How to get a Thai Phone Number? Buying SIM Card in Thailand

Getting a 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, a passport, and some cash in local currency to get a local SIM card for Thailand.

Thailand SIM Card at the Airport

You can buy a 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 a Thai phone number, book your Thailand SIM card online and get it right at the airport. There are few advantages to booking a 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 a 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

Thailand SIM Card in Bangkok City

If you won’t have time to get a 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.

eSIM Thailand

If your mobile phone model supports eSIM functionality and is free from any network provider restrictions, you can also use eSIM Thailand to stay connected. A QR code activation is normally sent to you immediately or within one day after booking (depends on the service provider), so you can activate your eSIM before taking a flight and use the Internet right after landing at the airport.

The most popular option is this eSIM Thailand, which is offering unlimited internet for 10 days. Make sure to compare the offer with this eSIM for Thailand, as they not only send QR activation immediately but also often have a deal that makes the similar 10-day plan cheaper.

For more flexibility and a wider choice of data plans, check out this eSIM Thailand with a high-speed and stable Internet connection. You can choose the plan that suits your needs the best, as they are offering eSIM card validity from 5 to 30 days with different data packages available.

Thailand Mobile Phone Service Providers

There are 3 main mobile phone service providers in Thailand: AIS, DTAC, and TRUE. You can get a Thai phone number from any of them, as 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 Card Options

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 the service provider.

DTAC

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

Happy Tourist 49 THB – Pay-As-You-Go plan (1 GB Internet for 24 hours), which is the cheapest way to get a Thai phone number for tourists
Happy Tourist 349 THB – unlimited Internet for 10 days (max speed up to 50 GB)
– Get this SIM card for as little as 183 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.

DTAC

AIS

AIS is currently offering 5 types of prepaid SIM cards for travelers:

Thailand Tourist SIM 49 THB – Pay-As-You-Go plan (1 GB Internet for 1 day), which is another cheap way to get a Thai phone number
Thailand Tourist SIM 349 THB – unlimited Internet for 5 days
Thailand Tourist SIM 449 THB – unlimited Internet for 8 days
Thailand Tourist SIM 699 THB – unlimited Internet for 15 days
Thailand Tourist SIM 1,199 THB – unlimited Internet for 30 days

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

AIS

TRUE

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

Thailand Tourist 349 THB – unlimited Internet for 10 days (max speed up to 50 GB)
– Get this SIM card for as little as 183 THB when booking online!
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.

TRUE

Which Thailand SIM Card to Choose?

You can get a Thai phone number from any of Thailand's mobile service providers, as all of them offer similar deals. The main difference is usually in various freebies offered, such as no data charge for social apps, free unlimited WiFi at WiFi spots, and other advantages. However, some of these SIM card plans are offered online significantly cheaper.

If you’re just a simple traveller and don’t have very specific needs, get a discounted DTAC Happy 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 get various deals from time to time (they give away various discounts or freebies, such as free ice cream at McDonald's, so you might be lucky to get something worth attention).

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