Essential Apps for Thailand

The dominant ride-hailing app across Southeast Asia. Use it for cars, motorbike taxis, and food delivery. Far safer and more transparent than street taxis.

Grab's main competitor — often cheaper, especially in Bangkok. Worth having both installed to compare prices.

Book trains, buses, ferries, and flights between cities and islands. Essential for island-hopping and long-distance travel.

Real-time Bangkok bus tracking. Shows which bus is coming and in how many minutes — transforms the chaos of Bangkok buses.

Electric tuk-tuk sharing service in Bangkok. Eco-friendly, app-based, cheap for short hops in inner Bangkok.

The primary messaging app in Thailand — used by locals, businesses, doctors, and landlords. You will need this to communicate with Thais.

Download the Thai language pack for offline use. The camera translation feature works well on menus and signs.

Headquartered in Bangkok — often has the best prices on Thai hotels, guesthouses, and apartments. Check member prices.

Good for international chains and consistent cancellation policies. Run prices side-by-side with Agoda.

Better for longer stays, houses, and villa rentals in beach destinations.

Wide restaurant coverage across Thailand, including smaller cities. Often runs promotional discount codes.

Part of the Grab super-app — excellent coverage in Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai. Rewards accumulate across transport and food.

Thai app with zero-commission restaurants — restaurants keep more margin so prices are often lower. Supported by SCB bank.

Most widely used by expats and long-term residents. Required for many visa financial proof processes.

Strong mobile app with good English interface. K-Plus app widely praised.

Siam Commercial Bank's app — good for digital transfers and QR code payments.

For international transfers — significantly cheaper than traditional bank wire transfers. Essential for expats receiving overseas income.

AIS has the best 4G/5G coverage in Thailand. Buy an eSIM before you land for immediate connectivity.

Strong in tourist areas and southern islands. Competitive tourist SIM packages.

Third-party eSIM marketplace — compare AIS, True, and DTAC data plans in one place.