The Expat’s Guide to French Mobile Plans

Welcome to France! If you’re moving here, you’ll probably find that dealing with French bureaucracy can be quite… challenging, which is expected.

And if you’re buying a property or starting a new job, you will need a mobile or smartphone with a French number, for example, to pay utility bills or set up a bank account. The good news is that getting mobile phone service is actually quite simple, provided you have the right guidance.

Understanding the Mobile Phone Market in France

In France, the mobile market is primarily divided among four key operators, each operating its own networks: Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom, and Free Mobile. Notably, most of these major providers also offer “low-cost” secondary brands, such as Sosh (Orange), RED (SFR), and B&You (Bouygues).

These budget options are often appealing, but they are exclusively online and not available in physical high-street stores. Unlike many countries, most mobile plans in France are sold without a smartphone, meaning customers typically purchase their phones and plans separately.

As a result, most plans are “sans engagement” (no contract), allowing users to switch providers freely since they aren’t financing the phone through their monthly payments.

Top Tip: Try the “Free Mobile” Advantage

For newcomers, I recommend Free Mobile. Unlike most providers that require a French bank account and proof of residence to subscribe, Free Mobile usually only asks for a credit card (including international cards) and an email address, simplifying the process for new arrivals.

A major benefit is their extensive network of stores throughout France, along with self-service kiosks called “Bornes Free.” These are interactive terminals, essentially vending machines for physical SIM card or eSIM.

• Where to find these kiosks: They are located in Free stores, as well as in many local newsstands like a Maison de la Presse, and in electronic stores like Fnac/Darty. You can locate them here.
• How it works: In just 3 minutes, you can select your plan on the touch screen and pay with your credit card. The machine immediately provides your activated SIM or eSIM card. You will be charged €10 for the card along with the first month’s subscription.

Afterwards, you can access an online interface to manage your subscription. 

The “Flagship” Plan: for Peace of Mind

These terminals offer several plans, but the best option is the €19.99 plan. For this price, the value is excellent:

• Massive data: Currently, it offers 350 GB of data in France. Free is known for its generosity. They regularly increase this data limit for free to stay competitive.
• Unlimited calls to many countries from France (including the USA, Canada, Australia, UK, and most of Europe).
• International roaming: This is the ideal feature for expats, offering 35 GB of data roaming across over 110 destinations, including the USA, Canada, Australia, the UK, and most of Europe. If you return home for the holidays and forget to turn off your French SIM, those 35 GB will help offset costly roaming charges.

This offer is a no-brainer for Americans who are used to paying much higher prices and with many restrictions. 

The Prepaid Option

If you prefer total control, Free recently launched a prepaid offer available through a wide network of small local convenience stores. You can find the nearest one using this locator by entering your area’s full “code postal”.

You simply buy a SIM card (€5) along with a “pass” for 30 days with no automatic renewal. You can then recharge it whenever you want by choosing from multiple 30-day passes. For example, one option includes 200 GB of data and unlimited calls in France for €9,99. The SIM card will remain active for 11 months after your last recharge.

Practical Tips to Help You Start

• Unlocking: Ensure your phone is “SIM-lock free” (unlocked) before you arrive, or it will not recognise a French SIM.
• As anywhere, network quality varies greatly between operators, depending on the location. France is a large country. In rural regions or inside older Parisian buildings with thick walls, one network may work perfectly while another offers no signal at all.
• Our advice? Feel free to experiment, and ask your neighbours and locals who will have an opinion on the service, which is not always the best provider! Because most plans are “without commitment,” you can try an operator for a month and switch to another if it doesn’t suit your home or office.

Thank you, Benoit, for sharing your insight and experience. I am sure you receive these types of queries all the time in your role as a property manager helping expats and investors in Paris. 

Please visit our blog to learn how French telephone numbers and area codes work, as well as the most important emergency numbers in France, just in case you urgently need one.