Thailand travel eSIM guide
Thirteen travel eSIM providers, their Thailand price lists side by side, and the network data that matters once you land in Bangkok, Chiang Mai or the islands.
Scores are editorial and explained on the scoring page.
You can be online in Thailand before the plane door opens if you choose the plan at home. This guide lines up travel eSIM providers by what their own Thailand pages list: plan sizes, validity, prices and payment options, next to independent network data for AIS, dtac and TrueMove H. Use it to match a plan to your trip length and data habits, whichever brand you end up buying.
The short version
Not sure which plan fits?
Open the plan finder: enter your days in Thailand and the data you need, and it lists every matching plan from the 13 providers, cheapest first.
The right Thailand eSIM depends less on brand and more on three things: how long you stay, how much you stream, and how you want to pay. These are the shortcuts we would give a friend packing for Suvarnabhumi tomorrow.
Two to four weeks
10 GB for 30 days costs $11.00 and 20 GB for 30 days costs $19.00. A good starting size for maps, ride apps and social media.
One to six months
50 GB lasts 90 days for $45.00 and 100 GB lasts 180 days for $89.00. No monthly repurchase while you work from Chiang Mai or winter on the coast.
Islands and the north
Nomad lists True, AIS and dtac and says the eSIM can switch between them. Useful if you hop between Krabi, Koh Samui and the hills.
Long weekend
1 GB for 7 days costs $2.99 at Saily and $3 at Ubigi. Ubigi's clock starts only when you arrive.
Daily streaming
Airalo lists 30 days of unlimited data for $49.00. Holafly offers unlimited plans from 1 to 90 days with a 500 MB daily hotspot allowance.
Crypto wallet
TonMobile accepts TON and Bitcoin next to Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay, and asks for no documents to buy.
For most trips to Thailand, TonMobile is the eSIM to start with: it lists seven fixed plans from 1 GB for $4.00 to 100 GB for $89.00, with validity up to 180 days, and takes cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, TON or Bitcoin. HelloRoam, Nomad and Saily are close behind on price for 10 GB, and Airalo, Maya Mobile and Holafly make sense if you want unlimited data.
Each provider below is described from its own Thailand plan page, read on October 27, 2026. Where a provider does not state something, such as which Thai network it uses, we say so instead of guessing. Scores come from six criteria explained on the scoring page; the full board with criterion bars is on the provider board.
TonMobile is a travel eSIM service run by Intermob Limited, a Hong Kong company, and sold through a Telegram mini app, an iOS app, an Android app and its web shop. It lists eSIMs for 180+ countries. For Thailand it shows two tabs: standard plans with a fixed amount of data, and unlimited passes priced by day.
The standard ladder is the reason TonMobile leads this board. It starts with 1 GB for 7 days and climbs through 3, 5, 10 and 20 GB on 30-day validity, then jumps to 50 GB for 90 days and 100 GB for 180 days. Nobody else on the board lists fixed plans that run longer than a month.
The price per gigabyte falls from $4.00 on the starter to $0.89 on the 100 GB plan. For a two-week trip, 10 GB at $11.00 is the sensible middle. For anyone staying a season, the 50 GB and 100 GB packs remove the monthly top-up routine that every 30-day plan forces on you.
| TonMobile unlimited pass | Price | Price per day |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | $3.81 | $3.81 |
| 3 days | $10.05 | $3.35 |
| 5 days | $16.28 | $3.26 |
| 7 days | $22.53 | $3.22 |
| 15 days | $47.47 | $3.16 |
| 30 days | $94.25 | $3.14 |
The unlimited passes include 1 GB a day at full speed; after that the line drops to 512 kbps until the next day. That is fine for messaging and maps, slow for video. In practice the fixed plans are better value: a month of unlimited costs $94.25, while 20 GB for the same 30 days costs $19.00.
Payment is where TonMobile stands apart. The checkout takes Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay, plus Bitcoin and TON, including TON through Telegram. The homepage states that no documents are required. TonMobile's terms add that you have 180 days after purchase to activate, that data starts counting only once the eSIM is active on a phone, and that refunds for unsupported devices or network faults can be requested within 180 days of purchase.
Pros
Cons
On Google Play the TonMobile app shows 4.5 stars from 162 reviews and 10,000+ downloads, last updated on September 16, 2026. The iOS app lets you top up without reinstalling the eSIM and track remaining data and validity.
Nomad's Thailand page names True, AIS and dtac and says the eSIM can switch between local networks. That is the most complete network statement on the board, and it matters once you leave Bangkok for islands or provinces where one network is stronger than another.
| Nomad plan | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $5 |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $6 |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $8 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $10 |
| 50 GB | 10 days | $15 |
| Unlimited | 10 days | $15 (sale) |
Nomad's 10 GB for 30 days at $10 is a dollar under TonMobile and three cents above HelloRoam's $9.97. The 50 GB pack looks generous at $15, but it expires after 10 days, so it suits a short, heavy trip rather than a long stay. Nomad's FAQ confirms hotspot support.
Pros
Cons
Saily lists 1 GB for 7 days at $2.99, the lowest 7-day entry price on the board. Its fixed ladder runs 3 GB for $5.99, 5 GB for $7.99, 10 GB for $10.99 and 20 GB for $19.99, all on 30-day validity.
Saily also sells unlimited passes from 5 to 30 days. The page shows a price only for 15 days, $38.99, with 5 GB a day at full speed and up to 1 Mbps after that. Hotspot use is listed as unrestricted. Saily does not name its Thai networks and says 5G depends on the local provider.
Pros
Cons
Ubigi's Thailand offer shows a 1 GB, 7-day plan at $3 on AIS and True Move. Its Smartstart feature starts validity when you arrive in Thailand, and an unused eSIM can be activated for up to six months after purchase. That makes it easy to buy well before the trip.
The weakness is range: the Thailand page lists only that one plan. Top-ups happen inside the Ubigi app.
Airalo's Thailand page currently lists only unlimited passes: $9.50 for 3 days, $15.00 for 5 days, $21.00 for 7 days, $31.00 for 10 days, $39.00 for 15 days and $49.00 for 30 days. The network shown is True plus one more partner.
The 30-day pass is the cheapest dollar-priced month of unlimited data in this comparison, just under Maya Mobile's $49.99. For light users the maths turns around: a 10 GB fixed plan for $10 to $11 elsewhere covers many two-week trips for a quarter of the price.
Holafly sells unlimited Thailand data with plan lengths from 1 to 90 days. The listed prices are $12.90 for 3 days, $20.90 for 5 days, $29.90 for 7 days, $36.90 for 10 days, $50.90 for 15 days and $74.90 for 30 days.
Hotspot sharing is capped at 500 MB a day, calls work only through apps, and some carriers may slow speeds under a fair usage policy. Holafly fits a traveler who streams every evening and never wants to look at a data counter.
HelloRoam lists seven fixed Thailand plans: 1 GB for 7 days at $3.49, then 3 GB for $4.99, 5 GB for $6.99, 10 GB for $9.97 and 20 GB for $15.99 on 30-day validity, plus 50 GB for 7 days at $14.38 and 50 GB for 30 days at $48.00. The $9.97 for 10 GB is the lowest price for that size on the board.
Its page names AIS, DTAC and TrueMove H, all on 5G, and says hotspot sharing is supported at no extra fee. Unlimited passes run from 1 day at $3.71 to 30 days at $75.68, but the page does not spell out fair-use limits. Validity starts when the eSIM first connects at your destination.
Yesim shows six fixed Thailand plans priced in euros: 1 GB for €2.60, 5 GB for €7.00, 10 GB for €11.00, 20 GB for €17.00, 30 GB for €23.00 and 50 GB for €34.00. Every plan is valid for 30 days.
You have 180 days to activate after purchase, and validity begins when the eSIM connects to a network. Checkout takes cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal and UnionPay. Yesim does not name its Thai operators, and its page says hotspot use depends on the operator.
Sim Local's plan-selection page lists 3 GB for 7 days at $5.50, 5 GB for 30 days at $8.00, 10 GB for 30 days at $10.25 and 20 GB for 30 days at $18.25. Its "unlimited" tiers state a daily high-speed cap: 5 GB a day costs $20.75 for 7 days and $39.25 for 15 days, and the 10 GB-a-day Pro tier costs $27.75 and $49.50.
A 10-day plan on the True network is listed at $13 as an autumn promo, shown as 50 GB with no daily cap stated. Checkout takes Stripe, Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal. Hotspot rules and the validity start are not stated, and prices on other Sim Local pages differ slightly, so check the final price at checkout.
aloSIM lists six fixed plans on the AIS network: 1 GB for 7 days at $3.50, 2 GB for 15 days at $5.00, 3 GB for 30 days at $6.00, 5 GB for $8.00, 10 GB for $16.00 and 20 GB for $19.50.
The page says a free international phone number from Hushed comes with purchase. It also lists six day-based tiers from 3 to 30 days at $11.50 to $49.00 without stating a data amount, so we do not count them as unlimited. Hotspot rules and the validity start are not stated.
Jetpac lists fixed 30-day plans of 5 GB for $7, 10 GB for $11.50, 15 GB for $12.50, 20 GB for $28, 30 GB for $23.99 and 40 GB for $29.99. The list is out of order, with 20 GB costing more than 30 GB, so compare the sizes around your target before buying.
The only unlimited plan runs 30 days at $65.99, with 3 GB every 24 hours at standard speed and up to 1 Mbps after that. Hotspot is allowed with no data cap, and an eSIM you do not activate stays in your account for three months. Jetpac does not name the carriers.
Simbye sells unlimited plans only: 7 days for €19.95, 15 days for €33.95 and 30 days for €47.95, priced in euros. Its page names TrueMove H and DTAC and allows hotspot use. Validity counts from the first connection in Thailand, not from purchase.
Each plan includes a +66 number that can receive calls and SMS, which helps with codes sent by text; outgoing calls and texts are barred. The page mentions a 50 GB fair-use limit before speeds drop to 1 Mbps, and checkout takes Visa, Google Pay and PayPal.
Maya Mobile's Thailand page lists four unlimited plans: 3 days for $9.99, 7 days for $19.99, 14 days for $27.99 and 30 days for $49.99. Hotspot is listed as included.
The page shows no fixed-data plans, names no Thai network and states no fair-use limits. The 14-day and 30-day plans auto-renew while Travel Mode is on, which you can turn off, so check that setting before you fly home.
The table lines up the common plan sizes. Every number is the price the provider listed on its own Thailand page on October 27, 2026. "Not listed" means the page did not show that option, not that it can never exist. Yesim and Simbye price in euros, so their figures are shown with the euro sign and are not converted.
| Provider | 1 GB, 7 days | 10 GB, 30 days | 20 GB, 30 days | 7-day unlimited | Longest plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TonMobile | $4.00 | $11.00 | $19.00 | $22.53 | 100 GB, 180 days ($89.00) |
| Nomad | $5 | $10 | Not listed | Not listed | 10 GB, 30 days ($10) |
| Saily | $2.99 | $10.99 | $19.99 | Not listed | 20 GB, 30 days ($19.99) |
| Ubigi | $3 | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | 1 GB, 7 days ($3) |
| Airalo | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | $21.00 | Unlimited, 30 days ($49.00) |
| Holafly | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | $29.90 | Unlimited, up to 90 days |
| HelloRoam | $3.49 | $9.97 | $15.99 | $22.85 | Unlimited, 30 days ($75.68) |
| Sim Local | Not listed | $10.25 | $18.25 | $20.75 (5 GB a day) | 20 GB, 30 days ($18.25) |
| aloSIM | $3.50 | $16.00 | $19.50 | Not listed | 20 GB, 30 days ($19.50) |
| Jetpac | Not listed | $11.50 | $28.00 | Not listed | Unlimited, 30 days ($65.99) |
| Yesim | €2.60 (30 days) | €11.00 | €17.00 | Not listed | 50 GB, 30 days (€34.00) |
| Maya Mobile | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | $19.99 | Unlimited, 30 days ($49.99) |
| Simbye | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | €19.95 | Unlimited, 30 days (€47.95) |
Three patterns stand out. First, a 10 GB month costs between $9.97 and $11.50 at six providers (HelloRoam $9.97, Nomad $10, Sim Local $10.25, Saily $10.99, TonMobile $11.00, Jetpac $11.50), with Yesim at €11.00 and aloSIM the outlier at $16.00. Second, for 20 GB HelloRoam lists $15.99 and Sim Local $18.25, ahead of TonMobile ($19.00), aloSIM ($19.50) and Saily ($19.99), while Jetpac asks $28.00. Third, past 30 days only TonMobile keeps a fixed plan running, with 50 GB for 90 days and 100 GB for 180 days.
A worked example makes the gap clearer. Take two weeks in Bangkok and Phuket with maps, ride apps, messaging and some social media on a 10 GB plan. That trip costs $9.97 at HelloRoam, $10 at Nomad, $10.99 at Saily or $11.00 at TonMobile on a fixed plan. The same 14 days on an unlimited pass would cost $39.00 for 15 days at Airalo, $47.47 for 15 days at TonMobile or $50.90 at Holafly. Unless you stream every day, the fixed plan wins by roughly $28 to $41.
Use the finder below to turn your own trip into a plan size. It is a rule of thumb, not a measurement of your phone, and it pulls prices from the same table.
Find a plan size for your trip
Suggested size: 5 GB
An editorial rule of thumb, not a usage measurement. Prices as listed by each provider on October 27, 2026.
An unlimited Thailand eSIM sounds safer, but the numbers usually favour a fixed plan. A month of 10 GB costs about $10 to $11.50 at most providers, while the cheapest dollar-priced month of unlimited data on this board costs $49.00 at Airalo, with Maya Mobile at $49.99 and Holafly at $74.90.
Fixed plan
Unlimited pass
Unlimited is the right call when you will stream video most days, run video calls for work, or cannot predict your use. For everyone else, a fixed plan plus hotel and cafe Wi-Fi is cheaper, and you can top up if a week of beach videos runs the counter down.
Read the daily allowance
"Unlimited" on a Thailand eSIM almost always means unlimited at reduced speed after a daily threshold. Compare that threshold, not only the price: 1 GB and 5 GB a day are very different experiences.
Thailand has three main mobile networks: AIS, TrueMove H and dtac. Opensignal's Thailand Mobile Network Experience report, published in August 2026 with data from April 1 to June 29, 2026, puts them very close on everyday speed.
| Network | Download | 5G download | 5G availability | Coverage experience | Opensignal wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIS | 40.8 Mbps | 94.0 Mbps | 87.9% | 8.9 / 10 | Coverage Experience, 5G Coverage Experience, Consistent Quality, Upload Speed |
| dtac | 41.1 Mbps | 102.7 Mbps | 87.2% | 8.6 / 10 | Download Speed, 5G Download Speed, Reliability |
| TrueMove H | 38.7 Mbps | 88.6 Mbps | 90.2% | 8.6 / 10 | 5G Availability |
The spread on average download speed is only 2.4 Mbps, from 38.7 to 41.1. Where the networks differ more is coverage experience, where AIS scores 8.9 out of 10 against 8.6 for the other two, and 5G availability, where TrueMove H leads with 90.2%. dtac and TrueMove H share Opensignal's Best Network award in this round.
What this means for picking an eSIM: the provider's price list and validity will shape your trip more than the network name. If you plan to spend time on smaller islands or in rural provinces, a provider that names AIS, or one that can switch networks like Nomad, is a reasonable tiebreaker.
| Provider | Thai networks named on the plan page |
|---|---|
| Nomad | True, AIS, dtac, with switching |
| Ubigi | AIS, True Move |
| Airalo | True plus one partner network |
| TonMobile | Not stated on the plan page |
| Saily | Not stated |
| Holafly | Not stated on the plan page |
| HelloRoam | AIS, DTAC, TrueMove H (5G), plus one more |
| Simbye | TrueMove H and DTAC |
| aloSIM | AIS |
| Sim Local | True on its promo plan; others not named |
| Yesim, Jetpac, Maya Mobile | Not named on the plan page |
A typical first trip runs Bangkok, then north to Chiang Mai or south to Phuket, Krabi and the Gulf islands. One eSIM covers the whole country, so there is nothing to change between stops; the only question is whether your data lasts the route.
A travel eSIM is a digital SIM profile you install before you leave, so the phone goes online on landing. A Thai tourist SIM is a physical card from an airport kiosk or shop; it comes with a Thai number but has to be registered to your passport at the counter.
| Option | 8 days | 15 days | 30 days | Thai number | Passport at a counter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIS Traveller SIM | ฿449 | ฿699 | ฿1,199 | Yes | Required |
| dtac Happy Tourist | ฿299 | ฿599 | ฿1,199 | Yes | Required |
| TrueMove H Tourist | ฿449 | ฿699 | ฿1,199 | Yes | Required |
| TonMobile eSIM | From $4.00 (1 GB, 7 days) to $19.00 (20 GB, 30 days) | No | Not needed | ||
Tourist SIM prices come from Saily's October 2025 guide. AIS and TrueMove H sell unlimited data under fair usage; dtac offers 15 GB, 30 GB or unlimited depending on the pack. Registration takes about 10 to 30 minutes, and airport counters typically charge 20 to 30 percent more than shops in the city.
With an eSIM
With a tourist SIM
Roaming with your home carrier needs no setup at all, but the price is set by your carrier. TonMobile describes its eSIMs as up to five times cheaper than roaming; that is the provider's own claim, so check your carrier's Thailand rate before deciding.
When a tourist SIM still makes sense
If you need a Thai phone number for local calls or for apps that send codes by SMS, a tourist SIM gives you one. One practical setup combines both: an eSIM for data from the moment they land, and their home line kept on for bank texts.
Installing a Thailand eSIM takes a few minutes on home Wi-Fi. Apple's support page notes that iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and later support eSIM, and that the phone must not be locked to a carrier.
On iPhone open SettingsGeneralAbout and look for "No SIM restrictions" next to carrier lock. TonMobile also has a compatibility check on its plan page.
Pick Thailand and a plan size. With TonMobile you can buy in Telegram, the App Store app, the Google Play app or the web shop, and you have 180 days to activate.
Scan the QR code or use the provider's in-app install. Give the new line a clear label such as "Thailand".
Open SettingsCellularCellular Data and pick the Thailand line. Keep your home line on for calls and SMS if you need them.
Switch on data roaming for the Thailand line only. Your home line can still incur roaming charges, so leave its data off.
Do not forget the arrival card
Since May 1, 2025, every foreign visitor fills in the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) within 72 hours before arrival. It is free at tdac.immigration.go.th; sites that charge for it are scams. Save the QR code offline in case the arrivals hall Wi-Fi is slow.
There is no single right number, because a week of maps and messages and a week of Instagram stories from Railay Beach use very different amounts. The table maps common trips to TonMobile's plan sizes as a starting point.
| Trip | Plan size to start with | TonMobile price |
|---|---|---|
| Long weekend in Bangkok, maps and messages | 1 GB, 7 days | $4.00 |
| One week, social media and photos | 3 GB, 30 days | $5.50 |
| Two weeks, Bangkok plus the islands | 10 GB, 30 days | $11.00 |
| A month with video calls | 20 GB, 30 days | $19.00 |
| Three months, remote work | 50 GB, 90 days | $45.00 |
| Up to six months | 100 GB, 180 days | $89.00 |
If you hotspot a laptop every day, size up one step or look at an unlimited pass and its daily allowance. Hotel, guesthouse and cafe Wi-Fi stretches any plan further.
Every provider here takes bank cards. TonMobile is the one on the board whose site lists crypto at checkout: Bitcoin and TON, including TON through Telegram, alongside Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
TonMobile's homepage also says no documents are required, and its terms state that it does not verify user identity except where the law requires. For refunds, card payments return within up to 14 calendar days and electronic or crypto payments within up to 5 business days, according to the terms.
Card or wallet
The simplest route for most travelers. Use a card without foreign transaction fees if you have one.
Crypto
Bitcoin and TON listed at checkout, with a Telegram mini app for buying inside the messenger.
First purchase
The Thailand plan page shows $1.50 off a first eSIM.
Chiang Mai and the islands attract people who stay for months, not days. On a 30-day plan that means buying again every month; across a season, the hassle adds up even when the price does not.
TonMobile's 50 GB for 90 days at $45.00 and 100 GB for 180 days at $89.00 are the only fixed plans on this board that cover a full season in one purchase. Holafly also sells unlimited plans up to 90 days, which suits heavy streamers, but sharing is capped at 500 MB a day, which matters if your laptop runs on your phone's hotspot.
Keep a backup line
For long stays, some travelers add a local SIM for a Thai number and keep the eSIM as the data line. Two lines on one phone also give you a second network if one has a weak spot.
Most "no service" moments after landing come from a setting, not from the network. Work through these in order before contacting support.
If it still fails, contact the provider before deleting anything. TonMobile's terms say support may offer re-activation or a replacement eSIM for an unresolved fault, and note that deleted or wrongly installed profiles are not refunded.
An eSIM is a SIM profile stored on a chip that is already inside your phone. Instead of a plastic card, the provider sends a profile you install by QR code or inside its app, and the phone treats it as a second line.
For a trip to Thailand that has three practical effects. You can set everything up at home, days before the flight. You keep your home SIM in the phone, so bank texts and your usual number still reach you. And you can hold several eSIM profiles, switching the data line between them in settings.
Before you fly
Apple's support page notes that a travel eSIM can be bought before you leave or after you arrive, and set up over Wi-Fi.
On landing
Two eSIMs can be active at once: the home line for calls and SMS, the Thailand line for data.
Back home
Turn the home line's data on again. The Thailand profile can stay on the phone for the next trip or be removed.
You can buy a travel eSIM either way, but buying before departure removes the only stressful part: being offline in an arrivals hall while you look for a ride. The open question is when the plan's clock starts, because buying three weeks early should not cost you three weeks of validity.
| Provider | When validity starts, as stated |
|---|---|
| TonMobile | Data is consumed from activation on a device; activation window of 180 days after purchase |
| Ubigi | Smartstart: validity starts when you arrive in Thailand; activate within 6 months |
| HelloRoam | Starts when the eSIM first connects at the destination |
| Simbye | Counts from the first connection in Thailand, not from purchase |
| Yesim | Starts at first network connection; activate within 180 days of purchase |
| Jetpac | Starts when you activate or connect; an unactivated eSIM stays in your account for three months |
| Nomad, Saily, Airalo, Holafly and the rest | See each provider's plan page and terms before buying early |
With TonMobile, Ubigi, Yesim and Jetpac you can safely buy as soon as your flights are booked. For the others, read the activation rule on the plan page; it varies and changes.
Install on Wi-Fi, activate on arrival
Installing the profile and starting the plan are two different steps with several providers. Install at home, leave the Thailand line's data roaming off, and switch it on after you land.
One Thailand eSIM covers the whole country, so the destination matters only through how you will use data there. Here is how common routes translate into plan choices.
Bangkok is ride apps, maps, metro and food delivery all day. A city break of up to a week fits a small plan; a 3 GB pack for 30 days at $5.50 from TonMobile or $5.99 from Saily leaves room. Hotel Wi-Fi covers evening streaming.
Chiang Mai is a popular base for longer stays. If you are staying more than a month, TonMobile's 50 GB for 90 days avoids buying a new pack every few weeks. Day trips into the hills are where a provider that names AIS, which scored highest for coverage experience in Opensignal's report, gives extra comfort.
Beach days mean photos, video and stories. Ten to twenty gigabytes for 30 days suits most two to three week trips: $11.00 or $19.00 at TonMobile, $10 for 10 GB at Nomad. Coverage on smaller islands varies, so download maps before boat days.
Island hopping works the same way: one eSIM for the whole trip. If you plan many ferry days, Nomad's network switching or an AIS-based plan is a reasonable tiebreaker, and downloading offline maps before each crossing helps.
Two conditions decide it: the phone must support eSIM, and it must not be locked to your home carrier. According to Apple, iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and later support eSIM.
If your phone is locked, no travel eSIM will work, whatever the provider. TonMobile's terms list an unsupported device among the cases that qualify for a refund, but checking first saves the back and forth.
Refund rules are where eSIM providers differ quietly. Read them before buying, especially for long plans.
TonMobile's terms list three refund cases: an unsupported device, no network within the declared coverage area, and an unresolved delivery or data fault. The request has to come before the package expires and no later than 180 days after purchase, and support may first offer re-activation, a replacement eSIM or another local operator.
| TonMobile refund detail | As stated in the terms |
|---|---|
| Eligible cases | Unsupported device, network unavailable in coverage area, unresolved fault |
| Not eligible | Deleted or wrongly installed profile, no signal indoors outside coverage |
| Deadline | Before package expiry and within 180 days of purchase |
| Card refunds | Up to 14 calendar days |
| Electronic and crypto refunds | Up to 5 business days |
Never delete a profile that is not working
Most providers, TonMobile included, do not refund deleted profiles. Contact support first; a replacement is usually faster than a refund.
TonMobile leads the board on range, validity and payment, but it is not the right answer for every traveler. Being clear about that is part of the comparison.
For trips longer than a month, for crypto payment, or for anyone who wants one plan from a small pack up to 100 GB, TonMobile is still the provider we would open first.
Ten minutes before you leave home saves an hour in the arrivals hall. This is the order we would run through on the evening before the flight.
A carrier-locked phone rejects every travel eSIM. Check the lock status in the phone's settings or ask your carrier.
Under a week, a small fixed plan. Two to four weeks, 10 to 20 GB. Longer than a month, a 90-day or 180-day plan so you do not repurchase on the road.
Label the line "Thailand" so it is easy to find, and leave its data roaming off until you land.
Your TDAC QR code, hotel address in Thai and English, and offline maps for the first city.
You will use it to check remaining data, top up, or reach support if the line does not connect.
With that done, the only thing left after landing is to switch on roaming for the Thailand line. The phone joins a local network and your maps, ride apps and messages work before you reach passport control.
Plan pages use a handful of terms that are easy to misread. These are the ones that change what you pay or what you get.
Validity
The number of days the data can be used once the plan starts. TonMobile's plans run 7, 30, 90 or 180 days depending on size.
Activation window
The time between purchase and first use. TonMobile allows 180 days; Ubigi allows six months and starts validity on arrival.
Daily allowance
Full-speed data per day on an unlimited pass before the speed drops. TonMobile: 1 GB, then 512 kbps. Saily: 5 GB, then up to 1 Mbps.
Hotspot
Some providers cap it: Holafly allows 500 MB a day. Saily lists it as unrestricted and Nomad says it is supported.
Data roaming
A travel eSIM is a foreign line on a Thai network, so the phone treats it as roaming. Turn roaming on for that line only.
Top-up
Buying more data without installing a new profile. TonMobile's app supports top-ups without reinstalling, and Ubigi tops up in its app.
More terms, from EID to fair usage, are in the glossary.
Each provider is scored from 1 to 10 on six criteria: price per GB, plan range, validity length, payment options, network transparency, and signup and setup. The overall score is the plain average. No provider pays for a position, and the inputs are the public plan pages listed in the sources.
| Criterion | What it rewards |
|---|---|
| Price per GB | Low cost at the plan sizes travelers buy most |
| Plan range | Choice from small to large plans, fixed and unlimited |
| Validity length | Plans that cover long trips without repurchasing |
| Payment options | Methods listed at checkout |
| Network transparency | Naming the Thai networks used |
| Signup and setup | Steps and documents needed to get online |
The detailed rules are on the scoring page. This comparison reads published plan pages and independent network data; it does not include our own speed measurements in Thailand.
A tourist SIM from AIS, dtac or TrueMove H gives you a Thai number after a passport check at the counter. A travel eSIM gives you data only, set up at home before you fly.
Match your trip length and the way you use your phone to the right Thailand eSIM plan, from 1 GB for a stopover to 100 GB for a long stay.
Install the travel eSIM at home, leave it idle until landing, then switch on one line and its data roaming. Steps for iPhone and Android, plus the arrival day.
TonMobile leads this comparison with seven fixed plans from 1 GB ($4.00) to 100 GB ($89.00), six unlimited passes and validity up to 180 days. Nomad and Saily are close on 10 GB pricing at $10 and $10.99.
Saily lists 1 GB for 7 days at $2.99, and Ubigi lists 1 GB for 7 days at $3. For two weeks, a 10 GB plan for 30 days costs $9.97 at HelloRoam, $10 at Nomad, $10.99 at Saily and $11.00 at TonMobile.
No. The travel eSIMs compared here are data only. Calls work through apps such as WhatsApp or LINE, and you can keep your home line active for SMS. Tourist SIMs from AIS, dtac and TrueMove H include a Thai number.
TonMobile lists Bitcoin and TON at checkout, next to Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay. According to its terms, refunds on crypto payments are returned within up to 5 business days.
They are close. In Opensignal's August 2026 report, dtac led download speed at 41.1 Mbps, AIS led coverage experience at 8.9 out of 10, and TrueMove H led 5G availability at 90.2%.
Not for the travel eSIMs here; TonMobile states that no documents are required. Physical tourist SIMs need passport registration at the counter, which takes about 10 to 30 minutes.
Install it at home on Wi-Fi a few days before the flight, then turn on data roaming for that line after landing. TonMobile gives you 180 days to activate after purchase, and Ubigi starts validity only on arrival.
Only for heavy daily streaming or hotspot use. A 30-day unlimited pass costs $49.00 at Airalo and $74.90 at Holafly, while 10 GB for 30 days costs $10 to $11.
