Thailand eSIM
- First 3 GB every day at full speed
- Then 1 Mbps: maps, chats and music keep going
- Never cut off
Every data pack lasts 30 days, whatever your trip length.
Apple Pay, Google Pay or card. No account or password needed. Your eSIM shows on the next screen and by email.
- NetworksTrueMove H (5G), DTAC (5G)
- Speed5G where there's 5G coverage and your phone supports it. Otherwise 4G.
- StartsWhen it first connects in Thailand. Install it any time up to 180 days before.
- Data onlyNo phone number. WhatsApp, iMessage and FaceTime keep working on your usual number over data.
- Top upFrom My eSIMs, onto the same eSIM. Nothing to reinstall.
- Your phoneNeeds to be unlocked and eSIM-capable: iPhone XS or newer, Pixel 3 or newer, Galaxy S20 or newer, and most 2020+ flagships. Check yours.
Which Thailand plan do I need?
Rough guide only: many travellers use 3 to 7 GB a week for maps, messages and some social media. Video, video calls and hotspot use much more.
- Maps, messages, a few photos
- 7-day trip3 GB pack, lasts 30 daysPick this plan
- 14-day trip10 GB pack, lasts 30 daysPick this plan
- Plus social media and the odd video call
- 7-day trip10 GB pack, lasts 30 daysPick this plan
- 14-day trip20 GB pack, lasts 30 daysPick this plan
- Streaming, video calls, hotspot every day
- 7-day tripUnlimited: 3 GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps · 7 daysPick this plan
- 14-day tripUnlimited: 3 GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps · 15 daysPick this plan
Picked too small? Top up onto the same eSIM from My eSIMs. Nothing to reinstall.
Networks and coverage in Thailand
Your eSIM can connect to TrueMove H (5G), DTAC (5G). Your phone uses whichever it finds. 5G where there's 5G coverage and your phone supports it. Otherwise 4G.
Real speed depends on the local network, how busy it is and your signal. Why 5G or 4G
How to set up your Thailand eSIM before you fly
- Check your phone. It needs eSIM and no carrier lock. Dial *#06#: if you see an EID, it supports eSIM. Phone check
- Install at home, on Wi-Fi. Any time up to 180 days before. Your days don't start until it first connects in Thailand.
- When you land, switch the kimsim line on and turn on Data Roaming for it. You won't be charged roaming: kimsim is prepaid. Keep roaming off on your home line.
- Make kimsim your mobile data line. Your home number stays on for calls and texts.
Step by step: iPhone · Android · Samsung · Pixel
Stuck? Don't delete it. Restart your phone first.
Good to know: Thailand
Thailand is easy to stay connected in, as long as you're set up before the immigration queue. Rides, food and ferry tickets all live on your phone here.
What a week of data costs in Thailand
Prices for 7 days of data, checked on 1 November 2026. Home-network passes charge each day you use the phone abroad, per phone.
| Option | Price for 7 days | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Vodafone UK, pay monthly, no roaming included | £56 (£8 a day) | Your usual allowance, outside the UK and Europe zones |
| O2 Travel Bolt On (UK, pay monthly) | £49 (£7 a day) | Data, calls and texts; data capped at 2 Mbps |
| Verizon TravelPass (US) | $84 ($12 a day) | 5 GB at high speed a day |
| Telstra International Day Pass (Australia) | A$70 (A$10 a day) | 2 GB a day |
| True-dtac Tourist Infinite SIM, bought on arrival | ฿499 for 8 days | Unlimited data; passport registration, queue on arrival |
| kimsim Thailand Unlimited, 7 days | See the 7-day price in the plan picker above | 3 GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps; installed before you fly |
For a family of four on Verizon, that's $336 for one week. Daily passes also start when an app refreshes in the background, so a "quiet" day still counts.
Landing at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang or Phuket
Most long-haul flights land at Suvarnabhumi (BKK); many regional and budget flights use Don Mueang (DMK). Phuket (HKT) and Chiang Mai (CNX) also take international flights. Signal is strong in all four terminals, so the moment to switch on the kimsim line is when the wheels touch down, not at the taxi rank.
Airport Wi-Fi exists but can ask you to sign up first, so don't plan on it for the first Grab of the trip.
At Suvarnabhumi, in order: switch the kimsim line on and turn Data Roaming on for it while you taxi to the gate. Through immigration, collect your bags, and you'll pass the SIM counters in the arrivals hall: with your eSIM already working, you can walk straight past. The Airport Rail Link to the city leaves from the basement, and the public taxi rank is on the ground floor. Ride-hailing pickups follow their own signs, so book your Grab once you're through customs and follow the app's pickup point.
Networks and coverage
Thailand has two big private operators: AIS and True Corporation, which merged with DTAC in 2023. You may see TrueMove H or dtac as the network name, which is the same group. A third, state-owned operator, NT (National Telecom), was formed in 2021 from CAT Telecom and TOT. The networks your plan uses are listed above.
Coverage is generally strong in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya and the main towns on the tourist islands. Expect it to thin out on the water between islands, in national parks such as Khao Sok, and on mountain roads in the far north.
Island by island
- Phuket, Koh Samui and Pattaya: busy, built-up and well covered in towns, on main beaches and at piers.
- Koh Phangan and Koh Tao: fine in the main villages and resort areas; quieter bays and viewpoints can drop to weak signal.
- Koh Phi Phi and Krabi's Railay: usable in the villages; expect it to come and go on boat trips and around the cliffs.
- Smaller and far-flung islands (Koh Lipe, Koh Kood, Koh Mook and others): patchier. Plan to be offline for stretches and save what you need first.
This is general guidance, not a coverage map. If your plan offers more than one network and one is weak where you're staying, switch network by hand.
Trains, buses and boats
Ferries and longtails between islands are where signal gaps are most common, and speedboats can be far from any mast. Overnight trains and buses to Chiang Mai, Surat Thani or the south have long stretches in the countryside: download tickets, hotel details and offline maps before you board.
Going on to Cambodia? The land border crossings between Thailand and Cambodia are suspended, says the UK Foreign Office, so plan to fly between the two. A Thailand plan works in Thailand only: for both countries, see how regional plans work or buy a Cambodia eSIM.
Apps worth having
- Grab covers rides, food (GrabFood) and deliveries across the country. Bolt runs rides in Bangkok. Set both up at home: sign-up can send a text code to your usual number.
- LINE is how hotels, tour operators and many shops message you. Install and log in before you leave.
- Thai QR payments (PromptPay) are everywhere, and paying with them usually needs a Thai bank or e-wallet account. Carry some cash for street food and markets.
- Download Google Maps offline areas for the islands you'll visit.
SIM rules
Since May 2026, foreigners buying a Thai SIM must register in person, mainly with a passport, and can hold at most three SIMs per operator. An eSIM installed at home skips the counter.
Common mistakes
- Leaving Data Roaming on for your home line. Thailand is rarely in a home carrier's cheap roaming zone. Roaming goes on for the kimsim line only. Why roaming goes on for the kimsim line only
- Starting the plan on a stop-over. If you connect in another country first, keep the kimsim line off until you land in Thailand. If your plan started early
- Relying on the boat for signal. Buy ferry tickets and save QR codes while you're still in town.
- No way to call for help. The Tourist Police hotline is 1155. A data-only eSIM can't dial it, so use your home line or any local phone.
More on Thailand
- Our full guide to staying online in Thailand
- How much data you need for a week abroad
- Unlimited data explained
How we put this page together
We checked operators' own pages, Thai government portals and the sources noted above on 1–2 November 2026, and we'll keep them up to date. We haven't measured speeds in Thailand ourselves, so coverage notes are general guidance, not a map. kimsim sells the eSIMs on this page.
Checked 2026-11-03
Travelling further? Plans that also cover Thailand
- Asia (14 countries)Works in 14 countries
- Asia Pacific (20 countries)Works in 20 countries
- Global (117 countries)Works in 117 countries
- Southeast Asia (8 countries)Works in 8 countries
Check every country on your trip is on the list, including stop-overs. How regional plans work
Nearby destinations
If it doesn't work, you get your money back
Installed but can't get it working? Contact us: a person checks it with the network and works with you to fix it. If it can't be made to work, you get a full refund. Refund rules
Thailand eSIM: questions travellers ask
Do I need to show my passport to use an eSIM in Thailand?
For a Thai SIM bought in the country, yes: since May 2026 foreigners register in person, mainly with a passport, and can hold at most three SIMs per operator. A travel eSIM installed before you fly doesn't involve a Thai shop counter, so there's no queue on arrival. Keep your passport handy anyway for hotels and immigration.
Does mobile data work on the Thai islands?
In towns, at piers and on the main beaches of islands like Phuket, Samui and Phi Phi, generally yes. Expect gaps on ferries and longtail boats between islands, on snorkelling trips, in national parks and on remote northern mountain roads. Download offline maps and your ferry tickets before you set off.
Is an airport SIM cheaper than an eSIM for a week in Thailand?
Sometimes, on price alone: True-dtac lists an 8-day tourist SIM with unlimited data at ฿499, and its Happy Tourist SIM at ฿449. But you queue after a long flight, register with your passport, swap out your home SIM, and pay in baht. An eSIM installed at home works the moment you land, and your home number stays in the phone.
Can I use Grab in Thailand with a data-only eSIM?
Yes. Grab runs over mobile data, so it works on your kimsim line. Sign up at home before you fly, because the app can send a one-time code by text to your usual number. Keep your home line switched on for texts but with roaming off, so codes arrive without data charges.
Does mobile data work on the night train or the bus to Chiang Mai?
On most of the route, yes, in towns and stations. Expect gaps in the hills north of Phitsanulok and on mountain roads such as the one to Pai. Download your tickets, hotel address and an offline map before you leave Bangkok.
Which network does the Thailand eSIM use?
A kimsim Thailand eSIM can connect to TrueMove H (5G), DTAC (5G). Your phone picks one on its own once Data Roaming is on for the kimsim line. If signal drops, it can move to another network on the list.
Does the Thailand eSIM work on 5G?
Yes, on TrueMove H and DTAC, where there's 5G coverage and your phone supports 5G. Everywhere else it uses 4G, which is plenty for maps, messages, social media and video calls.
How much data do I need for a week in Thailand?
Many travellers use around 3 to 7 GB a week for maps, messages and some social media. For a typical week, the 10 GB pack is a sensible start, and you can top up onto the same eSIM. If you stream or use hotspot every day, Unlimited suits you better.
Is there an unlimited data eSIM for Thailand?
Yes. kimsim Unlimited gives you 3 GB at full speed every day, then 1 Mbps for the rest of that day, which is fine for messages, maps and music but not HD video. Pick how many days you need; the allowance resets daily.
Can I use my Thailand eSIM in other countries?
An eSIM for Thailand works in Thailand only. For a trip that goes further, Asia (14 countries), Asia Pacific (20 countries), Global (117 countries), Southeast Asia (8 countries) cover Thailand and more countries on one eSIM. Check every country on your trip is on the plan's list before you buy.