One of the most frequently asked questions by Indonesian tourists before traveling to Thailand is: “What payment methods are used in Thailand?” The good news is that Thailand has a highly advanced payment ecosystem. From traditional cash and international credit cards to sophisticated cashless systems such as PromptPay and local e-wallets, everything is available and easy to use.
QRIS: The Best Solution for Indonesian Tourists
Good news, QRIS payments can now be used abroad. QRIS (Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard) is Indonesia’s national QR code payment system, which has been usable in Thailand since August 29, 2022, following a pilot program that began on August 17, 2021. This is excellent news for Indonesian tourists, as it reduces the need to exchange cash and lowers international card conversion fees.
Which Apps Can Be Used for QRIS in Thailand?
Almost all Indonesian e-wallet and mobile banking apps support QRIS cross-border payments. Apps confirmed to support QRIS in Thailand include GoPay, OVO, DANA, LinkAja, ShopeePay Indonesia, all major bank mobile banking apps (BCA Mobile, BNI Mobile Banking, Mandiri Livin’, BRI Mobile), and Blu by BCA Digital.
All you need to do is:
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open your Indonesian e-wallet or mobile banking app
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select the “Pay” or “Scan QR” menu
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scan the PromptPay QR code at the Thai merchant
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confirm the payment amount in Rupiah, and you’re done.
The merchant will receive payment confirmation within seconds.
Where Can QRIS Be Used in Thailand?
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major shopping malls (Siam Paragon, CentralWorld, ICONSIAM, Terminal 21)
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restaurant and café chains in tourist areas
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convenience stores such as 7-Eleven and Family Mart in selected locations
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hotels and resorts that frequently serve Asian tourists
Merchants that accept QRIS usually display a PromptPay QR code at the cashier. The identifying feature is the PromptPay logo (a “P” on a blue background) or the Thai QR Payment logo. However, not all PromptPay QR codes automatically support QRIS, so sometimes you may need to try. If it doesn’t work, use another payment method.
PromptPay: Thailand’s National Payment System
PromptPay is the backbone of Thailand’s digital payment system, launched by the Bank of Thailand in 2016. With more than 77 million registrations and 9 million merchants, PromptPay has become the most popular payment method in Thailand, even surpassing credit cards.
What Is PromptPay and How Does It Work?
PromptPay is a real-time transfer and payment system that allows instant money transfers using a Thai phone number or national ID number. Every Thai citizen with a bank account automatically has access to PromptPay through their bank’s mobile banking app, without needing separate registration.
For merchants, PromptPay works through static or dynamic QR codes. Merchants simply generate a PromptPay QR code via their banking app, print it, and display it at the cashier. Customers scan the QR code, enter the payment amount, and the funds are instantly transferred to the merchant’s account within seconds—without requiring physical EDC machines or high merchant fees.
Can Tourists Use PromptPay?
Unfortunately, foreign tourists cannot use PromptPay directly unless they have a Thai bank account. Opening a Thai bank account typically requires a work permit, long-term visa, or proof of residency, which makes it difficult and impractical for tourists. However, Indonesian tourists can still “use” PromptPay indirectly through QRIS.
TrueMoney: The Most Popular E-Wallet in Thailand
TrueMoney is the largest e-wallet in Thailand, with a 53 percent market share and more than 27 million active users. Operated by Ascend Money (part of the Charoen Pokphand Group), TrueMoney is accepted at more than 7 million merchants, including 7-Eleven, Family Mart, and nearly all convenience stores across Thailand.
TrueMoney Wallet Features
TrueMoney is not just a payment wallet, but a super app that offers a wide range of services, including:
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QR code payments at merchants
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Peer-to-peer money transfers
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Bill payments (electricity, water, internet, installments)
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Mobile credit and data top-ups
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Bus, train, and flight ticket purchases
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Investments (gold, bonds, mutual funds)
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Microloans
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Insurance
TrueMoney’s biggest advantage is its extensive top-up network. Users can add balance through all major Thai banks, 39,000 TrueMoney agents nationwide, 7-Eleven and other convenience stores, as well as bank transfers from Thai mobile banking apps. This makes TrueMoney highly accessible, even for people without traditional banking access.
Can Tourists Use TrueMoney?
The good news is that foreign tourists can use TrueMoney with certain requirements. For basic features such as QR payments and top-ups, TrueMoney allows registration using a passport and a Thai SIM card. However, advanced features such as investments and loans may require proof of residence or a work permit.
How to Register TrueMoney for Tourists:
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Download the TrueMoney Wallet app from the App Store or Google Play
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Choose to register using a passport (not a Thai ID)
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Enter your passport number and Thai phone number (you need to purchase a Thai SIM card first)
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Verify using the OTP sent to your Thai number
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Top up your balance via 7-Eleven or the nearest convenience store
Rabbit Card and Rabbit LINE Pay: Transportation and Lifestyle
Rabbit Card and Rabbit LINE Pay are two different products from the same company (BTS Group Holdings), but they are often mistaken as the same thing.
Rabbit Card: Bangkok Transportation Card
The Rabbit Card is a stored-value card used for the BTS Skytrain, some MRT lines in Bangkok, and several other services. It is similar to Flazz BCA or Mandiri e-Money in Indonesia. The Rabbit Card is a physical plastic card that you tap at the BTS entrance gate.
The Rabbit Card costs 200 Baht, which includes a 100 Baht deposit (refundable) and 100 Baht in initial balance. It can be topped up at all BTS stations, 7-Eleven stores, and automatic top-up machines. The main advantage is that you don’t need to queue to buy tickets every time you use the BTS, and you can save 1–3 Baht per trip compared to single-journey tickets.
In addition to BTS, the Rabbit Card can also be used for: MRT Pink Line and Yellow Line, payments at selected merchants that accept Rabbit (McDonald’s, Starbucks, Watsons), parking at some malls, and several other services. It is highly recommended to buy a Rabbit Card if you stay in Bangkok for more than 3–4 days and frequently use the BTS.
Rabbit LINE Pay: Lifestyle E-Wallet
Rabbit LINE Pay is an e-wallet integrated with the LINE messenger app (the most popular chat app in Thailand). It is a separate product from the Rabbit Card, even though they share the same name and operator. Rabbit LINE Pay has around a 25 percent market share, making it the second-largest e-wallet after TrueMoney.
Rabbit LINE Pay Features include:
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QR code payments at merchants
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Money transfers to friends via LINE chat
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Bill payments and mobile top-ups
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Cinema and event ticket purchases
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Micro-insurance and micro-savings
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Various loyalty rewards and discounts
Its integration with LINE makes sending money as easy as sending a chat message.
For foreign tourists, Rabbit LINE Pay allows registration but requires KYC (Know Your Customer) verification, which may involve additional documentation. For short-term tourists, Rabbit LINE Pay is generally less practical than TrueMoney due to its more complicated setup process.
GrabPay: Grab’s Super App for Transportation and Payments
GrabPay is an e-wallet integrated into the Grab app, a highly popular ride-hailing and delivery platform in Southeast Asia. In Thailand, Grab is widely used for motorcycle taxis, car rides, food delivery, parcel delivery, and various other services.
It’s important to note that GrabPay is different from OVO, which is commonly used by Grab users in Indonesia. In Indonesia, Grab payments are often linked to OVO. However, GrabPay is Grab’s own digital wallet used in other countries such as Thailand.
GrabPay Thailand for Tourists
GrabPay Thailand can be used to pay for all services within the Grab ecosystem, including:
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Ride-hailing (GrabCar, GrabBike)
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Food delivery (GrabFood)
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Parcel delivery (GrabExpress)
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Merchant payments via QR code at partner stores
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Mobile top-ups
The main advantage of GrabPay for tourists is its full integration with the Grab app, which is practically essential for transportation in Thailand. Instead of paying cash or using a credit card for every Grab ride, it’s more convenient to top up GrabPay and pay directly from your balance. There are also exclusive promotions and cashback offers for GrabPay users.
How to Use GrabPay Thailand:
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Download the Grab Thailand app
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Register using an Indonesian or Thai phone number
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Verify via OTP
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Link a credit/debit card or top up at convenience stores
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Start using it to pay for Grab services
Transaction limits for tourist accounts may be lower, but they are generally sufficient for daily transportation and food delivery needs.
ShopeePay: Shopee’s Integrated E-Wallet
ShopeePay is an e-wallet integrated with Shopee, one of the largest e-commerce platforms in Thailand. ShopeePay has around an 8–9 percent market share, making it one of the top three e-wallets in Thailand alongside TrueMoney and Rabbit LINE Pay.
ShopeePay Thailand Features and Uses
ShopeePay Thailand offers various features, including:
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Payments within the Shopee app (with Shopee Coins cashback)
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QR payments at partner merchants
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Peer-to-peer transfers
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Bill payments
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SPayLater (buy now, pay later service) with 0 percent installment options
Important Update 2025: ShopeePay No Longer Accepts Tourists
Unfortunately, as of January 2025, ShopeePay Thailand no longer allows registration for foreign users. This policy was implemented to comply with stricter anti-money laundering regulations and Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements. Tourists who already had a ShopeePay Thailand account can still use it, but new registrations for tourists are no longer permitted.
International Credit Cards and Debit Cards
Although Thailand is highly advanced in digital payments, international credit and debit cards are still widely accepted, especially in tourist areas, hotels, restaurants, and major shopping malls.
Types of Cards Accepted in Thailand
Visa and Mastercard are the most dominant networks and are accepted at nearly 90 percent of merchants that accept cards. American Express is accepted at upscale hotels and restaurants, but not as widely as Visa or Mastercard. JCB is fairly well accepted in tourist areas due to the large number of Japanese visitors. UnionPay from China is also increasingly accepted at merchants targeting Chinese tourists.
Fees and Drawbacks of Using International Cards
Using international credit or debit cards in Thailand may incur several fees:
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Foreign transaction fees
Around 2–3 percent of the transaction amount, charged by the issuing bank. -
Dynamic currency conversion (DCC) fees
If you choose to pay in Rupiah instead of Baht on the EDC machine (which is best avoided). -
ATM withdrawal fees
A fee of 220 Baht per transaction for cash withdrawals at Thai ATMs, plus additional charges from your Indonesian bank.
The total cost can reach 5–7 percent of the transaction amount, which is significant for large purchases. For high-value transactions such as hotel stays or major shopping, using a credit card can still be worthwhile due to purchase protection and reward points. However, for small daily transactions, cash or QRIS is generally far more economical.
Cash (Thai Baht): Still Important in 2026
Although Thailand is very cashless-friendly, Thai Baht cash remains essential, especially for: street food vendors and traditional markets that do not accept QR payments, tuk-tuks and songthaews (local public transport) that only accept cash, as well as small vendors in non-tourist areas that are not yet fully digitized.
Where to Exchange Money for the Best Rates?
Choose money changers in Pratunam, Chinatown, or Siam Square for exchange rates close to the mid-market rate. Super Rich (the orange-green logo) is well-known and trusted for offering some of the best rates without hidden fees. Avoid exchanging money at airports, hotels, or major tourist spots, as the rates are usually significantly worse (5–10% below market rates).
Stable Internet Connection for Smooth Digital Payments
To ensure digital payments such as QRIS, PromptPay, TrueMoney, and GrabPay work smoothly, a fast and stable internet connection is essential. Thailand eSIM from Global Komunika offers instant activation without needing to replace a physical SIM card, reliable 4G/5G coverage in major cities and tourist areas, and transparent data packages with no hidden roaming fees. It’s practical from the moment you land, making transactions seamless and hassle-free.
