Compare the best eSIM plans for France
Internet from the moment you land in France
By SamuelData collected on Page verified on Methodology
- Instant activation
- iPhone and Android compatible
- From €0.30 for 1 GB or more
- 6,200+ plans compared
Photo credit : David Henry
€0.30
Cheapest plan, 1 GB or more
6,200+
France plans compared
119+
Providers available
5G
Network supported
Entry price measured on fixed-volume plans of 1 GB or more covering the country. Volumes below 1 GB and plans billed per day, whose price is not comparable, fall outside the calculation.
Best eSIM deals for France
AbesteSIM
1 GB · 1 day
1 GB
1 day
FR
€0.30
Stellar eSIM
1 GB · 7 days
1 GB
7 days
FR
€0.43
Strongesim
1 GB · 7 days
1 GB
7 days
FR
€0.68
MicroEsim
1 GB · 1 day
1 GB
1 day
FR
€0.84
eSIM.dog
1 GB · 1 day
1 GB
1 day
FR
€0.94
Roamance
1 GB · 7 days
1 GB
7 days
FR
€0.99
eSIM for France at a glance
From
€1.23
For 5 GB / 30 days
Plan duration
1 to 30+ days
Depending on the plan
Local networks
Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom, Free Mobile
4G / 5G in major cities
VPN needed?
No
All Western services work normally
Hotspot tethering
Available
On most plans
Compatibility
iPhone XS+ / Android 8.0+
Check your device
Internet in France: everything you need to know
France shows an internet penetration above 92% and one of the most complete mobile coverages in Europe (source: ITU DataHub, 2024). 4G LTE covers the entire metropolitan territory and 5G is rolling out across every major city. A France eSIM gets you onto this network the moment you land at Paris, Nice, Marseille or Lyon, with no physical card swap.
- ●4G/5G coverage across every major city (Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Nice) and tourist destinations (French Riviera, Brittany, Alps, Provence).
- ●The national average mobile download speed is far above anything a traveller consumes : maps, video calls and streaming all run comfortably, and speed is never what limits a trip.
- ●For EU/EEA travelers, roaming is charged at the domestic rate (RLAH); a dedicated eSIM is still useful for non-EU travelers (UK, Switzerland, US) or to preserve the monthly allowance.
- ●Perfect for Bonjour RATP, SNCF Connect, Citymapper, Uber, Google Maps and booking apps.
Sources: Internet Society Pulse : France, ITU DataHub : France statistics
Networks and connectivity on the ground
- Average speed
- 132.9 Mbps downloadmeasured 2026 · Internet Society Pulse
- Coverage
- Nationwidemeasured 2025 · Internet Society Pulse
- 5G
- Widely availablemeasured 2025 · Internet Society Pulse
- Local operators
- Orange · SFR · Bouygues Telecom · Free Mobilemeasured 2026 · Datadopt research
- Public Wi-Fi
- Widely availablemeasured 2026 · Datadopt research
Practical information
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Payments
- Card accepted everywhereATMs everywhere
- Tipping
- Round up the bill
- Power socket
- Type E230 V, 50 Hz
- Official languages
- FrenchAlso spoken : Occitan, Breton, Corsican, Basque, CatalanEnglish in tourist areas
- Dialling code
- +33Time zone : Europe/Paris
- Emergency numbers
- 112 · 17 · 15 · 18
When to go
- Best time to go
- May, June, September
- Shoulder season
- April, October
- Peak season
- July, August
- Seasonal hazards
- Extreme heatJuly, August
France is not one climate but three, and the right month depends on which part of the country you are actually going to. May, June and September are the dependable answer: everything is open, the days are long, and you miss both the southern heat and the August crowds that empty the cities of exactly the people you came to see.
Three countries, weather-wise
Brittany and Normandy stay mild and wet year-round, the east gets genuine winters, and the Mediterranean south swings from pleasant to punishing within weeks. A trip that runs Paris to Provence crosses two climates, so pack for both rather than for the average.
The August shutdown
Many neighbourhood shops, bakeries and restaurants close for several weeks in August while their owners take their own holiday. It catches visitors out: the cities are at their busiest and their least served at the same time, and the good local address you looked up may simply have the shutters down.
Service is already included
Service is built into the posted price by law, so there is no percentage to calculate and no social penalty for leaving nothing. Rounding up or leaving small change for a good meal is the whole custom, and a tip on the American scale reads as a misunderstanding rather than as generosity.
Trains, and where they stop
High-speed rail beats flying door to door between the major cities, but the regional network thins out fast, and the hilltop village or remote abbey usually needs a car for the last stretch. Long-distance fares are dynamic and rise steeply, so book the trains before you book the hotel.
Iconic sites and coverage
Eiffel Tower
Built for the 1889 World's Fair and meant to be dismantled afterwards, the tower survived because it proved useful as a radio antenna. Three levels are open, the top by lift only, and timed-entry slots sell out weeks ahead in high season.
Louvre Museum
A royal palace turned public museum during the Revolution, the Louvre runs from Mesopotamian antiquity to nineteenth-century painting across eight curatorial departments. It is too large to do in a day, and the visitors who enjoy it most are the ones who pick two wings and ignore the rest.
Palace of Versailles
Versailles was the seat of French power from Louis XIV to the Revolution, built as the architectural argument for absolute monarchy. The palace, the formal gardens, the Trianon estate and the Queen's Hamlet are four separate visits, and cramming them into one afternoon is the standard mistake.
Mont-Saint-Michel
A Benedictine abbey on a rocky islet on the Normandy-Brittany border, ringed by one of the largest tidal ranges in Europe. The tide timetable governs what you can walk on and when, which makes it part of the planning rather than part of the scenery.
Calanques National Park
Between Marseille and Cassis, white limestone inlets drop straight into very clear water, reachable on foot, by kayak or by boat. Several valleys are closed in summer according to the day's wildfire risk, and that call is published the evening before rather than at the trailhead.
Mont Blanc
The highest summit in the western Alps rises above Chamonix and is best seen from the Aiguille du Midi cable car. Climbing it is guided mountaineering, not hiking, and the weather above the valley changes hour to hour in ways the forecast for the town will not tell you.
Verdon Gorge
The Verdon river has cut a canyon hundreds of metres deep through Provencal limestone, flanked by two scenic roads and popular for climbing and canyoning. There are plenty of viewpoints but very few parking spaces, and driving the full loop takes a complete day.
Chateau de Chambord
The largest of the Loire châteaux was never really lived in: François I spent a few weeks there in total. The double-helix staircase and the roof terraces are the reason to come, and the walled estate around it is roughly the size of inner Paris.
Entry and health
- Visa
- Visa-freemeasured 2026 · Destination country's consular authorityPermitted length of stay : 90 days
Sources Internet Society Pulse, Datadopt research, Destination country's consular authority
Datadopt Observatory
Price per GB in France: what our data shows
According to the Datadopt Observatory, the lowest price per GB recorded in France comes down to 0.08 €/GB, across a sample of 2,678 fixed-volume offers retained for the measurement. That floor is reached on large data bundles : a 5 GB plan over 30 days costs noticeably more per GB. The real differentiator is still the depth of the offer : the more plans compete, the easier it is to find the duration and data volume that fit your trip.
Lowest price per GB recorded
0.08 €/GB
Offers in the price sample
2,678
Europe average
0.12 €/GB
World ranking
31 / 215
France is 33% cheaper than the Europe regional average (0.12 €/GB).
Source: Datadopt eSIM Price Observatory, 170,286 plans analysed, measured 1 September 2026.
See the eSIM price Observatory by country →Which eSIM providers for France?
Here are the 6 best-placed eSIM providers for France, ranked by best price per GB. Prices are expressed per GB so plans of different sizes can be compared on the same basis.
| Provider | Price per GB | From | Max duration | Hotspot | 5G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stellar eSIM | 0.28 €/GB | 0.43 € | 30 d | Yes | Yes |
| AbesteSIM | 0.30 €/GB | 0.30 € | 15 d | Yes | No |
| eSIM.dog | 0.45 €/GB | 0.94 € | 30 d | Yes | No |
| MicroEsim | 0.56 €/GB | 0.84 € | 10 d | Yes | Yes |
| Strongesim | 0.64 €/GB | 0.68 € | 30 d | Yes | Yes |
 Manet Travel | 0.85 €/GB | 1.20 € | 15 d | Yes | No |
Providers ranked by best price per GB, across plans of at least 1 GB. Source: Datadopt catalogue.
Compare all plans →Device compatibility
eSIM is built into every iPhone XS and later, as well as Samsung Galaxy S20+, Google Pixel 3a+ and most high-end Motorola, Oppo, Sony and Xiaomi models.
Not sure about your device? Check compatibility here.
How to install your eSIM for France
- 1. Compare offers on https://www.datadopt.com/en/compare/fr
- 2. Browse our partners' eSIM offers and choose the data volume and duration that fit your trip.
- 3. Purchase the eSIM plan that best fits your needs on our partner's site.
- 4. Receive a QR code by email after purchase.
- 5. Before you leave or during your stay, add the eSIM to your smartphone (Note: a stable Wi-Fi connection may be required during this step.)
- 5.1. On iPhone: Settings > Mobile Data > Add Plan > Scan the QR code
- 5.2. On Android: Settings > Connections > SIM card manager > Add a mobile plan
- 6. Once you arrive, turn on the data of your eSIM and enjoy reliable internet in France.
First eSIM? The full walkthrough, with iOS and Android screenshots, lives in our guide how to install an eSIM on your smartphone.
Frequently asked questions
Do eSIMs really work in France?
Yes. The vast majority of international eSIMs connect to Orange, SFR or Bouygues the moment you land at Charles-de-Gaulle, Orly or Nice. Coverage is excellent country-wide.
Do I need a VPN in France?
No. All Western services work normally.
Can I use my EU plan in France?
Yes, EU roaming is included at domestic rates for EU subscribers. A dedicated eSIM is still useful if your plan is from outside the EU (UK, US, CH) or to preserve your monthly allowance.
What's the best eSIM for Paris or the Riviera?
Both areas have full 5G coverage. For a short trip (≤ 7 days) a 3 to 5 GB plan is enough. For 2 weeks with heavy use of maps and transit, target 10 to 15 GB.
Do eSIMs work on TGV trains?
Yes, the latest TGV Inoui trains enjoy continuous mobile coverage thanks to trackside antennas. Connection may drop briefly in some tunnels.
Can I share my connection with other devices?
Most France eSIM plans allow hotspot tethering. The detail appears on each plan page on Datadopt.
How much does an eSIM cost in France, and is it cheap?
According to the Datadopt Observatory, the lowest price per GB recorded in France comes down to 0.08 €/GB, across a sample of 2,678 fixed-volume offers retained for the measurement. That floor is reached on large data bundles : a 5 GB plan over 30 days costs noticeably more per GB. The real differentiator is still the depth of the offer : the more plans compete, the easier it is to find the duration and data volume that fit your trip. France is 33% cheaper than the Europe regional average (0.12 €/GB). In our global ranking of well-covered eSIM markets, France sits at position 31 of 215 by price per GB (1 = cheapest). Source: Datadopt eSIM Price Observatory, 170,286 plans analysed, measured 1 September 2026.
See the eSIM price Observatory by country →Explore other popular destinations
Ready to stay connected in France?
Compare the best eSIM offers and enjoy data the moment you arrive, at the best price.