What are the best phone plans to retain a U.S. number while living in Thailand?

@Pierre *******

can you receive 2 step verifications from bank with it?

@Kevin *********

If you download Google maps for your region then you won't have to use data. It works with gps.

@Danny ******

do you still have a monthly bill with Verizon??

@Danny ******

could I do the same with t-mobile?

@William **********

one correction, eSIM is not VoIP. eSIM from your US carrier will work fine and no issues with banking, cc, etc

@William **********

I believe that he actually is looking for a way to get 2 step authentication from his North American Banks , Credit card providers and al other services that require authentication including govt websites

This cannot be done with Airalo ( which I have used ) or any other eSim

You need to use the sim from home , banks use this as the first line of fraud prevention

Their software detects VOIP and other types of internet and refuses to send any authentication codes to them.

SKYPE was the only thing to work sometimes , but not with more sophisticated systems

SKYPE is no longer in business ,it shut down May 2,2025

@Jay ******

Mint is great for me in the US. Right now they have a full year plan for 240 and that's unlimited everything. I take the mint SIM card out in Thailand and use a Thai sim card . Mint offers roaming but that can be pricey. I prefer to just use Wi-Fi and a Thai sim card in Thailand.

@Steve *******

Mint Mobile is like $175 a year

@Abey ********

electronic sim. As long as you have a phone tat accepts, you are good

@Abey ********

what is esim?

@Steve *********

could you be more specific on how that works? I also have T-Mobile and will be traveling their permanently soon.

@Bill ********

I lived in Thailand for several months with TMobile, data is slow but useful to have. I spend 300 baht a month for an AIS plan that provides me all the high speed data I need.

@Bill ********

so do you drive or use any roaming apps like Google maps?

@Bill ********

could you be more specific because I also have T-Mobile and want to use it permanently in Thailand.

@David *********

I've been on Google Fi now for over a year. Works great and I pay a lot less.

@David *********

For short term travel, yes. Long term stay, no. It is against their terms, I have tried them on two different occasions and they canceled me due to using data beyond their agreement. Maybe you are a lucky one, but in last few years they have been stricter.

@Wayne ******

try mobile service company Tello. You can chose a basic plan less than $10.00 per month to keep your US number, normally you have unlimited text messages free from US. It’s good for security authentication. When you back to US, update instantly to unlimited plan for $25.00 per month.

@Wayne ******

I get my codes to access my U.S. bank accounts on my U.S. number, that’s why I keep it.