Which eSIM to choose for Thailand in 2026: 6 things to check
- For Thailand, three things matter most: whether you can pay with the card you have, how much data or unlimited you need for your days, and what happens to speed after the daily cap.
- goAFK on 2026-11-12: 1 GB for 7 days $1.67, 10 GB for 30 days $11.92, unlimited for 7 days $14.49 (1 Mbit/s after 3 GB a day).
- Compare like for like: a data package is not comparable with unlimited, and unlimited plans are not comparable without their daily full-speed cap.
Your options for mobile data in Thailand
Travellers usually pick one of four: roaming on their home plan, a travel eSIM from a seller that accepts their card, an eSIM from another international service, or a local SIM bought after landing. This guide covers the travel eSIM: you buy it in advance and it starts working on arrival without a visit to a phone shop.
Plans and installation for Thailand are covered in our separate guide “Thailand eSIM 2026: prices, data plans and setup”. This one is about choosing between sellers and reading the conditions beyond the price.
1. Paying from Russia
Many international services do not accept cards issued by Russian banks, so check payment first. According to each seller's page on 2026-11-12:
- goAFK: a Russian card or SBP in rubles, an international card and Apple Pay, or crypto; you can also buy in the Telegram bot.
- MTS travel eSIM: SBP or a bank card.
- eSIM Mir: a MIR card or SBP.
- esimsos: a Russian bank card (MIR, Visa, Mastercard), SBP or crypto (USDT, TON).
2. Data package or unlimited
A data package is cheaper if you mostly message and use maps. Unlimited suits hotspotting a laptop or streaming. If your trip is longer than two weeks, check whether one 30-day package beats several weekly ones.
Travel eSIM unlimited plans almost always have a daily full-speed cap. What each seller lists for this country:
- goAFK: unlimited for 7, 15 and 30 days, 1 Mbit/s after 3 GB a day.
- MTS travel eSIM: unlimited for 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 30 days; speed drops to 1 Mbit/s after 3 GB a day.
- eSIM Mir: unlimited for 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 30 days, up to 1 Mbit/s after 5 GB a day.
3. The price for your days, not the “from” price
A “from” price usually means the smallest weekly package. Count the days you will be away from Wi-Fi and compare packages with the same allowance and validity. goAFK prices for Thailand:
| goAFK plan | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 GB · 7 days | $1.67 |
| 3 GB · 7 days | $4.19 |
| 5 GB · 15 days | $6.64 |
| 10 GB · 30 days | $11.92 |
| 20 GB · 30 days | $18.89 |
| Unlimited · 7 days | $14.49 |
4. When the plan days start
A goAFK eSIM must be activated within 180 days of purchase, and the plan validity starts on the first connection to a network in the destination, not at purchase or installation. So you can buy and install it at home on Wi-Fi a few days before you fly. The QR code installs once: do not delete the profile to scan it again.
5. Top-ups and support
If the data runs out before the trip does, topping up the same eSIM is easier than installing a new one. goAFK top-ups are in your profile, and support answers on Telegram at @goafk_support_bot. With any seller, check before buying whether top-ups exist and where to write if the connection does not appear.
Thailand specifics: compare the daily cap on unlimited
Sellers set different daily full-speed caps for Thailand: on 2026-11-12, goAFK and MTS travel eSIM list 3 GB a day, eSIM Mir lists 5 GB a day. If you hotspot a laptop a lot, that matters more than a small price difference.
For island hops, download offline maps and tickets in advance: the signal can drop on a ferry or a remote beach.
6. Networks in Thailand
The goAFK catalog checked 2026-11-12 lists AIS, DTAC for Thailand plans. That describes the plan, not guaranteed reception at every hotel or beach. If coverage at a specific place matters, check the local operator's coverage map.