E sim or get SIM on the ground when you arrive. Any suggestions on which is better more convenient. Thanks

6 minutes ago, irish 1 said:

E sim or get SIM on the ground when you arrive. Any suggestions on which is better more convenient. Thanks

I think eSIM is better and more convenient, especially if you expect to retain it for future visits.  Either one can be obtained ‘on the ground’ once you arrive.  eSIM can also be obtained from abroad through various vendors, but my preference is one of the Thai providers. 

I prefer using eSIMs, way more convenient for me. Easier to use apps, get OTPs for logins, and switch between numbers without having to pop the SIM out.

I used to lose physical SIMs all the time when swapping them. Depending on where you are from, I’d suggest  Klook to find reasonable E sim deals 

 

Edited October 23, 2025Oct 23 by Tiger407

5 hours ago, irish 1 said:

E sim or get SIM on the ground when you arrive. Any suggestions on which is better more convenient. Thanks

Try Jetpac esim. I used this year and it was reasonably cheap and easy. 

I always get an eSIM from Holafly for the first 2 or 3 days.
Once it expires, I just go to a 7/11 and grab a regular SIM card for about 1,000 baht, which lasts 30 days.
I’m not exactly sure how much data it comes with, but it’s always been more than enough for me.

I got my current 'SIM' after Covid at the airport because my previous one had expired because of not being able to return to Thailand because of the trave shutdown.

Before departing Thailand, I have added a load so it good for a year.

On each arrival I go to the phone booth and add a 1 month data package while waiting for my luggage to arrive on the belt.

BTW to the OP, I'm thinking the shortage title to a new thread ever. 

if u want direct internet on arrival i recommend e-sim

Are traveler eSIMs re-activateable or are they mostly one and done? I’m thinking of putting my Thai eSIM on an old phone to separate ‘fun’ and personal Line accounts since I’m tied to Apple so would prefer the latter.

I prefer eSIM, instant activation, no plastic to swap, and I keep the physical slot free. For short trips I’ll use a travel eSIM, but for repeat Thailand visits a Thai carrier eSIM (AIS/DTAC/True) is better since I can keep the number alive with cheap top-ups and use it for LINE.

On 28/10/2025 at 15:53, shionwisteria said:

Are traveler eSIMs re-activateable or are they mostly one and done? I’m thinking of putting my Thai eSIM on an old phone to separate ‘fun’ and personal Line accounts since I’m tied to Apple so would prefer the latter.

You can have multiple eSims on your iPhone and then choose in the settings which one to use. so in Thailand you can then for example choose to use an e.g. TRUE eSim for data and calls and when you are back switch it back to your home one. Am mentioning True as that was always fine and compared to what I pay at home very cheap. Would just check a bit which one you get as with some you then get hundreds of Thai marketing messages which is a bit annoying.

Also just to note in case it wasn't mentioned before when you go to a True store or so to get an eSim you need your passport. Don't really understand why but they will ask you for it at the store.

Just seen the Honest e-sim available in the UK. free roaming in 180 countries including Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philipines, China etc.

£45 a year or £10 a month. Data only and only certain apps supported, no FB, insta and some other data hungry social media. But no LINE or TF app support. But main apps like Maps, Whatsapp, mail, translate and most hotel, airline and travel apps are supported.

Might suit some who traval around a lot and can live with just the apps supported - there is a list on their website.

https://honestmobile.com/smart-sim

Not tried it myself, may give it a go for my back up phone when I have a lot of trips on.

SIMs - If you have a dual SIM Android phone. They are cheaper and more readily available. Recharges can be  at 7/11. More options if you need  calls and SMS.

eSIMs - If you only need data. Can be slightly more expensive. Better get them at the airport, or load them before you go. If you buy online ones as Jetpac, Airalo etc., you are convenient as you load them in your phone at your home country, but can be significantly more expensive especially the shorter duration ones. You may also get some free promotions for 1GB data or so.

If you have a Latitude mastercard, you can get a 15-day esim worth 3GB for free every year. This is the case for Australian customers, not sure about other countries.    

On 01/11/2025 at 16:44, Heihachi said:

You can have multiple eSims on your iPhone and then choose in the settings which one to use. so in Thailand you can then for example choose to use an e.g. TRUE eSim for data and calls and when you are back switch it back to your home one. Am mentioning True as that was always fine and compared to what I pay at home very cheap. Would just check a bit which one you get as with some you then get hundreds of Thai marketing messages which is a bit annoying.

Also just to note in case it wasn't mentioned before when you go to a True store or so to get an eSim you need your passport. Don't really understand why but they will ask you for it at the store.

Thanks for the reminder on the passport, I think I'll just get it at the airport even though it's slightly more expensive it just seems more convenient. My worry with the iPhone wasn't using dual sim as I'm used to it but the fact that you can only have one Line account active at a time.

I'll probably end up tying my 'fun' Thailand Line account one to my Apple Account or Thai number and then just deleting Line to 'relog'. Slightly more hassle but when I get back I won't see the notifications asking for money to help out water buffalos I guess 555.

I guess I may chose e sim which I’s pretty easy to install you can book from kook or other services you will find it near shops at airport or 7/11

Actual sim cards are going the way of the dodo. No real advantage to them over the e-sim anymore. Newer US phones are dual-E-sim, don't even have a sim slot. I would expect this to be the case everywhere in the next few years, it saves the space being used up in the phone for the slot and card/contacts.

Best prices possible in Thailand come from the big 3 services, AIS-DTAC-True, purchased at one of their stores, NOT at a booth in the airport. Stores are in every large mall, Big C Extra, Lotus-Tesco, etc.

Actual passports are required, and not a copy or photo on the phone. This is part of Thailand's fight against money-laundering and nominee bank accounts. As I understand it, if your phone number dies or you change it, your Thai bank ATM card stops working, until you present your passport again and tie the passport, sim, and bank account back together.

The real problem here is the voracious greed of western cellular companies. Things like a $10 charge per day on even momentary connection while in a foreign country. There are providers that have a better deal, worth switching if you travel often enough. I use Google Fi, no foreign connection fee at all, and still pulling data from the same pool at the same cost. And it works everywhere, including during flight connections in a third country. It isn't the only such service.

The alternatives are to be without connection at all until you get to a store (sucks not having a connection at the airport or getting with your taxi driver), paying the fee to the western cellular provider, using airport wifi (sucks, especially through a vpn), getting a travel sim or e-sim just to use for 1 day, or paying more for a connection purchased at the airport booth.

I know there is a good advantage to exchanging cash at the SuperRich booth on the ground floor of BKK, past the train ramp, but I don't know if the cellular booths down there give a better deal. It might be worth checking out if you're planning on getting a sim/E-sim at the airport anyway.

On 14/11/2025 at 07:13, Phoenix Dave said:

Actual sim cards are going the way of the dodo. No real advantage to them over the e-sim anymore. Newer US phones are dual-E-sim, don't even have a sim slot. I would expect this to be the case everywhere in the next few years, it saves the space being used up in the phone for the slot and card/contacts.

Best prices possible in Thailand come from the big 3 services, AIS-DTAC-True, purchased at one of their stores, NOT at a booth in the airport. Stores are in every large mall, Big C Extra, Lotus-Tesco, etc.

Actual passports are required, and not a copy or photo on the phone. This is part of Thailand's fight against money-laundering and nominee bank accounts. As I understand it, if your phone number dies or you change it, your Thai bank ATM card stops working, until you present your passport again and tie the passport, sim, and bank account back together.

The real problem here is the voracious greed of western cellular companies. Things like a $10 charge per day on even momentary connection while in a foreign country. There are providers that have a better deal, worth switching if you travel often enough. I use Google Fi, no foreign connection fee at all, and still pulling data from the same pool at the same cost. And it works everywhere, including during flight connections in a third country. It isn't the only such service.

The alternatives are to be without connection at all until you get to a store (sucks not having a connection at the airport or getting with your taxi driver), paying the fee to the western cellular provider, using airport wifi (sucks, especially through a vpn), getting a travel sim or e-sim just to use for 1 day, or paying more for a connection purchased at the airport booth.

I know there is a good advantage to exchanging cash at the SuperRich booth on the ground floor of BKK, past the train ramp, but I don't know if the cellular booths down there give a better deal. It might be worth checking out if you're planning on getting a sim/E-sim at the airport anyway.

Great post.

For shorter duration travel, it is better to just get a sim or e-sim at the airport. Yes, may cost a couple of dollars extra, but you are connected at the airport and can use it instantly for grab etc. The airport counters also do it for you and speak enough English to work through. They also have clear options available for you so you can choose easily. Saves the trip to a supermarket and trying to explain and get the options you want over the counter who trying to serve other customers buying stuff.

Because I'm fairly well covered by my home plan, zero extra charges for data internationally, I can go to an AIS booth at the mall at my leisure. I tried just using my home plan full time, but they cut off my data a couple months in, until I got home. The plans in Thailand have amazing amounts of 5G data for the price, compared to the USA. I use my iPhone as a hotspot, and don't ever bother to connect to hotel or restaurant/bar wifi. Much more secure, don't even need VPN.

Because I've turned off the home plan data connection, I can leave the phone number in service. My family can call just like I'm down the street, no difference they can see, no dialing +1. The calls are extra charge for me, but with my parents in failing health, I like that they can call if they need to.

If I was only going for a few weeks, especially if I was someone who didn't use much data, then yes I probably would just get it at the airport. However, I use my iPhone hotspot to run my Amazon Fire so I can watch American TV, so it's worth it to get a stronger data plan. And usually stay 1-2 months per trip.

Hi all,

Just seen this topic and wanted to ask. Has anyone signed up or used a eSim company before travelling to SEA? Like Simify or something?

As im travelling around Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam etc was wondering how seamless these work and if I can expect no issues when going between country to country.

Someone previously in this thread mmentioned only some apps being supported with a similar company?

Thanks all?

I got my SIM from 711 yesterday as my vacation phone doesn't support esim. 199B for 30GB and 1 month.

Did some investigations and decided to go for the Ubigi "Best Asia Unlimited" plan for 30 days.

Unlimited data usage and all the countries mentioned previously are covered. Only $78 (£60) 

Reading the fair usage policy, speeds are throttled to 1Mbps when you hit 60GB of download data. So will need to ensure I connect to Wi-Fi when possible! 

 

Edited November 20, 2025Nov 20 by st0nedpimp
Image not needed

2 hours ago, st0nedpimp said:

Did some investigations and decided to go for the Ubigi "Best Asia Unlimited" plan for 30 days.

Unlimited data usage and all the countries mentioned previously are covered. Only $78 (£60) 

Reading the fair usage policy, speeds are throttled to 1Mbps when you hit 60GB of download data. So will need to ensure I connect to Wi-Fi when possible! 

 

Make sure your VPN is up to date, and use it EVERYWHERE you use wifi. Even in your hotel room. The hotels just don't invest in security, they think they spend enough just getting sufficient coverage.

Verizon gives me 12 free international days a year. 

Do Thai eSims give you a phone number and let you make calls?  My eSim experience with GigSky and FlexiRoam has been data only.  Being able to make calls and send and receive texts with a Thai number would be better.

I presume with a Thai eSim I cold just turn off data on my home sim but still receive texts on it?  I often need texts for double authentications for home accounts.

4 hours ago, pattayaplayer said:

Do Thai eSims give you a phone number and let you make calls?  My eSim experience with GigSky and FlexiRoam has been data only.  Being able to make calls and send and receive texts with a Thai number would be better.

I presume with a Thai eSim I cold just turn off data on my home sim but still receive texts on it?  I often need texts for double authentications for home accounts.

Depends on the eSIM you choose.  I’ve an eSIM with AIS with a Thai number I’ve had for years for calls/texts and data.  

On 20/11/2025 at 02:16, st0nedpimp said:

Hi all,

Just seen this topic and wanted to ask. Has anyone signed up or used a eSim company before travelling to SEA? Like Simify or something?

As im travelling around Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam etc was wondering how seamless these work and if I can expect no issues when going between country to country.

Someone previously in this thread mmentioned only some apps being supported with a similar company?

Thanks all?

Yes, I've done it several times, purchasing the eSIM online. That way, I have my in-Thailand phone number in advance of arriving, and my driver can use it to contact me at the airport, etc. 

I've used dTAC before, and I haven't surveyed how many companies offer it now. It's easy to find using a google search.  Hope this helps.