Will I have signal on Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Phuket?

Yes, in most places visitors go. Towns, main beaches and resort areas on these islands are well connected. Expect weaker signal on remote headlands, in the jungle interior, on boat trips and at offshore dive sites. Download ferry tickets and maps before you travel between islands.

Is the airport tourist SIM a better deal than an eSIM?

Sometimes. Thai operators sell tourist packages at airport counters, and AIS lists options from 49 baht for a small allowance up to unlimited-data packages at around 1,600 baht (checked October 2026). If you want lots of data or a Thai number, a local SIM can be good value. An eSIM skips the queue and keeps your home SIM in your phone.

Which mobile networks are there in Thailand?

Two operator groups run most mobile service: AIS, and True Corporation, which operates the TrueMove H and dtac brands after the two merged. In Opensignal's June 2025 reports, AIS won Coverage Experience and led on 5G coverage and speed, and dtac won the Reliability award. The Thailand plans on this page list AIS, TrueMove H and dtac.

Do I need to register my eSIM in Thailand?

Not a Teraroma eSIM. It's a roaming eSIM, so there's no Thai number to register. Local Thai tourist SIMs are different: they must be registered with your passport when you buy them. AIS notes that under the regulator's rules, anyone keeping a tourist SIM for more than 60 days must confirm their identity again.

Will I have data on ferries and island-hopping trips?

Near the coast and in harbours, usually. Mid-crossing and around remote islands or marine parks, signal can drop or disappear. Screenshot tickets, hotel addresses and directions before boarding, and don't depend on mobile data for meeting times on boat days.

Does my phone work in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and the north?

Cities and towns in the north are well covered. Mountain roads, national parks such as Doi Inthanon, and trekking routes to remote villages can have patchy signal or none. Download offline maps before a scooter loop or trek, and share your route with someone.

How much data will I use in Thailand?

As a rough guide, Ericsson estimates average smartphone use in South East Asia and Oceania at about 21 GB a month, or roughly 5 GB a week used as you would at home. Video calls, photo uploads and streaming add up fast. Netflix estimates up to 1 GB an hour in standard definition.

Can I use Grab and other ride-hailing apps with an eSIM?

Ride-hailing apps need a working data connection and, ideally, a number that can receive a verification text when you sign up. Set up your account at home before you fly so any code arrives on your usual number. Then the travel eSIM only has to carry data.

Thailand eSIM: Data Plans from $1.40

1 eSIM

Thailand eSIM plans and prices

All 22 plans we currently sell for Thailand, in USD with no tax added at checkout.

See all Thailand plans and prices

Data	Days	Price	Price per GB
1GB	7	$1.40	$1.40
1GB	7	$2.28	$2.28
3GB	15	$3.40	$1.13
3GB	15	$4.56	$1.52
3GB	30	$3.60	$1.20
3GB	30	$4.94	$1.65
5GB	30	$5.40	$1.08
5GB	30	$7.04	$1.41
10GB	30	$9.40	$0.94
10GB	30	$11.08	$1.11
20GB	30	$16.40	$0.82
20GB	30	$17.60	$0.88
50GB	10	$15.98	$0.32
50GB	30	$61.20	$1.22
50GB	30	$69.80	$1.40
50GB	180	$64.00	$1.28
Unlimited (1GB/day)Fair use: 1GB/day at full speed, then 1 Mbps until the daily reset	1	$1.60	—
Unlimited (1GB/day)Fair use: 1GB/day at full speed, then 1 Mbps until the daily reset	1	$2.16	—
Unlimited (3GB/day)Fair use: 3GB/day at full speed, then 1 Mbps until the daily reset	1	$2.86	—
Unlimited (2GB/day)Fair use: 2GB/day at full speed, then 1 Mbps until the daily reset	1	$3.20	—
Unlimited (2GB/day)Fair use: 2GB/day at full speed, then 1 Mbps until the daily reset	1	$4.12	—
Unlimited (3GB/day)Fair use: 3GB/day at full speed, then 1 Mbps until the daily reset	1	$5.86	—

Thailand eSIM Coverage from Bangkok to the Southern Islands

For a typical Thailand trip of Bangkok, then the north, then an island or two, the main question is whether you'll have data on the move: in a taxi from the airport, on an overnight train, or on a ferry between islands.

On land, the answer is mostly yes. Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and the other big tourist centres have dense coverage, and the main islands, such as Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Lanta, are well connected around their towns and beaches. Signal can fade on boat crossings, at remote dive sites, in national park jungle and on trekking routes in the far north.

Two operator groups run most of Thailand's mobile service. The first is AIS. In Opensignal's June 2025 reports it won Coverage Experience and Consistent Quality, and it led on both 5G coverage and 5G speed. The second is True Corporation, which runs the TrueMove H and dtac brands after the two companies merged. Opensignal still measures those brands separately, and dtac won the Reliability award. The Thailand plans on this page list AIS, TrueMove H and dtac as local networks.

Data use on a beach holiday tends to come in bursts: photos, video calls home, ride-hailing and maps. Ericsson estimates average smartphone use in South East Asia and Oceania at about 21 GB a month, the same as the global average. If you use your phone as you do at home, that is roughly 5 GB for a week and 10 GB for two. Netflix estimates up to 1 GB an hour for standard-definition video, so streaming can double that quickly.

Before you go:

Install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi.
After landing at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket or wherever you arrive, switch the eSIM line on and select it for mobile data.
Turn on data roaming for that line, and keep roaming off on your home SIM.

Here's an honest comparison with the airport SIM. Thailand is one of the easiest countries to buy a tourist SIM in. Operator counters at the major airports sell prepaid tourist packages, and AIS's own tourist plans range from small allowances (49 baht for 1 GB when we checked in October 2026) to unlimited-data packages costing several hundred to around 1,600 baht. A local tourist SIM can be good value if:

you want a large or unlimited allowance;
you're staying a long time;
you need a Thai number for calls; or
you don't mind queuing at the airport and swapping cards.

Tourist SIMs need passport registration. Under Thai regulator rules, anyone keeping one beyond 60 days must confirm their identity again. An eSIM avoids the queue.

Travel eSIM or Airport Tourist SIM in Thailand

	Teraroma eSIM	Local tourist SIM	Home roaming
When you get it	Before you leave, by email	After you land, at a shop or kiosk	Already on your phone
Price	Fixed, paid upfront, from $1.40	Set by the local shop	Set by your home carrier; can add up quickly
Physical card	No	Yes, you swap SIM cards	No
Home number	Stays active on your main line	Unavailable while the card is swapped out	Stays active

How to set up your Thailand eSIM

Choose a Thailand plan above and pay at checkout.
Get your QR code by email.
Install it over Wi-Fi before you travel: scan the QR code in your phone's mobile or cellular settings.
When you arrive in Thailand, switch the eSIM line on and turn on data roaming for it.

Step-by-step for iPhone and Android: how to install an eSIM.

Thailand cities and regional eSIMs

Visiting more than one country? These bundles include Thailand:

Last updated 27 October 2026. Comparing providers? Read best eSIM for Thailand compared.

⭐4.7 (20,000+ reviews)

Payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay

AIS, TrueMove H and dtac: Thailand's Mobile Networks

Plan activation:

Automatic, when you arrive in the country (as long as you've turned on your Teraroma eSIM in the device's settings and enabled roaming).

Coverage:

Coverage quality may vary depending on local network providers in Thailand.

Network:

TrueMove H, DTAC, AIS, True Move.

Top-ups:

Easily top up on more data when you're running low — your new data plan will automatically activate once your first plan completely runs out.

Teraroma mascot showing a checklist of eSIM features

Stay Connected 24/7

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Affordable data plans, starting from $1.40.

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Connects to TrueMove H, DTAC, AIS, True Move in Thailand.

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Works with all eSIM-compatible smartphones.

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Instant activation upon arrival in Thailand.

Why buy a prepaid eSIM for Thailand from Teraroma?

The best performance in all your apps

Experience seamless connectivity that powers all your favorite applications — from social media to navigation, video streaming to work tools. Our multi-network eSIMs automatically switch to the strongest local network so you're never stuck on a weak connection.

		Local SIM	Other eSIM
Multi-network eSIM — never stuck on one network
Unlimited data options
No hidden fees
Instant connection
Fast and reliable coverage