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France SIM card: Your ultimate guide
Heading to France? Don’t forget your SIM! Read this article to discover the best SIM cards for France, their prices, and the best alternatives to French SIMs.
If you plan to visit France, you’ll need a smart way to stay connected. A French SIM helps you enjoy a worry-free vacation, with no expensive roaming charges or pricey French pocket WiFi devices you have to carry around with you.
If you’re after a French adventure with no hidden costs, read on as we explore:
- The best SIM cards for France
- The cost of a prepaid SIM card in France
- Where you can buy a French SIM card
We also dive into more convenient SIM card alternatives that offer unlimited data plans for tourists touring la France.
But first things first.
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Which SIM card is best in France?
Orange France, SFR, Bouyages, and Free Mobile offer the best SIM cards for tourists in the French Mobile market.
Let’s explore the prepaid plans offered by each provider in terms of pricing and benefits.
Orange France: The French SIM card with flexible prepaid plans
Orange is one of the major mobile carriers in France that offers tourist SIM cards. Prepaid plans include:
- Holiday France 12 GB at €19.99 EUR (approximately $22 USD), valid for 14 days, includes unlimited calls in France, 30 international minutes, and 12 GB of mobile data
- Holiday France 30 GB at €39.99 (approximately $44), valid for 14 days, includes unlimited calls in France, 120 international minutes, and 30 GB of mobile data
- Holiday France 100 GB at €49.99 (approximately $55), valid for 28 days, includes unlimited calls in France, 120 international minutes, and 100 GB of mobile data
You can benefit from any of these plans by purchasing a French Orange eSIM or one of their physical SIM cards.
Please note: Some Orange users report that getting support for technical issues is sometimes difficult. The support line offers pre-recorded menus that make it nearly impossible to contact a representative.
SFR: The French SIM card for urban exploration
SFR is one of the largest and oldest French mobile operators. It caters to the communication needs of locals and tourists alike. For tourists, SFR offers only one SIM plan:
- 60 GB at €34.99 (approximately $39), valid for 30 days, and includes unlimited calls within Europe, 120 international minutes, and 60 GB of mobile data.
Please note: With SFR, you might experience coverage issues when moving away from cities and into rural areas.
So, if you’re planning to travel off the beaten path and venture into the bohemian French countryside, you may want to consider another provider.
Bouygues Telecom: The French SIM card with flexible roaming credits
Bouygues Telecom is another popular French mobile service provider that offers prepaid SIM plans for tourists. Plans include:
- My European SIM 60 GB at €49.90 (approximately $55) is valid for 30 days and includes unlimited calls in France, €25 (approximately $28) credits for international calls, and 6 GB of mobile data.
- My European SIM 30 GB at €39.90 (approximately $44) is valid for 30 days and includes unlimited calls in France, €25 (approximately $28) credits for international calls, and 30 GB of mobile data.
- My European SIM 20 GB Basic+ at €21.90 (approximately $24) is valid for 15 days and includes unlimited calls in France and 20 GB of mobile data.
- My European SIM 15 GB Basic at €19.90 (approximately $22) is valid for 15 days and includes 15 GB of mobile data
Please note: You can only use your data allowance while in Europe, so make the most of it during your vacation.
Free Mobile: The French SIM card with a data roaming allowance
Meet Free Mobile, the last on our list of best international SIM cards for France with a prepaid plan for tourists. Here’s what you get when buying a Free Mobile SIM:
- The Free 5G plan at €19.99 (approximately $22) is valid for one month and includes unlimited calls and SMS in France and 300 GB of mobile data
Please note: If you plan on visiting other European countries during your trip, the Free Mobile SIM card only includes a 35 GB roaming data allowance for use abroad.
All these prepaid plans can get confusing. Here’s a summary of how much you should expect to spend on a local prepaid SIM card for France.
How much is a France SIM card?
The cost of a France SIM card depends on your data needs. For a decent prepaid SIM plan that includes more than 10 GB of data and is valid for two weeks, you can expect to pay around €19.99 or $22 (flat rate.) The higher the amount of data included in your plan, the higher the price.
For example, for a plan with a mobile data allowance of 100 GB and a 28-day validity, pricing can start at €49.99 or approximately $55 (flat rate.)
No matter your data budget, you have to keep an eye on your data usage and adapt your internet-browsing habits according to your data plan and the length of your stay.
That’s the only way to ensure you’ll be able to use your phone in France throughout your whole stay. Monitoring your data consumption is not a fun way to spend your time while traveling.
If you’re still up for buying a France SIM card, let’s see where you can get yours.
Where can I buy a SIM card for France?
You have two options to get a SIM card in France for tourists:
- You can buy a prepaid SIM card for France before your trip through online stores that have international delivery.
- You can buy a prepaid local SIM card with a French phone operator from a physical store.
Let’s have a closer look at both purchasing options.
Buying a SIM card for France before you arrive
Buying your SIM card online before your trip is one of the safest, fastest, and easiest ways to have an internet connection from the moment you land.
If you do this before your trip, you’ll have plenty of time to research the best deals, compare providers, and make an informed decision. When doing your research, make sure to check:
- If the online French SIM retailer you’re considering offers delivery to your home country.
- Which French operator provides the SIM as this will determine the coverage and speed of your service.
If you want to skip all that hassle, you could go for a virtual SIM card instead. It’s called an eSIM and is totally digital. You can buy it online and get it delivered to your inbox a few moments later.
Some eSIM plans for France even come with unlimited mobile data. For example, Holafly’s France eSIM offers you unlimited access to high-speed internet.
Buying a France SIM card upon arrival
Local phone companies offer SIM cards for tourists in city stores, but also at airports and major transport hubs.
You can find France SIM cards at convenience stores (such as Relay), electronics stores, tobacco shops (Tabacs), and supermarkets (for example, Carrefour).
If you go this route, keep in mind that you should avoid using your phone until you buy your local SIM as you don’t want roaming fees from your first day in France.
Locating a store, ordering your local SIM card, and registering it is time-consuming and tedious. Include this detour in your plans if you are going to wait until you arrive in France to sort out your communications.
The alternative to all the hassle? A quick online purchase and installation of an eSIM with unlimited data.
Consider the Holafly eSIM for France: A great SIM card alternative
With Holafly’s virtual SIM card for France, you can read all the restaurant reviews you want, send your friends all the artistic shots you got of the Champs Elysee and the Louvre, and watch unlimited croissant-tasting videos in search of the perfect one. All this without worrying about running out of data.
Plus, going for an eSIM instead of a physical SIM card is much less complicated. You get your virtual SIM via email, you don’t need to switch SIMs over manually, and the installation process is simple.
With an eSIM, no verifications or calls to customer support are required. You simply scan a QR code, follow the on-screen instructions, and you’re all set and ready to enjoy the best eSIM for France.
Then you can surf the web, make VoIP calls from France using your eSIM, and use all the social media apps your heart desires.
How much does an eSIM for France cost?
The cost of an eSIM for France with unlimited mobile data starts at $5,90 per day for a one-day plan. As you add more days to your plan, your cost per day decreases.
For example, if you buy the Holafly France eSIM plan for 10 days, your cost per day will be $3,69 (the equivalent of three delicious croissants).
Although most modern smartphones are eSIM-compatible, not all devices support eSIM technology. Let’s see if yours does.
How do I know if my phone is compatible with the eSIM?
To ensure your mobile device is eSIM-compatible, follow one of the methods below:
- Settings > Connections > SIM card manager > Add eSIM: If the add eSIM option is displayed on your device, your mobile phone is eSIM-compatible.
- Dial *#06# or go to Settings > About Phone. If “IMEI (eSIM)” is listed alongside your regular IMEI, your device supports eSIM.
Now, to SIM or to eSIM? That’s the question you need to answer after you’ve read your Paris travel guide and before you board that plane to the country of wine, love, and pastries.
Choose convenience: Take Holafly’s eSIM to France
SIMs are great—until you forget your photo ID at the hotel and can’t purchase one, lose the tiny SIM ejection tool somewhere in your luggage, or have to waste plastic every time you travel.
The more convenient (and plastic-free) way to stay connected in France is to purchase an eSIM instead. Bonus points if you choose one with unlimited mobile data, like Holafly.
With Holafly, your only worry in France will be how to squeeze in another museum visit before dinner.
You’ll have peace of mind knowing that, no matter how many episodes of your favorite show you watch at night while fighting jet lag, you’ll never run out of data. No data caps, no headaches. Get your Holafly eSIM for France today!
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Detroit native, foothills and lakes of North Carolina raised, Barcelona-based writer and creator. Sam lives and loves by the phrase: words create worlds. An international lifestyle matched with a background in psychology, business, and creative writing has allowed Sam to create content for a range of artists, entrepreneurs, and fashion and lifestyle brands across the globe. Sam's an avid water sports athlete with a passion for fashion, well-being, and adventure.
