🇫🇷 Best SIM cards for France
Comparing 41 plans from 5 providers
💡 Free Mobile offers the best value (€2–€20/month) but requires a French address for standard plans — tourist SIMs from Orange and SFR are more practical. Orange and SFR have the best rural coverage including Provence, Brittany coast and the Alps. 4G is excellent throughout France. Some remote mountain areas (high Pyrenees, Massif Central valleys) may have limited signal. Paris has full 5G coverage from all operators.
| Provider | Type | Data | Validity | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provider Saily★ Recommended | TypeeSIM | Data1.00 GB | Validity7 days | Price $3.99Best price | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily Perfect for a short trip or arrival day. | TypeeSIM | Data1.00 GB | Validity7 days | Price $3.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | Data1.00 GB | Validity7 days | Price $4.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly★ Recommended Holafly 1-day eSIM. Perfect for activating on arrival — use it to get from the airport to your hotel. | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity1 days | Price $5.90 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad★ Recommended | TypeeSIM | Data3.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $6.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Ubigi Transatel network. Enterprise-grade connectivity. Ideal for business stays or tablet users. | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity1 days | Price $6.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily | TypeeSIM | Data3.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $8.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily Orange or SFR network. Paris, Lyon, Côte d'Azur, Alps. | TypeeSIM | Data3.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $8.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | Data5.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $9.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily | TypeeSIM | Data5.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $10.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity3 days | Price $11.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity3 days | Price $11.90 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily Best balance of data and price for France. | TypeeSIM | Data5.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $11.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | Data10.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $14.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Airalo Orange network. Covers mainland France. Good for cities and countryside. | TypeeSIM | Data10.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $16.20 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily | TypeeSIM | Data10.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $16.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity5 days | Price $18.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily Best value Saily plan for France. Sufficient for a month. | TypeeSIM | Data10.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $19.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity5 days | Price $20.50 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | Data20.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $21.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad 20 GB across 35 European countries. Best price/GB for Europe. No speed cap. | TypeeSIM | Data20.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $22.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily | TypeeSIM | Data20.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $22.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Airalo Orange network. Best value for extended stays or heavy data use. | TypeeSIM | Data20.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $23.80 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Ubigi★ Recommended Transatel / NTT premium plan for France. Best for tablet, laptop or power users. | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity15 days | Price $25.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity7 days | Price $25.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Airalo Unlimited across 42 European countries. One eSIM for the whole trip. | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity7 days | Price $27.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly Unlimited in France. Orange/SFR network. Paris + regional coverage. | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity7 days | Price $27.50 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly Unlimited across 33 European countries. One eSIM, no switching. | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity7 days | Price $27.50 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity7 days | Price $27.50 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad 50 GB across 35 European countries at just $0.58/GB — lowest price in Europe. | TypeeSIM | Data50.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $29.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily Heavy data users — streaming, remote work. | TypeeSIM | Data20.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $31.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity10 days | Price $33.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | Data50.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $35.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Airalo Orange network. High-data plan for remote workers or extended trips. | TypeeSIM | Data50.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $35.50 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity10 days | Price $36.50 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity10 days | Price $48.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity15 days | Price $50.50 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Airalo Unlimited across 42 European countries for a full month. | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity30 days | Price $72.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly Full month unlimited across 33 European countries. Hotspot included. | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity30 days | Price $73.90 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity30 days | Price $73.90 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly Full month unlimited France. Hotspot included. | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity30 days | Price $73.90 | Get this SIM |
Our recommendations for France
For your exact trip length
Tell us how many days you're traveling and we'll find the best match.
Hassle-free way
Order your eSIM before departure — nothing to buy on arrival. Works from the moment you land.
Best option for short trips or if you don't want to deal with local operator stores.
About these providers
Strengths
- +Largest selection — 200+ countries, multiple local operators per country
- +Very competitive data-capped plans (cheapest overall for data)
- +Instant QR code activation — works within seconds
- +Excellent iOS & Android app with real-time data tracking
- +Physical SIM available for some destinations
Weaknesses
- −Data-only — no calls or SMS on most plans
- −Too many options can be overwhelming
- −Prices displayed in AUD (confusing for non-Australians)
- −Customer support can be slow
Strengths
- +Unlimited data on ALL plans — no data stress ever
- +1-day plans from $5.90 — perfect for arrival day
- +Simple pricing — few options, no confusion
- +Live chat customer support
- +Social media (WhatsApp, Instagram) always free on top
Weaknesses
- −More expensive than Airalo for stays over 10 days
- −Data-only — no calls or SMS
- −No physical SIM option
Strengths
- +Best multi-country regional plans in the market
- +Global plans up to 180 days or 1 year — ideal for long trips
- +Simple, clean interface — easy to choose
- +Competitive pricing for multi-destination trips
Weaknesses
- −Fewer individual country options than Airalo
- −Data-only — no calls or SMS
- −Less name recognition than Airalo/Holafly
Strengths
- +Made by Nord Security — the NordVPN creators (trusted brand)
- +Often cheaper than Airalo for data-capped plans
- +150+ countries covered
- +Clean app with real-time data usage tracker
- +Flexible packages: 1 GB to 20 GB
Weaknesses
- −Data-capped only — no unlimited plans
- −Newer provider (launched 2023) — fewer user reviews
- −No physical SIM
Strengths
- +Made by Transatel / NTT — major global telecom infrastructure provider
- +Works on smartphones, tablets AND laptops (unique)
- +Also available in connected cars (BMW, Toyota, Fiat…)
- +190+ countries covered
- +Enterprise-grade network reliability
Weaknesses
- −More expensive than Airalo and Saily for most plans
- −Primarily aimed at business / professional travelers
- −Pricing less transparent on website
Getting a local SIM in France
🏪Where to buy
SIM kiosks at Paris CDG and Orly airports (Orange, SFR). In Paris: tabac shops sell SIMs and top-up vouchers. Fnac and Darty electronics stores carry all major brands. Free Mobile, Orange and SFR have stores on most high streets. Outside Paris: operator stores in every major city (Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Bordeaux).
📄Documents needed
Passport or EU ID required by French law (mandatory since 2017). The operator registers the SIM at point of sale. The process takes 5–10 minutes. Tourist eSIMs can often be activated without visiting a store.
💡Tips & coverage
Free Mobile offers the best value (€2–€20/month) but requires a French address for standard plans — tourist SIMs from Orange and SFR are more practical. Orange and SFR have the best rural coverage including Provence, Brittany coast and the Alps. 4G is excellent throughout France. Some remote mountain areas (high Pyrenees, Massif Central valleys) may have limited signal. Paris has full 5G coverage from all operators.
Local SIM prices in France
Typical cost if you buy a physical SIM card on arrival (for comparison only).
| Data | Validity | Est. price |
|---|---|---|
| 10.00 GB | 30 days | $8.00–$18.00 |
| Unlimited | 30 days | $15.00–$30.00 |
Prices are estimates based on tourist SIM cards available locally. Actual prices vary by operator and date.