The best eSIM for Thailand, and how to choose yours

Think about how you use your phone on a normal travel day. As a rough weekly guide:

• Light use (1–2 GB a week): maps, WhatsApp, email, Grab and the occasional search. Enough if your accommodation has decent Wi-Fi.
• Moderate use (3–5 GB a week): all that plus Instagram or TikTok with photos and short videos, camera translation and the odd video call home.
• Heavy use (10 GB a week or more): streaming, daily video calls, uploading diving or beach videos, or sharing your connection with a laptop if you work remotely.

Wi-Fi in many beach bungalows is patchy and slows to a crawl in the evening, so in Thailand it is wise to budget a little more data than you would on a European city break.

Total-data plans give you a bundle of gigabytes for a set period: for Thailand, 0.5–50 GB with validity of 1–30 days. You use it at your own pace, which suits trips that mix city days with beach days when you barely look at your phone.

Daily plans give you a high-speed allowance each day; once it is used up you stay connected at a reduced speed (fine for messages and maps, not for video) until the next day. They are convenient if your usage is similar every day and you would rather not watch a counter.

Startia's standard Thailand plans run on TrueMove H and DTAC, and the Premium plans add AIS, with 5G on most plans where your phone and the area support it. Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and the main tourist areas have broad 4G and 5G coverage.

Islands: on the busier islands such as Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao and Koh Lanta, coverage in populated areas is generally good. During boat crossings, on small remote islands and in jungle national parks such as Khao Sok it can drop or disappear, whatever the network. Download offline maps and save your ferry tickets on your phone before you board.

• Standard: TrueMove H and DTAC networks; traffic reaches the internet through a regional hub in Hong Kong.
• Premium: DTAC, AIS and TrueMove H networks, and traffic does not go via Hong Kong but exits through Singapore instead.

For maps, messaging and social media you will hardly notice the difference. Premium makes sense if you want an extra network to fall back on, or if a service you rely on misbehaves with a Hong Kong IP address.

• Grab and Bolt. They are the usual way to get around and order food in town, and they need data. Set up your account before you leave: some apps verify your number by SMS, and a data eSIM has no number, so use your home SIM's number.
• PromptPay is not for tourists. The PromptPay QR codes you will see everywhere are linked to Thai bank accounts. Do not count on them: carry cash and a card.
• Install before you fly. Validity starts on the first connection to a network in Thailand. When you land, turn on data roaming for the eSIM line (it needs it because it uses partner networks) and turn it off on your home SIM.
• Rename the line. The profile shows as "Carrier"; call it "Startia" so you can tell your lines apart.
• Carrying on around South-East Asia? The South-East Asia regional plan covers Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines and Timor-Leste, with DTAC, AIS and TrueMove H in Thailand. It fits routes like Bangkok to Siem Reap and on to Vietnam, or Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang. In Cambodia and Timor-Leste the partner networks are 4G.

• Price per GB. For total-data plans, divide price by gigabytes. Startia starts from €0.44/GB.
• Validity. How many days and when the count starts; on a long trip, make sure it lasts the distance.
• Hotspot. If you will work from a laptop, check that the plan allows tethering.
• Top-ups. Many Startia plans can be topped up from your customer account, handy if you extend your stay.
• Networks. Which operators are used and whether more than one is included, which helps on the islands.
• Support. Startia answers in English and Spanish at esim-contact@startia.es or via a ticket from your order.
• Refunds. If you have not installed the eSIM, you get your money back.

The Thailand page lists every plan, from €4.99 including VAT. For one or two weeks of moderate use, the 5 GB Thailand plan is a sensible starting point; if you post a lot or work remotely, look at the 10 GB plan. Pay by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or PayPal; the QR code arrives by email and on your order page, and on iPhone with iOS 17.4 or later it installs with a single tap.

If you would like to compare us with other brands, our comparisons with Airalo and Holafly show their public prices with the date and source.

Is there coverage on the Thai islands?

In the populated parts of the main tourist islands, generally yes. On crossings, remote islands and in jungle parks it can drop out.

Can I use Grab with a data-only eSIM?

Yes, Grab works over data. If the app asks to verify your number by SMS, do it with your home SIM.

Will I get a Thai phone number?

No. The eSIM is data-only; WhatsApp, LINE and FaceTime work over the internet.

Which plan should I choose if I am also going to Vietnam or Cambodia?

The South-East Asia plan, which covers eight countries including Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

Can I top up if I extend my trip?

On many plans, yes, from your customer account, without changing eSIM.