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Answered10 months ago

What are the best alternatives for QR code payments in Thailand apart from TrueMoney?

Waqar ********
asked Dec 25, 2025
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Thailand Day to Day Payments Query

Hello all. I thought having Truemoney verified for advance will be enough. I would pay everyone using QR, so much convenient that I don't have to carry cash/ change. But today I got notification from Truemoney that I have done 30 QR code transfers and a fee will be applied on more this month.

What else I can use to easily make QR code payments without worrying about limits?
Answer summary
The original poster is seeking alternatives to TrueMoney for making convenient QR code payments in Thailand, as they have encountered limits and fees after exceeding a certain number of transfers. Community comments suggest that using a Thai bank account is the best option, as it allows for flexibility without transaction fees commonly associated with apps. Alternatives mentioned include using TrueMoney when possible, switching to PromptPay when necessary, or using cash for payments to avoid issues altogether. Some users also highlighted the cost-effectiveness of using cash withdrawals when compared to transaction fees on digital payments.
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Robert *******
Robert *******
Lets calculate. 30 times free, Than 20 Thb a transaction

ATM fee is 250 Thb once and you can spend 30.000 Thb.

Let's say you make 5 payments a day, a total of 1.000 Thb , drink, food, taxi.

Your app cost 30 days x 5 transactions is 150 minus 30 free - 120 x 20 thb = 3.600 thb

ATM 250 Thb Fee to withdrawl 30.000 Thb .

Keep the app, it makes another Digital Nomad very rich.
Mick *****
Mick *****
Best option is still a Thai bank account for QR payments - Yes not eligible on DTV, but it can still be done. Personally I also like the wifepays platform, it's seamless and free!
Sophie *************
Sophie *************
Moreta
Waqar ********
Waqar ********
OP
@Sophie ************
I downloaded, made ID, sent for approval, and got the account ready.. but I see loading it costs 2.5%
Luit *****************
Luit *****************
@Waqar *******
Again, when you don't want to pay for the service, who has to pay for it then?

You cannot expect it to be free, when the seller where you pay has a business account, they will pay the fees, but when you pay to private persons they don't pay fees, so you will be the one ending up with the fee.
Waqar ********
Waqar ********
OP
@Luit ****************
Moreta started/ starting private users soon. Earlier they gave date of 24 December for it to start.

What else can I try, maybe I pay personal QR using that.. or big payments still using Truemoney.
Luit *****************
Luit *****************
Does Moreta even work for QR Promptpay to private users? Or is it just like Alipay only for business accounts?
Waqar ********
Waqar ********
OP
@Luit ****************
yeah it is.. but Truemoney can be loaded with cash directly using any True kiosk or 7-Eleven. I saw Moreta only gave international options. Any local option available to recharge my Moreta account?
Luit *****************
Luit *****************
@Waqar *******
It looks like in your case the cost is not at the Thai side but at your country, isn't it possible for you to use something like Wise?

Who charges the 4% international fee and 5% tax?

For Wise I pay far less than 9% and get a good exchange rate.
Waqar ********
Waqar ********
OP
@Luit ****************
since we are talking about moreta here, loading balance in my own account has 2.5% fee. Nopes bro, this is too much by any standard. I was ready to pay 2% usage fee for each transaction but now these fee are piling up.

First 4% international transaction fee, then 5% my country tax on card use, then 2.5% Moreta fee, then 2% payment fee. This isn't justified by any standard.
Sophie *************
Sophie *************
@Waqar *******
I used it for a short period when it just started out. I prefer qr to carrying cash so for me, while I can’t get an account I would prefer to use Moreta 🙂
Zin ************
Zin ************
Use True Money QR as your primary payment method at stores like 7-Eleven, Lotus, and Big C. Only switch to PromptPay scan when True Money isn’t accepted.

Most merchants now support True Money payments.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Chris ********
Chris ********
If it's cheaper than cash withdrawal keep going, otherwise it's cash withdrawal, or if you have correct visa it's a Thai bank. It's as simple as that in current climate here
John **********
John **********
You would be better just using cash. Take out the maximum each time from an ATM and the fees are not so much
Anonymous ******************
Anonymous ******************
Spend more money in places which are actual businesses. Choose your battles with whom you want to send personal baht too.

Or get complete freedom and just use cash. Freedom has a cost.
Mike **********
Mike **********
Anonymous participant 101 it takes some thought and this OP doesnt have the capacity to think like that.
Marianne ********
Marianne ********
Then you start using cash.
James ********
James ********
Wise advice ✅
Waqar ********
Waqar ********
OP
@Marianne *******
that's my least prefer way 🥺 using QR code is a nice experience. No change, no bad notes.
Luit *****************
Luit *****************
@Waqar *******
In this world there is no such thing as a free lunch, offering QR Promptpay service costs money, so someone has to pay for it, receiver or sender of the money, the provider does not want to pay in the end.

Same with ATM fees, the machines cost money to keep them operating.

So you pay for convenience.
Luit *****************
Luit *****************
@Khun *****
You are right with some facts about banks and how they earn money, but you draw the wrong conclusions.

Banks indeed make money with loans, but that does not change the fact that payments cost money.

Thai citizens as account holder pay in general for these loans, so no need to charge high ATM fees, as a customer on average they pay a lot to the bank.

The foreigners, even with account will not have the loans and insurances, so the bank can not pay the ATM costs from other earnings from those customers, so they just have to pay for what they use.

And about transactions fees, you are right, they are paid by the merchant, but in this case of the 30 transactions limit it is about transactions withou a merchent.

For merchants Truemoney does not have a limit.

The problem is in Thailand a lot of sellers using QR Promptpay are no business user, but just use a private account, and then they don't pay fees.

Same logic again, somebody has to pay, when Thai bank account holder the bank gets money from other services.

Truemoney will have profit from transactions with merchents because of the frees and give 30 free private transactions to attract customers.

But True will have to pay for those transactions and cannot charge a merchant, so has to charge the customer.

So befoere you say my comments are not right, maybe first think and do some research.
Luit *****************
Luit *****************
@Khun *****
Nothing to do with a fantasy world, payments just cost money and somebody has to pay for it, maybe you live in a fantasy world where this is free.
Luit *****************
Luit *****************
swallowalot7630 In Europe it is easy to open a bank account when you are a citizen and have the necessary documents, just like it is in Thailand.

In Europe it is not easy to open a bank account as a tourist, just like in Thailand.

Main difference is that in most European countries it is not possible to live there on a tourist visa, even with a 5 year multi entry Schengen visa, you can only stay 90 in 180 days.

But in Thailand the DTV as tourist visa can be tricked to live in the country because they did not limit it like a lot of countries.

And the 30 baht for account holders is because the bank get the money in another way, most Thai have loans to pay to the bank.
Mike **********
Mike **********
swallowalot7630 Has nothing to do about speaking thai.
Khun ******
Khun ******
Banks don’t actually hold most of the money. They make their money by lending it out and charging interest on those loans. The cash you can withdraw from an ATM is only a tiny fraction of the total money in the system — and the cost of operating ATMs is insignificant compared to how much banks earn by lending out customers’ deposits.

As for transaction fees, those are paid by the merchant, which is completely standard in business. It’s simply part of operating costs. The goal is to complete the transaction, not to avoid a small processing fee. Yes, some businesses choose to accept cash to save the 2–5% charged by payment providers, but in most cases it’s still better to accept the payment than lose the customer altogether.

Your comment isn’t quite accurate, but no hard feelings. Have a nice day.
Khun ******
Khun ******
@Luit ****************
I like your fantasy world...
Marianne ********
Marianne ********
swallowalot7630 Plenty of European countries have limitations on who can open a bank account.

And opening an account in Thailand is not at all dependant on your skills in Thai. 😛
swallow********
swallow********
@Luit ****************
so why do Thai People only pay 30 baht for the "convience" lol. In Europe its as easy as counting to 3 to open a bank account but here its near impossible if you dont speak Thai.
Elías ********
Elías ********
Isn't the fee 20 bath per transaction after the free allowance? If so, it's still better than any other option.
Waqar ********
Waqar ********
OP
@Elías *******
yes but 30 free transaction per month are too less if you live full-time.
James ********
James ********
THEN get the correct Thai Visa for living full time in Thailand.
Andrew *********
Andrew *********
@Waqar *******
Get a bank account then.

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