Unlimited day passes explained: how daily data really works

How a day pass works

Say you buy 1GB a day for 7 days in Thailand. Each day you get 1GB at full 4G or 5G speed. If you use it all by mid-afternoon, you're not cut off: your data continues at the reduced speed listed on the plan, for example 1Mbps, until your allowance resets the next day.

What can you do at the reduced speed?

• 256–384Kbps: messaging, email and maps work; web pages are slow; video is impractical
• 512Kbps: messaging, maps and basic browsing are comfortable; low-quality video may work
• 1Mbps: browsing and music streaming are fine; standard-definition video is usually watchable

Day pass or fixed plan?

A fixed plan (for example 5GB over 30 days) suits trips where some days are busy and others are quiet, because unused data carries over to the next day. A day pass suits you if you:

• use a similar amount of data every day
• stream, video call or use a hotspot regularly
• don't want to worry about running out halfway through your trip

Longer passes cost less per day

At the time of writing, a Thailand 1GB-a-day pass costs £2.99 for one day, £19.25 for 7 days and £72.99 for 30 days, and passes from 60 days up are priced lower again per day. You can see every length side by side on each country page, for example Thailand.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a daily data cap after the reduced speed kicks in? No, you can keep using data at the reduced speed until the allowance resets. Can I use a hotspot? Yes. Hotspot use counts towards the daily allowance. When does the allowance reset? Each day of the pass. The exact reset time depends on the network.