How can I keep my American phone number while minimizing monthly costs in Thailand?

Buy a burner in USA, then fit Thai sim card on arrival. And keep you're USA Phone for banks etc.

Magic jack. You MAY be able to keep your number. Works here I use it. Sometimes texting does not work but that’s what email is for.

Port your US number to a VoIP

Get minimum plan on mint, turn on wifi calling. Switch to the mint eSIM when banks need to send codes. Works great

I use Google Voice, no issues with OTPs. On rare occasion I will come across a service that won't accept it (paypal for example), and I don't seem any lesser because of it

My banks, the IRS, various other services seem to work fine.

With google voice, however, you still need a real phone number to associate with the gv number. In my case, I have a friend that lets me use her phone number, once or twice a year I have to "verify" the number which means google send me a code and she has to enter into her phone (or similar process).

Problem is US banks are very nervous of VOIP services and almost all won’t send OTP’s via SMS. Thai banks (certainly Bangkok Bank) will only accept Thai mobile numbers. It’s often good to carry two phones in case of flat batteries. For $16 USD per ANNUM you could rent a US mobile number from ‘VYKE’. Calls and SMS are free to receive. The caller/sender pays for a US mobile call/SMS and thinks you are Stateside. Outgoing calls and SMS very low cost. You would, of course, have to advise your contacts of your new VYKE number. Alternatively, VYKE customer support can port your existing US mobile number. Unfortunately, VYKE is a VoIP service so you couldn’t receive OTP’s. The only guaranteed way to receive OTP’s would be an actual US SIM card. If you could find a pre-paid SIM and turn off the mobile data you would be able to receive OTP’s in Thailand free of charge. Any calls received you would have to not answer.

I have an international calling plan with T mobile. Works great in all the countries I've been to, including Thailand.

Your question: “Is there a way to keep my American number without paying $45 a month?” - unfortunately once you cancel service, you will loose that number. But - read here: %C2%A0cellular+mobile+service%2C+can+i+keep+my+number&client=safari&sca_esv=9b74a4c0b9e67cb5&hl=en-us&sxsrf=ACQVn0-8zK5oid-BK2EWyH8Nkp1ufLq9ng%3A1710363734344&ei=VhTyZZbPFOC84-EPnI-suAU&oq=if+i+cancel+my+consumer+%C2%A0cellular+mobile+service%2C+can+i+keep+my+number&gs_lp=EhNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwIkdpZiBpIGNhbmNlbCBteSBjb25zdW1lciDCoGNlbGx1bGFyIG1vYmlsZSBzZXJ2aWNlLCBjYW4gaSBrZWVwIG15IG51bWJlckjssAJQsR5YjZsCcAN4AZABAJgBngKgAfQVqgEGNi4xNi4xuAEDyAEA-AEBmAIWoALQEcICBxAjGLADGCfCAgoQABhHGNYEGLADwgINEAAYRxjWBBjJAxiwA8ICDhAAGIAEGIoFGJIDGLADwgIIECEYoAEYwwTCAgoQIRgKGKABGMMEwgIEEB4YCsICBhAhGAoYCpgDAIgGAZAGCpIHBDcuMTWgB7dc&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp344&ei=VhTyZZbPFOC84-EPnI-suAU&oq=if+i+cancel+my+consumer+%C2%A0cellular+mobile+service%2C+can+i+keep+my+number&gs_lp=EhNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwIkdpZiBpIGNhbmNlbCBteSBjb25zdW1lciDCoGNlbGx1bGFyIG1vYmlsZSBzZXJ2aWNlLCBjYW4gaSBrZWVwIG15IG51bWJlckjssAJQsR5YjZsCcAN4AZABAJgBngKgAfQVqgEGNi4xNi4xuAEDyAEA-AEBmAIWoALQEcICBxAjGLADGCfCAgoQABhHGNYEGLADwgINEAAYRxjWBBjJAxiwA8ICDhAAGIAEGIoFGJIDGLADwgIIECEYoAEYwwTCAgoQIRgKGKABGMMEwgIEEB4YCsICBhAhGAoYCpgDAIgGAZAGCpIHBDcuMTWgB7dc&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp

CALL AMERICA FROM THAILAND! 001-1, AREA CODE) and number!

Yes! Use your Thai phone with SIM! Use a calling card from 7-11 ! Or dial out of Thailand and use your minutes on your SIM!

Take out your SIM card and use internet where ever they have Wi-Fi. Use messenger or line if you want to talk to people 🙄

I did it that way too. Thai Dtac e sim . Then changed smartphone. That was it with the dtac number. In Australia I would switch the contract to prepaid. With phone number portability and physical sim. This means you can charge the SIM if necessary and simply change the SIM if you change your smartphone. And no stress with the accounts.

Port the number onto a zoom and use the number anywhere you have cell data or wifi available.

Download Line dot Com for free worldwide calling. Everyone I know in Thailand has it.

I’m in the similar situation. I use Consumer cellular in USA and have an IPhone SE. i’ll be coming to Thailand in about three weeks and I was wondering if those Thai Sim cards at the airport will work on an older iPhone like mine? I would like to keep my US phone number because of the two-step authentication that bank and some services require.

I am thinking of upgrading to a new phone that has dual eSIM (iPhone 15).. since it apparently doesnt accept physical SIM cards, will this be a problem once i arrive back in Thailand ? I assume the providers such as AIS are equipped for this by now, but want to make sure since last time it was kind of a nightmare not having access to my American phone # for 2FA etc.. or should i just keep my old phone and plan to have two phones while there for many months ?

I use my second phone for any bank text ect I buy a sim from Thailand for my main phone while im here , never had issues

@Dean ******

its because you are putting in the wrong prefix on the thai phone to call America OR you have insufficient credit in your thai phone account

Do not use Google voice, most banks will not send you codes after 30 days when they see the number is on a VOIP service. Google Voice can also suspend your account at any time, and there's no support team to help you get your number back.

Get Mint or Tello and use with wifi dialing. Their only $10 to $15 a month. Tello will let you activate a sim over wifi. Sign up on their website or order a sim from Amazon or eBay for $2 and port in your number from consumer cellular. Tello doesn't send you a bill so they don't have to add $25 of state and federal cell phone bill taxes like consumer cellular does.

I use Google Voice; works from anywhere in the world to call a USA number. Not sure about calling other places . . cause I never call other places. Use a Thai phone here in Thailand, but have wifey make the calls. BTW, Google Voice phone setup is $0 cost. Been using it for 10+ years.

For USA port your number to Google voice. I see this for talking to any business/bank entity back home. Completely free.

I gave up and bought a UK sim with no contract, change to a sim only contract in your home country and keep your existing number

Consider yourself lucky 🍀 I’m paying $75/mo

Get a cheaper subscription (45 bucks a month?!) and get a phone with dual SIM?

I’ve got the one phone. It has two sims one being an eSIM. So I have an Australian sim and a Thai sim. I still must keep both accounts paid up. Easy, so when I go to Australia I switch to the Aussie sim and vice versa