SIM Cards Price Research in France (2026)

How much does a SIM forfait cost in France?

Answer: Verified June 2026 SIM-only prices run from EUR 2.00 (Free Forfait 2 EUR) to EUR 29.99 (Orange 350 GB 5G). The best data-per-euro is Free 5G+ at EUR 19.99 for 350 GB. Mid-tier plans (unlimited calls plus around 100 GB) average about EUR 16.40/mo per ARCEP and market analyses, while high-end large-roaming plans can reach EUR 80 to 85.

The table below lists nine verified plans from Free, SFR, and Orange, each consulted on the operator's own page in June 2026. Most deals are forfait sans engagement, bought online, with no commitment and no frais de résiliation. Operators run promotions, so a plan's regular price after 12 months is what matters for the long term. Verify current prices on the operator's site before you commit.

Source: operator pages and ARCEP, June 2026. Promotional prices may differ from the price after 12 months.

What are the price bands for French forfaits?

The verified plans above sort cleanly into three bands. Each band below lists its real price range and the actual plans that sit in it, all consulted on operator pages in June 2026.

Source: operator pages and ARCEP, June 2026. Promotional prices may differ from the price after 12 months.

Which is the cheapest forfait in France?

Answer: The cheapest verified plan under EUR 10 is Free's Forfait 2 EUR at EUR 2.00/mo (very basic data, about 2h of calls). The next step up is SFR's 2h 1 GB 5G at EUR 5.99/mo. ARCEP and market data put basic prepaid and SIM-only deals around EUR 3 to 5 for a few GB.

The absolute cheapest plans carry a small data bucket, so they suit a second line or a light user. For a primary line, the best value usually sits in the mid-range band, where a large data bucket and unlimited calls cost only a little more. The standout is Free 5G+ at EUR 19.99 for 350 GB, the strongest data-per-euro on the market. The ARCEP price index showed prepaid down about 1.8% year-on-year.

Budget vs premium forfaits: what changes?

Budget plans like Free's Forfait 2 EUR (EUR 2.00) and SFR's 2h 1 GB 5G (EUR 5.99) are SIM-only, sans engagement, and bought online with small data. You self-serve, there is no branch support, and there are no frais de résiliation. Premium plans like Orange 170 GB 5G (EUR 22.99) and Orange 350 GB 5G (EUR 29.99) add in-store support, broad 5G coverage, and wider roaming.

The trade is price for service. If you are comfortable managing your line online and only need French and EU coverage, a budget or mid-range plan is the value pick. If you want a shop to walk into, a bundled phone, or heavy non-EU roaming, a premium forfait earns its higher monthly cost.

Engagement, roaming, and portability costs?

A forfait sans engagement has no minimum term and no frais de résiliation, so you can switch whenever a better price appears. A forfait avec engagement (usually 12 or 24 months, common when a handset is bundled) can charge early-termination fees, so read the terms before you sign.

Keeping your number is free. Request your RIO code by dialing 3179 from your line, give it to the new operator, and they handle the portability. Most forfaits include EU and EEA roaming under roam-like-at-home, with a fair-use data cap that scales with your plan price. Prepaid SIMs avoid contracts but usually cost more per gigabyte than a postpaid forfait.

France's telecom regulator, the ARCEP, oversees portability and operator obligations, which is why the RIO process and number portability stay free and standardised across operators.

Source: operator pages and ARCEP, June 2026. Promotional prices may differ from the price after 12 months. Market context (basic prepaid around EUR 3 to 5, mid-tier averaging EUR 16.40, high-end reaching EUR 80 to 85, prepaid index down about 1.8% year-on-year) is attributed to ARCEP and market analyses, 2025. Verify current prices on the operator's site.

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