Thailand eSIM
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Runs on TRUEMOVE H · DTAC
Choose your plan
Every plan includes
- Hotspot and tethering included on every plan
- 180-day activation window, buy now, travel later
- Keep your number, WhatsApp and iMessage unaffected
- Refundable any time before your eSIM is installed
- Top up available on most plans if you run out
A LeafySIM Thailand eSIM runs on TrueMove H and DTAC, the two halves of the merged True network, which is the largest operator in Thailand. Install it from a QR code before you fly and it works the moment you land at Suvarnabhumi. Plans run 1GB to 20GB, from $3.49.
Where your Thailand eSIM actually works
Your plan connects to TrueMove H and DTAC. Those were Thailand's second and third operators until they merged into True Corporation in 2023, and the combined network is now the country's largest, with more than 51% of the market and 99% population coverage. You ride both halves of it rather than being stuck on one of the old networks.
5G is concentrated in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket. Out on the islands, in the national parks and up in the north you will mostly be on 4G, which at 30 to 80 Mbps is more than anything a traveler does with a phone.
Thailand runs on QR codes and Grab, both of which need data
Paying by PromptPay QR at a market stall, booking a Grab out of Sukhumvit at 1am, working out which pier the Koh Phangan ferry leaves from, reading a menu that is entirely in Thai script. All of it is data, and none of it works from the hotel lobby.
The one real drawback, and you should know it before you buy
This plan does not give you a Thai phone number. In Thailand that matters more than in most places, because Grab drivers call you when they cannot find you, and a driver circling the wrong soi with no way to reach you is a genuinely annoying way to lose twenty minutes.
The workaround most people use is to put the pickup pin somewhere obvious, a 7-Eleven or a hotel entrance rather than a street address, and to message the driver in the Grab app, which works on data. Worth knowing, not worth avoiding the plan over.
How much data you need in Thailand
Thailand is one of the cheaper destinations in our catalogue, so size up if you are unsure. Two weeks of Grab, maps, messaging and normal photo posting runs about 5GB, which is $8.99. The 3GB at $6.49 covers a week on the islands. 10GB at $14.49 suits a month, or anyone working from Chiang Mai. The 1GB at $3.49 runs 7 days and is a Bangkok stopover plan.
What this plan does not do
Data only. No Thai number, no regular calls, no SMS. LINE, which is what Thailand actually uses for messaging, runs on data and works normally, as do WhatsApp and FaceTime. Keep your home SIM on for bank codes with its data off.
What it costs next to roaming
Verizon's TravelPass and AT&T's International Day Pass both run $12 a day, so two weeks in Thailand is $168 before you use a megabyte. The cheapest route a US carrier gives you is T-Mobile's 10 day International Pass at $50 for 15GB. The 5GB Thailand plan is $8.99.
Setting up your Thailand eSIM before you fly
Buy it now and install on wifi at home. The QR code arrives by email, you scan it in your phone settings, and you leave the line off until you land. The plan holds a 180 day activation window. On landing, switch the line on and turn data roaming off on your home SIM.
The networks you'll ride
Your eSIM connects to the destination's real carriers and picks the strongest signal automatically. We publish this because most resellers won't.
TRUEMOVE H
DTAC
Will your phone work? You need a carrier-unlocked phone that supports eSIM, including: iPhone XS, XR and newer , Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer , Google Pixel 3 and newer .
FAQ
Good to know before you fly
When does the clock start?
When your eSIM first connects to a network at your destination, not when you buy it and not when you install it. Install it before you fly, on your home WiFi; the plan starts when you land.
Can I top up if I run out?
Yes, on most plans, any time before it expires. Buy a top-up from your order page and it applies to the eSIM you already installed, no reinstalling required.
Is there a phone number included?
No, this is a data-only eSIM. Your own number stays active on your home SIM for calls and texts, and apps like WhatsApp and FaceTime work over data as usual.
When should I install it?
Before you fly, on your home WiFi. Every plan has a 180-day window to activate, and the clock does not start until you actually connect at your destination.