Best Thailand eSIM & SIM Cards — Comparison Guide
Staying connected in Thailand is easy and cheap. Tourist SIMs and eSIMs start at ฿300 and give you weeks of high-speed data. Here is how to choose the right option before you land.
Quick Answer
What is the best SIM card for Thailand?
AIS is the top pick for most travellers — best rural and island coverage, solid 4G speeds, and widely available. True Move H is a close second with strong urban performance. Both offer tourist SIMs at airports from ฿299–599. If your phone supports eSIM, buying online before you travel is slightly cheaper and means you have data the moment you land.
Top Providers Compared
| Provider | Coverage | Speed | eSIM | Tourist SIM Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIS | Excellent (rural & islands) | 4G/5G cities | Yes | ฿299–599 |
| True Move H | Very good (urban focus) | 4G/5G cities | Yes | ฿299–599 |
| DTAC | Good (urban areas) | 4G cities | Yes | ฿299–499 |
eSIM vs Physical SIM
eSIM Advantages
- +No physical SIM to lose or swap
- +Buy and activate before you land
- +Keep your home SIM active simultaneously
- +Slightly cheaper from online providers
Physical SIM Advantages
- +Works on any unlocked phone
- +Easy top-up at 7-Eleven and Family Mart
- +Staff set it up for you at airport counters
- +No eSIM-compatible device needed
Airport vs Online Purchase
Physical SIM counters operate in the arrivals halls of Suvarnabhumi (BKK), Don Mueang (DMK), Phuket (HKT), and Chiang Mai (CNX) airports. Staff will register the SIM against your passport, insert it, and verify it is working before you leave — useful if you are unfamiliar with the process.
Online eSIM providers such as Airalo, Holafly, and KnowRoaming offer profiles that activate on arrival. Prices are typically 10–20% cheaper than airport counters. The downside is that you need to set up the eSIM profile yourself — straightforward but requires a few minutes of setup before departure.
Popular Data Plans
| Plan | Duration | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIS Traveller SIM | 8 days | 30 GB (4G) | ฿299 |
| AIS Tourist SIM | 15 days | 50 GB (4G) | ฿399 |
| True Move Tourist SIM | 30 days | 100 GB (4G) | ฿599 |
| AIS Long Stay SIM | 30 days | Unlimited | ฿799 |
| Airalo eSIM (Thailand) | 30 days | 10 GB (4G) | ฿350 |
| Holafly eSIM (Thailand) | 30 days | Unlimited data | ฿900 |
Coverage on Islands
All major Thai islands — Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, Koh Chang, and Koh Lanta — have good 4G coverage from AIS and True Move on the populated coasts. Remote beaches and jungle interiors may have 3G only or no signal. Koh Tao has the weakest coverage of the main diving islands; AIS performs best there.
For the Andaman islands (Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lipe), coverage is patchy. AIS has the best penetration here. Expect occasional dead spots, particularly on the smaller islands and in national marine park areas.
SIM Registration