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What SIM card should I buy for 180 days in Thailand: TrueMove, AIS, or Dtac?

Dec 11, 2021
4 years ago
Michael *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello I think I have asked this before so apologies if I have. I will be in Thailand for 180 days and trying to work out which SIM I should buy. I looked at TrueMove and AIS websites but thh I am confused. Can someone please help me?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion focuses on recommendations for SIM cards in Thailand for a stay of 180 days. Users weigh in on various providers: TrueMove, AIS, and Dtac. It is generally advised not to buy SIMs at the airport but rather at retail shops. Users report that TrueMove and AIS offer good coverage, with AIS having better performance in rural areas and TrueMove providing good customer support. Dtac appears to provide great value for urban living but has some issues with spam messages. Unlimited data is a common requirement, with various price points reported.
Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)

WARNING: Only trust Thai government websites with .go.th domains or Thai agent websites with .co.th or .in.th domains, as these require verified Thai registration and cannot be registered anonymously.

The official TDAC form is available at tdac.immigration.go.th, which uses the official .go.th government domain.

The services by AGENTS CO., LTD. does NOT charge any fees for arrivals within 72 hours. If you need to book more than 72 hours in advance, there is a service fee of $8.

Do not trust other sites pretending to be a trustworthy agency. Pay attention to delivery time - the service operated by AGENTS CO., LTD. has 1 minute delivery time for arrivals within 72 hours.

Don't fall for sites pretending to be agents.co.th or the official government tdac.immigration.go.th website. Always double-check the exact domain in your browser.

Scam services may take days to process your application, others may not even do anything. With these TDAC scam services you also need to worry about double charges.

Please watch out for TDAC misinformation spread by fugitive Jesse Nickles and his many fake accounts on Quora, TripAdvisor, Reddit, and other platforms.

TRUSTED TDAC LINKS:

Official Government TDAC Form: tdac.immigration.go.th
Official TDAC form by AGENTS
Official TDAC information page by AGENTS (tdac.in.th)

Stephen *******
I've used True and never had a problem anywhere. Here's a 4Mbs unlimited, never throttled, for 180 days for 2100 baht. It's only 4 Mbps streaming so web pages etc load at full speed. It's in Thai but you can use Google translate on the image.

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%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%87%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B9%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%A1%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%94/
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David ********
I've used True, Dtac and AIS. True now has good coverage in any built up area, even traveling in rural areas doesn't seem to be a problem for me now. I have noticed the speed drop occasionally in somee of the extremely remote corners though. True have a very extensive wi-fi service that's available free for subscribers if their phone services, shopping malls and 7-11s usually offer fast and reliable connections to it.

DTAC offer a very fast and reliable service in the built up areas but can be lacking occasionally in rural areas, I'm not sure about their free wi-fi availability so I can't say if it's as comprehensive as True. The big downside to DTAC for me was their constant barrage of unsolicited messages, I was under a constant barrage of spam messages from 3rd parties that DTAC refused to block.

AIS offers fantastic reliability and speed in most areas both urban and remote. They don't use the same frequencies for all their services so you need to check that your own phone is compatible if your bringing it with you.

These 2 links may help

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Los *****
I'd buy a sim on Lazada. I bought an unlimited internet sim with 30 min of calls a month for 1100 baht in April.

Price has gone up a bit, but still reasonable for a year.

Check this store - ranges from about 1300-1500 baht for similar now.

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Robert **********
@Los ****
I think if you buy on Lazada you will have to go to the shop to validate the card
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Los *****
@Robert *********
Any 7-11 / Family Mart etc can help do that verification. Worked out a lot cheaper for me so far buying the card on Lazada.
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Los *****
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Harry ********
Perhaps the best value are the DTAC and True sims being sold, especially through Lazada, for around ฿1000, with free phone calls and free internet @4bps for one year.

Seemingly, AIS, too, but a little dearer..
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Nicholas ****
When you get here go into a mall, go to an AIS. Cheap as, 200-300 baht a month for unlimited data
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Nick ************
Never had a problem with AIS in Isaan. 6 months unlimited internet at 6mbs 1800 baht. I use about 70GB per month and there has been no slow down or drop out. Phone coverage good too.
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Moaya **********
Ais outside of cities .. no doubt !
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Marguyvin **********
TrueMove best coverage nationwide. AIS fastest speeds where available.
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Mma *******
I have True Move unlimited everything, 10mbps 300bht/mth. Been great for Hotspotting, top-up at 7-11 or True Move stores.
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Mma *******
pre-paid, every month I go into the store to renew.
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Dan ********
@Mma ******
is that on pre-paid / pay as you go, or on a contract ? I'm paying 695/month for 4mbps unlimited...pre-paid
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Michael *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mma ******
actually I literally just went for this
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Michael *******
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Niclas ***********
Where are you going in Thailand? AIS is better around Phuket if you go scuba or island hopping. True works okay but not in remote areas. True have eSIM now if you have Iphone that is good since you can run your domestic SIM same time. Not sure if others also offer.
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Will *********
are there any sims that are ok for the whole country or am i day dreaming? haha
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Niclas ***********
@Will ********
I think like in all countries have different service in different areas. If you get two if your phone support dual it should be fine. I think I read True and DTAC might merge then I would assume best service will be in the largest network. But you never know 🤷‍♂️
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Niclas ***********
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Michael *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Niclas **********
phuket chiang mai, koh lanta, Koh Samui and others but not sure yet
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Niclas ***********
@Michael ******
I think you will be fine with either for those destinations.
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Michael *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Niclas **********
thank you 🙏
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Michael *******
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Jp *******
I have True for 319B. Unlimited yes but the download speed goes down so much after a few days of heavy usage that I can barely download photos and forget about playing videos. I read there is never any true unlimited
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Robert **********
@Jp ******
there is true unlimited
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Jp *******
@Robert *********
how much, how fast and what company ?
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Robert **********
@Jp ******
฿1099/month postpaid. Speedtest just said 31 mb down, 24 up. Includes 700 minutes calls, texts cost couple baht each, but most of us rarely use calls and texts, doing everything on Line, Whatsapp, or Facebook messenger. True. I get a discount, i think 20%, because i have true fiber internet at my condo.
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Robert **********
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Charles ********
AIS is going to have the best coverage outside the city and fastest speed inside.

I think dtac is a great value option for city life.

I have true because it was bundled with fiber.
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David ********
@Charles *******
I have true because they have the best customer support. Not only are they helpful and polite, they get the job done and always have staff with fantastic English language abilities
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Michael *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
David Hattan yeah I agree with you. They really helped me out
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Michael *******
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Benjamin ******
I use TrueMove. It's cheap. I recommend arriving here, and going into their shops and see what plan is the best for you. They have shops at all the malls and Robinsons
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Bam *****
I use Dtac. 320 baht total a month. Unlimited data. My girlfriend says their customer service and promotions are better.
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Dan ********
@Bam ****
The True Move app is truly shocking. And there can be a 15 minute delay on top ups, like you'd never top up when you desperately need to make a call...
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Dan ********
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Robert **********
Either one is good. But directly from a true or AIS shop. Insist on unlimited internet if you are staying.
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Garrett ***********
All pretty much the same. Whatever you do, don't buy a simcard at the airport, wait until you get in town and go to a shop. Airports only sell tourist sims.

I use Dtac, I find the customer service better than AIS and True, reception wise it's all pretty much the same though. I pay 200 baht a month, unlimited data 4mb/s. Can go up from there.
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Robert **********
Just get enough to get you going at the airport. I got a true tourist some in 2018, converted the same sim, same number to a postpaid unlimited number, I still have it.
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Chris *******
@Garrett **********
we have found an AIS marathon sim 1600b for a year.

100g per mth high speed.
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Garrett ***********
@Ch***
congrats, I prefer unlimited data though.
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Garrett ***********
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Ian *********
@Garrett **********
very true I paid 899bht for one at Phuket airport for one month unlimited data,As my true sim was now inactive, IVE BEEN COMING FOR 15 YEARS SO REALLY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER

give it to me I deserve it 🤣🤣🤣
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Garrett ***********
@I**
That's not the worst I've seen, seen some people get close to 2k baht a month for a sim card from AIS at the airport. Absolutely insane.
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Ian *********
@Garrett **********
got lucky then mine was AIS,but with all the other expenses getting back it didn't really matter
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Ian *********
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