
(2) Network by country: Celcom/Digi (Malaysia), Starhub (Singapore), DTAC (Thailand), Excelcom (Indonesia), Viettel (Vietnam), Smart/Metfone(Campuchia), Telenor (Hongkong), and SKT (Seoul).
(3) Coverage areas: Thailand, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam.
(4) Waiting validity is the validity you can activate the eSIM plan from the time the QR code is generated after the payment. For example, 30 days waiting validity means you have 30 days to scan the QR code and activate eSIM after payment.
(5) 5 Free chat apps include:
Holafly is also a big name as an eSIM provider. Holafly offers Unlimited data plans with different validity. All Thailand eSIM plans from Holafly include:
And below are the prices of each eSIM plan:
eSIM plans | Prices |
5 days | 19.00 USD |
7 days | 27.00 USD |
10 days | 34.00 USD |
15 days | 47.00 USD |
20 days | 54.00 USD |
30 days | 64.00 USD |
60 days | 84.00 USD |
90 days | 99.00 USD |
Tips: If you are a heavy-data user, you can choose Holafly for unlimited data plans. Almost all eSIM plans from Holafly are unlimited.
Airalo is also a reputable eSIM provider that offers Thailand eSIM plans for tourists.
Airalo currently only provides the dtac 8 days and dtac 15 days Thailand eSIM plans. These eSIM plans cost a little more, but they offer the same advantages as the two eSIM plans from ThailandeSIM.com mentioned above. The similarity may be seen clearly below:
Features | Dtac 8 days | Dtac 15 days |
Types | Prepaid data & voice | Prepaid data & voice |
Data | Unlimited (15GB at MAX Speed) | Unlimited (30GB at MAX Speed) |
Validity | 8 days | 15 days |
Price | $9.90 | $19.95 |
Network operator | DTAC | DTAC |
Coverage | Thailand | Thailand |
Speed | 4G/5G + 384kbps after max speed | 4G/5G + 384kbps after max speed |
Phone number | Yes | Yes |
Calls & Messages | 15 Baht credit | 15 Baht credit |
Top up | No | No |
Hotspot | Yes | Yes |
Activation | After installation | After installation |
Waiting validity after payment* | 12 months | 12 months |
Bonus features | FREE chat within 5 apps | FREE chat within 5 apps |
* Update: May 2023
As you can see, Airalo’s plans have the same benefits as the Thailand eSIM plans on ThailandeSIM.com. However, the prices on ThailandeSIM.com are lower than Airalo, from $1 to $2.5. So, if you prefer the optimized prices, you can consider ThailandeSIM.com as the alternative.
The well-known travel SIM card brand SIM2Fly is provided by the Thai cellular provider AIS (Advanced Info Service). Travelers visiting Thailand may choose from various internet, phone, and text messaging packages offered at competitive costs using SIM2Fly SIM cards and eSIM.
One of SIM2Fly SIM cards’ main advantages is that they are simple to activate and top up online, which makes them a practical choice for travelers who want to stay connected while visiting Thailand.
For tourists, you can refer to some eSIM plans from SIM2Fly as below:
eSIM Plans | DTAC Tourist eSIM | 6GB Asia Plan | Global 6GB Plan |
Types | Prepaid data & voice | Prepaid data & voice | Prepaid data & voice |
Data | Unlimited (15GB at MAX Speed) | Unlimited (6GB at MAX Speed) | Unlimited (30GB at MAX Speed) |
Validity | 8 days | 8 days | 15 days |
Price | $9.80 | $16.00 | $33.00 |
Network operator | DTAC | AIS | AIS |
Coverage | Thailand | Thailand and other 34 Asian countries | Thailand and 140 countries |
Speed | 4G/5G + 384kbps after max speed | 4G/5G + 384kbps after max speed | 4G/5G + 128kbps after max speed |
Phone number | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Calls & Messages | 15 Baht credit + Unlimited calls among DTAC network | Yes | Yes |
Activation | When connecting to SIM2Fly supported countries | When connecting to SIM2Fly supported countries | When connecting to SIM2Fly supported countries |
Waiting validity after payment* | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months |
Bonus features | FREE chat within 5 apps | Free to call 24/7 AIS help center: +6622719000 | Free to call – 24/7 AIS help center : +6622719000 |
* Update: May 2023
SIMoptions is another name among the top Thailand eSIM providers. With offices in Paris (France), Bangkok (Thailand), and Hong Kong, it is one of the largest markets for worldwide Prepaid SIM Cards & eSIMs. International tourists have the option to use local Prepaid Sim Card packages to completely avoid paying roaming fees thanks to SimOptions. The greatest online store for international prepaid SIM cards is SimOptions.
SIMoptions is currently offering 4 packages for Thailand travel. You can refer to the table below:
Plans | Happy Tourist 8 Days | Happy Tourist 15 Days | 30-Day Pass APAC 4GB | 30-Day Pass APAC 8GB |
Types | Prepaid data & voice | Prepaid data & voice | Data only | Prepaid data & voice |
Data | Unlimited (15GB at MAX Speed) | Unlimited (30GB at MAX Speed) | 4GB | 8GB |
Validity | 8 days | 15 days | 30 days | 30 days |
Price | $9.90 | $17.90 | $24.90 | $34.90 |
Network operator | DTAC | DTAC | Three HK | Three HK |
Coverage | Thailand | Thailand | Thailand and 24 other countries | Thailand and 24 other countries |
Speed | 4G/5G + 384kbps after max speed | 4G/5G + 384kbps after max speed | 3G/4G + 128kbps max speed | 3G/4G + 128kbps max speed |
Phone number | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Calls & Messages | 15 Baht credit + Unlimited calls among DTAC network | 15 Baht credit + Unlimited calls among DTAC network | No | No |
Top up | No | No | No | No |
Hotspot | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Activation | When connecting to Thailand networks | When connecting to Thailand networks | After installation | After installation |
Waiting validity after payment* | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months |
* Updated May 2023
The quick comparison below will help you choose the best Thailand eSIM provider for your trip to Thailand.
Plans | ThailandeSIM.com | Holafly eSIM | Airalo | SIM2Fly | SIMoptions |
Types | Prepaid data & voice | Prepaid data only | Prepaid data & voice | Prepaid data & voice | Prepaid data & voice |
Data | – Unlimited (15GB – 30GB at MAX Speed) – 1GB-3GB daily – 3GB-50GB total | Unlimited | Unlimited (15GB – 30GB at MAX Speed) | Unlimited (6GB-30GB at max speed) | – Unlimited (15GB – 30GB at MAX Speed) – 4GB-8GB |
Validity | 3-30 days | 5-90 days | 8 and 15 days | 8 and 15 days | 8-30 days |
Price | $5 – $89 | $19 – $99 | $24.90 | $9.8 – $33 | $9.9 – $34.9 |
Network operator | DTAC and more | TrueMove / DTAC | DTAC | AIS / DTAC | DTAC / Three HK |
Coverage | Thailand and other 7 countries | Thailand | Thailand | Thailand and 140 countries | Thailand and 24 other countries |
Speed | LTE/4G/5G + 384kbps after max speed | 4G / LTE | 4G/5G + 384kbps after max speed | 4G/5G | 3G/4G + 128kbps max speed |
Top up | Available for some plans | No | No | No | No |
Hotspot | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Customer support | 5 minutes – 1 hours | 5 minutes – 2 hours | 1 – 2 hours | 1 – 2 hours | 1 – 2 hours |
There are also some pros and cons of each Thailand eSIM providers that you may need to know:
ThailandeSIM.com pros and cons:
Pros | Cons |
– Compared to other provviders, it offers the largest variety of eSIM plans (13 packages), including packages just for Thailand and packages for the entire area that include Thailand. – Each eSIM package comes with a variety of options for clients, ranging from data volume to the number of days of usage, making it appropriate for most customer requirements. – Utilizes the DTAC network, one of Thailand’s top 3 networks, and offers competitive pricing compared to other service providers in the market. – Installation and activation are quick and simple, taking only a few minutes. – Allowing tethering and hotspot Top up. – English, Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese are among the numerous languages in which local phone numbers 24/7 customer assistance is offered. | – A new brand that hasn’t gained any traction in the marketplace (since 2022) – Offers only bundles for Thailand and a few other Asian nations. |
Holafly pros and cons:
Pros | Cons |
– Unlimited data, but only a limited quantity at high speed (384 kbps is the left’s speed cap). – A well-known company with a lot of market experience (since 2018). – Stable connections in Thailand’s most well-known locations. – Uses many network providers; therefore it is more important to be connected while visiting Thailand constantly. – Bilingual customer service. | – Higher prices than Thailandesim and Airalo – No hotspot/tethering and top-up – Support seems to be the slowest in compared with Airalo and Thailandesim.com – Lack of a local phone number |
Airalo pros and cons:
Pros | Cons |
– A respectable company with several years of industry experience (as of 2019). – Steady speed in Thailand’s most well-known locations. – With Airalo’s eSIM packages available solely in Thailand, calling credits are included. – Utilizes DTAC’s network, a leading service provider in Thailand. – Convenient app with easy use. | – There are few alternatives available to clients because the majority of programs are long-term. – Pricey compared to Holafly, but less expensive than Thailandesim. – No top-up, no tethering or hotspot. – Customer support and slow response. |
SIM2Fly pros and cons:
Pros | Cons |
– Provide eSIM plans with high access speed and a large amount of data. – Used both eSIM and physical SIM at the same time. Both SIMs can make and receive calls. | – Limited data plan options |
SIMoptions pros and cons:
Pros | Cons |
– Prepaid traditional SIM cards and eSIM packages are available for every need. – Offers eSIM plans from different service providers, giving you more choices. – Good price, suitable for short trips. | – Global eSIM packages are not available. – Roaming plans are quite expensive |
Based on these comparisons, hope you can choose the right eSIM plans for your Thailand trip. To summarize, you can refer to some advice below:
In conclusion, staying connected while traveling in Thailand is essential, and eSIMs offer a convenient and flexible solution for doing so. From network coverage to speed, data packages, pricing, activation process, and customer support, there are several factors to consider when choosing the right eSIM provider for your travel needs.
We have reviewed the top 5 eSIM options for Thailand tourists. Each eSIM provider offers unique features and benefits, and choosing the right one depends on your specific requirements. Considering the factors mentioned, you can select the best eSIM provider to stay connected and make the most of your travels in Thailand.