Updated June 2026. There are two kinds of eSIM for France. A travel eSIM is data-only, has no French number, and activates in minutes by scanning a QR code before you land: Airalo starts from US$4.00, Ubigi is 10 GB for EUR 10 (30 days), and Holafly offers unlimited data from US$11.90 for 3 days. A French operator eSIM (Orange, SFR, Bouygues, Free) gives a full mobile plan (forfait) with a French number but needs an address and usually a RIB. For stays over ~30 days, a native French forfait (such as Free 5G+ at EUR 19.99) is usually better value per GB than topping up a travel eSIM.
Key takeaways
- For 1-2 weeks, a travel eSIM is simplest: Ubigi is best value at 10 GB for EUR 10 (30 days).
- Airalo is the cheapest entry point at from US$4.00; Holafly is simple unlimited but pricey, from US$11.90 / 3 days.
- For stays over ~30 days, a native French forfait like Free 5G+ at EUR 19.99 (350 GB) is usually better value per GB.
- A native operator eSIM (e.g. Free, Orange) gives a real French number for banks, CAF, and 2FA, but needs an address and usually a RIB.
- You need eSIM-compatible hardware (recent iPhone or Android) and a QR code to activate.
Travel eSIM or French operator eSIM: which do you need?
A travel eSIM is the right choice for the first days: it is data-only, activates from abroad, and needs no French paperwork. A French operator eSIM is what you want once you have an address, because it gives a real French number for banks, CAF, and two-factor codes.
The split is simple. Use a travel eSIM for data on arrival while you settle in, then switch to a forfait from Orange, SFR, Bouygues, or Free (or their Sosh, RED, and B&You sub-brands) for a permanent line. The French market is regulated by ARCEP, which oversees operators and number portability.
A common two-step setup
Is your phone compatible and how do you activate an eSIM?
You need an eSIM-compatible phone: an iPhone XS or newer, a recent Google Pixel, or a recent Samsung Galaxy flagship. Activation is a QR code you scan under Settings, which downloads the eSIM profile over Wi-Fi. Most phones support dual SIM, so you keep your home line and add a French or travel line alongside it.
- Step 1: Check your phone is eSIM-compatible and not carrier-locked.
- Step 2: Buy the eSIM and receive a QR code by email or in-app.
- Step 3: Scan the QR under Add eSIM while on Wi-Fi.
- Step 4: Pick the new eSIM as your data line and enable data roaming if the provider requires it.
Which are the best eSIMs for France in 2026?
The ranking below mixes travel eSIMs for instant data with native operator eSIMs for a real French number. Prices were verified in June 2026 on each provider's site and are shown in the currency listed there. Travel-eSIM prices can change, so confirm on the official site before you buy.
Ubigi
A carrier-grade, data-only travel eSIM (Transatel). The verified France plan is 10 GB for EUR 10 over 30 days, with deep native integration on recent iOS, Windows, and connected devices.
Why we recommend it: At 10 GB for EUR 10 over 30 days, Ubigi is the best value among the verified data-only travel eSIMs for a short stay.
Best for: A one-to-two-week stay where you want the most data per euro without a French number.
Pros
- +Best verified value per GB
- +Reliable 5G with good hotspot support
- +Excellent multi-device support
- +No French paperwork
Cons
- −Data-only, no French number
- −App less consumer-polished than rivals
- France plan: 10 GB, 30 days, EUR 10 (data-only)
- Native support on many laptops and tablets
- Reliable carrier-grade network access
Airalo
The largest travel-eSIM marketplace, with France-only and Europe-wide data plans. The France eSIM starts from US$4.00 for the entry pack, with instant QR activation and a polished app to top up on the go.
Why we recommend it: From US$4.00, Airalo is the cheapest entry point to get data on arrival, with the widest plan choice for topping up.
Best for: A first trip to France or short stay needing data the moment you land, at the lowest entry price.
Pros
- +Lowest entry price among the verified eSIMs
- +Very easy setup; works in cities and countryside
- +Huge range of plans and validity windows
- +No French paperwork
Cons
- −Data-only, no French number
- −Per-GB cost rises on small plans
- France eSIM from US$4.00 (entry pack)
- Instant QR activation from abroad
- Top-ups and usage tracking in-app
Holafly
A data-only travel eSIM built around unlimited-data plans for France: verified at US$11.90 for 3 days, US$20.50 for 5 days, and US$73.90 for 30 days, so you pay a flat fee instead of counting gigabytes.
Why we recommend it: Simple flat-fee unlimited data suits heavy streamers and hotspotters, though it is pricey per day compared with metered plans.
Best for: Heavy users who stream or hotspot and do not want to track a data bucket.
Pros
- +No data bucket to monitor
- +Simple flat pricing
- +Great for streaming and hotspotting
Cons
- −Data-only, no French number
- −Pricey per day versus metered plans
- −Fair-use policy can throttle speeds
- Unlimited France data: 3 days US$11.90
- 5 days US$20.50, 30 days US$73.90
- 24/7 chat support
Free Mobile (Forfait Free 5G+) eSIM
A native French operator eSIM on the Free Mobile network. The Forfait Free 5G+ is EUR 19.99/month with voice, SMS, and data (350 GB), giving a real French number.
Why we recommend it: For stays over ~30 days, the Forfait Free 5G+ at EUR 19.99 is usually better value per GB than refilling a travel eSIM.
Best for: Residents staying over ~30 days who want a permanent French number with very large data at a flat monthly price.
Pros
- +Best value per GB for longer stays
- +Generous data and widespread 5G
- +Real French number for banks, CAF, and 2FA
- +Flat monthly price
Cons
- −Coverage trails Orange in some rural areas
- −Needs a French address and usually a RIB
- −Slower to set up than a travel eSIM
- Native eSIM: Forfait Free 5G+, EUR 19.99/month
- Voice, SMS, and data with a French number
- 350 GB on the Free Mobile network
Orange French eSIM
A native French operator eSIM on the Orange network, giving a real French number with a full forfait. It is available as an eSIM via Orange; check the operator site for current pricing.
Why we recommend it: Orange's wide network reach makes it a strong native eSIM choice for a permanent French number once you have an address.
Best for: Residents who have an address and want a native French number on the widest network.
Pros
- +French number for banks, CAF, and 2FA
- +Most reliable network with strong customer service
- +Strong coverage
- +Native operator eSIM available
Cons
- −Usually the most expensive operator
- −Needs a French address and usually a RIB
- Native operator eSIM with a real French number
- Full forfait with voice, SMS, and data
- Widest network coverage in France
Verified eSIM prices (as of June 2026)
| Provider | Type | Plan | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airalo | Travel (data-only) | France entry pack | from US$4.00 |
| Holafly | Travel (data-only) | France unlimited, 3 days | US$11.90 |
| Holafly | Travel (data-only) | France unlimited, 5 days | US$20.50 |
| Holafly | Travel (data-only) | France unlimited, 30 days | US$73.90 |
| Ubigi | Travel (data-only) | France 10 GB, 30 days | EUR 10 |
| Free Mobile | Native operator | Forfait Free 5G+ (voice + SMS + data) | EUR 19.99/mo |
| Orange | Native operator | Operator eSIM (full forfait) | see operator site |
Provider pages, June 2026. Travel-eSIM currencies shown as listed.
How much eSIM data do you need for France?
The right amount of eSIM data depends on how you use your phone, not the length of the trip alone. As a rough guide for France, a weekend of maps and messaging needs about 3 to 5 GB, one week of normal use about 5 to 10 GB, and two to three weeks about 10 to 20 GB. If you stream video daily, work remotely, or use your phone as a hotspot, an unlimited plan is safer than a fixed bucket.
Navigation, messaging, and web browsing are light, while video streaming and hotspotting drain an allowance fastest. A day of maps and WhatsApp typically uses only a few hundred megabytes, whereas an hour of HD video can use roughly 1 to 3 GB. Buy one size up from your estimate so you are not topping up mid-trip. France has strong 4G and 5G coverage from Orange, SFR, and Bouygues, the networks most travel eSIMs use, as tracked by the regulator ARCEP.
France-only or Europe-wide eSIM: which should you buy?
A France-only eSIM is the right buy for a trip that stays inside France, while a regional Europe-wide eSIM is better when your itinerary crosses borders. A France plan is usually cheaper per gigabyte, whereas a Europe-wide plan keeps working across the EU and EEA without swapping SIMs, so choose by where you will actually travel.
Travel eSIMs share three traits worth knowing. They are data-only, with no French number, so calls and texts run over apps like WhatsApp. Unlimited plans such as Holafly apply fair-use and hotspot limits that can throttle speed after heavy use. And for a stay over one month, or when you need a French number for banks and two-factor codes, an operator eSIM from Orange or Free Mobile is better value than repeatedly topping up a travel eSIM.
Tourists who want a middle path can use the Orange Holiday eSIM, a prepaid tourist option that bundles data with EU roaming over a typical 14 to 28 day window. The operator Orange lists its current Holiday packs online.
How do you get a real French number with an operator eSIM?
A French operator eSIM gives a real French number from Orange, SFR, Bouygues, or Free, including their Sosh, RED, and B&You sub-brands. Most online plans are forfaits sans engagement, so there is no contract lock-in. You usually need a French RIB for the monthly direct debit and an address for delivery of the eSIM QR.
Under EU roam like at home rules, a French forfait also works across the EU and EEA at domestic rates within fair-use limits. Number portability and operator conduct are overseen by ARCEP, so you can keep your French number if you change operator later.
Sources: ARCEP (arcep.fr) and provider official sites, June 2026. Plan structures and coverage change often; verify current offers before you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a travel eSIM and a French operator eSIM?
A travel eSIM (Airalo, Holafly, Ubigi) is data-only with no French number and activates in minutes from abroad. A French operator eSIM (Orange, SFR, Bouygues, Free) gives you a full mobile plan (forfait) with a French number and calls, but needs an address and usually a RIB to set up.
Is my phone compatible with an eSIM in France?
Most recent phones support eSIM: iPhone XS and newer, recent Google Pixel, and recent Samsung Galaxy S and flagship models. Check Settings for an Add eSIM or Add cellular plan option. Carrier-locked phones bought from another operator may block eSIM activation.
Do I need a French number when I arrive in France?
Not immediately. A travel eSIM covers data for maps, calls over WhatsApp, and navigation on arrival. You need a French number for two-factor codes, French banks, CAF, and many sign-ups, so move to a French operator eSIM once you have an address.
Can I keep my home number active while using a French eSIM?
Yes. eSIM lets you run dual SIM, so you keep your home physical SIM or eSIM for calls and texts while a second French or travel eSIM handles data. You choose which line is used for data and for calls in your phone settings.
Does EU roaming cover France if I already have an EU SIM?
Yes. Under EU roam like at home rules, an EU or EEA SIM works in France at domestic rates with no surcharge, within fair-use data limits. If you live in France long term, a French forfait is still cheaper and avoids permanent-roaming restrictions.
How many GB do I need for a week in France?
For a week in France, roughly 5 to 10 GB covers normal use: maps, messaging, social media, and light browsing. Choose 3 to 5 GB for a light weekend, 10 to 20 GB for two to three weeks, or an unlimited plan if you stream video daily or use your phone as a hotspot. Buy one size up from your estimate so you do not have to top up mid-trip.
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