Getting Thai Phone Number: Buying a SIM Card in Thailand

Getting Thai Phone Number and Thailand SIM card is easy as all the main mobile phone service providers in the country offer special plans for tourists. Buying a SIM card in Thailand is not complicated as you only need an unlocked phone, passport and some cash in local currency to get a local SIM card for Thailand.

Thai SIM Card at the Airport

You can buy Thai SIM card anywhere in Thailand but it is best to purchase it right at the airport and get connected right away. In most of Thailand’s international airports you will see the shops of all 3 Thai mobile phone service providers just after passing the customs area. You can buy a SIM card at the airport and the staff will help you to set up your phone.

Getting Thailand SIM Card and Thai Phone Number

However, if you want to get the best deal for Thai phone number, book your Thailand SIM card online and get it right at the airport. There are few advantages of booking Thai SIM card online:

You can get your Thai SIM card much cheaper.
You don’t need to exchange your money to Thai baht at the airport (exchange rates at the arrivals are really bad).
The desk of the reseller is normally less crowded than the shops of the providers, so picking up your SIM card there can save time.

Where can you get the best deals for Thai SIM card? By booking it online via the link below and picking it up at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), Don Mueang Airport (DMK), Phuket Airport (HKT) or Chiang Mai Airport (CNX).

Thai SIM card at Bangkok Airport / Phuket Airport

Thai SIM Card in Bangkok

If you won’t have time to get Thai SIM card at the airport, you can find branches of all three mobile carriers in any shopping mall. Every 7-11 in the country also sells SIM cards and Top Up Credit.

For the best deal, book your Thai SIM card online and pick it up at Central World shopping mall in Bangkok.

Thailand Mobile Phone Service Providers

There are 3 main mobile phone service providers in Thailand: AIS, DTAC and Truemove. All three providers offer ‘pay as you go’ deals for short and long term travelers and have 4G/5G capability providing fairly good coverage in all but the most remote corners of the country.

Thailand Tourist SIM Cards

All three mobile networks sell Tourist or Traveler SIM cards. When your purchased plan expires, you can top it up at any 7-11 convenience store or via the app of service provider.

DTAC

DTAC is currently offering several types of prepaid SIM card for tourists:

Happy Tourist 49 THB – Pay-As-You-Go (1 GB Internet for 24 hours)
Happy Tourist 299 THB – unlimited Internet for 8 days (max speed up to 15 GB)
– Get this SIM card for as little as 169 THB when booking online!
Happy Tourist 349 THB – unlimited Internet for 10 days (max speed up to 50 GB)
– Get this SIM card for as little as 249 THB when booking online!
Happy Tourist 599 Baht - unlimited Internet for 15 days (max speed up to 30 GB)
Happy Tourist Infinite 449 THB – unlimited Internet for 8 days
Happy Tourist Infinite 699 THB – unlimited Internet for 15 days
Happy Tourist Infinite 1,199 THB – unlimited Internet for 30 days

Detailed information about DTAC SIM card packages can be found here: DTAC Tourist Plans.

Getting Thailand SIM Card and Thai Phone Number

AIS

AIS is currently offering 3 types of prepaid SIM card for travellers:

Thailand Tourist SIM 299 THB – unlimited Internet for 8 days (max speed up to 15 GB)
Thailand Tourist SIM 599 THB – unlimited Internet for 15 days (max speed up to 30 GB)
Thailand Tourist SIM 899 THB – unlimited Internet for 30 days (max speed up to 50 GB)

Detailed information about AIS SIM card packages can be found here: AIS Thailand Tourist Plans.

Getting Thailand SIM Card and Thai Phone Number

TRUE

TRUE is currently offering several types of prepaid SIM card for tourists:

Thailand Tourist 299 THB – unlimited Internet for 8 days (max speed up to 15 GB)
Thailand Tourist 349 THB – unlimited Internet for 10 days (max speed up to 50 GB)
– Get this SIM card for as little as 169 THB when booking online!
Thailand Tourist 599 Baht - unlimited Internet for 15 days (max speed up to 30 GB)
Thailand Tourist Infinite 449 THB – unlimited Internet for 8 days
Thailand Tourist Infinite 699 THB – unlimited Internet for 15 days
Thailand Tourist Infinite 1,199 THB – unlimited Internet for 30 days

Detailed information about TRUE SIM card packages can be found here: TRUE Tourist Plans.

Getting Thailand SIM Card and Thai Phone Number

Which Thai SIM Card to Choose?

As you can see, all Thailand mobile service providers offer almost the same deals. The difference is in various freebies offered, such as no data charge for social apps, free unlimited WiFi at WiFi spots and other advantages.

If you’re just a simple traveller and don’t have very specific needs, get a discounted TRUE Thailand Tourist 349 THB package online ([SALE] Thailand SIM Card) and top it up once the plan gets expired or max speed Internet is used. It will be cheaper than buying the plan for 599 THB at once.

Tips

Install the app of the chosen service provider as you will be able to top up easily, track your data usage and will get various deals from time to time (they give away various discounts or freebies such as free ice cream at McDonalds so you might be lucky to get something worth attention).

Other useful apps for Thailand are listed here: Best Apps for Thailand Travel.