Which plans include calls and SMS?

Check the Voice/SMS line on the plan page — most travel plans are data-only. If you need SMS from your bank or services tied to your number, keep receiving those on your home number and use the eSIM for data.

Before buying an eSIM plan, always check the Voice/SMS line on that plan's page, if this matters for your trip, since most travel plans on the market are data-only, with no voice or SMS included at all. Only some plans from certain suppliers in certain countries include both. This page explains how to confirm this before buying, and how to plan around it if the chosen plan does not include Voice/SMS.

It suits anyone who needs to receive calls from a driver, a delivery rider, or a service that calls back directly during the trip, anyone concerned about a bank OTP code, and anyone comparing several plans and wanting to know exactly where to look to be sure. This does not assert which plans include Voice/SMS, since that changes by supplier and country — always check the actual plan page.

Where to check before buying

Every plan page displays Voice and SMS information as a separate line from the data details — read all of it before purchasing, not just the data allowance or number of days. The two are entirely separate matters: a plan with a generous data allowance does not automatically mean Voice/SMS is included as well.

If that line states there is no Voice/SMS, or does not mention it at all, treat that plan as data-only until confirmed otherwise directly by the team or the plan page itself.

Why most travel plans are data-only

Most eSIM plans sold to travellers are designed around internet access as the primary need, since that is the most common requirement, and skipping a local number attached to the line keeps the purchase and installation process considerably faster, with no waiting for a new number to be registered or extra identity checks.

Including Voice/SMS in a plan requires number allocation and support from a partner network in that country, which is not something every supplier offers in every country. This is why plans like this are considerably less common than data-only plans.

If a plan genuinely includes Voice/SMS, what does that give you

A plan that includes Voice/SMS typically issues a temporary local number tied to that eSIM line, allowing incoming calls and SMS to some extent. The exact details — call minutes, SMS count, or usage scope — vary by supplier and country and are not a single standard across every plan.

Read that plan's full details before deciding to buy. If unsure whether it covers what you actually need, ask the team directly before purchasing rather than guessing.

The recommended approach: keep important SMS on your Thai number

If you need to receive SMS from your bank, an identity verification service, or anything else already tied to your Thai number, the safest approach is to keep the original line enabled on the same phone to receive those as normal, and use the eSIM purely for internet. There is no need to rely on the eSIM plan for this at all.

This approach works on most phones that support dual SIM or dual eSIM. If you are unsure whether your phone supports this, check before travelling using the device compatibility checker.

App-based calling is always an available alternative

Even on a fully data-only plan, you can still call anyone through apps such as LINE, WhatsApp, or FaceTime, as long as both sides have internet and the same app installed. This substitutes for a traditional mobile-network call in almost every case, except where a number is genuinely needed for a stranger to call back — a delivery rider or driver, say, who does not share the same app as you.

If that kind of situation matters for your trip — regularly coordinating with a local driver, say — consider a plan that specifically includes Voice/SMS, rather than counting on apps alone.

Device compatibility with a network that carries Voice/SMS

If you choose a plan that includes Voice/SMS, the phone still needs to support that partner network's frequency bands to make full use of it, not just support eSIM and data in general. Some phones connect to data fine but have patchy call quality or unreliable SMS on certain networks, which is a matter of hardware compatibility rather than a direct fault in the plan itself.

If a callable number genuinely matters for your trip, check device compatibility using the device checker before buying, to reduce the risk of running into call quality or SMS issues after the purchase is already made.

Businesses that need a number clients or partners can call back

If you are travelling for business and clients or partners need to reach you through a phone number directly, not through a chat app, a data-only line alone will not cover that need, since there is nothing for anyone to call back. The more direct fix is to look specifically for a plan that includes Voice/SMS in that destination country, or to keep your original Thai number as the main channel for incoming calls.

If no Voice/SMS plan exists for that country, the remaining option is to let contacts know in advance which app you will mainly be reachable on during the trip, and plan to check that app periodically rather than waiting for an incoming call.

Verification SMS from services other than a bank

It is not only banks that tie identity-verification SMS to a phone number — food-delivery apps, ride-hailing apps, email accounts, and many other online services do the same. If any of these are already tied to your Thai number, the same principle that applies to a bank OTP applies here too: the main Thai line needs to stay on to receive that code, rather than relying on a data-only eSIM line.

Before travelling, it is worth reviewing which services you regularly use are tied to your Thai number, so you can plan in advance which line stays on for what throughout the trip, rather than troubleshooting it only once stuck at the destination.

How to decide whether Voice/SMS is genuinely needed

The most direct question is whether anyone during this trip genuinely needs to call you through a phone number directly. If everyone you need to reach is already on a chat app, a data-only plan usually covers enough, and tends to offer more options to compare than a plan bundling Voice/SMS as well.

If unsure, the safer option is to start with data-only and keep the original Thai number as a fallback, since changing your mind afterwards is easier than trying to source a fresh Voice/SMS plan while a trip is already under way.

App-based calling in areas with unreliable signal

Relying on app-based calling instead of a traditional mobile-network call needs a reasonably steady data connection throughout the conversation. In an area with weak or intermittent signal, an app call can stutter or drop more easily than a traditional call, which was built specifically for voice.

If an important conversation is expected in an area with unreliable signal, plan a backup — a spot with steadier Wi-Fi, say — or let the other person know a call-back may be needed if the line drops, rather than relying on an app alone with no backup at all.

Comparing a local physical SIM with a number to an eSIM without Voice/SMS

A traditional local SIM bought from a shop abroad usually comes with a phone number and Voice/SMS support as a natural part of the product, while most travel eSIMs focus mainly on data. This difference does not mean one is always better — it depends on whether your trip genuinely needs a number that can receive calls.

If a callable number genuinely matters to you, check first whether an eSIM plan including Voice/SMS exists for that country, before deciding to fall back on a traditional physical SIM that has to be bought and swapped in at the destination instead.

Configuring the phone when running two lines at once

1. 1Label the lines clearlyGive the travel eSIM and the main Thai line clearly different names, so choosing a line for a call or message is never confusing.
2. 2Set the eSIM as the primary data lineGo into settings and set the eSIM line as the one carrying data by default, with data roaming switched on for that line.
3. 3Keep the Thai line active for incoming calls and SMSDo not switch off the main Thai line if calls or SMS on the original number are still needed during the trip.
4. 4Test before departure if possibleSend a test SMS to the Thai number and try connecting through the eSIM's data before departure, to confirm everything is configured correctly.

What to look for on the plan page before buying

Common symptoms and their cause

Common mistakes

The most common mistake is assuming every eSIM plan includes Voice/SMS the way a traditional local physical SIM once did, when in fact most are data-only. Not reading this line before purchase often leads to disappointment on arrival, when calls simply cannot be received.

Another common mistake is switching off the main Thai line the moment the eSIM is installed, assuming it is no longer needed, when the original line is still needed to receive important SMS throughout the trip, especially bank OTPs.

Before you buy, confirm these

• Read the Voice/SMS line on the plan page fully — do not skip straight to the data figure
• If a callable number is genuinely needed, confirm with the team before buying if unsure
• Plan to keep the main Thai line on alongside it, to receive important SMS
• Have an internet-calling app both sides already share ready in advance
• Confirm the phone supports dual SIM or dual eSIM if two lines must run at once

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