Mobile internet

Will my phone work in Thailand?

Wondering if your phone will work in Thailand? Learn everything you need to know, including the top mobile plans to keep you connected during your trip.

Traveling to Thailand and wondering if your phone will work there? The short answer is yes, but you need to know plenty of things about your phone, mobile provider, or the service you plan on using while traveling.

With our guide, you’ll know how your phone will work in Thailand and choose which service is best for your trip and your budget. We’ll also introduce Holafly — an international eSIM that makes it easy to stay connected in Thailand.

In this article

Can I use my cell phone in Thailand?

Yes, your cell phone should work in Thailand as long as it’s not carrier-locked. Make sure to check if your phone is unlocked before your trip to avoid connectivity issues while abroad.

If your phone is unlocked and ready to use abroad, you simply need to choose a way to keep you connected. The typical options include travel eSIMs, international roaming, and local SIM cards.

How to check if your phone will work in Thailand

Before discussing the ways you can get a strong cell service in Thailand, you need to check if your phone is compatible and unlocked to use international mobile networks.

Check if your phone is compatible with local networks

Local carriers in Thailand, such as AIS, True, DTAC, and TOT Mobile, use specific network frequencies for mobile internet. Your phone must be compatible with Thailand’s frequency bands for it to work in the country. The good news is that almost every modern phone is compatible with these bands, but double-checking never hurts.

These are the frequency bands Thai mobile carriers work with:

Carrier	Mobile networks	Frequency bands
AIS	2G/3G/4G/5G	900 MHz (E-GSM), 1800 MHz (DCS), B1 (2100 MHz), B8 (900 MHz GSM), B1 (2100 MHz), B3 (1800 MHz +), B8 (900 MHz), B41 (TD 2500 MHz), N41 (2500 MHz)
True	2G/3G/4G/5G	900 MHz (E-GSM), 1800 MHz (DCS),B1 (2100 MHz), B5 (850 MHz),B1 (2100 MHz), B3 (1800 MHz +), B8 (900 MHz), B41 (TD 2500 MHz), N41 (2500 MHz)
DTAC	2G/3G/4G	900 MHz (E-GSM), 1800 MHz (DCS), B1 (2100 MHz), B5 (850 MHz), B1 (2100 MHz), B3 (1800 MHz +), B40 (TD 2300 MHz)
TOT	2G/3G/4G/5G	900 MHz (E-GSM), 1800 MHz (DCS),1 (2100 MHz), B5 (850 MHz),B8 (900 MHz GSM), B1 (2100 MHz), B3 (1800 MHz +), B8 (900 MHz), B40 (TD 2300 MHz), B41 (TD 2500 MHz)

As long as your cell phone connects to these networks in Thailand, getting an internet connection shouldn’t be a problem.

Check if your phone is unlocked

If you purchased your phone together with a monthly cell service plan, it may be locked to work only on your local carrier’s network.

The fastest way to contact your service provider and ask them to check if your phone is unlocked. If it is, you can also request them to unlock your phone for your trip. You can also check if your phone is unlocked for use in Thailand by inserting a SIM from a different provider and checking if it works.

Lastly, you can do this to check manually on Android and iOS:

Android: Go to Networks or Connections and press on Automatically select network. If your phone is unlocked, you’ll be able to choose a different network from your service provider.
iOS: Go to General and then About. There, press on Carrier lock and if the message No SIM restrictions appears, you can use it internationally.

How to check if your iPhone is unlocked for international travel.

Will my regular SIM card work in Thailand?

In most cases, you’ll be able to use an international plan with your local network carrier while in Thailand.

The majority of US or UK providers offer international roaming passes or have pay-as-you-go roaming options. These allow you to connect to Thai networks to send text messages, make phone calls, and use mobile data for an extra fee. The exact cost depends on the provider and on whether or not they have roaming passes for Thailand.

Does AT&T work in Thailand?

Yes, AT&T works in Thailand, with two AT&T international roaming plans to choose from:

Daily Pass: For $12 USD per day, you can get unlimited data, phone calls, and text messages in Thailand with the Daily Pass.
Pay-as-you-go: This option offers text messages for $0.50, phone calls for $3 per minute, and data for $2.05 per MB.

Does Verizon work in Thailand?

Verizon is another popular US-based provider with multiple Verizon international roaming options for Thailand

Daily pass: With Verizon’s TravelPass, you get unlimited data, text messages, and phone calls for $10/day.
Pay-as-you-go: With pay-as-you-go roaming fees, you’ll pay $2.99/minute for phone calls, $0.50 per sent message, and $2.05 per MB consumed.

Does T-Mobile work in Thailand?

There are three different T-Mobile international roaming options to choose from when traveling to Thailand:

Roaming-inclusive plans: T-Mobile’s Experience More and Experience Beyond monthly plans include roaming in 215 destinations worldwide, including Thailand. That said, priced at $85/month and $100/month, respectively, these plans are mostly aimed towards frequent travelers, not one-time trips.
Roaming pass: T-Mobile has 1-day, 15-day, and 30-day roaming passes priced from $5 to $50. Data allowances with these passes are very limited, though, as the 1-day pass only gives you 512 MB of data, the 15-day pass includes 5 GB, and the 30-day pass is limited to 15 GB.
Pay-as-you-go roaming: If you don’t get a roaming plan, you can pay $0.25 a minute for calls and $0.01 for a MB of data throughout your stay.

How to stay connected in Thailand

While you can use your usual phone plan to get mobile internet in Thailand, the price is usually quite high, especially for pay-as-you-go rates. Thankfully, there are different alternatives to using your cell phone in Thailand, such as an eSIM, local SIM cards, pocket WiFi, and free WiFi. So, let’s see what each one offers.

eSIM: Getting an eSIM for Thailand is a simple, affordable, and convenient way to stay connected. All you need is an eSIM-compatible phone, and you can get online within minutes without having to visit any physical stores.
Local SIM cards: AIS, True, DTAC, and TOT Mobile have stores within the Suvarnabhumi Airport and throughout major cities in Thailand, where you can purchase a tourist SIM card for Thailand. Tourist SIM cards are also available in convenience stores like 7-Eleven and Lotus Express.
Data roaming: Data roaming in Thailand allows you to use your local data allowance or pay-as-you-go rates, but it’s usually more expensive than an eSIM or local SIM card. Expect to pay around $8 to $10 per day for the data roaming service.
Pocket WiFi: You can rent or purchase a pocket WiFi device in Thailand. However, it’s typically the most expensive option, with prices often exceeding $100 per week for a limited data allowance.
Free WiFi: Using free WiFi can give you internet access when you have no other options, but it’s not very secure and isn’t going to keep you connected on the go. Use it to buy an eSIM or check for directions, but don’t rely on it as your sole source of data throughout your stay.

Tips for using your cell phone in Thailand

While it’s certainly easy to stay connected in Thailand, there are a few things you may want to consider before choosing the service you want to go with:

How much data do you need? Consider how much data you may need for your trip. Most local SIM cards and roaming options only offer fixed-data options, while Holafly offers eSIMs with unlimited data.
Do you need phone calls? Most travelers only need data, so there’s no reason to pay extra for calls or texts. You still can use a data-only service for calling and texting through VoIP apps such as WhatsApp or Messenger.
What’s the fastest way to get online? You’ll need to visit a physical store, provide your passport, and register your SIM when buying a local card in Thailand, all of which takes time. Meanwhile, you can get an eSIM from Holafly and get online within minutes instead.

Stay connected in Thailand with Holafly

The Holafly eSIM for Thailand gives you complete peace of mind for your Thailand trip. With unlimited data and 24/7 customer support included in every plan, you’ll never lose connection. Buy yours online, use the activation QR code to get online within minutes, and enjoy non-stop connectivity during your trip.

The prices range from $1.55 to $6.90 per day, depending on the duration of your plan, which is cheaper than most international roaming options. If you plan on traveling the world for a while longer, Holafly Plans might be an even better option for you. It’s a pay-monthly eSIM subscription with coverage in 170+ destinations. Simply roam the world without having to worry about staying connected and cancel the plan when you no longer need it.

Visiting more countries in the region? Make sure your phone will work there with more of our blogs:

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Rokas Aniulis

Senior SEO copywriter

A senior SEO writer from Lithuania, combining my passion for writing and travel at Holafly. With years of experience in technical fields, I'm here to answer all of your questions about staying connected. I specialize in turning even the most complicated topics into something everyone can understand.

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