When talking about places people can visit, we can’t leave Thailand aside. There are many things for people to do there, such as enjoying their gastronomy, visiting their beautiful beaches, and even enjoying its architecture. But, how can people use their cell phones in Thailand?
That’s a good question for people who are not from there and want to know exactly which are their available options to stay connected while traveling. So, let’s see what we have to know about the usage of cell phones in Thailand!
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Can I use my cell phone in Thailand?
People can use their cell phones wherever they want. There’s no actual limitation on where someone’s phone will work unless they don’t have open-band devices that work in the country they are visiting.
Other than that, most devices will have zero to no problems working in a whole new country. In case you want to know more about which are the bands available for usage in Thailand, let’s see what options are available in Thailand.
| Technology | Bands |
| 5G bands | 5G 2500 (41) |
| 4G bands | LTE 1800, LTE 2100, LTE 2300 |
| 3G bands | UMTS 850, UMTS 900, UMTS 2100 |
| 2G bands | GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900 |
What are the options for using a cell phone in Thailand?
Now, it’s time to talk about what we truly want to know. Let’s see what are those options people have access to, when they are traveling, and how much it will cost someone to pay for the services we have on our list.
eSIM for traveling abroad
The first option on our list is the eSIM card. It basically works in the same way as a traditional SIM card most people have used, but it is completely digital. It will give access to cellular data to travelers, and they won’t need to change their phone number while using it, which is a great option.
One great option people can consider is the Holafly eSIM Thailand, which happens to be one of the most attractive options nowadays. Let’s talk a bit more about the rates and plans of this service, so people can prepare their budget for it.
| Days of use | Amount of cellular data | Price (USD) |
| 8 days | 3GB | $19 |
| 15 days | 6GB | $34 |
Now, we have to talk about the main advantages and disadvantages people have to know when using an eSIM.
Advantages
When talking about eSIMs, there are some benefits people have to keep in mind while using an eSIM. Let’s see those perks!
- Works with 4G networks to give high-speed connections.
- Holafly eSIMs provides its users 24/7 customer support service.
- The eSIM can be activated with a QR code in a few steps.
- eSIMs won’t change the actual phone number people already have.
Disadvantages
Let’s see what are the disadvantages of using an eSIM. There’s actually nothing to worry about, but people still have to keep these things in mind.
- eSIMs will only work in last-gen cellphones and smartwatches.
- People can’t send text messages or phone calls with an eSIM.
- eSIMs can only be used on one device.
International SIM Card
Let’s talk about one of the most famous alternatives for traveling worldwide. The international SIM card has become an option for most people, especially travelers who want to save some money.
Let’s talk about one of the most famous options for travelers, the Holafly Thailand SIM card.
| Days of use | Amount of cellular data | Price (USD) |
| 8 days | 3GB | $18.40 |
| 12 days | 4GB | $28.13 |
In case you have some doubts about the service, let’s talk about the pros and cons of the SIM card.
SIM card advantages
Just like it happens with eSIM cards, there are some advantages of using an international SIM card, which is the perfect alternative for many travelers.
- Cheaper than other traveling alternatives.
- Provides the user with a new phone number while the SIM card is active.
- 24/7 customer support service available if the SIM card was bought through the Holafly website.
- People don’t need to change their WhatsApp number to use this SIM card.
SIM card negative aspects
Time to talk about those negative aspects of using a SIM card while in Thailand. But hey, don’t worry too much yet, there aren’t many of them.
- People need to have an open-band device.
- The cellular data of the SIM card might run out before returning to your home country.
Pocket WiFi for Thailand
Talking about Pocket WiFi devices is taking a trip back in time when SIM cards weren’t so popular for travelers. Still, the service is still available nowadays, and there’s when nothing to worry about using it.
The only thing people must keep in mind as much as possible is the fact these devices are kind of expensive to use. Renting one can cost up to $100 a week, which is why other alternatives have become more famous.
Free WiFi in Thailand
As Thailand is a developed country, there will be some free WiFi hotspots in different parts of the country. People won’t have to worry much about finding a WiFi spot while being in places such as their hotel rooms, a restaurant, and more.
In case people need a bit more help finding a WiFi connection, options such as Avast Wi-Fi Finder, WinMan, and WiFi Map can be useful.
Can I use my phone service in Thailand?
It might seem confusing for people to tell that they can use their domestic cellular service, but this is available for use through the roaming service. This one is a somehow good option for travelers, but it doesn’t happen to be the cheapest one to use.
Still, if you want to know more about these services, we will talk about two of them that are well-known in different countries of the world, so let’s see what they offer to customers.
Using my cell phone in Thailand with AT&T
AT&T is a service that people from all over the United States have access to. There’s nothing to worry about using it as it has proven to be a suitable alternative for people living there, but what about the roaming price?
AT&T offers people three different options within their main service. The first one is only to make phone calls, and it costs $15 per line to activate it.
Now, for the cellular data option, we have two options. The first one is the International Travel Pass which costs $10 per day, or people can simply use cellular data paying $2.05 per MB consumed.
Using my cell phone in Thailand with Vodafone
Vodafone is an alternative for people who are in the UK. They have different roaming plans, and the price varies from one to the other depending on where they are traveling to.
For people who are traveling to Thailand, the price to pay for the roaming service is 7 USD per day, and it gives full access to their domestic data plan.
Local cellular operators in Thailand
People living in Thailand will have access to their local cellular operators, and in some cases, travelers might get that chance too. But things here are a bit more complicated for them, as this service is mostly used by locals in Thailand, so you might want to go ahead and use a different service instead.
How much does it cost to use my cell phone in Thailand?
So far, we talked about different alternatives for people to use while traveling, as well as important things for people to consider. Now, in case you want to have everything in the same place, we will summarize things out, and that way people will know exactly how much they have to pay for a specific service.
| Service | Internet tariff in Thailand |
| eSIM card Thailand | 6GB for 15 days for 34 USD |
| SIM card Thailand | 4GB for 12 days for 28.13 USD |
| AT&T roaming in Thailand | $10 with the International Travel Pass |
| Vodafone Roaming in Thailand | 7 USD per day depending on the destination |
| Pocket WiFi for Thailand | From 50 to 100 USD for a week of usage. |
| Public WiFi in Thailand | Free |
Everything we said here might be helpful even for different destinations, so keep in mind that it will help you even outside Thailand. If you are a traveler, this guide should be one of the things you should always keep with you.
Now, if you need a recommendation on which service to use, the Holafly SIM and eSIM cards are worth using, especially to save some extra money!
