Language 
Data Roaming in France: Plans, prices, and coverage
Data roaming in France varies by mobile provider. This guide covers allowances and prices for UK, US, and Australian providers in France.
Data roaming in France will help you stay online using your current mobile plan. Prices and coverage vary depending on your provider. In this guide, we’ll cover data roaming options for O2, Vodafone UK, Three, Telstra, AT&T, and more.
We’ll also cover data roaming alternatives such as a pocket WiFi device, a travel eSIM, and public WiFi hotspots, especially Holafly’s unlimited data eSIM for France, and why it might be the best one.
Match your Holafly eSIM to your vacation
What is roaming?
Essentially, data roaming is being able to use your cell phone in France as if you were at home. This is a service offered by most domestic carriers to their users who travel, allowing them to use their mobile phone services while abroad.
You will be able to use your plan’s current cellular data services, calls, and text messaging. In addition, you can count on your operator’s support if you have any problems with roaming services.
On the other hand, roaming services can be pretty expensive, which is why you might be considering other options.
Roaming rates in France
The roaming prices for France will depend mostly on your domestic mobile phone operator. Also, there are different ways to use the international roaming service, and this will affect the total cost of the service.
In general, roaming costs for France can range from $5 to $10 per day with some operators. However, if you use the pay-per-use option, you could spend $2 to $ 3.50 per MB of data usage, not including calls or messages on your mobile device. Next, we will talk about the roaming services of several international operators.
O2
As an O2 customer on a pay-monthly or pay-as-you-go plan, you’re entitled to free roaming in the Europe zone, which includes France. However, data roaming is limited to 25 GB, so if your data allowance is more than this, you won’t be able to use it all. If your allowance is less than 25 GB, your roaming limit will be set to that amount.
Vodafone UK
As a pay-monthly customer (on a non-roaming inclusive plan), you’d be charged £2.57 a day to use your existing allowances and up to 25 GB of data. You can also get an 8-day roaming pass (£15) or a 15-day roaming pass (£20), both of which cover France.
If you’re a pay-as-you-go customer, you will be charged the daily roaming fee if you try to use mobile data, make calls, or send messages.
Three
Three offers Go Roam in Europe passes for those who aren’t on roaming-inclusive plans but still want to use their allowances abroad. These passes include: 3 days for £5, 7 days for £12, and 14 days for £24. You can also get a data roaming pass for £2 a day in France.
As a pay-as-you-go customer, you’d pay 10p per MB for mobile data in France.
EE
If you’re on a pay-monthly plan with EE, you’ll have to buy a travel pass: £2.59 per day or £15 per week to use your UK allowances in France. For pay-as-you-go users who don’t purchase a travel pass, data roaming in France costs £0.36 per MB.
Telstra
Firstly, you can purchase a day package with 500 MB of high-speed data and unlimited calls and messages for $10 per day.
On the other hand, if you prefer the pay-per-use option, it will cost $3 per MB. However, if you use the latter option, you will have to be very careful with your usage, as you could end up with high bills due to the data roaming charges.
AT&T USA
As an AT&T customer, you can get an international day pass to use mobile data in France. The pass comes with a $12 USD daily fee and gives you access to your regular allowances. Data is charged at $2.05 per MB for pay-as-you-go users.
T-Mobile USA
T-Mobile offers three data roaming passes with varying allowances and durations:
- 1 day: $5 for 512 MB
- 10 days: $35 for 5 GB
- 30 days: $50 for 15 GB
T-Mobile’s pay-as-you-go roaming charges are $0.01 per MB.
Verizon USA
With Verizon, you can opt for their TravelPass ($12 per day) to use your existing allowances in France. And as a Pay As You Go user, you’ll be charged $2 per MB of mobile data.
How to avoid roaming charges in France
If roaming isn’t your best option for staying connected during your trip to France, here are some alternatives.
Prepaid international France SIM Card
You can opt for a physical France SIM card to stay connected at local rates. However, you’ll have to swap your current SIM card and potentially meet tourist requirements when registering.
eSIM for France
Travel eSIMs virtual SIM cards that are very easy to acquire and activate via QR codes in less than 5 minutes. With Holafly’s eSIM for France, you can get unlimited data, 5G speeds, 24/7 customer support, and choose an eSIM plan ranging from 1 to 90 days!
This eSIM also includes data-sharing with the unlimited data packages. People can share up to 1 GB of data per day with the eSIM for France.
To top it off, Holafly stays with you throughAlways On: 1 GB of built-in backup data with every eSIM plan. Whether on a short trip, long layover, or quick border crossing, you’ll be covered as long as you keep the Holafly eSIM on your device.
So, don’t delete your eSIM! Get anyHolafly plan and never install another eSIM again.
Connect to the fastest networks
Holafly Plans
With Holafly Plans, you can also enjoy monthly subscription eSIM plans, ideal for frequent travelers who need to move across different countries, as it offers coverage in 170+ destinations.
Pocket WiFi
If you’re traveling with many people, or, on the other hand, you will have many devices with you, such as your cell phone, laptop, and smartwatch. We recommend a pocket WiFi, a wireless device that lets you connect multiple devices to the internet simultaneously.
Currently, several companies offer these devices for rent for your trip. For France, we recommend companies like Cello Mobile or Hippocket WiFi, with which renting a Pocket WiFi for 7 days could cost between $50.00 and $350+.
However, keep in mind that to rent one of these Pocket WiF and pay for delivery, as well as extra accessories and, sometimes, insurance. So, this could end up being a costly alternative as well.
Free WiFi
In European countries, it is very common to find many places where you can connect to their WiFi for free. However, you must stay in close proximity to these places to use the internet.
To have a continuous, reliable, and fast internet connection, opt for Holafly’s eSIM for France. If you’re planning to travel to multiple destinations in Europe, check out our dedicated roaming guides:
FAQ
Yes. If you are traveling from another country with your mobile phone, you need to activate the data roaming services if you want to use your local allowance while abroad.
Prices will vary depending on the service provider, and while some may offer reduced rates, the service is not free. Although EU citizens often benefit from free roaming within Europe, travelers coming from other countries — like Australia — don’t have that advantage. That’s why it’s recommended to get a digital solution like an eSIM for Europe from Australia before your trip, so you can avoid unexpected charges and stay connected from the moment you land.
No. While data roaming service is among the cheapest, Vodafone doesn’t provide free international use of their services.
Plans that may interest you
Born and raised in Queens, New York, I'm a Psychology graduate with a passion for writing that I've been nurturing since 2019. Over the years, I've enjoyed creating meaningful content across various niches, including sports, hospitality, and career development. At Holafly, I focus on crafting useful and inspiring pieces to make your adventures more effortless. One of the best perks of this role? Creating travel content always seems to inspire my next vacation destination!
