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Airalo Thailand eSIM: which plan for how many days
Airalo sells Thailand as fixed-data plans (from $4) and unlimited plans (from $9.50), on the network it lists as True. Here is what each costs today, which one fits your trip length, when Saily or your own carrier is the better deal, and the one Thailand form you must finish before you fly.
Ad / affiliate disclosure: I may earn a commission if you buy an eSIM through the Airalo, Saily or Yesim links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Using your carrier's plan costs me nothing to recommend. PracticalPivot is not affiliated with Airalo. Prepared with AI assistance; Airalo and Saily prices were read on their Thailand pages on October 17, 2026.
The 30-second answer
Best plan for most week-long Thailand trips: Airalo 5GB for 7 days ($7), or 10GB for 7 days ($10) if you post a lot of photos. Either covers Grab, Google Maps, messages and some social media.
Heavy use (streaming, hotspot): Airalo unlimited, 7 days for $21.
Two weeks to a month (island hopping, long stays): Airalo 10GB for 15 days ($10.50) or 10GB for 30 days ($11). Saily's 30-day plans cost the same (10GB $10.99); its 3GB / 30-day plan ($5.99) is the cheapest way to cover a long, light-use stay.
Before you fly: every foreign visitor must file the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within the 3 days before arrival. Do it on Wi-Fi at home; the eSIM does not help with this step.
Airalo Thailand fixed-data plans (checked October 17, 2026)
| Valid for | Data and price |
|---|---|
| 3 days | 1GB $4.00 · 3GB $5.50 |
| 7 days | 3GB $6.00 · 5GB $7.00 · 10GB $10.00 |
| 15 days | 5GB $7.50 · 10GB $10.50 · 20GB $17.50 |
| 30 days | 5GB $8.00 · 10GB $11.00 · 20GB $18.00 · 50GB $27.50 |
Airalo Thailand unlimited plans
| Plan | Price | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited, 3 days | $9.50 | $3.17 |
| Unlimited, 5 days | $15.00 | $3.00 |
| Unlimited, 7 days | $21.00 | $3.00 |
| Unlimited, 10 days | $31.00 | $3.10 |
| Unlimited, 15 days | $39.00 | $2.60 |
| Unlimited, 30 days | $49.00 | $1.63 |
Airalo's Thailand page opens on the unlimited tab; the fixed-data plans are under "Fixed data". It lists the network as "True" plus one other. It did not state a speed cap for unlimited plans; unlimited eSIM plans often slow down after heavy daily use, so read the plan's fair-usage line in the app before you pay. Note the jump: 10GB for 7 days is $10, but 7 days unlimited is $21, so only pay for unlimited if you will really stream or run a hotspot.
Which plan for your trip length
| Trip | Light use (maps, Grab, messages) | Heavy use (streaming, hotspot) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 days (Bangkok stopover) | Airalo 3GB / 3 days, $5.50 (1GB, $4, for a layover) | Airalo unlimited 3 days, $9.50 |
| 7 days (Bangkok + Chiang Mai or one island) | Airalo 5GB / 7 days, $7, or 10GB / 7 days, $10 | Airalo unlimited 7 days, $21 |
| 10 days | Airalo 10GB / 15 days, $10.50 | Airalo unlimited 10 days, $31 |
| 15 days | Airalo 10GB / 15 days, $10.50, or 20GB, $17.50 | Airalo unlimited 15 days, $39, or Saily unlimited 15 days, $38.99 |
| 30 days | Airalo 10GB / 30 days, $11, or Saily 3GB / 30 days, $5.99 for very light use | Airalo 50GB / 30 days, $27.50, or unlimited $49 |
Saily's Thailand plans on October 17, 2026: 1GB / 7 days $2.99; 3GB $5.99, 5GB $7.99, 10GB $10.99, 20GB $19.99 (each 30 days); unlimited from 5 to 30 days (15 days $38.99; Saily says its unlimited plans give 5GB a day at full speed, then up to 1 Mbps). Rough data use: maps, Grab and messaging run around 100-300MB a day; a day of Instagram and photo uploads can reach 1GB.
Thailand-specific checks
| Issue | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) | Thai Immigration says all passengers must complete it, and foreigners must submit it within 3 days before their arrival date. The official site states there is no fee. | File it at tdac.immigration.go.th on Wi-Fi before you fly and save the confirmation. Ignore look-alike sites that charge a fee. |
| No Thai phone number | Airalo and Saily Thailand eSIMs are data-only. | Set up Grab (or Bolt) at home with your own number, and keep your home line on for bank codes. Buy a local SIM at the airport only if a service you need asks for a Thai number. |
| Islands and national parks | Coverage on smaller islands and in parks is thinner than in Bangkok and the big resort towns. | Download Google Maps offline areas for each island and save ferry tickets and hotel confirmations as screenshots. |
Common questions
Which Airalo Thailand plan is best for 7 days?
For most travelers, Airalo's 5GB / 7-day Thailand plan ($7 on October 17, 2026), or 10GB / 7 days ($10) for heavier photo use. For streaming or hotspot use, the 7-day unlimited plan ($21).
Does Airalo have fixed-data plans for Thailand?
Yes. Besides unlimited plans (from $9.50 for 3 days), Airalo sells Thailand plans from 1GB / 3 days ($4) up to 50GB / 30 days ($27.50). They are under the Fixed data tab on Airalo's Thailand page.
Is Saily cheaper than Airalo for Thailand?
About the same, on October 17, 2026: at 30 days Airalo charged $8 for 5GB and $11 for 10GB, against Saily's $7.99 and $10.99. Saily's 3GB / 30-day plan ($5.99) has no Airalo match, so it wins for a long trip with very light use; Airalo wins for short trips because it sells 3-, 7- and 15-day plans.
Does the Airalo Thailand eSIM come with a phone number?
No. It is data only. You can still use WhatsApp, LINE and other internet calling, and keep your home line active for texts.
Is Airalo cheaper than AT&T or Verizon in Thailand?
Usually. AT&T's International Day Pass and Verizon's TravelPass both charge $12 a day (about $84 for a week), compared with $7 for Airalo's 5GB / 7-day plan. Many T-Mobile plans include basic data in Thailand.
Check your US carrier first (it may be free or cheaper)
| Carrier | Thailand option | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | Many plans include data and texting in Thailand at no extra cost; higher plans include some high-speed GB | Basic plans are slow abroad. Check "International" in your plan details. |
| AT&T | International Day Pass: $12/day for one line, $6/day for each extra line, max 10 charged days per bill | 7 days = $84 for one line, far more than any eSIM above |
| Verizon | TravelPass: $12/day in most countries | Charges apply on every day you use the phone abroad unless you turn data roaming off |
| Free option | Wi-Fi in hotels, cafes and malls | Fine for a short city stay if you download offline maps, but you lose Grab and navigation between hotspots |
How to set up an Airalo eSIM for Thailand
- Check your phone: it must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked. On iPhone: Settings > General > About, look for "Carrier Lock: No SIM restrictions".
- Buy and install at home on Wi-Fi a day or two before you fly. Airalo says you can install as soon as you like; don't delete the eSIM after installing.
- Label it "Thailand", keep your home line on for calls and texts if you want, and set Cellular Data to the Thailand eSIM.
- Turn data roaming ON for the Thailand eSIM and OFF for your home line so your carrier can't start a $12 day pass.
- When you land at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang or Phuket, switch the Thailand line on and give it a minute to find the network. If there's no data, toggle airplane mode once.
Before you fly: checklist
- TDAC filed on the official site within 3 days of arrival, confirmation saved
- Phone unlocked and eSIM-capable
- Plan length covers your last day (count arrival and departure days)
- eSIM installed on Wi-Fi at home, QR code or app login saved
- Home line: data roaming off (avoids day-pass charges)
- Grab set up with your home number; offline maps saved for any islands
What to do
Pick by trip length from the table above, then buy from the provider's Thailand page:
Saily code PIVOT10 takes 10% off your first Saily purchase (all plans); it is applied automatically through the Saily link on this page.
See Yesim Thailand plans →
Affiliate links. Yesim's Thailand prices were not checked for this guide, so compare them on its page before buying.