Are you planning your trip to France and looking for an eSIM to stay connected and not waste money on high roaming charges? This is a complete guide with everything you need to know before buying an eSIM for traveling to France in 2024.
In this guide you can find a comparison of the best eSIMs for France with up to date prices as per September 2024, including specifications per eSIM, my recommendation and everything you need to know about using eSIMs for traveling in France.
Also find out where and when to order an eSIM, a comparison with local prepaid sim cards and of course links to directly order your eSIM for traveling to France on the internet.
Let me first give you my eSIM recommendation, tell you more about the network coverage and 4G/5G data speed, give you an answer to the most FAQ about eSIMs and show you the difference between eSIMs and local prepaid sim cards.
Since 2012 I am a full time nomadic travel blogger traveling the world continuously and that is how I constantly get to a different country and pretty much every week I need to look for a new sim card. In 2022 I visited 62 countries and in 2023 I traveled to 34 countries so imagine how many different prepaid and eSIMs I used in the last 2 years.
In the past I always used to buy a local prepaid sim card on arrival in every country, but nowadays I mostly use eSIMs for staying connected when traveling abroad.
Traveltomtom also wrote a complete guide for buying a prepaid sim card for tourists in France in 2024 and buying a sim card at Paris Airport CDG.
Find more than 200 sim card guides on Traveltomtom from all over the world: USA, Canada, Turkey, Brazil, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, Egypt, Asia, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, eSIMs for traveling internationally and many more.
So next time you are planning your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid sim card and eSIM advice for your holiday destination. Bookmark me and let me help you save money!
Some links in this article about the best eSIMs for France are affiliate links. If you buy any product after clicking on an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. Don't worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you!
My recommendation
Traveltomtom rates the following two eSIMs as the best eSIMs for traveling to France in 2024:
1. Orange Holiday Europe eSIM - $59 USD
- 100 GB data in all of Europe
- 5G ready
- Unlimited calling/texting in all of Europe
- 120 international minutes
- 1,000 international sms
- Valid for 28 days
- $0.6 USD per Gigabyte
The Orange Holiday Europe eSIM is upgraded for Summer 2024 with NOW DOUBLE DATA up to 100 GB and therefore the best eSIM for France in 2024.
You can order the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM via SimOptions for $59.90 USD or via Sim Local for $59 USD.
Traveltomtom readers now get 15% extra discount on all Sim Local eSIMs, just use the promo code: TRAVELTOMTOM at check out.
This eSIM comes with a phone number from France starting with +33 and is valid in 39 countries in Europe. Unlimited calls and sms within Europe are included.
Since the Orange Holiday eSIM comes with free EU data roaming and is valid in all countries in Europe it is therefore also listed as the best sim cards for traveling to Europe.
You can order the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM via SimOptions.
2. Jetpac eSIM for France - $15 USD
- 15 GB data-only eSIM
- Valid in France only
- 5G ready
- Valid for 30 days
- Only $1 USD per Gigabyte
Traveltomtom readers get an extra 10% off on all Jetpac eSIMs when using the discount code: TOMTOM10 at check out.
The Jetpac eSIM for France is data-only and does not support calling and texting and it does not come with a phone number. Jetpac has multiple eSIM plans for France that go down as much as $0.88 USD per Gigabyte. Which makes Jetpac an excellent eSIM for traveling to France.
There are 2 very important things to check before ordering an eSIM for France or in general before using an eSIM.
Unlocked phones only
Make sure your phone is unlocked. eSIMs only work in unlocked phones. If you are not sure if your phone is unlocked then contact your mobile internet provider in your home country.
In general phones from Europe, Asia and the Middle East tend to be unlocked. Phones from North America are often locked.
If your smartphone is locked that means it does not allow another prepaid sim card or eSIM to operate in the device. You can easily unlock your phone, but depending on your mobile internet provider you will be charged a fee for unlocking your phone.
eSIM compatible phones only
Second, and equally important: eSIMs only work if your smartphone supports eSIMs, also called eSIM compatible. All newer smartphones support eSIMs. If you are not sure if your phone is eSIM compatible then simply go to Google and type in your mobile phone model in the search bar and ask if it is eSIM compatible. You will get the answer instantly.
If your phone is NOT eSIM compatible then there is no other solution and you can NOT use an eSIM for traveling to France.
However, you can still order a sim card for France on the internet before your trip. Check out Traveltomtom's complete guide for buying a sim card for France in 2024 or find out everything you need to know about international sim cards for traveling abroad in 2024.
France eSIM comparison
Still unbelievable but on arrival in phone stores in France you can still not get an eSIM for France. Free Mobile, Orange, SFR and Bouygues Telecom only provide physical prepaid sim cards for tourists.
Luckily there are multiple website on the internet that sell eSIMs for France. Traveltomtom recommends ordering an eSIM for traveling in France from one of the well-known eSIM providers like Sim Local, Roamless, Holafly, Jetpac, Nomad, Airalo, SimOptions, etc. that have proven to be reliable operators.
Traveltomtom's long time favorite eSIM providers are SimOptions and Airalo, but are they still the best and the cheapest? The competition is fierce...
So before you buy an eSIM first read all my tips below.
SimOptions also offers international prepaid sim cards for France. These are pre-activated physical prepaid sim cards and will be delivered to your home address before your trip to France and it is plug and play when you arrive in the France.
Airalo, Holafly, Jetpac and Nomad only sell eSIMs for France.
Jetpac
Jetpac is a fairly new eSIM provider that offers amazing eSIM deals for traveling to France. Jetpac has eSIMs for more than 100 countries around the world and often amazing eSIM deals.
Jetpac offers more than eSIMs and that is what makes them stand out from other eSIM providers: free VPN, airport lounges pass, etc.
The Traveltomtom Team tested Jetpac extensively and concluded that no France eSIM comparison is complete without Jetpac.
Here are the Jetpac eSIM plans for France:
- 1 GB data for 4 days = $1 USD
- 3 GB data for 7 days = $5 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $7 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $12 USD
- 15 GB data for 30 days = $15 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $18 USD
- 30 GB data for 30 days = $24 USD
- 40 GB data for 30 days = $35 USD
- 50 GB data for 17 days = $15 USD
Click here for more info or to order a France eSIM from Jetpac.
The Jetpac eSIMs for France go as low as $0.88 USD per Gigabyte, which is the average for pretty much all the data plans. Which makes Jetpac among the best value eSIMs for France in 2024.
But they now also have an eSIM with 50 GB data for just $15 USD! Must be a promotion deal, but get it now while it is still available!
Traveltomtom readers get an extra 10% off on all Jetpac eSIMs when using the discount code: TOMTOM10 at check out.
Jetpac eSIMs are also data-only eSIMs and they do not come with a phone number. Incoming and outgoing calls/sms are not supported. The Jetpac eSIMs for France do now also support 5G and operate on the Free Mobile, Orange and Bouygues Telecom network.
Jetpac offers an additional service to its eSIM users: free lounge access if your flight is delayed. However, you have to register your flight before your trip on the Jetpac platform.
On top of that you get a free VPN subscription and can also buy airport lounge passes and fast track passes.
The eSIMs can be installed before traveling to France, but only from the first moment it connects to a supported network the eSIM validity of 30 days starts counting. For more info check out the Jetpac website.
SimOptions
SimOptions is a very reliable eSIM provider and Traveltomtom has used SimOptions uncountable times in more than 50 countries around the world. I can totally recommend using SimOptions for ordering your France eSIM.
Here are the SimOptions data-only eSIM plans for France for 2024:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.50 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $14 USD
Click here to order one of these SimOptions eSIM for France.
The first two data-only eSIMs are provided by SimOptions and are only valid in France. Unfortunately they don't specify which mobile network operator in France they use, but at least they are 5G ready.
The SimOptions eSIMs for France do NOT come with a phone number and they do not offer incoming/outgoing calls or sms. The validity of these eSIMs is 1 year and the credit validity starts instantly after installing the eSIM, even if you are not in France.
But SimOptions has much more eSIMs for traveling to France/Europe. So called international eSIMs that even support calling and texting.
SimOptions sells international eSIMs for traveling to France, but these eSIMs are valid in all of Europe and some are even 5G ready. Check out the following international eSIM plans from SimOptions:
- 15 GB data-only for 15 days = $21.90 USD
- 10 GB data-only (5G ready) for 30 days = $22.90 USD
- 20 GB data + unlimited calls for 15 days = $23.90 USD
- 12 GB data + 30 minutes international + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $29.90 USD
If you are a fan of a lot of data then check out the following eSIMs for France/Europe that you can order via SimOptions.
- 30 GB data + unlimited calls for 30 days = $44.90 USD
- 30 GB data + 120 minutes international + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $49.90 USD
- 60 GB data + unlimited calls for 30 days = $51.90 USD
- 100 GB data (5G ready) + unlimited calls/text for 28 days = $59.90 USD
Click here for more info or to order an international eSIM for France via SimOptions.
These eSIMs are valid all over Europe and they include free EU data roaming. The best thing about these eSIMs for France is that they also include calling and texting and some of them are even 5G ready.
These international eSIMs for France are also valid for 1 year, but the credit validity starts only when the eSIM connects the first time to a supported network. So you can instal the eSIM even when you are not in Europe yet. For more info check the SimOptions website.
Airalo
Airalo is another very reputable eSIM provider that is very much recommended by Traveltomtom. Ordering your eSIM for France through Airalo is done fast and easy. Traveltomtom has used Airalo uncountable times for staying connected when traveling abroad. Very reliable, never an issue and often some of the cheapest eSIM deals.
Why using Airalo? I found out that Airalo has some cheaper eSIM deals for France compared to SimOptions and the Airalo eSIM plans are 5G ready.
Especially if you only use a little bit of data while traveling and need just 1 or 2 GB to stay in touch through WhatsApp, check your email and get directions from Google Maps, Airalo is a great eSIM for traveling in France.
Here are France eSIM plans from Airalo for 2024:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $7.5 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $10 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $14 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $23 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $36 USD
Click here to order an eSIM for France from Airalo.
Airalo always has ongoing promotions and lately they had a 50% discount on their France eSIM plans, so it is always worth checking out Airalo.
The Airalo eSIMs for France are through BonBon Mobile and they operate on the Orange, Bouygues and SFR 4G/LTE and 5G network in France. Yes, as of 2024 the Airalo eSIMs for France are 5G ready!
Bonbon Mobile is a data-only sim card without a phone number, so any phone/sms service is NOT supported. An Airalo eSIM has to be installed within 1 month and after activation the credit validity starts when it connects the first time to a supported network.
For more info check out the Airalo website.
Nomad
Traveltomtom discovered Nomad eSIMs when comparing the best eSIM deals for traveling to France. Traveltomtom has only used Nomad a few times now and had some mixed experiences. But prices for France eSIMs from Nomad are good.
Nomad has two different types of eSIMs for France: Regular Plans and Daily Plans.
Regular plans
Here are the Nomad eSIM plans for France:
- 1 GB data for 30 days = $6 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $8 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $14 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $19 USD
- 15 GB data for 30 days = $27 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $33 USD
Click here to order an eSIM for France from Nomad.
The Nomad eSIMs for France are provided by 1GLOBAL. The eSIM plans from 1GLOBAL only support 4G/LTE max data speed and the 1GLOBAL eSIM plans do not support 5G. They operate on the 4G/LTE network of Free Mobile and Bouygues Telecom.
The Nomad France eSIMs have to be installed on your phone within 60 days and after installation its validity starts when it connects for the first time to a supported network in France. Basically when the plane lands.
For more info check the Nomad website.
Daily plans
Nomad also has daily plans. These eSIMs could perfect for those going on a short trip to France. You basically get 1 GB high speed data per 24 hours. Then, after you have used 1 GB data your data speed is reduced to 512 Kbps, which is actually useless, basically like an E signal.
- 1 GB data per day for 1 day = $4 USD
- 1 GB data per day for 3 day = $5 USD
- 1 GB data per day for 5 day = $7 USD
- 1 GB data per day for 7 day = $10 USD
- 1 GB data per day for 10 day = $13 USD
When I saw the prices for these eSIMs I was pleasantly surprised. If you are careful with the amount of Gigabytes you use per day it could be a great eSIM.
Personally, it would not be enough for me as I can easily spend more than 1 GB data in just 1 hour bus or train ride.
Watching TikTok videos for about 60 minutes is about 1 GB data, watching Instagram reels for 45 minutes is also already 1 GB data. It depends how many gigabytes you use per day, but it could be a great eSIM for traveling to France.
Click here to order this Nomad daily plan eSIM for France from Nomad.
Holafly
Holafly is another well-known eSIM provider but unlike other eSIM providers they only offer eSIMs with unlimited data. However, there is a catch and that is a so-called FUP (Fair Use Policy). More about it later, but it could mean that you suddenly have a very slow data connection for a whole day until the data speed restores.
Here are the Holafly unlimited data eSIM plans for France:
- 1 day 'unlimited' data = $6 USD
- 2 days 'unlimited' data = $10 USD
- 3 days 'unlimited' data = $13 USD
- 4 days 'unlimited' data = $16 USD
- 5 days 'unlimited' data = $21 USD
- 6 days 'unlimited' data = $25 USD
- 7 days 'unlimited' data = $29 USD
- 8 days 'unlimited' data = $31 USD
- 9 days 'unlimited' data = $35 USD
- 10 days 'unlimited' data = $37 USD
- 11 days 'unlimited' data = $40 USD
- 14 days 'unlimited' data = $48 USD
- 20 days 'unlimited' data = $64 USD
- 30 days 'unlimited' data = $75 USD
As you can see the Holafly eSIMs are significantly more expensive than Jetpac, Airalo, Nomad and SimOptions. The Holafly eSIMs for France are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls/sms are NOT supported. These eSIMs do also not come with a phone number.
According to the Holafly website these Holafly France eSIMs operate on the 4G/LTE/5G network of Orange so the Holafly eSIMs are supposedly 5G ready.
You can use a hotspot on the Holafly eSIMs, but it is capped at 500 MB per day.
Why 'unlimited'? Because there is a Fair Use Policy and Traveltomtom has had bad experiences with this in the past. Suddenly your data speed is slowed down for 24 hours because you apparently used too much data. More info later.
If I hate something then it is slow data speed. Therefore Traveltomtom's is not a fan of eSIMs with 'unlimited' data with an FUP and therefore it is not my first recommendation when looking for an eSIM for France.
Also, Traveltomtom tested Holafly in another country and was very disappointed with the overall performance. Holafly was using the weakest mobile data network operator in that country and while people all around me constantly had a data connection I was pretty much offline for a whole week. Even when we were in big cities I constantly had to ask for the public WiFi of my hotels, restaurants and bars because my Holafly eSIM was super slow.
I understand it could be a different story in France but I was put off a bit.
Nowadays, you can buy an eSIM for pretty much every country around the world. Order directly from one of the above eSIM providers and instantly receive your eSIM in your email.
Why did Traveltomtom already used more than 100s of eSIMs? As I travel full time around the world I am on the road constantly and get to a new country on a weekly basis, which means I literally use about 40 to 50 sim cards per year. No better sim card specialist out there than Traveltomtom.
What is the cheapest eSIM for France
The truly cheapest eSIM for France is the Jetpac data pack with 1 GB for just $1 USD. This eSIM is only valid for 4 days. Another cheap France eSIM is the Airalo eSIM plan with 1 GB data for 7 days for just $4.5 USD. It is only valid in France and it does not support calling and texting.
Why ordering an eSIM for traveling in France
eSIMs are the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to France in 2024 and you can arrange everything online in just a couple clicks. No more visiting a sim card shop and swapping physical sim cards. Order online, scan the QR code, follow the steps and you are connected in less than 2 minutes.
The most important reason to get an eSIM is because we would like to stay connected on our trip to France without wasting money on high roaming costs. Our smartphones are pretty useless without a working data connection. Think about ordering a taxi through an app (Uber is Grab in France), finding nearby friends, restaurants, bars. Get directions from Google Maps or simply stay in touch with family back home, check out social media apps on long bus rides or check your banking apps when paying contactless.
One of the best things about arriving in France with an activated eSIM is that you are online as soon as the plane lands and you connect to a network. More about when to instal your eSIM later.
There are so many reasons to stay connected when traveling to France, but the most important reason is that it makes your trip to France so much more convenient and fun!
At the same time we don't want to waste money on high roaming charges. Many mobile internet operators still charge $2 USD per MB for data roaming, that means just opening the Instagram app will already cost you 25 MB * $2 USD = $50 USD! Not kidding… it still is very common in 2024.
eSIMs are the easiest way to avoid high roaming charges!
So what about overseas data roaming plans? Well, not recommended! Why? Did you read the small letters at what data speed you can use data roaming? Pretty much all mobile internet operators limit the data speed for overseas data roaming plans, which means you end up with 3G data speed, but there is 4G/LTE and even 5G in France everywhere!
Uncountable times (mostly American) travel friends asked me: 'can I use your hotspot? My data roaming plan is so slow, it is barely working!'. Trust me, get yourself an eSIM or an international prepaid sim card for traveling to France.
Where to buy an eSIM for France?
Online
You can only buy an eSIM for France on the internet through an eSIM provider. There are multiple eSIM providers for France. Traveltomtom compared, reviewed and tested multiple eSIM providers like Roamless, Sim Local, SimOptions, Jetpac, Holafly, Nomad, Airalo, etc. and concluded that the ones mentioned in this guide are the best eSIM providers for traveling to France in 2024.
On arrival in France
When you arrive in France and you want to buy an eSIM for tourists then you are unlucky. As of September 2024 none of the mobile internet providers in France sells eSIMs for tourists. Only physical prepaid sim cards are available.
Traveltomtom shopped around himself in Marseille as well as Paris and in all stores it was a clear: No! The mobile internet providers in France do NOT offer eSIMs for tourists.
For the best prepaid sim card for tourists in France in 2024 click on the link to read my complete guide and comparison of all the mobile internet providers in France, including a comparison of the 4G/5G network.
How to activate an eSIM
Installing and activating an eSIM is made as simple as possible. Everyone can activate an eSIM and the instructions on how to are very detailed and will be send to you instantly by email.
When you order an eSIM plan for France you instantly receive a summery of your order including a QR-code after the payment is processed.
You will see a summary of your eSIM order including a QR code on your screen and at the same time you will also receive an email with the same QR code. The email contains instructions on how to instal and activate your France eSIM.
But installing an activating an eSIM is as easy as scanning the QR code with the same phone where you want to activate the eSIM on. The QR contains all the information about your France eSIM.
Once you scan the code you will be guided through a couple simple steps and within less than 1 minute your eSIM is successfully installed. Very important is that you are connected to the internet when installing your eSIM otherwise you will get an error and issues can occur.
Tip: if you order an eSIM with the same phone where you want to instal the eSIM on then ask a friend or someone nearby to take a photo of the QR code and then you scan the QR code from his/her phone and start the installation.
When to order an eSIM for France?
You can order an eSIM for France pretty much any time you want. Most eSIMs have to be installed on a phone within 1 month after purchasing, some even within 1 year, so you have time.
More important therefore is when do you instal/activate the eSIM. The validity of some eSIMs start straight after the installation, other eSIMs only start their validity when they connect the first time to a supported network.
Traveltomtom advices to instal your eSIM on the day of departure to France. Or if you want to maximise your validity then activate your France eSIM on arrival after you connect to the free WiFi of the airport on arrival in France. All international airports in France have free public WiFi.
Things to know before ordering an eSIM for France
Here are some general tips for using eSIMs when traveling abroad. These tips do not only apply for France eSIMs, but are things you have to know before buying an eSIM in general.
Make sure your phone is unlocked
To make sure you didn't miss this, let me say this again: eSIMs only work in UNLOCKED phones. If your phone is unlocked then you can use any eSIM without any problems.
If your phone is locked then ask your mobile internet provider from your home country to unlock your phone before your trip to France. It is likely that your mobile internet provider will charge you a fee for unlocking your smartphone.
If you are unable to unlock your phone you can look into getting a pocket WiFi for staying connected when traveling to France or bring a second unlocked phone on your trip to France and use it as a portable WiFi device.
Which smartphones support eSIMs?
Another very important thing you have to check before buying an eSIM is if your smartphone supports eSIMs. If you have any of the latest mobile phones then there is no need to worry, all new smartphones support eSIMs.
The fastest way to find out if your phone is eSIM compatible is by asking Google the question: is my (your phone model) eSIM compatible? Simple as that!
Can I trust these eSIM providers?
All the eSIM providers for France recommended in this guide are reputable eSIM providers reviewed and tested by Traveltomtom. All of them are licensed third party companies and resellers that partner or work directly with the mobile internet providers in France.
Traveltomtom has used Airalo and SimOptions sim cards now for more than 5 years and never really faced a major issue.
Check out the pros and cons of SimOptions in our article: Honest Review of SimOptions.
The Traveltomtom Team has extensively tested and reviewed Nomad and they have proven to be a reliable eSIM provider. However, some mixed reviews have come back from the Traveltomtom Team about connectivity and activation.
Jetpac is a fairly new eSIM provider, but Traveltomtom only received positive feedback and excellent reviews about the eSIMs and services of Jetpac.
Sim Local has more than 100 sim card shops and kiosks in international airports around the world and has been selling sim cards for tourists for more than 5 years. Read Traveltomtom's honest review about Sim Local eSIM provider.
Since Traveltomtom is not a fan of eSIMs with unlimited data and an FUP I hardly use Holafly, but when I did I was not happy. So now I let the Traveltomtom Team randomly test Holafly and just like myself, mixed reviews have come back. Some positive, some negative.
On top of that there is now also Roamless, an eSIM provider with no data expiration. Truly a game changer!
Traveltomtom does NOT sell France eSIMs, Traveltomtom only compares and recommends you to use eSIMs for traveling to France.
All eSIM providers have their own Helpdesk which you can contact may you encounter any problems or in case you want to claim a refund.
Can I keep my phone number from home with a France eSIM?
Yes, you can and this is for many people a reason to order an eSIM to stay connected when traveling to France. An eSIM can be used next to your physical or eSIM from your home country at the same time. You do not need a dual-sim phone for using an eSIM.
So you can have multiple eSIMs installed on your phone? Yes, no problem at all!
For example: you can turn off the mobile data from your sim card from home but still use it for texting and calling. France eSIM you can be used at the same time just for data to ensure you are not wasting money on high roaming costs.
If your France eSIM also allows you to make phone calls and you want to make a local call in France, you simply switch between the sim cards and make a local phone call with your France eSIM.
Switching between physical and eSIMs is a matter of turning them on/off in the settings.
Can I make phone calls with a France eSIM?
This depends on the type of eSIM that you order. Only the international eSIMs for France from SimOptions offer calling and texting. All the eSIMs from Nomad, Jetpac, Holafly and Airalo are data-only.
The international eSIMs from SimOptions come with unlimited calling and texting in all of Europe. This is also one of the reasons why the SimOptions eSIMs are ranked as the best eSIMs for traveling to Europe in 2024.
Does a France eSIM come with a phone number?
This also depends on the type of eSIM that you buy. eSIMs that support calling and texting they come with a phone number.
All the international eSIMs from SimOptions come with a phone number, which means they can also receive calls and sms. Most of them actually come with a phone number from France. But you can call for free to any number within the supported countries in Europe.
In the above France eSIM comparison you can find all the specifications per eSIM.
Can I use 5G on a France eSIM?
Luckily as of September 2024 most of the eSIMs for France support 5G. All the Airalo and Jetpac eSIMs for France are now 5G ready as well as the unlimited data eSIMs from Holafly.
Unfortunately, most of the international eSIMs from SimOptions France are not 5G ready yet. But SimOptions offers an amazing eSIM deal for France that supports 5G and that is Traveltomtom's first recommendation: Orange Holiday Europe with 100 GB data for 28 days and unlimited calling and texting.
You can order the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM via SimOptions for $59.90 USD or via Sim Local for $59 USD.
This eSIM is valid in all of Europe and therefore also rated as one of the best sim cards for traveling to Europe in 2024.
Are there eSIMs for France with unlimited data?
Yes, the Holafly eSIMs for France include unlimited data. However, Traveltomtom is not a big fan of unlimited data sim cards.
Always ask yourself is unlimited truly unlimited. Is there a catch? If the unlimited data is not on max data speed, then there is a so called FUP. Which means that your data speed will be capped after you used an X amount of Gigabytes.
Holafly is an eSIM provider that sells eSIMs with unlimited data for France and uses a so-called Fair Use Policy (FUP). Holafly does NOT specify what the FUP is. Which is very dissatisfying.
Traveltomtom does NOT recommend France eSIMs with unlimited data plans with an FUP. On Holafly sim cards I experienced a reduce in data speed after using more than 2 GB per day. After I contacted support they explained me that I had to wait for 24 hours until my data speed was restored to normal.
Those 24 hours were a nightmare as my data speed was barely enough to use WhatsApp. Social media was not even loading!
Especially on days that you have a long bus or train ride and you need a lot of data, you definitely don't want any data speed restrictions that day.
Again, Traveltomtom does NOT recommend eSIMs for France with unlimited data. But if you think you will never use more than 2 GB per day, then Holafly might be your favorite eSIM.
However, if you don't use so much data per day then what's the point of an eSIM with unlimited data!?
The Orange eSIM with 100 GB data from SimOptions comes very close to being unlimited. If you travel to France for 14 days that means you have on average more than 7 GB per day.
There are a lot of different specifications per eSIM. Another reason why I advice you to take a close at my comparison of the best eSIMs for traveling to France in 2024 before choosing your favorite.
Best way to stay connected when traveling to France
eSIMs are the easiest and fastest way to get data on your phone when traveling to France, but are they also the best way to stay connected when traveling to France?
There are 3 ways to stay connected when traveling to France:
- Local prepaid sim cards
- International prepaid sim cards
- eSIMs
Let's compare eSIMs, local prepaid sim cards and international prepaid sim cards for you to make understand what is your preferred way to stay connected.
Local prepaid sim cards
If you use a lot of data then local prepaid sim cards are probably a cheaper way to stay connected, depending on the length of your trip. Local prepaid sim cards often offer bigger data plans than eSIMs. However, local prepaid sim cards can only be purchased on arrival in France.
More info about the best France sim cards for tourists can be found in my complete guide for buying a sim card for France in 2024.
If this sounds like something you want then be prepared to find a sim card store on arrival nearby your hotel or buy a sim card at Paris Airport.
On Traveltomtom you can also find a guide for buying a sim card at Paris Airport. There is one place at Paris Airport were they have eSIMs for tourists.
The advantage of local prepaid sim cards is that you buy them directly from the mobile internet provider. You get the cheapest prices, unlimited local calls & sms included, the biggest data packages and the fastest data speed. Local prepaid sim cards for tourists in France are NOT all 5G ready.
Free Mobile is the only operator that allows prepaid users to use the 5G network. All other mobile internet operators only offer 4G/LTE max data speed. Local prepaid sim cards for tourists only come as physical prepaid sim cards, eSIMs are not available.
International prepaid sim cards
If your smartphone is not eSIM compatible you can order an international prepaid sim card for traveling abroad. Some of them are great for using in France and in Europe and you can easily order them online.
Traveltomtom also put together a list of the best sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2024.
A pre-activated physical sim card will be delivered to your home address before your trip. You put this physical sim card in your phone and as soon as the plane touches the ground and the sim card connects to a supported network you are online. Plug and play!
Click here to order an international prepaid sim card for France directly online.
The advantage of an international prepaid sim card is that it often includes calling and texting. eSIMs are mostly data-only sim cards.
eSIMs
There are two different eSIMs:
- eSIMs that you buy on the internet through a third party
- eSIMs that you buy in France in a mobile internet provider store (NOT AVAILABLE)
The big difference is that eSIMs provided by the local internet operators in France: SFR, Bouygues Telecom, Free Mobile and Orange can only be purchased at one of their phone stores around France.
However, as of September 2024 eSIMs are not available for prepaid tourist sim cards. Traveltomtom personally shopped around to find out if eSIMs were available for tourists and in every store I got a NO!
Also see my vlog about buying a sim card in France, which was just recently filmed.
There is one exception and that is when buying a sim card at Paris Airport. At Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport they sell Bouygues Telecom and Orange sim cards for tourists. The Tourist Information is the only place that sells an eSIM, but only from Bouygues Telecom.
Read all about it in my detailed guide about buying a sim card at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Or watch my vlog below about my arrival at Charles de Gaulle and my experiences buying a sim card for France.
eSIMs vs. local prepaid sim cards
Getting an eSIM is the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to France, no doubt! You arrange everything online within just a couple clicks. Right here, right now and you are all set for your trip to France. You arrive prepared and there is no need to visit a sim card shop. As soon as the plane lands, you are online.
But what is cheaper? An eSIM or a local prepaid sim card for tourists? When we compare France eSIM prices with local prepaid sim cards for France Traveltomtom comes to the conclusion that in fact eSIMs for France are cheaper as they already start from just $4.5 USD. However, if you are a heavy data user local prepaid sim cards are better value for money as for €19.90 EUR ($22 USD) you already get 200 GB data on 5G network, including unlimited calling and texting.
After a long flight you just want to go to your hotel and it is often a big task to go to a sim card store and get connected. Reminder that the cheapest eSIMs at Paris Airport start from €39.90 EUR ($44 USD).
Therefore a lot of travelers simply get an eSIM for France. Faster, easier and less stress and depending on your needs sometimes even cheaper.
Data speed
Another difference between a local prepaid sim card and an eSIM is that eSIMs are often through a third party, a so called MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator). These MVNO's operate on the network of one of the main mobile internet operators and basically buy bandwidth.
This may sound a little bit too technical, but what it means is that eSIMs through an MVNO are the last ones in line when the line is busy. Especially during peak times, the performance of an eSIMs is less compared to a local prepaid sim card from a mobile internet operator.
Bottomline: the data speed of eSIMs can be less compared to a local prepaid sim card.
I am sure some of the above tips for finding the best eSIM for your trip to France were helpful. I hope that after reading through my comparison, tips and tricks it was easier to make a decision and order your eSIM right away.
If you still have any questions about eSIMs for France then please leave me a comment below or reach out to me on social media and I am more than happy to help you out.
Curious what it looks like trying to visit every country in the world? Go check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom and follow along. As of September 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.
Enjoy your trip to France!