Mobile internet in France: what actually works for a trip
You have three ways to get data in France: your own plan in roaming, a French SIM bought there, or a data eSIM you install before you fly. Which one is best depends mostly on where your phone plan is from.
See eSIMs for FranceIf your phone plan is from the EU
France is in the EU, so "roam like at home" applies: calls, texts and data cost the same as at home. Operators may still apply a fair-use cap on data abroad, which is usually lower than your home allowance on unlimited or very cheap plans. Check the roaming section of your contract before you rely on it for maps, video calls or tethering.
An eSIM still makes sense here when that cap is small for your trip, or when you want a separate data budget and to keep your own line only for calls and messages.
eSIM for France
Data on your phone the moment you land in France. No account, no app, no shop.
Choose your data
For one to two weeks of maps, messaging and the odd video.
Buy up to 180 days before you fly: the plan only starts when the eSIM connects at your destination.
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Will it work on my phone?
On iPhone: Settings → General → About, and scroll to EID. If there is an EID, your phone takes eSIMs. Every iPhone from the XS (2018) onwards does.
On Android: Settings → About phone → Status, and look for EID. If there is an EID, your phone takes eSIMs. Most Galaxy S20, Pixel 3 and later do.
It also has to be carrier-unlocked. If you bought it outright or your contract is over, it almost certainly is.
And if it turns out yours cannot use it, write to us and you get every cent back.
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How it works
- 1Choose and payCard, Apple Pay or Google Pay. No account.
- 2Install it at homeThe QR arrives by email. Scan it on wifi in a minute.
- 3Connect when you landTurn on data roaming for the eSIM and you are online.
If your phone plan is from outside the EU
Visitors from the US, the UK after Brexit, Latin America or Asia normally pay roaming charges or a daily travel pass. For a week or more, a local data plan is almost always much cheaper, and you know the price before you leave.
French SIM card vs data eSIM
| French SIM from a shop | Data eSIM (e.g. Snoozim) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you get it | Operator shop in France | Online, before you travel |
| ID | The shop asks for an identity document to register the line | No ID, just an email address |
| Phone number | Yes, French number | No, data only (WhatsApp and FaceTime keep your usual number) |
| When it starts | When activated in the shop | When your phone first connects in France |
| Best for | Long stays, calling French numbers | Trips of days or weeks, landing with data |
How much data do you need in France?
- 3 GB: a long weekend of maps, messaging and some social media.
- 5 GB: one or two weeks without watching video on mobile data.
- 10 GB: two weeks with video calls, uploads and some streaming.
- 20 GB: a month, or using your phone as a hotspot for a laptop.
If none of those fits your trip, the guide on how much data you need breaks it down by app.
Coverage and networks
Snoozim eSIMs for France use Orange (5G). Paris and the big cities have solid coverage, and there is a separate guide on internet in Paris if that is your whole trip. In the mountains (the Alps, the Pyrenees), in small rural villages and inside some tunnels the signal drops on any network, and on the TGV it comes and goes as the train crosses those areas, so download offline maps before you set off.
One thing to check before you buy: the France pack covers metropolitan France and Corsica. The overseas departments and territories are a different case for coverage, so look them up separately.
Prices for France
Data eSIMs for France: 3 GB for 4,79 €, 5 GB for 7,49 €, 10 GB for 12,79 € and 20 GB for 17,49 €. The plan only starts counting when you connect in France, so you can buy it weeks ahead and install it at home on Wi-Fi. If France is one stop of a longer trip, a Europe eSIM is usually simpler than one pack per country.
Is roaming free in France?
For phone plans from EU countries, yes, under the EU roam-like-at-home rules, possibly with a fair-use data limit. Plans from outside the EU usually pay roaming or a daily pass.
Do I need ID to get internet in France?
For a French SIM card from a shop, yes: they ask for an identity document to register the line. A data eSIM bought online needs only an email address.
Does the France eSIM work in Corsica and the overseas departments?
The France pack covers metropolitan France and Corsica. The overseas departments and territories are not the same thing for coverage, so check them separately before you travel.
I landed in France and the eSIM shows no service. What now?
Turn on data roaming for the new line, set the eSIM as your data line, restart the phone and, if it still does not connect, pick a network manually. The <a href="/guides/esim-no-service-fix">no service fix</a> goes through it step by step.
Get your eSIM before you fly: the QR arrives by email in minutes and the plan only starts when you connect at your destination.
See eSIMs for France