Guide to Thai QR payments for foreigners: How to use, requirements, and more
Learn more about QR payments in Thailand for foreigners and tourists, and whether you can use it while travelling.
Digital wallets (or e-wallets) allow you to manage your money with just your phone. E-wallets often offer services like holding a balance, spending in stores and online, splitting bills with friends and paying for utilities, phone top ups and more, without ever needing to reach for your physical wallet.
Many in person and online services accept e-wallets in Thailand, making this a smart option for foreign residents who want to make payments more conveniently. This guide dives into our comparison of some top e-wallets in Thailand for foreigners so you can decide if any are right for you. We'll also introduce Wise, a handy companion to make your money go further with low, transparent fees.
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There are many different types of digital wallets which do have their own features - but all are digital payment platforms which live on your phone or other smart device and allow you to transact cashlessly.
Digital wallets often allow you to hold a balance or link a card or bank account to make payments. You can then use your balance or linked account to spend by scanning a merchant’s QR (or letting them scan your app QR instead). Some apps also let you pay bills and send money to friends, either to their e-wallet accounts or bank accounts directly. This guide to the best e-wallets in Thailand for foreigners looks at a few popular options which each appeal to different customer needs so you can see which suits you.
The e-wallets we have featured in this guide all require you to have a Thai bank account or card, as well as a Thai phone number. As Thai banks usually won’t allow tourists to open an account, this means that these e-wallets are best suited to long term expats in Thailand who have a visa to work, study, retire or reunite with family for example.
Tourists can still get a specific app or e-wallet to make QR payments in Thailand though - look out for options such as TAGTHAi¹ which is aimed at tourists in the country and gives access to unified Thai QR payments for convenient shopping.
It’s crucial to check the eligibility requirements for any e-wallet you may be considering to make sure it's the right choice for you. Services available can also change from time to time - for example, Shopee Pay² was previously a popular e-wallet in Thailand for foreigners, but closed foreign user accounts in 2025³.
Once you’ve confirmed you’re eligible for your preferred e-wallet take a look at the service availability which can vary a lot - as well as the fees. Some wallets have their own fees, or may pass on fees from your linked card or bank, which can add up and be an unpleasant surprise if you’re not expecting them.
Here’s a look at 4 popular options for an e-wallet in Thailand which accepts foreign applications, and which may make your life that little bit easier for spending and sending payments in THB.
| Service/fees | TrueMoney⁴ | LINE Pay⁶ | K Plus⁸ | Grab Pay¹¹ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supported currencies for holding | THB | THB | THB | THB |
| Top up methods | Banks, stores, kiosks, cards, loans | Banks, kiosks | Linked Kasikorn bank account or card | Linked bank account or card |
| QR payments in Thailand | Available | Available | Available | Not specified |
| Foreign transaction fee | 3.5%⁵ | Depends on linked card⁷ | Depends on linked card | Not specified |
| Additional service availability | Pay bills, top up phones (Thailand and Myanmar) | Pay bills, top up phones, make donations | Pay bills, access broader Kasikorn digital services | Intended for paying for Grab services mainly |
| Local THB bank transfer | 20 THB fee applies | 15 THB - withdraw to own bank only | No fee⁹ | No fee |
| International transfer | No fee to Myanmar and Cambodia 199 THB to Australia, Europe, UK and US | Not available | From 500 THB - some fees vary by currency¹⁰ | Not available |
*Details correct at time of research - 7th January 2026
Best for: Users looking for an all rounder app with a large user base and comprehensive service offerings
You can use TrueMoney to spend in person in selected stores like 7-Eleven, grocery stores and food outlets. You can also spend online on things like travel and hotel accommodation, as well as paying bills and managing your day to day payments. Add money in THB to your TrueMoney account through a broad range of means including digital transfers and in person payments, and access options to send money locally and overseas to select markets as well.
Best for: LINE chat users looking to pay friends and split bills conveniently in the app
LINE is a Thai communication app which also offers some payment solutions to allow you to transfer money in THB to other LINE users, spend in stores, and earn rewards at the same time. You can use your LINE app in Thailand to make QR payments, or where the service is supported overseas, although foreign transaction fees may apply here. You can also open a LINE chat with friends, to arrange instant payments to each other, split bills and send money.
Best for: Kasikorn Bank customers, or people looking to sign up for a digital savings account with Kasikorn to access wallet features
K Plus is the digital e-wallet from Kasikorn Bank. If you already have a Kasikorn account you can then add on K Plus services easily, or you can open a Kasikorn e savings account remotely to access the K Plus wallet services. Use your app to pay in stores, or top up your wallet to make payments to others both locally and overseas, through the broader range of Kasikorn banking services.
Best for: Frequent Grab users who want to increase their earning of Grab rewards while making transactions easier
Grab Pay is the Grab e-wallet which lets you either hold a stored balance or use a linked card to pay for Grab services and to send local THB payments to others. There are few fees to pay, and you get GrabUnlimited membership which also lets you get free delivery on select food orders, and earn rewards as you transact with the Grab app.
Looking for a quick and easy way to send money to Thailand? Consider using Wise to manage your international transfers.
Converting money to Thai baht and transferring it from abroad can get very expensive when using traditional banks and remittance services. On top of transaction fees, you might end up paying more due to hidden charges like conversion fees and exchange rate markups.
Wise transfers use the mid-market rate, also known as the rate you see on Google, with low, transparent fees that are shown to you upfront. This makes it easy to see how much you’ll be sending or receiving at a single glance.
See how Wise compares with other providers:
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*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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