As a rule of thumb, a 5 GB or 10 GB eSIM covers one or two weeks of everyday phone use in Thailand, and a 20 GB plan covers a month. Unlimited data in Thailand only pays off for heavy daily users, because most unlimited plans slow down after a daily full-speed allowance. The sizes below are an editorial rule of thumb mapped to plans listed on October 27, 2026, not a usage measurement.
Key takeaways
- Maps, messages and ride apps are light; video, video calls and hotspot use are what drain a plan.
- A 10 GB eSIM for Thailand covers most two week trips with room for photos and social media.
- Bigger plans cost less per GB: TonMobile lists $4.00 per GB at 1 GB and $0.89 per GB at 100 GB.
- Unlimited passes cap full speed per day, for example 1 GB per day on TonMobile and 5 GB per day on Saily.
What uses mobile data on a Thailand trip
Data use on a Thailand trip depends far more on the apps you open than on the number of days. Text based apps barely move the counter, while anything with moving pictures uses data quickly. Sorting your habits into light, mixed and heavy is the fastest way to pick a plan size.
Light
Getting around
Maps, ride hailing, messaging, email, bookings and a translation app. Plan sizes from 3 GB to 5 GB suit this pattern on a short trip.
Mixed
Sharing the trip
Everything above plus scrolling social feeds, posting photos and short clips, and the odd voice call over a messenger app.
Heavy
Working or streaming
Video calls, streaming series on a ferry, cloud photo backup over mobile data, or a laptop on your phone's hotspot.
Fast networks make heavy use easy to slip into. Opensignal measured average 5G download speeds of 102.7 Mbps on dtac, 94.0 Mbps on AIS and 88.6 Mbps on TrueMove H between April 1 and June 29, 2026. At those speeds video loads in high quality by default, which empties a small plan sooner than people expect.
No phone number on travel eSIMs
The travel eSIM plans compared on this site are data only, with no Thai phone number. Calls go through messenger apps, so they count toward your data allowance.
Plan size by trip length
Trip length sets the minimum validity you need, and your habits set the size inside that window. Most fixed plans for Thailand last 30 days, so a one week and a three week trip often use the same validity with different sizes. The table maps each trip length to the plans providers listed on October 27, 2026.
| Trip length | Light use | Mixed use | Heavy use | Listed plans (price) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stopover, up to 7 days | 1 GB | 3 GB | 5 GB | 1 GB/7 days: TonMobile $4.00, Saily $2.99, Ubigi $3, Nomad $5 |
| 1 week | 3 GB | 5 GB | 10 GB | 3 GB/30 days: TonMobile $5.50, Saily $5.99, Nomad $6 |
| 2 weeks | 5 GB | 10 GB | 20 GB | 10 GB/30 days: TonMobile $11.00, Saily $10.99, Nomad $10 |
| 3 to 4 weeks | 10 GB | 20 GB | 50 GB | 20 GB/30 days: TonMobile $19.00, Saily $19.99 |
| 1 to 3 months | 20 GB | 50 GB | 100 GB | 50 GB/90 days: TonMobile $45.00 |
| Up to 6 months | 50 GB | 100 GB | 100 GB plus top-ups | 100 GB/180 days: TonMobile $89.00 |
The planner below runs the same rule of thumb for any number of days. Move the slider to your trip length, choose how you use your phone, and compare the listed plans for that size.
Find a plan size for your trip
Suggested size: 5 GB
An editorial rule of thumb, not a usage measurement. Prices as listed by each provider on October 27, 2026.
Price per GB falls steadily as plans grow. The 10 GB step is where the curve flattens, which is why 10 GB is the default size we suggest for an undecided two week traveler.
- 1 GB7 days$4.00 per GB$4.00
- 3 GB30 days$1.83 per GB$5.50
- 5 GB30 days$1.50 per GB$7.50
- 10 GB30 days$1.10 per GB$11.00
- 20 GB30 days$0.95 per GB$19.00
- 50 GB90 days$0.90 per GB$45.00
- 100 GB180 days$0.89 per GB$89.00
Plan size by type of traveler
Three traveler profiles cover most trips to Thailand.
City break in Bangkok
A city break of four to seven days leans on maps, ride apps and restaurant searches. Hotel Wi-Fi covers evening browsing, so a 3 GB or 5 GB plan usually lasts the trip.
Island hopper
Island hopping from Phuket to Krabi or Koh Samui means ferry timetables, offline maps and plenty of photo uploads. Guesthouse Wi-Fi on smaller islands can be patchy, so more of your browsing moves to mobile data. A 10 GB plan for two weeks or 20 GB for a month gives a comfortable margin.
Remote worker in Chiang Mai
A remote worker runs video calls and syncs files, sometimes through a phone hotspot when café Wi-Fi drops. For a month or longer, 50 GB over 90 days avoids buying a new plan every few weeks. Check the hotspot policy first, because providers handle it differently.
Fixed GB plan
- Full speed until the allowance runs out
- Unused data rolls across the whole validity
- Lowest price per GB on 20 GB and above
- Best for light and mixed use
Unlimited pass
- Full speed only up to a daily allowance
- Slower speed after that, reset next day
- Higher total price for the same days
- Best for steady heavy use every day
When unlimited data in Thailand pays off
Unlimited data in Thailand pays off only when you would use more than the daily full-speed allowance on most days of the trip. Each provider sets its own allowance and its own reduced speed, so "unlimited" means very different things.
A quick check shows the trade-off. TonMobile lists a 7 day unlimited pass at $22.53, which gives up to 7 GB at full speed across the week. The same provider lists 10 GB for 30 days at $11.00, so a fixed plan gives more full-speed data for less money on a one week trip.
The picture changes for travelers who need many gigabytes every day. Saily lists a 15 day unlimited plan at $38.99 with 5 GB per day at full speed, and Airalo lists unlimited from $9.50 for 3 days to $49.00 for 30 days. Holafly lists unlimited from $12.90 for 3 days to $74.90 for 30 days, with hotspot capped at 500 MB per day.
| Provider | 7 days | 15 days | 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airalo | $21.00 | $39.00 | $49.00 |
| Holafly | $29.90 | $50.90 | $74.90 |
| TonMobile | $22.53 | $47.47 | $94.25 |
| Saily | Not recorded | $38.99 | Not recorded |
Unlimited prices as listed by each provider on October 27, 2026. Saily lists unlimited lengths from 5 to 30 days; only the 15 day price is recorded in our fact base. Our methodology explains how we read provider pages.
Fair usage applies
Provider terms allow speed reduction on unlimited plans after a usage threshold. Tourist SIMs from AIS, dtac and TrueMove H are also sold as unlimited "under fair usage", so the same check applies to them.
How to make a smaller plan last
A few habits stretch a 5 GB or 10 GB plan much further.
- Download offline maps for Bangkok, Chiang Mai and the islands you plan to visit while on home Wi-Fi.
- Pause automatic photo and video backup until you are back on hotel Wi-Fi.
- Set streaming apps to download episodes on Wi-Fi instead of streaming on the ferry or train.
- Pick the travel eSIM as your data line in SettingsMobile ServiceMobile Data so the home line does not carry data.
- Keep data roaming on for the travel eSIM line only; Apple notes the home line may still incur roaming charges.
- Check remaining data in the provider app every few days instead of waiting for the plan to run out.
Activate on arrival
TonMobile's terms state that data starts being consumed when the eSIM activates on a device, and plans can be activated within 180 days of purchase. Install the profile at home, then switch the line on after landing. Our setup guide walks through each step.
If the eSIM shows no service after landing, the cause is usually a setting rather than the plan size. The eSIM not working guide covers the common fixes.
Top-ups and long stay plans
Buying a slightly smaller plan and topping up is a safe strategy when you are unsure how much data you will use. The TonMobile iPhone app supports top-up without reinstalling the eSIM and shows remaining data and validity. Ubigi also lists top-up in its app.
For stays longer than a month, long validity plans beat stacking 30 day packs. TonMobile's Thailand page lists 50 GB for 90 days at $45.00 and 100 GB for 180 days at $89.00, the lowest price per GB in its range. Tourist SIMs top out at 30 days, with dtac offering 15 GB, 30 GB or unlimited packs.
Long stays bring extra questions about validity and replacing plans mid trip. The long stay eSIM guide covers them, and the tourist SIM vs eSIM comparison helps if a local SIM is on your shortlist.
Verdict: which plan size to buy
For a one or two week trip, buy 10 GB unless you only use maps and messages, in which case 5 GB is enough. For a month, 20 GB suits mixed use, and 50 GB over 90 days suits remote work or a longer stay. Choose unlimited only when you will exceed the daily full-speed allowance on most days.
Short trip
5 GB to 10 GB
30 day validity covers any trip up to a month with spare days.
One month
20 GB
Room for social media, photo uploads and occasional calls.
Long stay
50 GB or 100 GB
90 or 180 days of validity at under $1 per GB as listed.
Providers differ on networks, hotspot rules and support as much as on price. Compare them on the eSIM provider rating, read the full Thailand eSIM guide, or check unfamiliar terms in the glossary. TonMobile is one option worth a look if you want a single provider that covers both small and long plans.
FAQ
How much data do I need in Thailand for one week?
A one week Thailand trip with maps, messages and ride apps fits in a 3 GB plan as a rule of thumb. Pick 5 GB if you post photos and social media daily, and 10 GB if you make video calls or stream.
Is a 10GB eSIM enough for two weeks in Thailand?
A 10 GB eSIM covers most two week Thailand trips with mixed use, including maps, social media and photo uploads. Heavy users who stream video or use a laptop hotspot should look at 20 GB or an unlimited pass.
Is unlimited data in Thailand really unlimited?
Unlimited Thailand eSIMs keep you connected all day, but full speed is capped per day. TonMobile lists 1 GB per day before slowing to 512 kbps, and Saily lists 5 GB per day before slowing to up to 1 Mbps.
Does a Thailand eSIM data plan include a phone number?
The Thailand eSIM data plans compared on this site are data only, with no Thai phone number. Calls and messages go through apps such as messengers, and that traffic counts toward your data allowance.
Can I top up a Thailand eSIM if I run out of data?
Several providers allow top-ups for Thailand eSIMs. The TonMobile iPhone app lists top-up without reinstalling the eSIM, and Ubigi lists top-up in its app, so starting with a smaller plan carries little risk.
When does a Thailand eSIM plan start counting data?
TonMobile's terms state that data starts being consumed when the eSIM activates on a device, with activation allowed within 180 days of purchase. Ubigi's Smartstart starts validity on arrival. Install before the flight and activate after landing.