Three ways to get online in France
You can use roaming from your usual provider, buy a French SIM card when you arrive, or install a data eSIM before you leave. None of them is the right answer for everyone: our guide to eSIM, local SIM or roaming compares them in full.
Roaming with your usual provider
If your mobile plan comes from a European Union country, roaming in France is usually charged as it would be at home under the ‘Roam like at home’ rule, within the limits set by your provider. In that case there is often nothing to do, unless your roaming data allowance is too small for the way you use your phone. If your plan comes from outside the EU, roaming can be expensive: check the rates and allowances with your provider before you travel.
A French SIM card
A local SIM gives you a French number, which helps on a long stay or if you need to receive calls and texts locally. You buy it in a shop or online, may be asked for ID, and have to take out your usual SIM if your phone does not support dual SIM. Offers and terms are written in French.
A data eSIM
An Alizeoo eSIM provides mobile data only, with no phone number and no standard calls. You install it at home before departure, and your usual SIM stays in place for calls and texts. Apps that work over the internet, such as WhatsApp and FaceTime, run on that data. It is a convenient choice if you are coming from outside the EU or want a data allowance you know in advance. Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked: check it with our eSIM compatibility guide.
Networks and coverage in France
The main French mobile operators are Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom and Free Mobile. The country has both 4G and 5G. Alizeoo plans for France run on partner operator networks, currently Orange, SFR and Bouygues Telecom; the exact networks for each plan are listed on its page, as they can change. 5G is only used when the plan, the partner operator and your phone all support it; otherwise you connect over 4G.
Coverage is broad in towns and cities and along major roads and rail lines. It can be weaker in a few situations:
- in the mountains, in deep valleys and on some hiking trails;
- in some sparsely populated rural areas;
- in tunnels, underground car parks and some buildings with thick walls.
Before a long drive or a day’s walking, download offline maps and keep your tickets on your phone. If your eSIM shows no signal where the network should be available, work through our guide my eSIM has no signal.
Public Wi-Fi: handy, but take care
Free Wi-Fi is common in France: cafés, hotels, restaurants, many railway stations and some public spaces offer it. It is useful for an app update or a video call, but it is often open and unencrypted. A few good habits:
- avoid entering card details or passwords on an open network;
- be wary of networks with generic names that do not match the place you are in;
- use your mobile data for payments and for signing in to your accounts.
Useful apps for your trip
A handful of apps make the trip easier. They need a connection while you are on the move, which is how most travellers use their data:
- SNCF Connect to buy train tickets and keep them on your phone;
- map and public transport apps, which show real-time times in the larger cities;
- WhatsApp, FaceTime or Messenger to call and message over the internet, since the eSIM has no phone number.
Installing and activating your eSIM
Installation takes a few minutes and is best done at home over Wi-Fi. The exact menus are covered in our iPhone and Android guides.
- Choose a France plan and pay: the QR code and installation link arrive by email and in your account.
- Before you leave, on Wi-Fi: scan the QR code or tap ‘Install in one tap’, then name the line Alizeoo.
- When you arrive: select Alizeoo for mobile data and turn on data roaming for that line.
- Turn off data and roaming on your usual SIM to avoid charges from your provider, but keep it active for calls and texts.
The plan’s validity usually starts the first time you connect in France, not when you buy it; the plan page gives the details. To keep your main number reachable while using the eSIM for data, see our dual SIM guide.
Do not delete the eSIM once it is installed, even if you have not left yet: a deleted eSIM usually cannot be reinstalled with the same QR code. Each eSIM can be installed on one device only.
How much data will you need?
It all depends on how you use your phone. Messaging, maps and checking your bookings use little data. Video calls, video-heavy social media and streaming use a great deal more. If you plan to share your connection with a laptop or tablet, check that the plan allows it: this is shown on the plan page. For an estimate tailored to your trip, use the estimator on our France eSIM page.
Before you go
- If your plan comes from the EU, check first what your provider includes for roaming: you may not need an eSIM at all.
- Make sure your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked.
- French overseas territories are not necessarily included in a France plan: check the list of countries and territories on the plan page.
- Download offline maps if you are heading into the mountains or the countryside.
- Visiting several countries? Plan your multi-country trip to find suitable coverage.
To compare durations and data allowances, see the plans for France. Prices include tax and are shown in US dollars.