French SIM Card Guide: Best Plans & How to Buy for Tourists and Residents
You land in Paris and immediately need mobile data to navigate, contact accommodations, and stay connected, but buying a French SIM card feels overwhelming when you don’t speak the language and don’t understand the carrier landscape. This complete guide covers everything English speakers need to know about getting a French SIM card, comparing major carriers like Orange, SFR, Free, and Bouygues, understanding prepaid versus contract plans, knowing what documents you need, and finding the best deals whether you’re visiting for a week or staying for years.
Why you need a French SIM card instead of roaming
International roaming charges from US, UK, Canadian, or Australian carriers can cost $10-15 per day. A two-week Paris trip means $140-210 just for basic phone service. French SIM cards cost €10-20 total for the same period with better coverage and faster speeds.
European Union roaming regulations mean a French SIM works across all EU countries at no extra cost. Buy one SIM in Paris, use it in Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam, Berlin with the same plan. Your home carrier doesn’t offer this.
French networks are excellent. 4G/5G coverage reaches even small villages. Metro stations have full signal. Speed is fast. Infrastructure is modern. You get better service in France with a French SIM than roaming on foreign networks.
When roaming makes sense versus when French SIM is better
Keep your home SIM if you’re visiting France for less than 3 days, need to receive calls on your regular number for business, or your carrier includes free international roaming (some premium plans do). Otherwise, French SIM saves money and provides better service.
Most French textbooks are written by native speakers who’ve forgotten what confuses beginners. They explain grammar assuming you already think like a French person.
Roger learned French as an adult after growing up with English and German. He remembers exactly which explanations clicked and which ones left him confused. The FrenchToEnglish approach was built from those memories, including navigating French mobile services and learning the essential vocabulary to handle these real-world situations independently.
Understanding French mobile carriers – the complete landscape
France has four major network operators and multiple virtual operators using those networks. Understanding this structure helps you make smart choices.
The four major network operators
These companies own the physical infrastructure:
1. Orange – Former state monopoly, largest carrier, best coverage especially in rural areas, premium pricing. Owns Sosh (budget brand).
2. SFR (Société Française du Radiotéléphone) – Second largest, good urban coverage, mid-range pricing. Owns RED by SFR (budget brand).
3. Bouygues Telecom – Third largest, solid coverage, competitive pricing. Owns B&You (budget brand).
4. Free Mobile – Newest major carrier (launched 2012), disrupted market with ultra-low prices, good coverage in cities, weaker in rural areas.
Key insight: The budget brands (Sosh, RED, B&You) use the same networks as their parent companies but cost 30-50% less. Same coverage, lower price, fewer perks.
Budget carriers – best value for most users
Why budget carriers dominate tourist and short-term resident markets:
Sosh (by Orange): Orange network quality at €15-20/month. No contract. Cancel anytime. Best rural coverage through Orange infrastructure.
RED by SFR: SFR network at €10-15/month. Frequent promotions. Good for urban users who don’t need premium support.
B&You (by Bouygues): Bouygues network at €10-20/month. Straightforward plans. Solid middle option.
Free Mobile: Most disruptive pricing at €8-20/month. Started the budget revolution. Excellent for price-conscious users who stay in cities.
What you sacrifice: Physical store support (mostly online), customer service quality, premium perks like international extras. What you keep: Same network coverage and speed as parent companies.
Prepaid versus contract plans – which you actually need
Understanding French mobile plan types prevents overpaying and getting locked into contracts you don’t want.
Prepaid plans (Cartes prépayées)
🇺🇸 EN — A prepaid card
🇺🇸 EN — To top up/recharge your plan
Best for: Tourists, short visits (under 3 months), people without French bank accounts, those who want flexibility.
How it works: Buy SIM card upfront (€10-40 including initial credit). Use data/minutes until depleted. Recharge as needed online or in stores.
Pros: No contract, no commitment, no French bank required, easy to abandon when leaving France.
Cons: Slightly more expensive per GB than contracts, must remember to recharge, limited plan options.
Contract plans (Forfaits avec engagement / sans engagement)
🇺🇸 EN — A mobile plan
🇺🇸 EN — Without commitment/no contract
Best for: Residents, long stays (3+ months), students with French bank accounts, people wanting best rates.
How it works: Monthly automatic payment from French bank account. Choose data allowance (5GB to unlimited). Cancel anytime if “sans engagement” (most modern plans).
Pros: Better rates (€5-25/month), higher data allowances, automatic renewal, premium features.
Cons: Requires French bank account (IBAN), requires French address, monthly commitment even if “sans engagement”.
⚠️ The “avec engagement” trap
Some carriers still offer “avec engagement” (with commitment) contracts that lock you in for 12-24 months. Avoid these unless you’re getting a subsidized phone. Modern French mobile culture favors “sans engagement” (no commitment) plans that you can cancel anytime. Always verify before signing.
🇺🇸 EN — Is it with or without commitment?
Step-by-step guide to buying a French SIM card
The actual purchase process varies by location and carrier, but follows predictable patterns.
Option 1: Buying at the airport (fastest but most expensive)
Where to find them: Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) has Orange, SFR, and Relay shops in terminals. Orly Airport has similar options. Other French airports have at least one carrier booth.
What to expect: Tourist-focused prepaid SIM cards (€30-50) with 10-20GB data, valid 2-4 weeks. Staff speak English. Setup included. Overpriced but convenient.
Standard dialogue:
🇺🇸 EN — I would like a prepaid tourist SIM card
🇺🇸 EN — How long am I staying in France?
�U🇸 EN — How much data do you need?
Documents needed: Passport. That’s it. They’ll photocopy it for French law requirements.
Verdict: Good for immediate need, bad for value. Use if you absolutely need connectivity before leaving airport. Otherwise, wait and buy in city.
Option 2: Buying in carrier stores (best for support)
Where to find them: Every French city has Orange, SFR, Bouygues, and Free stores on main shopping streets. Paris has dozens. Look for carrier logos.
What to expect: Full plan selection, staff assistance (varying English levels), proper explanation of options, immediate activation and troubleshooting.
Essential phrases for store visit:
🇺🇸 EN — Hello, I’m looking for a SIM card
🇺🇸 EN — I’m a tourist / I’m a student / I’m staying six months
🇺🇸 EN — Which plan do you recommend?
🇺🇸 EN — Is it compatible with my phone?
Documents needed: Passport or EU ID card (mandatory). French address if getting contract plan (hotel address works initially). French bank details if choosing monthly contract.
Verdict: Best option if you want human support and plan explanation. Expect 30-60 minute visit. Bring patience and basic French phrases.
Option 3: Buying online (cheapest and most flexible)
Best carriers for online purchase:
Sosh.fr – Orange’s budget brand, excellent English interface, delivery to hotels, easy activation
RED.fr – SFR’s budget brand, frequent online-only promotions, simple sign-up process
Free.fr – Cheapest plans, completely online process, requires some French navigation
Bouyguestelecom.fr/b-and-you – B&You plans, straightforward online ordering
Process: Choose plan on website, enter details, upload passport photo, provide French delivery address (hotel works), receive SIM by mail (2-4 days), activate online or by phone.
Advantages: Best prices, time to compare plans, no language pressure, frequent online promotions, delivered to your accommodation.
Challenges: Must wait for delivery, requires French address, customer service mostly in French, need to troubleshoot activation yourself.
Verdict: Best value if you can wait 2-4 days and handle basic online activation. Not suitable if you need immediate connectivity.
Option 4: Buying at tabacs and convenience stores (quick and easy)
Where to find them: Tabacs (tobacco shops with red “Tabac” signs), Relay shops in train stations, Carrefour/Monoprix supermarkets.
What’s available: Prepaid SIM starter packs from major carriers (€10-30). Limited selection but covers tourist needs.
Standard purchase dialogue:
🇺🇸 EN — Hello, do you sell SIM cards?
🇺🇸 EN — I’ll take it
🇺🇸 EN — How do I activate it?
Documents needed: Usually just payment. Some may ask for passport copy.
Activation: Follow instructions in package (usually call a number or go to website, enter SIM number and passport details, wait 10-30 minutes).
Verdict: Good compromise between speed and value. Widely available. Less support than stores but faster than online ordering.
💡 Pro strategy for getting connected immediately:
- Before leaving home – Unlock your phone from your home carrier (call them and request unlock code 2+ weeks before travel)
- Day 1 in France – Buy prepaid SIM at tabac near your accommodation for immediate connectivity (€15-20)
- Day 2-3 – Research best contract plans online, order from Sosh/RED/Free with better rates
- Day 5-7 – Receive permanent SIM by mail, activate, port your temporary French number if desired, use better plan for rest of stay
Best French mobile plans compared – specific recommendations
Here are the actual best plans as of 2025, with specific pricing and details for different user types.
Best for short-term tourists (1-4 weeks)
Winner: Orange Holiday Europe Prepaid
- Price: €39.99 for 30GB valid 14 days
- Coverage: France + all EU countries + Swiss + UK
- Includes: Unlimited calls/SMS in EU, 2 hours international calls
- Where to buy: Orange stores, Paris airports, online at Orange.fr
- Why it wins: Tourist-designed, works across Europe, includes international calls, no activation hassle
Runner-up: Bouygues Telecom Tourist SIM
- Price: €29.90 for 20GB valid 15 days
- Similar coverage and benefits
- Easier to find at convenience stores
🇺🇸 EN — I would like the tourist plan for two weeks
Best for long-term tourists and students (1-6 months)
Winner: Sosh 50GB Plan
- Price: €14.99/month (no commitment)
- Includes: 50GB in France, 15GB in EU, unlimited calls/SMS
- Requirements: French bank account (IBAN)
- Order: Sosh.fr (excellent English interface)
- Why it wins: Uses Orange network (best coverage), affordable, cancel anytime, generous EU roaming
Runner-up: RED by SFR 50GB
- Price: €12.99/month (frequent promo down to €9.99)
- Watch for promotions – RED offers best promo deals
- Order: RED.fr
🇺🇸 EN — I’m looking for a no-commitment plan
Best for residents and heavy users
Winner: Free Mobile Unlimited
- Price: €19.99/month (sometimes promo €15.99) or €9.99 for 150GB
- Includes: Unlimited calls/SMS/data in France, 25GB in EU, calls to 100+ countries
- Requirements: French bank account
- Order: Free.fr or Free stores
- Why it wins: True unlimited data, international calls included, lowest price for unlimited
Runner-up: Bouygues B&You 100GB
- Price: €16.99/month
- Good middle option with solid network
- Better rural coverage than Free
🇺🇸 EN — I need unlimited data
Best budget option (if you barely use data)
Winner: Free Mobile 2 Hour Plan
- Price: €2/month (yes, two euros)
- Includes: 2 hours calls, unlimited SMS, 50MB data
- Perfect for: Emergency phone, second SIM, minimal use
- Why it wins: Cheapest way to maintain French number
Essential documents and requirements
French regulations require specific documentation for SIM card purchases. Here’s exactly what you need.
Required documents for all purchases
1. Valid photo ID (mandatory):
- Passport (for non-EU citizens)
- National ID card (for EU citizens)
- French residence permit (titre de séjour)
Why: French anti-terrorism law requires identity verification for all SIM cards since 2015. No exceptions.
🇺🇸 EN — Here is my passport
2. French address (for contract plans only):
- Hotel/hostel address works temporarily
- Friend’s address acceptable
- Rental apartment address best
🇺🇸 EN — My address in France is…
3. French bank account (for monthly contracts only):
- IBAN (International Bank Account Number)
- RIB (Relevé d’Identité Bancaire) – French bank details document
Workaround for tourists: Prepaid plans don’t require French bank accounts. Pay upfront with any credit card.
⚠️ The locked phone disaster
Many phones from US carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile) come locked to that carrier. A locked phone won’t accept French SIM cards. You must unlock your phone BEFORE traveling.
How to check if locked: Insert a different carrier’s SIM. If it works, you’re unlocked. If you see “SIM not supported” or “Invalid SIM,” you’re locked.
How to unlock: Call your home carrier 2-3 weeks before travel. Request unlock code. Most carriers unlock free if you’ve finished your contract. Process takes 3-7 days.
🇺🇸 EN — My phone is unlocked
Activation and setup – making your French SIM work
Buying the SIM is half the battle. Activation sometimes confuses English speakers navigating French interfaces.
Standard activation process
Step 1: Physical installation
- Turn off phone
- Remove your home SIM card (keep it safe!)
- Insert French SIM (check size: standard, micro, or nano)
- Turn on phone
Step 2: Activation (prepaid cards)
- Call activation number (printed on package, usually 0800 xxx xxx)
- Follow voice prompts (often available in English)
- Enter SIM card number (printed on card)
- Enter passport number
- Wait 10-30 minutes for activation
Step 3: APN configuration (if data doesn’t work)
- Go to phone Settings → Mobile/Cellular → Access Point Names
- Add new APN with carrier-specific settings (Orange: orange.fr, Free: free, SFR: slsfr, Bouygues: mmsbouygtel.com)
- Save and restart phone
Step 4: Test everything
- Make a test call to customer service
- Send a test SMS
- Check data connection works
🇺🇸 EN — How do I activate my SIM card?
🇺🇸 EN — The data doesn’t work
💡 Troubleshooting activation problems:
- No signal at all – Check airplane mode is off, try manual network selection (Settings → Mobile → Network → Search networks)
- Calls work but no data – APN settings wrong, get correct settings from carrier website or customer service
- Can’t activate prepaid card – Some cards require physical registration at tabac or carrier store first
- Customer service number won’t work – You need credit on the SIM first, buy a recharge card or go to store
Managing your French mobile plan
Once you’re set up, you need to know how to check balance, recharge, and manage your plan.
Checking your balance and usage
🇺🇸 EN — Check my balance
🇺🇸 EN — My data usage
Methods:
- Mobile apps: Orange & Moi, SFR & Moi, Bouygues Telecom, Free Mobile (download from App Store/Google Play)
- SMS codes: Text specific codes to check (varies by carrier, listed in welcome package)
- Phone calls: Call customer service numbers (often short codes like 555, 963, 952)
- Online account: Log into carrier website (Sosh.fr, RED.fr, Free.fr, Bouyguestelecom.fr)
What you can check: Remaining data, minutes used, SMS count, validity period, next renewal date, billing history.
Recharging prepaid cards (rechargement)
🇺🇸 EN — I would like to recharge my card
🇺🇸 EN — A 20 euro top-up
Where to recharge:
- Tabacs: Say “une recharge [carrier name] de [amount] euros” – they print a code receipt
- Carrier apps: Buy recharge with credit card directly in app (easiest)
- Carrier websites: Online recharge with credit card
- Supermarkets: Buy recharge cards at checkout
- ATMs: Some French ATMs sell mobile recharges
How to apply recharge:
- Dial carrier’s recharge code (printed on receipt or card)
- Enter PIN from receipt
- Receive SMS confirmation
- Credit appears immediately
Modifying or canceling your plan
🇺🇸 EN — I would like to change plans
🇺🇸 EN — I would like to cancel my plan
Changing plans: Log into online account, select new plan, effective immediately or next billing cycle. No fees for “sans engagement” contracts.
Canceling “sans engagement” plans: Can cancel anytime, effective end of current billing period. Usually done online in account settings or by calling customer service.
Canceling “avec engagement” plans: May require paying remaining months. Check contract terms. Some carriers allow cancellation for €49-99 early termination fee.
Common problems and how to solve them
⚠️ Problem 1: SIM card works but data is extremely slow
Likely cause: You’ve exceeded your data allowance. French carriers throttle speed to 64 kbps after you hit your limit instead of charging overage (unlike US carriers).
Solution: Buy additional data package (usually €5-10 for extra 5-10GB) through carrier app or website, or wait until next renewal period.
🇺🇸 EN — I’ve exceeded my data allowance
⚠️ Problem 2: Can’t make international calls
Likely cause: International calls aren’t included in basic plans. You need to dial special prefix or buy international add-on.
Solution: Use WhatsApp/Skype for international calls (data-based, works with any plan), or buy international calling package from carrier.
🇺🇸 EN — How do I call abroad?
⚠️ Problem 3: French phone number not receiving SMS verification codes
Likely cause: Some services (banking apps, international platforms) don’t send SMS to French numbers or have delays.
Solution: Use email verification when possible, or temporarily use your home SIM for important verifications (have dual SIM phone or switch SIMs briefly).
⚠️ Problem 4: Prepaid card expired unexpectedly
Likely cause: Prepaid SIMs expire if not recharged within specific periods (usually 3-6 months). Your number gets deactivated.
Prevention: Set calendar reminder to recharge at least every 3 months even if you have credit remaining. Small €5 recharge keeps number active.
🇺🇸 EN — My SIM card has expired
Study glossary – French mobile vocabulary
| FR | EN | Usage Context |
|---|---|---|
| La carte SIM | SIM card | J’ai besoin d’une carte SIM française |
| Le forfait mobile | Mobile plan | Quel forfait mobile me conseillez-vous ? |
| Prépayé(e) | Prepaid | Je cherche une carte prépayée |
| Sans engagement | No commitment/contract | C’est un forfait sans engagement ? |
| Recharger | To top up/recharge | Je voudrais recharger ma carte |
| La data / Les données | Data (mobile internet) | J’ai besoin de plus de data |
| Le réseau | Network/coverage | Le réseau est bon ici ? |
| L’opérateur | Carrier/operator | Quel opérateur a la meilleure couverture ? |
| Activer | To activate | Comment activer ma carte SIM ? |
| Le solde | Balance/credit | Je voudrais consulter mon solde |
| La couverture | Coverage | La couverture est excellente en ville |
| Débloqué(e) | Unlocked | Mon téléphone est débloqué |
Your action plan for getting connected in France
These techniques work, but they work faster with structured learning designed for English speakers. Roger’s approach teaches you how to rewire your English-speaking brain for French patterns.
Here’s your step-by-step plan:
2 weeks before arrival: Unlock your phone from home carrier (call them, request unlock, wait 3-7 days for confirmation). Research which French carrier fits your needs using this guide. Decide prepaid or contract based on stay length.
Day 1 in France: If you need immediate connectivity, buy prepaid SIM at airport or nearest tabac (€15-30). Use basic phrases from this guide. Get activated before leaving store/shop.
Days 2-3: If staying longer, research better contract plans online. Order from Sosh/RED/Free for delivery to your accommodation. Use temporary SIM while waiting.
Ongoing: Download carrier app, set up online account, monitor data usage, set calendar reminder for prepaid recharges if applicable.
The goal isn’t just getting a SIM card. The goal is understanding the French mobile landscape well enough to make smart choices that save money while maintaining excellent connectivity.
Most English speakers overpay for tourist packages when French residents pay €10-20/month for better plans. Now you know how to get resident-level rates even as a tourist by choosing prepaid options from budget carriers.
Having French mobile connectivity transforms your France experience. You navigate confidently with maps, translate signs instantly, contact accommodations and restaurants, stay in touch with travel companions, and handle emergencies without panic.
The first time you successfully buy and activate a French SIM using phrases from this guide, you’ll realize navigating French services isn’t scary once you understand the system.
