Best eSIM for Thailand: Data From €1.99, Tourist SIMs and the New SIM Rules

Quick answer: the best eSIM for Thailand

• Travel eSIM: the eSIMFOX Thailand eSIM starts at €1.99 for 1 GB (7 days). 10 GB for 30 days costs €13.99, 20 GB costs €19.99, and unlimited data costs €31.99 for 7 days (prices on esimfox.com, Nov 6, 2026). It runs on the AIS and DTAC networks, needs no ID check, and you install it at home before you fly.
• Tourist SIM: True's FAQ recommends the "Happy Tourist Infinite SIM 8 days 449 THB" for a 5 to 7-day trip, about €11.96 at the ECB rate of Nov 5, 2026. It includes a Thai number, but you must register it in person with your passport.
• New SIM rules: since May 16, 2026, foreigners can hold at most three SIM cards per operator, and registration happens in person, primarily with a passport.
• Roaming with your home plan: availability and prices depend on your carrier. Check your carrier's Thailand rate before you go.

eSIMFOX Thailand eSIM: plans and prices (as of Nov 6, 2026)

These are the Thailand plans on the eSIMFOX Thailand product page. Prices are shown in euros; you can switch the display currency on the product page.

The Unlimited 7-day plan gives you 2 GB of high-speed data per day. After that, speed drops to up to 1 Mbps for the rest of the day. Hotspot is supported. Per GB, the 20 GB and 50 GB plans are the best value at €1.00 per GB.

What the product page says about the Thailand eSIM:

• Networks: AIS and DTAC, with 4G or 5G where available.
• Validity: starts with the first network connection in Thailand, not when you buy. So you can install it days before your trip.
• ID check: no eKYC (ID verification) required.
• Data only: no Thai phone number. Your home SIM stays active for calls and texts, and you can call over WhatsApp or other internet apps.
• Hotspot: the product page says you can share your connection with a laptop or other devices.
• Top-ups: add more data anytime without installing a new eSIM. Nothing is charged automatically when your data runs out.
• Support: 24/7 via WhatsApp.

Thailand SIM card for tourists: True, dtac and AIS

Thailand's operators sell tourist SIMs with a Thai number. Here is what their own websites said on Nov 6, 2026:

• True: tourist SIMs are "available at True and dtac service centers nationwide, as well as 24/7 at airport locations", and in the True/dtac online store. The FAQ recommends the "Happy Tourist Infinite SIM 8 days 449 THB" for a 5 to 7-day trip. According to the terms, the 8-day Tourist INFINITE SIM includes unlimited mobile internet at the maximum available speed and free local calls to all Thai networks of up to 15 minutes per call. True's page lists 15-day and 30-day versions, but no price for them (True tourist SIM).
• dtac: dtac's tourist SIM page now redirects to True's tourist SIM page. dtac and True completed their amalgamation on March 1, 2023 and now operate as True Corporation (True).
• AIS: AIS has its own "SIM & Plans for Tourist" page (AIS). We could not load AIS's tourist package prices on Nov 6, 2026, so we don't list them here. Check the page or ask at an AIS counter.

Exchange rate: ECB reference rate of Nov 5, 2026, 1 EUR = 37.533 THB (ECB). The euro value is only a guide; you pay in baht.

Thailand's SIM registration rules

Thailand tightened its SIM registration rules in 2026. According to the law firm Tilleke & Gibbins, a notification of the regulator NBTC took effect on May 16, 2026 (Tilleke & Gibbins):

• People without Thai nationality can hold at most three SIM cards per person per service provider.
• Identity is checked primarily with your passport.
• Registration must be done in person at a branch or an authorized dealer.
• A registered SIM must be activated within 60 days; otherwise you have to verify your identity again in person.

True's tourist SIM page says the same in short: the SIM must be registered with a valid passport under NBTC rules, with a maximum of 3 SIMs per person per brand (True). The eSIMFOX Thailand eSIM is bought online and needs no eKYC (ID check), according to its product page.

Bangkok airport SIM vs. eSIM

At Suvarnabhumi (BKK), you have three ways to get online after landing:

• Tourist SIM at the airport: True says it sells tourist SIMs 24/7 at airport locations. You need your passport for the in-person registration, and you may have to queue at the counter.
• Free airport Wi-Fi: Airports of Thailand offers free Wi-Fi at Suvarnabhumi. You sign in with your email address and can use it for 60 minutes (AOT). The details are in our Bangkok airport Wi-Fi guide.
• Travel eSIM: installed at home, so you are online as soon as you land, without a queue or a sign-in page. Validity only starts with the first connection in Thailand.

eSIM vs. tourist SIM vs. roaming in Thailand

Short version: for a week or two with data only, a travel eSIM is simpler. If you want unlimited data and a Thai number, and don't mind the passport registration, a tourist SIM is a good deal.

How much data do you need in Thailand?

eSIMFOX's data calculator starts from about 0.5 GB per day for one device. As a guide:

• One week in Bangkok with hotel Wi-Fi: 3 to 5 GB.
• Two weeks with island hopping, maps, Grab and social media: 10 to 20 GB.
• A month or more: 30 to 50 GB, or top up as you go.
• Lots of video, video calls or hotspot use: Unlimited for 7 days.

How to set up your Thailand eSIM

1. Check that your phone is unlocked and eSIM-compatible: list of compatible devices.
2. Buy your plan and install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi by scanning the QR code from your email.
3. When you land in Thailand, turn on the eSIM line, select it for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it.
4. Turn off data roaming for your home SIM if your carrier charges for roaming. Calls and texts can stay on your home SIM.

Step-by-step help with screenshots is in our eSIM installation guide. No connection? Work through our eSIM troubleshooting guide.

Sources

• eSIMFOX: Thailand eSIM product page and Unlimited 7 days (prices, networks, validity, eKYC, hotspot, top-ups), checked Nov 6, 2026.
• True: Tourist SIM (449 THB FAQ, package terms, where to buy, passport rule, 3-SIM limit) and dtac and True amalgamation (March 1, 2023), checked Nov 6, 2026.
• AIS: SIM & Plans for Tourist, checked Nov 6, 2026 (prices could not be loaded).
• SIM registration rules: Tilleke & Gibbins, May 19, 2026, checked Nov 6, 2026.
• Airport Wi-Fi: Suvarnabhumi Airport free Wi-Fi, checked Nov 6, 2026.
• Exchange rate: European Central Bank, reference rate of Nov 5, 2026.

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• Thailand eSIM: all eSIMFOX plans
• Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport Wi-Fi guide
• What is an eSIM? How it works, setup and compatibility
• How to install and use your eSIM
• Why is my eSIM not working? Troubleshooting guide
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