What are the best SIM card options for expats in Thailand, particularly for retirees?

Tourist sim plans have a short duration which can be topped up. If you get a monthly plan you’ll get exactly that. Better to go into one of the providers stores. AIS, True etc. you’ll need your passport with you and an address so only really suitable for long stayers.

Is Starlink available in Thailand?

So which is suitable for bank purposes with invoice

I think its only the Tourist SIM that have an actual expiry. Others bought at official outlets on a pay as you go plan don't usually expire as long as you keep them topped up. When you top a normal PAYG up you usually get a message stating how long they will be valid for which increases with each top up. They used to re-issue numbers that had previously expired. Having said that, I bought an additional SIM last year - when I topped it up it said it was only valid for another month. Last month I put it in a spare phone and called it, it rang and is still working. I was going to change up to a monthly plan but each time this comes to mind, I find a 'special deal' that is cheaper than my wife's monthly but I use data mainly at home where I'm on wifi + wifi calling. I think overall though, you are better off with a monthly plan.

I have a true SIM card because I need it for bank app and immigration purposes.Only pay 50bt a month for 2GB as I don’t need internet when out of the house .If I need more internet when I travel away I can get a short term package off the true app

I went to ais to get an esim at it really is a pain. I did it with my wife's Thai id and they have to connect it to their device, Take facial photos to confirm. Really is a lot of work for the ais person. A Thai number as opposed to a data sim really does open up other opportunities.

I have used a Thai Sim from a local Seven Eleven store in Nakhon Ratchasima - The staff installed it - They were very helpful. I was only on a 3 week brake so it was easy to just have a phone for browsing /Information .

AIS plan is 3,800 THB a year, no Internet limits. I am on that. I use my Thai SIM as my home router, I am posting from it now, 2 years.. My Thai wife uses it to watch her Thai soapies and anyting.

Ais mao mao 1 year unlimited 2500 baht

I use true. In their app you can get many different packages. 3, 7, 15, 30 days etc. How many gb internet you want what speed

I purchased a 12 month plan, easy as

Once you get moved in somewhere you get the whole package, WiFi, TV channels, and cellphone. I pay about bt1070 a month, with fiber internet, and TV from True, for over 15 years. Most pay as you go tourist plans, as long as you regularly top them up with more minutes, they don't expire right away. When you switch to a monthly home plan, you can keep the number you already have for a small fee.

Buy a prepaid like DTAC or TRUE

After 200baht use, you can buy "days" like 6 months for 18baht by dialing special number from the phone, debited from your credit balance.

You can buy year deal sims online.. Lazada and shopee. These are the best deals by far.

I have annual plan with AIS for 2,200 baht total for 12 months. Great plan. Great price.

Just get an eSIM so you can keep your old countries sim for banking, govt apps etc

Got a package from True that provide home WiFi, TV and land line and a mobile sim with 100 minutes of calls and gb of mobile data a month. Post paid.

There are different various packages out there, just need to shop around and not always believe what they say in the shop as sometimes they try and sell you an expensive mediocre package as you are a foreigner!

I have a pre-paid sim from True. 100gb per month. 1900 baht per year. Have to pay extra for international calls

Buy marathon 1 year plan at ais. Great value

The short-term ones are at the airport ... for different plan, go to store.

I have a iphone 17 that has esim cards, i have Verizon on one line and the local True on the other.

I get a year dtac data sim 2500b.... the easiest. I never have to use the phone so it's not a problem. if I do need to call u can just top up to make calls. but 1 year plan is easy. just go to dtac.. or true or ais... they all have yearly days plans

I have AIS 200 calls a month with 25 gig WIFI for 426 baht a month including vat

I have

AIS from a proper outlet

12 month plan

Unlimited data

5G where available

Around 2,300 baht per year

I use AIS One 2 Call, I have a pay as you go SIM and buy an data add on which I renew annually for 1800 baht. The data isn't super fast but I only use it when I'm out and about so perfectly adequate.