You are here: Home / Travel / 10-Steps to Buying & Using a Thai Sim Card & Mobile Data Plan

10-Steps to Buying & Using a Thai Sim Card & Mobile Data Plan

You’ve touched down in tropical Thailand- you’re excited for impending adventures with elephants, lounging on beautiful beaches, trekking through lush jungles and making new friends.

You you reach for your phone to let everyone back home know that you’ve arrived and maybe to snap a selfie to post on social media.

But wait! You’re service-less and airport wifi is a bummer.

What to do?

Below is your step by step guide to getting excellent (and cheap) cell service in the Land of Smiles.

thailand sim card mobile data

Krista Stelzner, assigned to the U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge, snaps a selfie with a Thai girl during a community service event at The Child Development and Protection Center in Huay Yai, Thailand.

Step 1. Unlocking Your Phone

Bringing your pre-existing service overseas can be inconvenient and can cost an absolute fortune in fees.

So consider having your phone unlocked from your service provider before you board your flight. It only costs a small fee, and that way you can get a Thai sim card instead.

Also! Know your phone. You may not be aware, but different phones carry different size sim cards. iPhones generally take nano SIMs and Androids may take micro SIM cards. Before you leave, quickly Google your phone model and check- they may also be able to tell you at any provider booth in Thailand. All size sims are available in Thailand.

Step 2: Deciding on Roaming vs. Thai SIM Card

Some travelers would like to keep their current number, which requires that they turn on international roaming.

Before doing this, contact your provider and ask about charges you’ll rack up for data and service roaming. You may also want to ask if they have any partner networks in Thailand.

I don't recommend roaming because it can get pretty pricey, and buying a SIM at either the airport or at a provider shop is a quick, cheap and reliable alternative.

Step 3: Getting a Sim at the Airport Vs a Provider Store

If you’re staying in Thailand for a week or less, getting a plan at the airport is likely a good choice. There you can find tourist targeted plans that provide internet, calling and texting for shorter time spans.

For longer stays, it is be a better idea to get your phone plan directly from a provider store or from a provider’s booth at a local mall. There you can find a more flexible range of plans that that will suit your needs at a lower price.

Generally, purchasing a SIM will require a passport, as most providers register the card under your name and passport number.

You may not be asked at smaller locations or stores in more obscure parts of Thailand, but this registration practice is still the general procedure, so be sure to bring your travel documents with you.

Step 4. Choosing Your Provider & Your Plan

There are three main cell service providers in Thailand: AIS (also known as One-2-Call, DTAC and Truemove. All offer ‘pay as you go’ deals for short and long term travelers and have 3g/4g capability.

Popular plans include daily, weekly and monthly deals that suit pretty much any traveler’s schedule.

Check out the best deals from each service below:

1. AIS: daily unlimited internet (19 THB); weekly unlimited data for varying speeds (from 79-89 THB) and monthly data- 5 GB (488 THB/month); 14 GB (888 THB/month). Calling plans start at 9 THB per day.

2. Truemove: daily unlimited internet (15 THB); weekly data for varying speeds from 55-199 THB depending on amount used; and monthly data ranges from 199-899 THB/month, depending on amount used and speed. Unlimited monthly starts at 599 THB. Calling plans start at 13 THB a day.

3. DTAC: daily internet ranges from 19-49 THB depending on amount used; weekly unlimited internet is 59 THB; monthly internet ranges from 299-799 THB; depending on amount used. Calling plans start at 29 THB a day.

While DTAC is most friendly to Western users in terms of customer service, Truemove provides the most wifi hotspots across Thailand, which is fantastic for travellers on a shoestring budget.

Step 5: Topping Up with Credit

Adding money to your phone plan- also referred to as ‘topping up,’ is very easy and convenient as it can be done at any 7/11, at the provider’s store or even at a Boonterm kiosk on the street.

Additionally, choosing a plan is extremely simple. You can call the provider’s customer service, who will give you a code to dial in and activate immediately.

The cost of the plan your select will be deducted from the amount of money you’ve added to your number through the top up process.

In recent years, most providers have also started to offer an app that makes choosing a call, text and/or data plan a snap. You may also be able to find promotional codes for phone plan deals, which is always helpful if you’re on a budget.

Step 6: Tethering from Phone to Laptop

Spotty wifi is the bane of every traveller’s existence. If you’re planning on using a tablet or a computer but realize that everyone else’s Netflix is hogging the hotel or apartment’s wifi, you may want to consider using your phone’s data plan to set up a hot spot.

This will require quite a large data plan, so if you’re considering this, getting a prepaid unlimited data plan is a good bet.

To set up a hot spot:

1. (for iPhone) go to ‘settings’
2. Click on ‘personal hotspot’
3. Turn it on
4. Choose how to connect tablet or computer (with either wifi, USB cable, or bluetooth) – you will be prompted

Step 7: Guarding Your Data

One interesting element of Thai data plans is that you’re actually buying however many GBs of data at a certain speed. Once you use that up, you can still get access to data, but it’ll be throttled to 128kbps; so slow you’ll want to pull your hair out!

Therefore, trying to ration your data is just good sense, especially if you only want to top up once during your time in Thailand.

Whenever possible, connect to wifi networks provided by dining or shopping establishments near you or even mobile wifi zones enabled by your internet provider.

Save data sucking activities, like video streaming (hello YouTube!) or Skype calls (hi, Mom and Dad) for wifi zones, and make sure that your phone is on ‘power saver mode,’ if possible. That will prevent apps from constantly refreshing and sucking data.

Another good idea is to go into each application – preferably those that you don’t use often – and turning cellular data ‘off’ so that the application cannot be enabled without entering a wifi zone.

Step 8: Avoiding Over Charging

One great thing about ‘pay as you go’ plans is that you’re never going to be surprised by an enormous bill- you’re simply going to run out of minutes or data or texts.

Contact your plan provider’s customer service line to ensure that alerts are sent to your phone in English so that you know how much of your plan you have left or if there is any information you need to know about service coverage.

If you have the provider’s app, you can also check plan levels and contact customer service there. Note the time and date that your plan is set to expire, as most have daily, weekly or monthly limits. As any traveler knows, it’s no fun to be caught without any way to communicate!

Step 9: Staying Active

Keeping your sim card active depends on what type of sim card you have. For prepaid tourist sim cards the general rule is that after a top up you have 30 days of validity. To check when your package expires, you can dial the following codes, based on your specific mobile provider.

To check your date of expiry you can use these USSD codes:

  • AIS –  *121#
  • DTAC – *101*9#
  • True – #123#

Extend Your SIM’s validity

To extend your validity:

AIS:

  • Add 10 Baht credit for 30 Days Validity
  • Alternative method: Dial *500*9#  Add 30 days validity for 30 THB via Mao Mao package

DTAC:

Extend your validity for up to 365 days, at a cost of 2 Baht per month.

  • Press : *113*30*9# for 30 days extension.  Cost 2 Baht
  • Press : *113*60*9# for 60 days extension.  Cost 4 Baht
  • Press : *113*90*9# for 90 days extension.  Cost 6 Baht
  • Press : *113*180*9# for 180 days extension.   Cost 12 Baht
  • Conditions: Must activate SIM for at least 90 days or have usage of 200 THB.

TrueMove H:

Extend your validity for up to 365 days at a cost of 2 Baht per month

  • Press : * 934 * 30 # for 30 days extension.  Cost 2 Baht
  • Press : * 934 * 90 # for 90 days extension.  Cost 6 Baht
  • Press : * 934 * 180 # for 180 days extension.   Cost 12 Baht

Step 10: Contacting Customer Service

To contact a call center with questions or concerns about international roaming, a SIM card or activating or deactivating a data plan, here is a list of the major carrier customer support numbers.

DTAC
1678 – from your phone
Line: @dtac
feedback@dtac.co.th

AIS/One-to-Call
1175 – From your phone
Line Messenger @12Call_Fan
callcenter@ais.co.th

TrueMove
1331 – From your phone
LINE: @truemoveh

With these easy steps, you’re well on your way to exploring the beauty of Thailand, all while sharing it with those back home. Happy travels!

I've got a fair bit of experience with sims, providers, plans and all things mobile in Thailand, so if you've got a question, leave it below and I'll answer it as best I can.

Tips to Start Planning Your Trip Now

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance:

Travel insurance protects you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. I never travel without it. I’ve been using SafetyWing for years. You should too.

Book Your Accommodation:

Best hotel rates are found at Agoda, Booking.com, and Hotels.com.

Do You Need a Backpack?

Check out my top tips for the best travel bag. that will make your trip 10x more comfortable



Last Updated on

Comments Sort by : newest | oldest

  1. Gary says

    This is probably a silly question i have a Iphone6 i am looking for a pre paid package that still give me accees to my messanger and Line Account as they are my main sourse of comms any help will be greatful
    Reply

  2. James E says

    I uncovered (by accident, of course) something that's new to me but very helpful if you're a regular visitor to Thailand but don't actually live there. It's the DTAC "Call" app (a very catchy name, huh?). Basically, it's a Voice/SMS/MMS over IP service that is linked to your Thai phone number. Need a One Time Password for a banking or phone app login it shows up on your mobile. Anywhere in the world. Don't want to force friends or family to use up their Thai data plans on Skype or Line, they can just dial or text your Thai number and your phone goes *bing*. Anywhere in the world. The app is free but (and here's the biggest selling point) using it only costs as much as it would on your SIM/Plan in Thailand. No more international charges for phone calls to or from Thailand. But, (it's Thailand, there's always a "but") setup is not the easiest. First, dtac has eliminated the email support option and want you to go through a Social account for support, I used Facebook. This means, in my case, I had to turn on international roaming on my SIM to get the OTP to register myself to the app. DTAC, to their credit, had me jump through some additional information hoops to prove it was really me and not some bot seeking to destabilze a democracy or whatnot. Second, with international roaming enabled, you start the app and request your OTP to authorize the app to the system; which takes a couple of minutes. From this point on you do not need your SIM anymore. You can install the app on any phone (haven't tried it on a tablet so don't know if that works) and it will work just fine. I haven't checked but I imagine the other mobile providers have or will soon have something similar. So far the app, unlike using the SIM, has not burned any data communicating back to the mothership in Thailand so that's a help, too.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Interesting. I wonder if this keeps your SIM active too? Many infrequent visitors find that by the time they return their SIM has expired because they haven't used it and they have to get a new number. If you activate and use this service would it signal that the number is in use?There's always WIFI, but this is handy if you're out and about and not on a WIFI connection.
      Reply

      • James E says

        I'm thinking not. The SIM needs to stay active to have a plan and funds attached to it. (Although, possibly, the plan may be attached to the number instead of the SIM. Dunno.) But what it does do is give you a way to set up the DTAC app or use the website to add funds to your SIM and buy extensions to keep the SIM active wherever you happen to be when not in Thailand without incurring the onerous data roaming charges. One of the neat things about the Call app is that it will work over any data connection - 3G, LTE, or WiFi. That means I can use the app over my US Unlimited LTE plan and incur no data use at all.
        Reply

  3. Andy says

    Hi,
    Thank you for sharing your knowledge! This is very helpful.
    I will be in Thailand for 44 days - just over 7 weeks.
    I will be travelling the Islands, Bangkok and Chiang Mai. I will need to be able to text and facetime internationally as well as use various apps including Whatsap, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Grab, Maps.Com and Life 360. What would be your recommendation for sim card and data package?
    Would you know if there is a sim card I can purchase that would cover the entire duration of my travel? Do you know if I would have to purchase a separate data package or is the data included with the sim card purchase?
    Thanking you in advance for your advice.
    Reply

    • James E says

      First, pretty much all of the carriers will give you country-wide voice/text/data coverage so find one (dtac, True, or AIS) whose website you like the best. The reason for this is that each handles its prepaid plans differently - even though you're getting the same product - so you'll want one whose plans make sense to you. Not that that will be obvious when you first start. I use dtac so I'll talk from that. Prepaid in Thailand is different in that you don't buy a plan that covers all your needs you get a base plan - voice, text, and data - and then add options to that plan to make the data affordable and fast. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE PAY THE BASE RATE FOR DATA. Period. You choose your data package based on anticipated use and speed requirements. You'll have to dig a bit to find the optimum plan as the stop at the top level tends to be pricey and slow compared to what you can find. Make sure you don't get an auto-renew plan. Plus the plans change all the time so what I used last November might not be available now. It's like a game. SMS is pretty affordable but I have problems receiving text/media from US numbers to my dtac number. Just get a regular SIM, the SIMs cost the same as a "tourist" SIM (49THB last time I looked) but you won't get stuck with a number that expires midway through your trip and the plans will be a bit cheaper. I usually spend 300-500 baht a week for all services. Since you're going to be data heavy look into a VPN if you don't already have one. You. Really. Want. A. VPN.
      Reply

  4. Mj Silva says

    I am actually connected to AIS Prepaid BAO-BAO PLAN (sorry i don't know the full name of the plan) something, it's a 1 mbps unlimited internet for 6 MONTHS for only 600 BAHT, take note, 6 MONTHS, if you just want to have spontaneous mobile data/internet connection and you're using applications for messaging/calling purposes, you can subscribe to this plan.
    its only for 600 BAHT, so basically 100 baht a month for 1MBPS internet, usually its not just 1 mbps its up to 4 mbps, I can even make HD calls to the Philippines using LINE.
    Reply

  5. Fran D says

    Hi everyone, Im new on here so here goes, planning on going to Thailand via BKK airport in February some time in Bangkok, some in Kaanchanaburi, thereafter who knows! but want to get a data sim for my mobile wifi dongle so 2 of us can tether to it as needed. Last year when we went we were advised to visit AIS at BKK airport which we did, bought a Data sim but it wouldnt connect to internet so they refunded me, no english speaking staff available to help so left it and visited anothe AIS store in Terminal 21 on Sukhumvit but again staff unable to assist with connecting it to internet. Is there something I need to be doing? dongle is unlocked, and works in othe countries, do I need to change APN details myself or will store do it? do I need to activate the sim myself or will staff do it in store. I ask because despite it never connecting to internet I received numerous messages in Thai/English on to the dongle that I only discovered weeks later when I got back to Blighty and reinserted by UK sim. Any wise words of wisdom appreciated
    Reply

    • James E says

      AIS advertises that they support the service so you should be able to make it work. Your APN may be the issue or it may be something on the network side. I'd suggest going to a store in a - I hate to say this - more upscale place than T-21, like Em or Paragon. I've not used AIS but dtac has a dedicated queue for English speakers in both so would assume AIS is the same.
      Reply

  6. Rudy spiessens says

    would you say your comments of 2017 are still valid? I went to all 3 stores (Nov 2018) and all of them only offer quite large data packages, like 2G minimum at around THB220. Coming from South Africa, those data bundles are cheap but I only need like 1Mb only per month. So if I can still purchase a SIM card and then extend it's validity and keep it topped up, that would sort me out. The sales people don't seem to aware of these options.
    Reply

      • Rudy spiessens says

        Thanks. Next problem. I purchased a True Move sim card. Whit most USSD codes, except 2 or so, one get's a Thai response. When dialing 9304 to change the language, one gets a Thai voice message !!! Unbelievable how some software people think.
        I'm hoping for a solution
        Reply

    • James E says

      Rudy,
      1 MB or 1GB? I wouldn't think 1MB would even cover email and app background data.

      If 1 MB just pay-as-you-go. I think that would work out to less than a package.

      Otherwise it depends on how long you're going to be in Thailand. I don't use much data so I get the 400MB/wk Max-Speed plan from dtac. It's like 60THB+/-. I use the old * code to access it. They also have a monthly plan that's about what you described price-wise but I think is a 4GB plan.

      The reps in the store really don't have an idea as to the full offerings. I've always found prowling through the websites and apps to be the best way to find the bargains.
      Reply

  7. James E says

    I just got to Bangkok yesterday and found that a couple of things have changed with dtac's pre-paid services.

    First - The online offerings are pared way down. In the past you could dig around the website and find deals that were not in their easy-to-find pages. No more. The "*" codes have vanished from site and the website offers are mostly the high dollar auto-renew plans.

    Second - dtac's app (I'm on Android but imagine iOS is similar) is where all the action is now. It shows (easily) 20 times more prepaid options than the website which range in price from less than 10 THB on up with validity times from one day to a month. This is where you'll find all the 7-day plans useful for shhorter stay visitors.

    Third - the plans have gotten better and the prices have come down. The plan I used to get which was 1GB of 100Mbps data (through a "*" code) and cost 79THB a week has been "replaced" by a 2GB 100Mbps plan that costs 49THB a week. While I'm sure my old "*" code would work, why would I use it?

    The app also provides better account management than the web without all the one-time password nonsense.
    Reply

  8. Luc says

    Hello, just moved to Bangkok with family. I have from employer a Truemove H subscription. Question : I need 4 SIM cards , for next 3 years mini, one for wife and 3 teenagers, all needing datas . Ideally like in France : one manager of the datas that can be the wife of course. Which provider/subscription do you advice ?
    Thanks for your answer.
    Reply

  10. Josh Mannen says

    My old fashion mom is coming to visit me in mid-July. She has a very old fashion CDMA flip phone, that will not work here. I am planning to get her a new cheap GSM phone, on the DTAC network (because that is what I am on) I want to have it ALL set up and tested and then just send it to her, so when she steps off the plain, all she has to do is turn on the power and dial or text. My thought is that I put her on the 49 baht / Go Plearn SIM with Free internet (to prevent data leakage) and extend her validity for 90 days with an extension at the cost 6 Baht. I didn’t understand in “Conditions” you say: “Must activate SIM for at least 90 days or have usage of 200 THB.” Does that mean she has to have been active for 90 days or have used 200 baht to do the extension? If that is the case, could I still set up and test the phone, with Go Plearn and then go online the day before she comes and do a “refill to” her number at the DTAC website. Thanks in advance. JOSH
    Reply

    • James E says

      Hey Josh,

      Short answer is Yes: You have to have the SIM active for 90 days or have burned through 200 baht (which, as you know, is very easy). I think if you add a few hundred baht credit though you'll automatically get the 90 days validity. I'm not sure what the minimum is (maybe 300 Baht) so check with dtac on that. The Go Plearn SIM doesn't come with any credit so you'll have to add some anyway.

      Second thing is all dtac prepaid SIMs are the same, 49 Baht. What you get with the different SIMs is some default apps and default calling rates. Those are changeable if you want. I've found that the plan (SIM) you get should be driven by how you're planning on using the phone. I'm assuming your mom will be calling/texting rather than surfing the internet. Check out the other SIMs as well in terms of the call rate (MMS/SMS rates are the same regardless of SIM). For example, I've got a Super 4G SIM that I put a data package on so I don't have to pay the data rate. The call rate is broken down into seconds so a hypothetical 1 minute, 1 second call costs 1.005 Baht. That same call on the Go Plearn SIM is 1.38 because you pay by the minute. However calls shorter than a minute would be cheaper. Also look at the Gift SIM as it includes some free data for topping up which would give her some internet use and more speed than the Go Plearn along with calls being billed to the second.

      So, it doesn't matter where you start, Go Plearn or another SIM, you can always switch the main plan or add-on plans to get the features and cost you want.
      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 

FOLLOW ME

Search TTL

Copyright © TheThailandLife.com 2024
No content on this site may be copied without written consent.

Send this to a friend