Free vs SFR

Free vs SFR is a comparison of Free Mobile, the Iliad-owned online-only price disruptor, against SFR, the Altice-owned full-service operator.

Free vs SFR operates in the French Telecommunications segment.

Full guide: Telecom Overview

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Free vs SFR: Core Facts

What is compared: Free Mobile (Iliad) vs SFR (Altice)
Verdict: Free Mobile for price, 5G availability and stable prices; SFR for in-store support, a bigger EU allowance and better call quality
Cheapest: Free Mobile (online-only disruptor since 2012)
Big-data prices: Free 350 GB 5G €19.99/month flat (€9.99 with Freebox Pop), locked until 2027; SFR 200 GB 5G €19.99 (€14.99 with an SFR box) with 100 GB usable in the EU/DOM(as of 2026-10)
October 2026 price rises: SFR raised existing plans by €0.99 to €4.99 a month (refusable, or free cancellation within 4 months under art. L224-33); Free says its prices are locked until 2027(as of 2026-10)
Best 5G availability: Free Mobile (Opensignal)(as of 2025-11)
Call quality: SFR 87% perfect calls (3rd) vs Free 84% (4th, weakest rural), ARCEP 2025 campaign published 24 September 2026(as of 2026-09)
Sales model: Free Mobile sells online and through French-language vending machines in Free stores; SFR sells online and in staffed shops
Discount sub-brand: SFR has RED by SFR; Free Mobile has none (it is already the budget play)
Owner: Free Mobile: Iliad. SFR: Altice France
Commitment: Both offer sans engagement plans you can cancel any month
Regulator: ARCEP
Status: Active Definition
Verified: 2026-10-14

How Free vs SFR compares

This comparison is between two of France's four MNOs: Free Mobile (Iliad) and SFR (Altice). It is NOT a comparison with the sub-brands; SFR's discount line is RED by SFR, while Free Mobile is itself the low-cost option and has no separate budget brand.

Free vs SFR: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Free cheaper than SFR?

Free vs SFR favours Free Mobile on price: Free has been France's cheapest mainstream operator since launching in 2012, while SFR's lowest prices come through its RED by SFR sub-brand.

Does SFR have better coverage than Free?

Free vs SFR gives SFR the edge on call quality: ARCEP's 2025 campaign, published on 24 September 2026, found 87% perfect calls on SFR against 84% on Free Mobile, the weakest in rural areas. Free Mobile leads on 5G availability per Opensignal.

Which should I pick for a short stay in France?

Free vs SFR is the wrong choice for most short stays: Free Mobile forfaits need a French bank account, and Free's prepaid Pass Free is limited to French residents by its terms. SFR La Carte prepaid (a €4.99 kit, then 200 GB for €9.99 per 31 days, as of October 2026) works with only an identity document.

Related Entities

Other entities covered on the Telecom Overview page:

For a full practical guide, see our Telecom Overview page.

Maintained by Jules (How to France). This page follows the Grounding Page Standard v1.5. Last verified: 2026-10-14.