When planning a trip to Thailand, one of the most important aspects to take into account is the internet connection. That’s why in this article we discuss how to find the best travel eSIM for Thailand, so you can connect to the internet immediately without paying excessive bills like with roaming, or compromising your data on public wifi networks.
When comparing eSIM cards from different providers you need to look at features such as speed, data limit, customer support, price and plan duration, to see whether or not they suit your trip. At Passporter we have done the work for you and below you will be able to see a comparison of the main brands such as Holafly, Airalo or Maya Mobile, among others.
We can already tell you that the eSIM cards with unlimited data like those of Holafly are a safe bet with no extra charges and 24/7 support.
eSIM comparison for a trip to Thailand
When comparing different eSIM brands we must take into account all the features that will determine if the card fits the needs of our trip. That’s why we have prepared this table with all the essential information about each brand to help you choose. We’ll go into more detail on each eSIM brand later on so you won’t miss any of the information.
| Brand | Plan duration | Data sharing | Unlimited data | App | GB per plan | Support | Price | Trustpilot | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holafly | 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60 and 90 days | No | Yes | Yes | Unlimited data on all plans | In English and other languages, direct chat and WhatsApp | 19€ -99€ | 4,6 | 4,3 |
| Nomad | 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 days | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unlimited data | In English, by email or App | 7€ – 30€ | 3,1 | 3 |
| Maya Mobile | 5, 10, 15, and 30 days | Yes | Yes | No | 3GB, 5GB, 10GB , 20GB and Unlimited | In English, via a bot | 7€ – 56€ | 4,5 | 3,2 |
| Truphone | 1 and 30 days | Sometimes | No | Yes | 500 MB, 1GB, 2GB, 3GB , 5GB, 10GB, 20GB and 50GB | In English via bot | 4€ – 65€ | 3,9 | 3,8 |
1. Holafly, eSIM for Thailand with Unlimited Data and 24/7 customer support in English
| Advantages | They offer data packages by continent and by country. Holafly’s eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install with QR code or manually. They offer a wide variety of eSIM cards with different prices and contract durations. They have eSIM cards for 160 destinations. Most of their eSIM plans have unlimited data. 24/7 technical support in Spanish, English, German, French, Italian, and Japanese. Very flexible pricing. They have unlimited data plans. You can pay in euros, dollars and Mexican pesos. Flexible duration of data plans: 5, 10, 15, 15, 20, 30, 60 and 90 days. It has an App where you can check the consumption and the remaining days of the contract. |
| Inconveniences | Their eSIM cards do not include calls or sms. Holafly’s eSIM card for Thailand does not allow data sharing. They are one of the most expensive options on the market, but it’s worth it because you don’t run out of data and you don’t have to recharge. It is not possible to do the installation through their App. |
Spanish company Holafly is one of the best options to buy eSIM cards and travel with peace of mind as the brand offers unlimited data cards and a 24-hour customer service in Spanish, English, German, French, Italian and Japanese that responds in less than a minute by chat or WhatsApp. The company, with offices in several countries around the world and more than 100 employees, currently has the best customer rating on Trustpilot with a score of 4.6.
On the website of Holafly you can find 7 unlimited data plans that range from 19€ to 99€ depending on the duration of the contract, which can be 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60 and 90 days. It is perfect for long stays, as well as for digital nomads, express or business trips to Thailand.
| Data plan | Price in Euros | Price in Dollars | Price in Mexican Pesos |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days – unlimited data | 19€ | 19$ | $339 |
| 10 days – unlimited data | 34€ | 34$ | $699 |
| 15 days – unlimited data | 47€ | 47$ | $899 |
| 20 days – unlimited data | 57€ | 57$ | $1199 |
| 30 days – unlimited data | 69€ | 69$ | $1399 |
| 60 days – unlimited data | 87€ | 87$ | $1699 |
| 90 days – unlimited data | 99€ | 99$ | $1999 |
The Holafly eSIM cards can be installed easily by scanning the QR code that you will receive by email once you have completed the purchase. The installation can also be done manually without the need for a computer, simply writing a code in the settings of your mobile phone that you can consult in the mail or in your App, which is very convenient to control the duration of the data plan.
After testing Holafly’s eSIM cards we can say that they are one of the most expensive options on the market, but in the end they pay off because you will not have to recharge again because you will never run out of data. Here we share with you this ranking where we evaluate from 1 to 5 all the features of the Holafly’s eSIM cards for Spain based on our experience.
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data Sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 4,8 | 4 | 3,5 | 4,8 | 3,5 | 4,5 | 4,3 |
In this post you can read about our experience with Holafly eSIM cards and some users’ opinions: Our review of Holafly eSIM: is it worth it?
2. Maya Mobile, data packages for one month
| Advantages | They offer data packages by continents and countries. Maya Mobile eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install with a QR code or manually. They have eSIM cards for 194 destinations. Data plans limited to 1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB, which can run out quickly. Flexible pricing. They have unlimited data plans. Possibility of internet sharing. Rechargeable after 30 days. |
| Inconveniences | Their eSIM cards do not include calls or sms. They do not have an App. The unlimited data plan has a 5Mbps limit. Technical support in English via a bot. They only have data plans for 30 days. |
This company offers eSIM cards for 30 days in Thailand. In this case, the price of the data packages varies depending on the gigabytes. In total they have 5 packages of 1, 3, 5, 10 gigabytes, and another with unlimited gigabytes. The unlimited data plan is relative as the maximum browsing speed is 5Mbps and after you have used 30GB of the plan, it drops to 1Mbps.The price ranges from 5€ to 56€.
Like Holafly, Maya Mobile is characterized by the speed and simplicity of its contracting and installation process, which is also done via a QR code that arrives in the mail. In addition, they have a 100% refund policy of the purchase in the event that the data does not work, which is not usually the case since they have at least two data providers in each country where they offer their services.
Maya Mobile also offers an Asia-wide plan that includes 12 countries and has unlimited data (with maximum speed of 5Mbps dropping to 1Mbps).
| Data plan | Price in Euros |
|---|---|
| 30 days – 1 GB | 5€ |
| 30 days – 3 GB | 7€ |
| 30 days – 5 GB | 11€ |
| 30 days – 10 GB | 20€ |
| 30 days – unlimited data* | 56€ |
In the case of Maya Mobile we consider it a disadvantage their plans being very inflexible and only having a duration of 30 days. In Trustpilot you can see that the brand has an average score of 4.4, but there are hardly any comments. Here the table with the score for each of the features of their eSIM cards.
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data Sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4,5 | 4,5 | 3 | 3,2 |
3. Truphone and their data plan for Asia
| Advantages | They offer regional, country or global data packages. Truphone eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install in your App. They have eSIM cards for 188 countries. 24/7 customer support both in the app and on the web. Very affordable prices. You can recharge data from the App. No need to scan QR code. Data sharing is only available on some devices. They offer data plans for Apple Watch. They offer 100 MB free trial for 1 day. |
| Inconveniences | Gigabytes are limited to 20GB, they do not have unlimited data cards. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes (1GB). Cannot be purchased on the web, only from mobile phone. The duration of data plans is limited to 1 or 30 days. Their services and customer support are exclusively in English. |
Truphone is a UK company that offers eSIM cards to connect to the internet in over 160 countries. It was a pioneer in the industry and the first global operator to launch eSIM for iPad, Apple Watch and Google Pixel devices. In addition, it has been a technology partner of Apple since 2016, which gives it a great competitive advantage and makes it easier to install eSIMs on their devices.
The brand does not have an exclusive data plan for Thailand, but it does have 4 plans for Asia which in addition to Thailand includes 13 other countries. The plans for eSIM have 1-day and 30-day durations, with gigabyte limits of 100MB, 1GB, 2GB and 5GB. Prices range from €14 to €25. The 100MB plan is free for you to try their product for one day. The problem with this brand is that their data plans have very few gigabytes (maximum 5GB) and this means that you can run out of internet in the middle of your trip.
| Data plan | Price in Euros | Price in Dollars | Price in Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day – 100 MB | 0€ | 0$ | 0£ |
| 1 day – 1 GB | 14€ | 14$ | 13£ |
| 30 days – 2 GB | 18€ | 18$ | 17£ |
| 30 days – 5 GB | 27€ | 27$ | 25£ |
Although on the website you can check the data plans and all the details about their eSIMs, to buy the eSIM card you will need to download the mobile application. Once downloaded, you will need to create an account filling in your details directly or through Google or Facebook. You can then choose the country and data plan you need for your trip and pay securely. A great advantage of the App is that it detects if your phone is compatible with the eSIM before allowing you to complete the purchase.
The installation and activation processes are done through the App, so you won’t need to scan any QR codes. Just keep in mind that you will need internet to perform the operation.
If you go to Trustpilot you can see that Truphone has over 100 reviews and a score of 1.9, one of the lowest among eSIM card providers. We have also rated the Truphone eSIM card based on our experience and these are our conclusions.
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data Sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,5 | 3,5 | 4 | 3,5 | 4,5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3,8 |
If you want to know more about our experience with Truphone eSIM cards and the opinions of other users visit this post: Our review of Truphone eSIM: is it worth it?
4. Nomad and their App
| Advantages | Nomad eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install. The app is very convenient and allows you to recharge the eSIM. They have eSIM cards for 112 countries. Wide range of eSIM cards for Thailand. Technical support both in the app and on the web. Flexible duration of contracts: 3, 5, 10, 16, 30 and 60 days. |
| Inconveniences | Gigabytes are limited to 5GB or less and do not have unlimited data cards. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes (1GB). Their eSIM cards do not include calls or sms. Their services and technical support are exclusively in English. |
Nomad is a marketplace focused on selling eSIM cards so you can have internet on your trips. In the case of Thailand, you can see on their website that they work with companies like Ais, Truphone and DTAC.
One of the most relevant features of the brand is that in addition to the website, they have an App where customers can sign up for data plans easily and quickly.
The brand offers data plans in more than 100 countries and also by continents to be able to make use of our internet connection even if we are moving between different countries. In the case of Thailand, the data packages have very varied durations of 3, 5, 7, 10, 16 and 30 days. They do not have unlimited data, but you can choose from 1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB, 15GB, 20GB, 30GB, 40GB, 50GB and 100GB plans.
| Data plan | Price in Euros | Price in Dollars | Price in Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days – 1 GB | 4€ | 4$ | 3,5£ |
| 5 days – 3 GB | 8,5€ | 9$ | 7,5£ |
| 10 days – 5 GB | 12,5€ | 13$ | 11£ |
| 15 days – 10 GB | 21€ | 22$ | 18,5£ |
| 30 days – 15 GB | 26,5€ | 28$ | 23,5£ |
| 30 days – 20 GB | 32€ | 30$ | 28,5£ |
| 30 days – 20 GB | 28,5€ | 34$ | 25£ |
| 30 days – 30 GB | 75,5€ | 80$ | 67£ |
| 30 days – 40 GB | 103,5€ | 110$ | 91,5£ |
| 7 days – 50 GB | 118€ | 125$ | 104£ |
| 60 days – 100 GB | 226€ | 240$ | 200£ |
| 16 days – 30 GB | 11,5€ | 12$ | 10£ |
The Nomad App is very useful to monitor the consumption and recharge in case we run out of data. We can also use it to get in touch with customer service, which unfortunately is only in English.
Here you can see our ranking of Nomad’s eSIMs.
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data Sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 4 | 3 | 3,5 | 4 | 3 | 3,5 | 3,5 | 3 |
Conclusion: what is the best eSIM for Thailand
There are many important factors to consider when comparing eSIM cards as, for each type of travel you will have different connection needs. That’s why we have prepared this section where we tell you based on our experience which eSIM card is best for each type of trip in Thailand.
When we travel we don’t want to run out of data in the middle of our trip, that’s why eSIM cards with unlimited data are the best option. In this case, the only brand offering unlimited eSIM data plans is Holafly. Nomad, while not offering unlimited data, provides up to 100GB for a month, which beats other brands like Maya Mobile. With some carriers like Nomad or Truphone you can top up the already installed eSIM via their website or App, but the best thing is not having to pay again if you run out of data.
We know it can be tricky to calculate the gigabytes you’ll need during your trip, so we’ve prepared this table to help you make an estimate if you end up choosing an eSIM card with a data limit, which we don’t recommend.
| Plataform | Gigabyte consumption per hour |
| 0,12GB – 0,18 GB | |
| 0,12GB – 0,18 GB | |
| 0,06 GB | |
| Tiktok | 0,18 GB – 0,8 GB |
| Netflix | 0,3GB – 7GB |
| Youtube | 0,14GB – 1,7 GB |
| Amazon Prime | 0,8GB – 6GB |
The installation process of eSIM cards is always simple and fast, but it is true that there are some companies that make it even easier. The first thing is to check if your mobile is compatible with the eSIM of the brand. This information you can find on the website of each provider. In the case of Truphone, the App itself will tell you if your phone is compatible when you download it.
The purchase of the eSIM for Thailand can be done through the web in case of Holafly, or via the app like Truphone or Nomad. Holafly’s website is very intuitive and easy to use.
The only brand that allows you to do the installation through the App is Truphone, and in the case of Holafly, from the App you can get the code to install the eSIM manually without using a computer. You can also do the installation by scanning a QR code that you will receive by email as soon as you complete the purchase with Holafly or Maya Mobile.
On the other hand, it is very important to consider the technical service to help you in the installation process and solve any doubt or problem. Most brands such as Maya Mobile or Truphone have a chat bot that takes a long time to respond and only does so in English. In this aspect Holafly’s technical support is the best as it responds in less than 1 minute in Spanish, English, German, French, Italian and Japanese through the web chat or by WhatsApp, where a conversation is opened automatically after the purchase.
One of the most important aspects is price. The cheapest brands are Maya Mobile and Nomad, however, their data plans are very limited and you’re likely to run out and have to pay again with the top-up. That’s why it’s sometimes advisable to pay a little more and get a eSIM card with unlimited data like Holafly to give you peace of mind and avoid having to recharge again.
All in all, Holafly’s eSIM cards are the best option for traveling to Thailand for their unlimited data and multilingual technical support that responds in less than a minute. Also, their plans are really flexible and fit all types of trips. With Holafly you will never run out of data on your trip.
Other options for having internet in Thailand
There are several ways to get internet when travelling abroad, however, at Passporter we recommend eSIM cards for the three features that make them unique: comfort, peace of mind and security.
| Convenience | Immediate delivery and activation upon purchase. Purchase prior to travel. Easy installation; unlike SIM cards, there is no need to remove the original card. You’ll be connected as soon as you land, no need to find a store first. You’ll find tailor-made plans to suit the duration and needs of your trip. No need to rely on batteries, as with Pocket wifi. You won’t have to carry an extra device during your trip, like the Pocket Wifi. |
| Peace of mind | You will have 24/7 technical support in English, unlike with a SIM or Pocket Wifi. You will not have to worry about forgetting or losing any device other than your cell phone. |
| Security | You will avoid using public wifi networks vulnerable to hacking. You will avoid entering personal data in endless forms to get Wifi. No need to open or manipulate your mobile phone like with SIM cards. |
1. Buy True Move H and Dtac SIM cards in Thailand
SIM cards are one of the most widespread options nowadays, but that does not imply that they are the best option since as we show below they have quite a few drawbacks.
| Advantages | There are a variety of brands and data plans to choose from. Installation is fast. They can be purchased online or in physical stores. You can make calls and send messages with a local number. |
| Inconveniences | It always replaces your regular SIM, which can be lost or damaged. The cell phone must be opened and handled during the installation process. You have to travel to buy it or wait for the card to be delivered. When the contract of your travel SIM expires, it must be replaced by another one. You will not be able to keep your regular phone number. |
In Thailand you can buy SIM cards from operators such as True Move H, Dtac, among others, with stores located in the main airports of Thailand such as Suvarnabhumi in Bangkok, Hat Yai or in shopping malls in major cities.
2. Rent Pocket Wifi in Thailand
The Pocket Wifi are small routers that you can carry in your pocket during your trip to connect to the Internet wherever you are. This system is interesting because it allows you to share data with more devices and share the costs, since it is one of the most expensive systems.
In Thailand some brands of pocket wifi rentals are Travelers Wifi for €70.5 a week, or Travel Wifi for €55.65.
| Advantages | Can be used by several devices at the same time. You can choose the gigabyte package that suits you best. No need to install anything on our cell phones. |
| Inconveniences | It is one of the most expensive options. There are few brands to choose from. Contracts are usually of long duration. In addition to the data plan, you have to pay for rental, insurance and shipping costs. The battery lasts 6 hours maximum. If you use it with more people you have to be in the same room. You have to carry it with you wherever you go and you run the risk of losing it. |
3. Search for free Wifi networks in Thailand
There are quite a few free spots in Thailand where you can connect to public wifi networks. Clearly this system seems the most convenient and is definitely the cheapest, but it has quite a few drawbacks, plus you’ll go crazy looking for the hotspots.
Public networks are often vulnerable to hacking and they compromise your personal data. Therefore, in the event that you need to connect to a public Wifi network, we recommend not to perform transactions where important information is involved.
| Advantages | It is free of charge. There is nothing to install on our cell phones. |
| Inconveniences | It is difficult to find free access wifi networks. Public wifi networks are often slow or give connection problems. You often have to fill in forms and share your personal data. Some free wifi networks have limited time. You have to be near the router to connect. These networks are vulnerable to hacking. |
4. Activate roaming for Thailand
One of the options that is losing more and more popularity due to its high costs is roaming, also known as data roaming. It is the simplest option as you can receive calls and connect to the internet without having to install anything or change your phone number, however, the bills are very high. Operators such as Movistar, Orange or Vodafone offer this service for between 6€ and 12€ per MB.
| Advantages | There is no need to install anything on our cell phone. There is no need to contract any extra service. You can receive calls, send messages and connect to the internet immediately. |
| Inconveniences | This is the most expensive option. Sometimes it is activated without us realizing it. Not all telephone companies offer this service. |
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Frequently asked questions about getting Internet in Thailand with an eSim
Most models of popular brands such as Apple, Samsung, Motorola, Huawei or Google are compatible as long as they are recent models. Several iPads are also compatible. However, it is best to consult the website of each provider, where they will indicate all the compatible models.
eSIM cards allow you to have internet on your cell phone when you travel abroad without having to remove your regular SIM card, as is the case with SIM cards. This is possible thanks to a chip that is incorporated in the latest generation of cell phones.
The purchase of the eSIM data plan can be done through the web or the App of some brands. Choose your destination, the duration and the gigabytes of the data plan and pay securely.
SIM cards can be purchased in physical shops or online, with delivery times ranging from 48 to 72 hours. There are also companies that offer same day express delivery.
Most companies offer unlimited data packages. Holafly, unlike the others, offers a wide range of unlimited data packages.
It is best to activate it just before your trip as you will need an internet connection.
Data packages usually have a duration between 7 and 30 days, however, there are providers such as Holafly that offer more flexible packages between 5 days and 3 months.
Unlimited data plans do not normally allow data sharing, but plans with a specific number of GBs included do.
The data on the unlimited plans is really unlimited. However, please note that local mobile operators may temporarily reduce the speed if you use applications such as Netflix or YouTube very intensively. These limits are more intended to avoid network saturation by a few users.
Holafly is a Spanish company launched in 2018 that you can trust, it has been tested by more than 400,000 customers, travel blogs and YouTubers. Holafly has been marketing eSIMs since 2019.
Holafly has more than 10,000 positive experiences published on Trustpilot, with a rating of “Excellent” and an average score of 4.7.
No, Maya actually limits the speed on its unlimited plans to only 5 mbps. Once 30 GB is consumed, Maya further limits the speed to 1 mbps.
Maya is owned by a US company, Maya Virtual Inc. Maya’s reviews on Trustpilot are good, with an average rating of 4.5.
Airalo reviews on Trustpilot are good, with an average score of 2.6.
The frequency bands that work in this country are: 2500, 2300, 2100, 1800, 900, 850, 800.
The best mobile operators in Thailand are True Move and DTAC.
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