How to Download Grab in Thailand (iPhone and Android)

Published by The Lunch Box Cafe Pattaya · 8 July 2026

Knowing how to download Grab in Thailand is the first thing most visitors sort out, because Grab is how you get food delivered and book rides here. It just will not show up in the UK, US, or Australian App Store. That is not you doing something wrong: Grab is only published in Southeast Asian stores, so your home account cannot see it. Pick your phone below and you will have it installed, and be ordering breakfast to your room, in five minutes.

5 minutes No VPN No card, no Thai SIM

iPhone Free Thai Apple ID · 5 min

Android Install the APK · 3 min

iPhone (App Store)

Create a free Thai Apple ID. 8 steps, 5 minutes.

Open the App Store and tap your profile photo

Your profile photo or initials are in the top-right corner of the App Store home screen.

Scroll to the bottom and tap Sign Out

Scroll past your account name and any purchase history all the way to the bottom of the screen. Tap Sign Out.

Search for any free app and tap Get

Search for "Google Maps" or any free app and tap Get. You will not actually download it. This step just triggers the Apple sign-in prompt so you can create the new account.

Tap Create New Apple ID

Do not enter your existing account. Tap Create New Apple ID instead.

Select Thailand as your country

This is the step that matters. Select Thailand on the country screen and the Thai App Store unlocks. Grab will be visible once your account is set up.

Enter your email with +thailand added

You do not need a new email address. Add +thailand to your existing one. If your email is sarah@gmail.com, enter sarah+thailand@gmail.com. Apple's emails go straight to your normal inbox. Works with Gmail, Outlook, and iCloud.

For payment method select None. No card needed. For address use any Thai hotel address. Search "hotel Pattaya" and use any result.

Tap the verification link Apple emails you

Check your inbox. Apple sends a verification email within one minute. Tap the link to activate your new Thai account.

Search Grab and download it

Grab now appears in the App Store. Download it. Once it is installed, sign out of the Thai account and sign back into your normal Apple ID. Grab stays on your phone.

Switching back: Once Grab is downloaded, sign out of the Thai Apple ID and sign back into your normal account. Grab stays on your phone permanently. You only need the Thai account again to update Grab later. Sign in, update, sign out. Takes 90 seconds.

Android (Google Play)

Install directly via APK. 4 steps, 3 minutes.

Android handles this differently from iPhone. Some Google Play accounts can already see Grab. Try searching for it first. If it shows "not available in your country", use the APK method below. No new Google account needed.

Allow your browser to install apps

Go to Settings, then Apps, then Install unknown apps. Find your browser and enable it. This lets your phone install apps you download from a website rather than Google Play.

Go to apkmirror.com and download Grab

APKMirror is run by the Android Police team. It hosts the exact same files Grab publishes. Search for Grab and download the latest stable release for your device.

Open the file and tap Install

Open the downloaded file from your notifications or downloads folder. Android will ask you to confirm. Tap Install.

Open Grab and sign up

Open Grab and create your account. Your UK, US, or Australian phone number works for SMS verification. No Thai number needed.

What you can do with Grab in Pattaya

Most visitors download Grab for one reason: food delivered to their room without leaving the pool. It does that brilliantly, and it books your rides too.

GrabFood (the main event)

Breakfast, lunch, coffee, and juice delivered to your hotel or condo across Pattaya. Pay by card in the app or cash on delivery, no Thai bank account needed. This is how you order from The Lunch Box Cafe.

GrabCar (bonus)

Private car with a fixed quoted price before you book. No haggling, no meter disputes.

GrabBike (bonus)

Motorbike taxi. Faster and cheaper for short trips. Ideal for getting up and down Pratumnak Hill.

Order from The Lunch Box on Grab

Now that Grab is on your phone, this is the payoff. The Lunch Box Cafe is on GrabFood: full breakfast, cold-pressed juice, avocado toast, and the complete menu delivered across Pattaya. Delivery to Pratumnak Hill takes 20 to 35 minutes. Search "The Lunch Box Cafe" in the Food tab, or see the full menu at thelunchboxpattaya.com/menu.

English Breakfast Avocado Toast Cold-Pressed Juice

Grab Thailand FAQ

Can foreigners and tourists use the Grab app in Thailand?

Yes. Grab is built for both locals and visitors. Once it is installed you register with your own UK, US, or Australian phone number, pay with cash or a card in the app, and order food or a ride straight away. The only hurdle is getting the app onto your phone in the first place, which is exactly what the steps above solve.

How does Grab work in Thailand for food?

Open Grab, tap Food, set your delivery address to your hotel or condo, then browse restaurants near you. The Lunch Box Cafe in Pratumnak is on GrabFood, so you can order a full breakfast, cold-pressed juice, or the whole menu and have it brought to your door. You pay by card in the app or cash on delivery, and you can watch the rider on the map.

Does GrabFood deliver to hotels and condos in Pattaya?

Yes. GrabFood delivers to hotels, condos, and guesthouses across Pattaya and Pratumnak. Enter your building name or drop a pin, add a room number or a note for reception in the delivery instructions, and the rider brings it to the lobby or your door. Delivery from The Lunch Box to Pratumnak Hill takes about 20 to 35 minutes.

Why does Grab say "This app is not available in your country"?

This message appears because your Apple ID or Google account is registered to a country where Grab is not listed, such as the UK, US, or Australia. The app exists but is invisible to your account. For iPhone, the fix is creating a free Thai Apple ID as described above. For Android, download the APK directly from APKMirror instead.

Do I need a VPN to download Grab in Thailand?

No. The methods above work without a VPN. A VPN changes your perceived location but does not fix the App Store regional account restriction. Your UK Apple ID still cannot see Grab even through a VPN. The Thai Apple ID is the correct fix.

Will Grab keep working after I switch back to my normal Apple ID?

Yes. Grab stays on your iPhone permanently after you switch back. You only need the Thai Apple ID again if you want to update the app in the future.

Does Grab work in Pattaya, not just Bangkok?

Yes. Grab operates across Thailand including Pattaya, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. Coverage in Pattaya is strong. GrabCar, GrabBike, and GrabFood all work normally.

Can I use my UK phone number to register on Grab?

Yes. Grab accepts international numbers including UK (+44), US (+1), and Australian (+61) for SMS verification.

Is creating a second Apple ID against Apple's terms?

No. Apple supports multiple Apple IDs and there is no restriction on creating a regional account for accessing region-specific apps. This is the standard method.

What if the APK install fails on Android?

Check that you enabled unknown sources specifically for the browser you used to download the file. If it still fails, the alternative is adding a Thai Google account to your phone temporarily, downloading Grab from Google Play, then removing the Thai account. The app stays installed.

Does the +alias email trick work with Yahoo Mail?

No. The plus alias trick works with Gmail, Outlook, and iCloud only. Yahoo Mail does not support subaddressing. If you use Yahoo, create a free Gmail account first and use that for the Thai Apple ID setup.

How much does Grab cost in Pattaya?

GrabCar rides in Pattaya typically cost between 80 and 200 baht for most destinations. GrabBike is cheaper, usually 40 to 80 baht. Prices are shown in the app before you confirm the booking, so there are no surprises.

I had Grab on my phone from a previous trip. Do I need to do this again?

No. If Grab is already installed, just open it and sign in or create a Grab account. You do not need to repeat the Apple ID or APK process. The app was already downloaded from the correct regional store. You only need to go through this guide if Grab is no longer on your phone.

The Lunch Box Cafe

Address: 338/6 Moo 12, Nongprue, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri 20150

Open: Daily 8:00am to 5:00pm

Phone: 083 212 5996

150m from Big Buddha · 5 min by car to Walking Street · Dongtan Beach walkable