How can I maintain communication with family and business in the US while living in Thailand?

I have a second phone with wifi calling enabled. While in airplane mode I put my Canadian Sim in the phone. Connect to Wifi. Now as long as you don’t answer incoming calls… there is no charge to call North America. I receive all missed calls, texts and emails. I have a Thai sim for my day to day life here. Works great as I have many people in my life that still have landlines. To be clear I have 2 phones.

We are using mint. About 15/month. You can called US number with wifi calling

Communication with e.g. Whatsapp, Messenger, Line (many Thai use that), has nothing to do with y'r provider. These only need internet access and all can have even video calls.

I don't know much of I-phones, but I think there are also possibilities to have 2 SIM cards, or nowadays more and more e-SIM's so you have 2 phone numbers.

I live in Thailand, so long time ago, I changed my 'plan' from my local country to a pre-paid one. Put some money on it and read how to keep the number alive. In my case I need to topup, make a call (seconds) or send an old fashion SMS every 6 months. If I go on holiday to my home country, I just topup a bit more and take some 'internet bundle' to cover internet access when I am not with family or friends to connect to WiFi.

For Thailand, there are more providers, but I use an AIS pre-paid phone number. This provider has a year internet access bundle for about 2,500฿. I almost never make regular phone calls anymore. Should I ever have to make a 'fixed line call', with AIS to my home country, there is a pre-code to make the costs acceptable. (Skype is no more alas).

In all cases the 'pre-paid stuff' has the advantage you never have exorbitant bills, what Brandon says. Good luck 🙏

Verizon has an "Unlimited Ultimate" plan that includes unlimited international roaming, data, calls and text for $80/mo. Couple that with a local e-sim and all your bases are covered

verizon sucked for me... three trips internationally .. requested my phone be unlocked each time.. NOT...........and......I am not paying the $10 for one day... Whatsapp works great.. just need wifi in the hotel.. or where ever you are..

Mint mobile e sim is good option only about $10 a month I use Magic App on my iPhone $3.99 a month call my banks any US number been good for 15 years

WhatsApp free all over the world or line

Whatsapp is what our family use for contact and we are all over the world

Yes, get a local plan. And it depends on the carrier, but yes generally wifi calling will be local.

If I were you I'd consider looking at switching to TMobile if it's practical. They offer free international data. It's not enough for you to not get a local SIM plan which you'll need regardless, but means you don't have to be scared of something going wrong and you getting a $1000 phone bill.