Answereda year ago
What are the options for phone plans and SIM cards for expats in Thailand?
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FYI - Phone plans
I started with the 15 day unlimited tourist sim. When that ended, i was just going with pre-paid (Dtac). That really chews through the data and the $$ is very high. I have read various posts here and other groups that you need to pay 1 year in advance for monthly post paid plan, or sometimes without work permit they will deny you.
I went to Dtac at Tesco Chalong. No issues at all. To note, you cant convert from tourist sim to post paid until you have had it for 30 days, and i was at only 21 days(maybe only a Dtac rule, im not sure). So i didnt get to keep my original number, but i was able to get onto a new post paid plan, with a new number straight away, no problems.
All i needed was my passport and DTV visa printout (i also had copy of my 1 year lease, but they didnt need to see this). They did ask if we have work permit, but i said no, not able to work. They also asked if we had Thai bank account, but i said no, just Australian bank account.
Plan given on the spot, no pre-payment for 12mths or anything like that.
1199 baht per mth, unlimited fast data, 350 minutes calls to any network.
I started with the 15 day unlimited tourist sim. When that ended, i was just going with pre-paid (Dtac). That really chews through the data and the $$ is very high. I have read various posts here and other groups that you need to pay 1 year in advance for monthly post paid plan, or sometimes without work permit they will deny you.
I went to Dtac at Tesco Chalong. No issues at all. To note, you cant convert from tourist sim to post paid until you have had it for 30 days, and i was at only 21 days(maybe only a Dtac rule, im not sure). So i didnt get to keep my original number, but i was able to get onto a new post paid plan, with a new number straight away, no problems.
All i needed was my passport and DTV visa printout (i also had copy of my 1 year lease, but they didnt need to see this). They did ask if we have work permit, but i said no, not able to work. They also asked if we had Thai bank account, but i said no, just Australian bank account.
Plan given on the spot, no pre-payment for 12mths or anything like that.
1199 baht per mth, unlimited fast data, 350 minutes calls to any network.
Answer summary
The post discusses the experience of switching from a tourist SIM to a post-paid mobile plan in Thailand, specifically with Dtac. The author faced issues regarding the conversion timeline but was able to secure a new plan with unlimited data without needing to pay 12 months in advance, despite their lack of a work permit. Comments from other users provide various insights on different mobile plans available, including pricing, data limits, and services from other providers like AIS and True, highlighting that options may differ significantly depending on individual circumstances and needs.
44 repliesnewest first
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Anonymous ******************
Bought a 10 day True tourist sim at the airport and when it ran out I logged into the website/app and bought a much cheaper monthly package. Had no issues!
David ********
OPlol all you broke people quoting
***
/400b a month for 15mbps speed like you got some special price 😂. Sorry but I need my stuff coming in faster than that. When they gave me the options in shop to compare, I looked at dl speeds and data limits and chose this plan specifically. It was around the 4th dearest, with probably 10 cheaper. But they were 10 or 20 or 15mbps speeds. Like wtf, how do you live like that!
Anonymous ******************
Did the shop have huge glass windows? They certainly saw you coming.
David ********
OPAnonymous participant 446 my plan matches their website. Quality is higher importance to some than cost. World is full of cheapskates, I’m not one of them.
David ********
AIS 399bht a month unlimited 15 mpbs then drops speed. 200 min calls and text. Pay every month had it for years and new plan very similar but 40 bht more. Phone company always try to rip off new customers but AIS is best and biggest in Thailand shops everywhere to help if you have issues
David ********
OP@David *******
yeah I had something similar, but 15 Mb per second doesn’t cut it for me.! Mine was super fast speed and unlimited data With about 360 minutes of calls 
Deb *****
Very spenny
Jordi *******
I paid 2000bht for a year 50gigs a month.
Pedro *******
And if i want the very best in terms of internet speed ?
David ********
OP@Pedro ******
like what i have….yes i have very fast speed and unlimited data. I don’t know who is cheaper dtac or AIS, all my research showed the AIS were on par with dtac. There’s no better service area for either one. I did try AIS first but their website and the eSIM when I was a tourist was horrible and wouldn’t let me select a phone number. so I went to dtac.
Mart ****
i pay 2,600 a year for unlimited data 15mbps, 30 min calls/mo on true
Anonymous ******************
Get Finn mobile, it’s unlimited and much cheaper
David ********
OPAnonymous participant 114 what’s the service like though?
Anonymous ******************
@David *******
It’s been fine for me, used it for several years. They use dtacs net
Ashi ********
I’ve had my tourist sim and phone number for 7 years. 200B month unlimited data. I even hotspot it to work online.
David ********
OP@Ashi *******
absolutely nothing like that in my dtac app, which is why I went planAshi ********
@David *******
I think ais is the best one literally just continued what I signed up forDavid ********
OP@Ashi *******
I tried with AIS, but when I went to do the eSIM I would select my phone number Online then it take me to the next screen. I take a photo of my passport and then it would say too bad, phone number no longer available try again. So I’d go back and choose a different random phone number go ahead take a photo of my passport again for the same problem of phone number no longer available. So I just gave in and went to dtac
Tara ********
@Ashi *******
sameElías ********
I have the same or very similar 1-year plan with DTAC. I only needed to show my passport and that's it. Bought in October.
Elías ********
Oh wait? Per month??? 😂
Mine was like 2,300 baht for the whole year, paid in full upfront, not per month.
Mine was like 2,300 baht for the whole year, paid in full upfront, not per month.
Andrew ********
Go to
Unlimited data True 220 baht p/m 20Mbps 6am-6pm... 15Mbps 6pm-6am
AIS 300 baht p/m 90GB - 20GB 5G unlimited class all networks 15mins...
Plenty of options
****
with photo ID (passport) sorted... Choose your network provider Unlimited data True 220 baht p/m 20Mbps 6am-6pm... 15Mbps 6pm-6am
AIS 300 baht p/m 90GB - 20GB 5G unlimited class all networks 15mins...
Plenty of options
Elías ********
@Andrew *******
some ****
s in the provinces won't sell any sim to foreigners, according to many reports. Except those intended for short term stays, that are comparatively more expensive.Andrew ********
@Elías *******
OK .... Guess you need to go to the network operator directly to be able to purchase the SIM card.
Anonymous ******************
Tesco? Might struggle to find Tesco in Thailand! 😂
David ********
OPAnonymous participant 964 I know, but the driver and someone else called it tesco. It was lotus
Mart ****
Anonymous participant 964 lotus'ssssss
Anonymous ******************
This is honestly ridiculous... just go into any AIS shop (away from touristy areas). I got an AIS sim card for 300B a month, unlimited data, 300 minutes and 300 texts??? 1199B is a joke, do you think thais are paying this price? 🥲
David ********
OPOk you sad little broke bīṯchês. I’m sorry I even mentioned price. The purpose of the post was not to compare quality standards or wallet sizes. It was to inform people you can get a month plan with DTV. To provide evidence contrary to some other posts and forums saying you need to pay 1 year upfront etc
To all you broke little bïtchès, here is the dtac website where you can see the plans
Ain’t none of you clowns getting a special deal. You are all paying sticker price. Your standards are just lower than mine!
To all you broke little bïtchès, here is the dtac website where you can see the plans
*****************************************************
Ain’t none of you clowns getting a special deal. You are all paying sticker price. Your standards are just lower than mine!
David ********
Anonymous participant 129 rookie mistake but he can change it I guess
Anonymous ******************
This is the plan I have.. Its not a direct debit but I go onto the AIS app and top up 300B a month- I get a reminder text message a day or so before it's due. I just went into the "Big C" in Krabi and explained I lived here (wasn't a tourist)
Tammi *****
Anonymous participant 129 What package is this on the app?
Anonymous ******************
Anonymous participant 129 I was never asked what VISA I was on?? Just my passport- I have 2 thai bank accounts and they are both linked to this phone number also with no issues
Michael ********
Anonymous participant 129 is it post paid or pre-paid?
Anonymous ******************
@Michael *******
pre paid
Marianne ********
Anonymous participant 129 But what speed is that unlimited data?
David ********
OP@Marianne *******
lol, probably 15mbps 😂Elías ********
Participante anónimo 129 wow, I first I thought the OP meant 1,199B per year, not per month. I paid around 2,300B for the whole year when I bought mine, DTAC, in October.
Greg ********
@Elías *******
Do you get throttled after a certain amount of data?Greg ********
@Elías *******
On my corporate plan I think they throttled after only 2 Gig. My personal unlimited I seem to get more. I have a portable WiFi router with a unlimited 1 year daya only Sim in it. I have never used it enough to see if it is throttled. Waste of money as not needed.Elías ********
@Greg *******
yes, the speed is reduced after using 100 GB in a month, but I haven't use the 100 GB even once yet, as I use wifi whenever possible.
Anonymous ******************
Anonymous participant 129 what is the name of the plan? Or what I should tell them so I can get similar one?
Todd *********
Anonymous participant 129 exactly
Greg ********
Anonymous participant 129 We had similar ie 1200 but on AIS. It was our corporate plan though at work. My own post-paid plan is nowhere near that.
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