Using your eSIM in Thailand
What you get with every Thailand plan
Where it works
Thailand
Networks
Differs by plan. Good to know lists them for each plan.
Hotspot
Allowed
When your plan starts
When you land
Install by
Within 180 days of buying
Questions about Thailand eSIMs
Does Grab work with a travel eSIM?
Yes.
Grab runs on mobile data like any other app, so it works over the eSIM.
Create the account and add a card while you are on Wi-Fi at home, because the sign-up sends a code to your number.
Will I have signal on the Thai islands?
Check the coverage list on this page first, because it names the countries a plan covers and nothing finer than that.
The signal fades on the quiet corners of Phuket, Samui, Phi Phi and Koh Tao, and on the water between them, which is the local network rather than the plan.
Do I get data on the ferry to Koh Samui or Koh Tao?
Close to shore, usually.
Out in open water it drops away, because the towers are all on land.
Screenshot your booking and your pickup details before you board.
How do I get online at Bangkok airport?
Sort it before you fly.
Doing that means you walk out of Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang with data already running, instead of joining the queue at the SIM counters in the arrivals hall.
Which chat apps do people use in Thailand?
LINE, mostly.
Hotels, tour desks and drivers send booking details over it, and some kitchens take orders that way.
WhatsApp is common between travellers but much less so with locals.
Do I need mobile data for maps in Thailand?
For live traffic and transport times, yes, and Bangkok traffic makes those worth having.
Download each city's offline map as well, so a dead spot in an alley does not leave you lost.
Questions about every Ryvo plan
Will it work on my phone?
Does it come with a phone number?
No.
Ryvo eSIMs are data only.
There's no phone number, and you can't make calls or send texts on the eSIM itself.
Can I keep my usual number?
Yes.
Keep your main SIM on for calls and texts, and set the eSIM as your mobile data line.
Your carrier's roaming rates still apply to calls and texts, so check them before you go.
Can I share my data as a hotspot?
It depends on the plan.
Each plan says whether hotspot is allowed before you pay.
What if I run out of data?
Add data from your order page if your plan can be topped up.
If it can't, buy another plan for the same destination.
What if my eSIM won't connect?
Email us and we'll work through it with you, starting with your phone's mobile data settings.
If we can't get it working, our refund policy explains what happens next.
Before you go
AIS and True are the two big Thai networks, and the list on this page names the ones behind your plan.
Coverage goes patchy on the smaller islands and out across Isaan, as it does on any network.
Grab is the ride app people here actually open, for cars, bikes and food deliveries.
Bolt runs in Bangkok and a few other cities as well.
LINE is the normal way to message a guesthouse, a dive shop or a driver in Thailand, so put it on your phone before you arrive.
Keep your usual SIM switched on for calls and texts, and choose the eSIM for mobile data.
Still need help?
Email us your order reference, and we'll help you get connected.