Thailand for Indians: travel eSIM vs airport SIM vs Jio and Airtel roaming (2026)
What a 5 to 10 day Thailand trip really costs online, how much data you need, and how to keep getting bank OTPs on your Indian number.
Most Indian travellers to Thailand pick one of three options: switch on a Jio or Airtel roaming pack, queue for a tourist SIM at Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang, or install a travel eSIM before leaving home. Here is how they compare on price, effort and OTPs.
For a 7 to 10 day Thailand trip, a 5 GB travel eSIM costs ₹499 on eSIMKite and lasts 30 days. Jio's 10-day pack is ₹951 for 4 GB and Airtel's is ₹1,298 for 6 GB. Keep your Indian SIM on as a second line so bank OTPs still reach you.
Prices side by side
| Option | Price | Days | Data | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eSIMKite 5 GB | ₹499 | 30 | 5 GB | WhatsApp calls over data |
| eSIMKite 10 GB | ₹799 | 30 | 10 GB | WhatsApp calls over data |
| eSIMKite Unlimited | ₹899 | 7 | 1 GB a day at full speed, then slower | WhatsApp calls over data |
| Jio, 100-country pack | ₹951 | 10 | 4 GB | 200 min |
| Airtel, 5-day pack | ₹998 | 5 | 4 GB | 150 min |
| Airtel, 10-day pack | ₹1,298 | 10 | 6 GB | 200 min |
| AIS tourist SIM at the airport | ฿499 | 8 | Unlimited | Thai number, ฿100 call credit |
eSIMKite prices from esimkite.com on 20 Oct 2026. Jio and Airtel packs as published in July and August 2026. AIS price from Visit Thailand Today (updated 8 Oct 2026); check at the counter.
Smaller and longer plans are there too: 1 GB for 7 days is ₹149 (good for a stopover), 3 GB is ₹349 and 20 GB is ₹1,399. Unlimited costs ₹1,199 for 10 days, ₹1,799 for 15 days and ₹3,399 for 30 days. The eSIM connects to AIS, DTAC and TrueMove H, so you get the same coverage in Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi and Chiang Mai as a local SIM.
How much data you need
| Your trip | Typical use | Pick |
|---|---|---|
| 5 days: maps, Grab and WhatsApp | about 0.5 GB a day | 3 GB, ₹349 |
| 7 to 10 days, plus Instagram and photo backups | about 0.7 GB a day | 5 GB, ₹499, or 10 GB, ₹799 |
| Video calls every day, or a hotspot for family | 1 GB a day or more | Unlimited, ₹899 for 7 days |
A rough guide. Hotel Wi-Fi brings it down; Reels and YouTube push it up. See how much data you need for a trip.
Bank OTPs on your Indian SIM
A travel eSIM is data only. Your Indian SIM stays in the phone as the second line, so your number, WhatsApp and UPI stay as they are. More in keeping WhatsApp and bank OTPs working abroad.
- Jio: incoming SMS is free while roaming, as long as your plan is still valid.
- Vi prepaid: you need the ₹118 roaming pack (or any roaming pack) to receive SMS abroad.
- Airtel prepaid: you may need a small roaming pack to receive SMS abroad. Check in the Airtel Thanks app before you fly.
- Turn data roaming off for the Indian SIM, and choose the eSIM as your mobile data line.
Set it up at home
- Check your phone takes an eSIM: iPhone XS or newer, Google Pixel 3 or newer, and recent Samsung Galaxy S and Z models. Dial *#06#: if an EID shows, it does.
- Buy the Thailand plan and scan the QR code on Wi-Fi before you leave India. It takes about two minutes.
- Leave the eSIM line off until you land. The plan starts counting when the eSIM first connects in Thailand, not when you buy it.
- After landing, turn the eSIM line on, switch on data roaming for it, and set it as the line for mobile data.
Step-by-step pictures for iPhone and Android are in how to install a travel eSIM.
When an airport SIM makes sense
A Thai SIM is worth it if you need a Thai phone number, for example for a long stay or local deliveries. The trade-off is a queue at arrivals, passport registration, and taking your Indian SIM out unless your phone has a second slot.
Questions
Does WhatsApp work on a Thailand eSIM?
Yes. WhatsApp messages and calls go over data, and your WhatsApp account keeps your Indian number.
Will I still get OTPs from my Indian bank?
Yes, if your Indian SIM stays switched on as the second line. Jio users receive SMS free while roaming; Vi prepaid users need the ₹118 pack; Airtel prepaid users should check the Airtel Thanks app.
Is Jio or Airtel roaming cheaper than an eSIM for Thailand?
For data, no. Jio's 10-day pack works out to about ₹238 per GB; the 5 GB eSIM is about ₹100 per GB and lasts 30 days. A roaming pack makes sense if you need many normal calls.
Which network does the eSIM use in Thailand?
AIS, DTAC and TrueMove H. Your phone picks the strongest one where you are.
Can I share the eSIM as a hotspot?
Usually, yes: hotspot is included on most plans. Connected devices share your plan's data.
- eSIMKite Thailand plans, read 20 Oct 2026
- Jio international roaming packs, FoneArena, 13 Jul 2026
- Airtel revises its 5-day and 10-day roaming packs, TelecomTalk, 6 Aug 2026
- Vi international roaming packs and standard rates, myvi.in, read 20 Oct 2026
- Thailand SIM card guide, Visit Thailand Today, updated 8 Oct 2026
Written by the eSIMKite team and checked by Vicky Pathak. Prices checked on 20 October 2026. We sell travel eSIMs, so every outside figure links to where we found it.
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