Most Thailand travel eSIMs run on AIS. In our catalogue, 67 of the 73 plans that cover Thailand use AIS, 33 use TrueMove H and 23 use dtac, and many list two networks. Every Thailand-only plan we sell runs on AIS, from $1.99 for a 1 GB day pass to $11.80 for 20 GB over 30 days. If you want TrueMove H or dtac, you get them on regional plans that also cover Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam or wider Asia.
You search “Thailand eSIM AIS” because a friend said AIS worked on Koh Phangan, or because a forum swore by TrueMove H in Chiang Mai. Then every plan page talks about gigabytes and days, and none of the headlines say which network you are buying. The network is on the plan page, but you have to look for it. Here is what we found when we sorted every plan that covers Thailand by the Thai network it connects to, on 1 October 2026.
- AIS: on 67 of 73 plans, including all 10 Thailand-only plans.
- TrueMove H: on 33 plans, all regional. 6 of them use TrueMove H alone; the rest pair it with AIS.
- dtac: on 23 plans, all regional, and always alongside AIS.
- Two or more networks: 46 plans list more than one Thai network, so the eSIM can use whichever the phone finds.
Thailand’s three mobile networks in 2026
Thailand has three consumer mobile brands, but since 2023 only two network operators sit behind them.
| Brand | Operator | What the operator says |
|---|---|---|
| AIS | Advanced Info Service | 47.1 million subscribers, 19.7 million of them on 5G, per AIS investor relations |
| TrueMove H | True Corporation | dtac and True merged into True Corporation on 1 March 2023 |
| dtac | True Corporation | The “One Network” project finished in 2025 with 100% integration of the True and dtac networks |
After the integration, True reported 5G population coverage of 94% and 4G coverage of 99% for the combined network. The sources are AIS’s investor page and True’s announcements of the merger and of One Network. For independent speed and reliability measurements, Opensignal publishes a regular Thailand mobile network report. Its results change from report to report, so check the latest one rather than a forum post from two years ago.
For a traveller, the practical upshot is simple. TrueMove H and dtac now run on one integrated network, so the real choice is AIS or True’s network. A plan that lists both covers you either way.
Which network each Thailand plan uses
We grouped all 73 plans that cover Thailand by the Thai networks named in their network table. Prices are from 1 October 2026.
| Thai networks listed | Plans | Examples | Hotspot |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIS only | 21 | All 10 Thailand-only plans; Asia 12 Countries 20 GB, $17.20 | Not stated on Thailand-only plans; supported on the regional ones |
| AIS and TrueMove H | 23 | Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand 15 GB, $8.50 | Supported |
| AIS and dtac | 19 | Asia 7 Countries 10 GB, $11.00 | Supported |
| AIS, TrueMove H and dtac | 4 | Asialink 16 countries 10 GB, $13.00 | Supported |
| TrueMove H only | 6 | Vietnam Plus 20 GB, $13.00 | Supported |
The Thailand-only plans are the cheapest way in if Thailand is your only stop. Fixed plans run from 1 GB for 7 days at $3.00 to 10 GB for 30 days at $7.00 and 20 GB for 30 days at $11.80, at full speed until the data is used. Day passes give 1 GB a day at high speed and 384 kbps after that, from $1.99 for one day to $7.00 for 10 days.
See and filter all 73 plans: the Thailand eSIM page lists every plan that works in Thailand, and each plan page names its network in the Destinations and networks table.
Does the network matter for a tourist?
Less than the forums suggest, for three reasons.
- The networks are built out. True reports 99% 4G population coverage for its combined network and names Phuket, Krabi, Surat Thani and Chiang Mai among the tourist areas it upgraded. AIS reports 47.1 million subscribers, 19.7 million of them on 5G.
- A travel eSIM is a roaming connection. It attaches to a Thai partner network the way a foreign SIM does, so performance also depends on the provider’s agreement and on how busy the cell is, not only on the brand.
- Two networks beat one. On a plan that lists AIS and TrueMove H, the phone picks whichever signal is usable. If one is weak on a beach or in a ferry terminal, it can move to the other. You can also pick a network by hand in the phone’s network settings.
Where the network matters more is far from the tourist trail: national parks, small islands and long bus routes in the north. If your trip is mostly there, a plan that lists two Thai networks is the safer buy.
Pick a plan by trip
| Your trip | Good fit | Network | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand only, a week, light use | Day pass, 1 GB a day for 7 days | AIS | $5.59 |
| Thailand only, 2 to 4 weeks | 10 GB, 30 days | AIS | $7.00 |
| Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore | 15 GB, 30 days, 3 countries | AIS and TrueMove H | $8.50 |
| Thailand and Vietnam, plus Indonesia or Korea | Vietnam Plus 10 GB, 6 countries | TrueMove H | $7.80 |
| Wider Asia, including Cambodia, Laos or Japan | Asialink 10 GB, 16 countries | AIS, TrueMove H and dtac | $13.00 |
Check the country list before you buy a regional plan. The Asia 7 Countries plan, for example, covers Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam, but not Cambodia. Our guide to multi-country eSIMs explains how to read a coverage list.
Hotspot, IP address and a Thai number
- Hotspot: every regional plan that covers Thailand lists hotspot as supported. The Thailand-only AIS plans do not state it, so do not plan around tethering a laptop on them. Our hotspot audit explains what to check.
- IP address: many regional plans route data through another country, such as the UK, Hong Kong or Singapore, so websites see that country rather than Thailand. This rarely matters for maps and messaging. It can matter for services that check where you are. See how a travel eSIM changes your IP address.
- Thai phone number: our Thailand plans are data-only. If a hotel, landlord or tour operator needs to call you on a Thai number, you need a local SIM from a Thai operator. Keep your home number on the phone’s other line for texts and verification codes.
When a different plan is the better choice
Buy something other than an AIS Thailand-only plan in these cases:
- You are crossing into Malaysia, Singapore or Vietnam on the same trip. A regional plan saves installing a second eSIM, and you get two Thai networks too.
- You need hotspot for a laptop. Choose a regional plan that lists it.
- You need a Thai number for calls. Get a local tourist SIM instead, or as well.
- You want unlimited data. None of the plans covering Thailand in our catalogue was unlimited on 1 October 2026; the day passes slow to 384 kbps after 1 GB each day.
Frequently asked questions
Which network is best for tourists in Thailand?
There are really two networks: AIS, and the True network that TrueMove H and dtac have shared since 2025. Both run 4G and 5G networks. For a traveller, a plan that lists two Thai networks matters more than the brand, because the phone can switch when one signal is weak.
Does a Thailand eSIM use AIS?
Most do. In our catalogue on 1 October 2026, 67 of the 73 plans covering Thailand listed AIS, including all 10 Thailand-only plans. Each plan page names its network in the Destinations and networks table, so you can confirm before buying.
Is dtac the same as TrueMove H now?
They are separate brands of one company. dtac and True merged into True Corporation on 1 March 2023, and True says its One Network project fully integrated the two networks in 2025. On our plans, dtac always appears alongside AIS, and TrueMove H appears on 33 regional plans.
Can I choose the network on a travel eSIM?
Only among the networks your plan lists. If a plan lists AIS and TrueMove H, the phone connects automatically to either, and you can select one manually in network settings. A plan that lists only AIS will not connect to TrueMove H or dtac.
Does a Thailand eSIM include a Thai phone number?
Not ours. Every plan covering Thailand in our catalogue is data-only. You can still call and message over apps, and your home number keeps receiving texts on the phone’s other line. For a Thai number, buy a local SIM from a Thai operator.
Can I use hotspot with a Thailand eSIM?
On the regional plans, yes: all 63 regional plans covering Thailand list hotspot as supported. The 10 Thailand-only plans do not state hotspot support. If you need to tether a laptop, choose a regional plan such as Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand 15 GB.
The brand on a Thai SIM card used to be a big decision. On a travel eSIM it is mostly settled by the plan you pick, so choose the plan for your route and data needs, and let the network table confirm the rest.
Last reviewed 1 October 2026. Plan networks, hotspot terms and prices come from our own catalogue and product pages on that date and change often; product pages are authoritative. Operator facts are from AIS investor relations and True Corporation announcements. AIS, TrueMove H, dtac and True are trademarks of their owners; this article is independent of them.