Traveler-compatibility checks for this destination are still pending. Local notes are useful, but phone, payment and signup eligibility are not yet sourced per service.
Grab is the default super-app. Use GrabBike (motorbike taxi) to cut through Bangkok's gridlock. Street taxis are cheap but often refuse the meter — apps avoid the haggling.
Dominant. GrabCar, metered GrabTaxi, GrabBike motorbike taxis. Pay by card or cash.
Taxi + motorbike hailing inside the LINE app; surfaces cars Grab sometimes can't.
GrabFood and LINE MAN split the market; many street stalls appear on only one. Cash on delivery is common.
Co-dominant in Bangkok. Lists countless small/street vendors that aren't on Grab.
For quick top-ups, on-demand apps beat everything; for a full shop, use the supermarket chains' own apps. 7-Eleven is on every corner for essentials — cash or QR.
On-demand convenience and grocery delivery inside the Grab app; fastest for small orders.
Same idea via LINE MAN; strong rider coverage across Bangkok.
Big supermarket/hypermarket chain (ex-Tesco Lotus) for full grocery shops.
Supermarket delivery, common in central Bangkok and condos.
Hypermarket delivery; good for bulk and household goods.
BTS Skytrain = tap a Rabbit card. MRT subway = EMV contactless or an MRT card (Rabbit does NOT work on MRT). Since Aug 2025 the govt 'Tang Rat' app enables a 20-baht flat contactless fare. Single tickets need cash/QR at machines. Google Maps is the best route planner.
Manage/top-up the Rabbit card used to tap in and out on BTS Skytrain (Green/Gold lines).
Official subway app for MRT Blue/Purple line maps, times and fares.
Real-time Bangkok bus and van tracking — what locals use to survive the bus network.
Government super-app; register a card here for the 20-baht flat contactless fare.
Cash is still king for street food, markets and many taxis — carry it. PromptPay QR is accepted almost everywhere but needs a THAI bank account. Foreign cards work in malls/hotels, rarely at small shops. TrueMoney is the tourist-friendly wallet (top up at 7-Eleven).
Thailand's most-used mobile banking app; PromptPay QR. Requires a Thai bank account.
Siam Commercial Bank app; PromptPay + QR pay. Needs a Thai account.
E-wallet you can top up in cash at 7-Eleven — usable without a Thai bank account.
Pay within the LINE ecosystem and at partner merchants.
Cheapest option is a physical tourist SIM from AIS or True at Suvarnabhumi/Don Mueang arrivals — gives a Thai number too. eSIMs get you online the second you land. AIS has the widest coverage; TrueMove H the fastest 5G in Bangkok.
Fastest 5G in Bangkok; good for streaming/uploads.
Global eSIM alternative; often competitive short-trip data pricing.
LINE is everything in Thailand — friends, businesses, restaurants, delivery, even payments. Install it before anything else. WhatsApp is used mostly by foreigners, rarely by Thais.
Very widely used; many shops/vendors take orders via Facebook + Messenger.
Expat/foreigner circles only — most locals won't have it.
DMs common for boutiques, cafes and freelancers.
Shopee is #1, Lazada #2; both run huge double-digit-date sales. TikTok Shop is exploding as social commerce. Cash-on-delivery is widely offered.
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is mandatory for all foreign arrivals since 1 May 2025 — complete it online within 3 days before you land. It replaced the paper TM6 card.
Mandatory online arrival form for all foreigners; do it before you fly.
Government super-app for public services; also registers cards for the 20-baht flat transit fare.
For foreigners, Tourist Police (1155) is the best first call — 24/7 English operators who route you to the right service. Save these offline.
24/7, English-speaking; best contact for travelers in any trouble.
Nationwide emergency and police line.
National emergency medical services.
Fire and rescue.
Six concrete setup decisions for Bangkok. No fake personalization—just the local default, the local caveat, and what to do before day one gets expensive.
Mark only what you have actually set up. Progress stays in this browser.
Set up data before you need a ride, ticket, map, or verification code.
Largest local carrier (~95% coverage). Grab a Traveller SIM/eSIM at the airport. Cheapest option is a physical tourist SIM from AIS or True at Suvarnabhumi/Don Mueang arrivals — gives a Thai number too. eSIMs get you online the second you land. AIS has the widest coverage; TrueMove H the fastest 5G in Bangkok.
Know the local default before accepting a taxi quote or opening a global app.
Dominant. GrabCar, metered GrabTaxi, GrabBike motorbike taxis. Pay by card or cash. Grab is the default super-app. Use GrabBike (motorbike taxi) to cut through Bangkok's gridlock. Street taxis are cheap but often refuse the meter — apps avoid the haggling.
Compare the official airport-to-city option before paying for a car.
Manage/top-up the Rabbit card used to tap in and out on BTS Skytrain (Green/Gold lines). BTS Skytrain = tap a Rabbit card. MRT subway = EMV contactless or an MRT card (Rabbit does NOT work on MRT). Since Aug 2025 the govt 'Tang Rat' app enables a 20-baht flat contactless fare. Single tickets need cash/QR at machines. Google Maps is the best route planner.
Open the map that works best locally and save your hotel or first stop.
Best all-round: transit, walking, driving, and live traffic in Bangkok. Google Maps is the default and handles BTS/MRT/bus routing well. Thai addresses and soi (side-street) numbers can be messy — Longdo Map has better local road data.
Check the local card, cash, and wallet reality before your first purchase.
Thailand's most-used mobile banking app; PromptPay QR. Requires a Thai bank account. Cash is still king for street food, markets and many taxis — carry it. PromptPay QR is accepted almost everywhere but needs a THAI bank account. Foreign cards work in malls/hotels, rarely at small shops. TrueMoney is the tourist-friendly wallet (top up at 7-Eleven).
Use the service locals answer—and note any calling or registration restriction.
Used by ~90% of Thais. The default channel for people AND businesses/services. LINE is everything in Thailand — friends, businesses, restaurants, delivery, even payments. Install it before anything else. WhatsApp is used mostly by foreigners, rarely by Thais.
This is an arrival checklist, not an app ranking. Open the full local toolkit below for alternatives, coverage limits, and services you may need later.
Local tender, realistic foreign-currency acceptance, and a daily USD reference before a terminal or exchange desk chooses the rate for you.
Reference only. Your bank, card network, ATM, or exchange counter may add fees or use a different rate.
The normal currency for prices and payment.
Occasionally quoted for tourism services; baht is the normal payment currency.
Cash is still important at markets, street-food stalls, taxis, and small businesses. Foreign-card QR use is limited.
Country payment guidance reviewed Jul 21, 2026