eSIM plans · EuropeFrance e-SIM plans, sized for a 7-day stay on one network
HelloRoam runs checkout in 31 currencies; Airalo, Holafly, Saily and Nomad run it in US dollars. Seven France plans run $3.99 for 1 GB to $20.99 for 20 GB, and the operator list names Orange alone, so no second network stands behind the profile. Airalo lists 200+ destinations to HelloRoam's 186.
Your France data plan starts with one number: 11GB. That covers 7 days of maps, messaging and social media at 1.5GB a day on a local network. At $20.99, the 20GB plan gives you 9GB beyond your 11GB daily total. Heavy users skip the math with unlimited data from $3.49/day on a local network.
Orange is the single operator on the published France list.
How much data will you use in France? Email and maps only: the 0.5 GB light band, 4GB across 7 days. Social media and ride apps: 1.5GB/day, 11GB total. Video calls and streaming: 3GB/day, 21GB total. 1 operator on 5G offer 7 plans across those tiers.
Each traveler type maps to a specific plan in France. The 5GB tier at $9.49 fits light users who stay on the 0.5 GB band for maps and messaging. The 5GB plan at $9.49 gives moderate users the lowest per-GB rate at $1.90/GB for a 7-day trip. Heavy users: unlimited daily data at $3.49/day on a local network removes the cap entirely.
France is a 7-day trip in the enrichment record, at 1.5 GB a day. That is 11 GB, which falls in the gap between the 10 GB tier at $13.99 and the 20 GB tier at $20.99. Both are defensible and they answer different questions. The 10 GB plan is the tighter buy at $1.40 per gigabyte and leaves no slack for a video call home. The 20 GB plan drops the rate to $1.05 and covers a week where the metro WiFi fails and you navigate everything by phone. A light user at 0.5 GB a day needs 4 GB and should stop at the 5 GB tier for $9.49.
Three usage tiers for a 7-day France trip
Three tiers, and all 5 providers scored inside each one. Most travelers land on Moderate. Not sure? Take the quiz.
Light use, 1 to 3 GB
Maps and transit apps · Translation and messaging · Email and boarding passes
Short trip to France where hotel wifi does most of the work? The match score puts HelloRoam first here, 86 to Nomad's 83. Nomad undercuts the winner at $3.00 a gigabyte against $3.50. If price is your only filter, buy Nomad. No plan this small exists at Holafly, which is why it sits at 31. A 3 GB plan for France runs $5.99.
| Provider | Plan at this size | Per GB at 0.5 GB/day | Tier match |
|---|---|---|---|
| HelloRoamMost Support LanguagesTier pick | Fixed 1 GB and 3 GB tiersPublished rate $3.50/GB | $3.50 | 86/100 |
| NomadLowest Fixed Rate | Fixed 1 GB and 3 GB tiersPublished rate $3.00/GB | $3.00 | 83/100 |
| SailyOnly Built-In VPN | Fixed 1 GB and 3 GB tiersPublished rate $3.99/GB | $3.99 | 77/100 |
| AiraloOnly Regional Bundles | Fixed 1 GB and 3 GB tiersPublished rate $4.50/GB | $4.50 | 74/100 |
| HolaflyBest Unlimited Value | No plan at this size, unlimited daily onlyPublished rate $2.99/day | No rate to quote | 31/100 |
Moderate use, 3 to 7 GB
Photo sharing and social apps · Browsing and short video · Music and a call home
Using France the way most visitors do, maps plus social? The match score puts Holafly first here, 96 to HelloRoam's 86. Nobody beats its $1.99 a gigabyte at 1.5 GB a day. HelloRoam finishes on 86 and loses the tier. A 5 GB plan for France runs $9.49.
| Provider | Plan at this size | Per GB at 1.5 GB/day | Tier match |
|---|---|---|---|
| HolaflyBest Unlimited ValueTier pick | Unlimited daily, no 5 GB tierPublished rate $2.99/day | $1.99 | 96/100 |
| HelloRoamMost Support Languages | Fixed 3 GB and 5 GB tiersPublished rate $3.50/GB | $3.50 | 86/100 |
| NomadLowest Fixed Rate | Fixed 3 GB and 5 GB tiersPublished rate $3.00/GB | $3.00 | 83/100 |
| SailyOnly Built-In VPN | Fixed 3 GB and 5 GB tiersPublished rate $3.99/GB | $3.99 | 77/100 |
| AiraloOnly Regional Bundles | Fixed 3 GB and 5 GB tiersPublished rate $4.50/GB | $4.50 | 74/100 |
Heavy use, 10 GB and up
Streaming and video calls · A full remote work day · Laptop hotspot
Long stay in France with real work on the line? Holafly wins this tier 96 to 66, with HelloRoam second. Nobody beats its $1.00 a gigabyte at 3 GB a day. The provider our rubric puts first scores 66 here, which is not enough. Saily and Nomad publish no unlimited plan, so a heavy week means one big bundle up front. A 10 GB plan for France runs $13.99, and unlimited runs $3.49 a day.
| Provider | Plan at this size | Per GB at 3 GB/day | Tier match |
|---|---|---|---|
| HolaflyBest Unlimited ValueTier pick | Unlimited dailyPublished rate $2.99/day | $1.00 | 96/100 |
| HelloRoamMost Support Languages | Fixed up to 20 GB, unlimited in some destinationsPublished rate $3.50/GB | $3.50 | 66/100 |
| AiraloOnly Regional Bundles | Fixed up to 20 GB, unlimited in some destinationsPublished rate $4.50/GB | $4.50 | 54/100 |
| NomadLowest Fixed Rate | Fixed tiers only, no unlimited planPublished rate $3.00/GB | $3.00 | 43/100 |
| SailyOnly Built-In VPN | Fixed tiers only, no unlimited planPublished rate $3.99/GB | $3.99 | 37/100 |
The rate column converts each provider's published entry price into a cost per gigabyte at the usage the tier assumes. It is the single scale on which a daily unlimited price and a per-GB price can be set side by side. Published entry rates: Airalo $4.50/GB, Saily $3.99/GB, Holafly $2.99/day, Nomad $3.00/GB, HelloRoam $3.50/GB. Those are catalogue floors, not prices for France. The plan prices quoted above come from HelloRoam's own catalogue, the only per-destination price feed this site holds. The other four publish rates and no figure for France that we can stand behind, so we quote none for them.
How trip length changes your France plan
Short trips and extended stays need different data strategies. Find your trip length below.
Short trip (1-3 days)
Short trips to France use 5GB total. The 5GB at $9.49 fits 3 days of social media and navigation.
Standard trip (5-10 days)
For a week-long visit, 11GB covers moderate daily use. The 20GB at $20.99 on a local network fits this range.
Extended stay (14-30 days)
Extended stays of 14-30 days push past fixed plan limits. Unlimited data at $3.49/day on a local network removes the cap.
Your France shortlist, all 5 providers
Two questions decide most e-sim purchases: how big the bundle is and how long it lasts. Here is both, next to tethering, phone numbers and each published rate.
| Provider | Our rubric score | Min to max GB | Min to max validity | Hotspot | Local number | Entry rate | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 HelloRoamMost Support LanguagesTop of our rubric | 8.7/10 | 1 GB to 20 GB, plus unlimited | Unlimited runs 1 to 30 days, fixed window not published | Not published | No, data only | $3.50/GB | Get Plan |
 HolaflyBest Unlimited Value | 8.6/10 | Unlimited daily, no GB tiers | 1 to 90 days | Capped at 1 GB per day | No, data only | $2.99/day | Get Plan |
 AiraloOnly Regional Bundles | 6.9/10 | 1 GB to 20 GB | 7 to 30 days | Included, full speed | No, data only | $4.50/GB | Get Plan |
 NomadLowest Fixed Rate | 6.6/10 | From 1 GB, top size not published | 30 days on the plans we list | Not published | No, data only | $3.00/GB | Get Plan |
 SailyOnly Built-In VPN | 6.5/10 | From 1 GB, top size not published | Not published | Included on all plans | No, data only | $3.99/GB | Get Plan |
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Who you're connecting to
In France, the underlying carrier matters more than the brand on your plan.
Which carrier serves your eSIM in France? The answer changes your speed, coverage area, and per-GB cost. Inside France, Orange runs the 5G towers along the urban corridors, so maps and uploads clear fastest there. The towers are the same whoever sells you the plan. The differences sit in plan shape, refund cover and support. Crossing more than one border on this trip? Airalo is the only one of the five publishing a regional bundle, from 16 to 130 countries on a single profile. Reach costs it price: a published $4.50/GB, the dearest floor here. Holafly is the one provider here with no per-GB plan at all. Unlimited days from a published $2.99/day, refunded for 180 days, and nothing small to buy if your usage turns out light. If you work from cafes in France, Saily's VPN layer encrypts traffic without a second app. Plans start at $3.99/GB and Saily support runs in 1 language, by email only. Nomad's $3.00/GB is the cheapest published fixed rate here. Support is email in two languages, and coverage stops at 200 destinations. HelloRoam runs on 204+ carrier partners across 186 destinations, refunds an unactivated eSIM for 180 days and answers in 63 languages around the clock. Fixed plans start at $3.50/GB, above Nomad's floor. All 1 operator in France support 5G, so the plan size matters more than the carrier preference.
HelloRoam publishes its local operator list for France, and the next section prints that list in full. The other four providers publish no equivalent list, so the cards below carry published facts about each provider instead of a carrier we would be guessing at.
Airalo
5GReaches the most destinations of the five, at 200.
Saily
5GAdds VPN routing on every plan.
Holafly
5GUnlimited daily plans with fair-use speeds after the threshold.
Nomad
5GLowest fixed per-GB rate of the five, at $3.00.
HelloRoam
5GRuns on 204+ carrier partners with a 180-day refund window.
Orange carries a France e-SIM on its own
The published attachment list for France holds one local operator. That operator is Orange. 117 of the 185 destinations HelloRoam publishes work this way.
One operator means no fallback. Where the Orange signal drops, no second network takes over. Save offline maps for France before you fly.
HelloRoam marks 5G on Orange. Your tier still comes from trip length and daily habits, not from the operator count.
France attaches to one operator in this dataset and one only: Orange, with a 5G label. Single-operator destinations have no fallback, and France is one of 117 such rows out of 185. Orange is also the widest-used carrier across the whole dataset, carrying HelloRoam in 27 destinations against 17 for Vodafone, 13 for Claro and 12 for Airtel, so this is a network the provider leans on heavily rather than an isolated pairing. SFR, Bouygues Telecom and Free Mobile are named in the country record as national carriers and none of them appears on the attachment list. The dataset holds operator names and capability labels, no speeds, and no statement about which network a handset selects.
| Local operator | Network labels |
|---|---|
| Orange | 5G |
Where this table came from: HelloRoam's own destination catalogue, read on 17 August 2026. That catalogue publishes an operator list for every destination it sells, and we copied it. Nobody ran a speed test to build it, and no throughput number sits behind any row.
Your France pricing notes
France eSIM pricing follows a simple pattern: more data, lower per-GB cost. Here are the options: 1GB at $3.99 ($3.99/GB), 3GB at $5.99 ($2.00/GB), 5GB at $9.49 ($1.90/GB), 10GB at $13.99 ($1.40/GB), 20GB at $20.99 ($1.05/GB). At $1.90/GB, the 5GB plan for $9.49 gives social media and navigation users 4 days of data. Light users on short trips pay as little as $3.99 for 1GB and avoid overpaying for unused data. The math on unlimited: $3.49/day times 6 days equals the 20GB plan price. Trips beyond 6 days favor unlimited. A 30-day unlimited plan drops to $2.86/day (18% off). Holafly publishes unlimited daily from $2.99/day and suits heavy users. Nomad publishes the lowest fixed rate at $3.00/GB and suits light ones. The cheapest eSIM plan for France in our price feed is 1GB at $3.99, a catalogue price. Across published entry rates, Nomad sets the lowest fixed floor at $3.00/GB.
France reads cheap for Western Europe. Per gigabyte the tiers run $3.99, $2, $1.90, $1.40 and $1.05, with a destination floor of $0.61, against a catalogue that reaches $22.52 per GB at its most expensive. Unlimited is priced by duration rather than volume: $22.48 for 7 days at $3.21 a day, $43.49 for 14 days at $3.11, $85.85 for 30 days at $2.86, an 18 percent discount at the long end. Compare all of that against a French airport SIM at $15 to $35 for 30 days. The last comparison is the checkout itself. HelloRoam bills in 31 currencies and the other four bill in the US dollar alone, so a euro card adds 2 to 4 percent in bank conversion to an Airalo, Holafly, Nomad or Saily order and nothing to a HelloRoam one.
See how France compares to similar destinations in Europe. For device-specific setup, read our guides for iPhone, Samsung, and Pixel.
Planning notes for France
These France specifics change how much mobile data your trip requires. If you plan to work from cafes in France, local WiFi matters. Free WiFi in cafes, Paris Metro stations, and public libraries. Strong WiFi lets you size down one data tier. France's busiest travel period is Jun-Aug. Summer is peak; Paris busy year-round; ski season December-March in Alps. Budget the 1.5 GB moderate band for ride apps and live navigation through crowded areas. Plan for 7 days in France. Moderate users (1.5GB/day) target 11GB total.
WiFi and offline options in France
Free WiFi in cafes, Paris Metro stations, and public libraries. WiFi availability is excellent across France. Offload video and app updates to WiFi when possible. Download offline maps, translation packs, and boarding passes over WiFi before leaving your hotel each morning.
Regional bundle vs single-country plan
If your trip covers multiple countries in Europe, a regional eSIM bundle avoids buying separate plans for each stop. Single-country plans for France start at $3.99 for 1GB. Compare the per-GB cost of a regional bundle against individual plans to find the cheaper path for 7+ days.
Peak season data planning for France
If you visit France during Jun-Aug, expect heavier data use. Summer is peak; Paris busy year-round; ski season December-March in Alps. More tourists mean heavier navigation use across the same day. Download offline maps and pre-load content before the peak hours.
A French airport SIM runs $15 to $35 for 30 days
France airport SIM vendors charge $15-35 for 20-50GB / 30 days and require 10-15 min plus a passport scan. eSIM plans start at $3.99 for 1GB, activate before departure, and connect to Orange on landing. The time and cost savings add up for frequent travelers.
How to activate your France eSIM
Start by selecting a France plan sized to your usage tier (light, moderate, or heavy). Then scan the provider's QR code in your phone's eSIM settings over a stable WiFi connection.
Label the new line "Travel Data" and set it as your default data connection. Keep your home SIM active on the other line for calls and texts.
If your eSIM is pre-installed, Orange connects the handset to 5G in France the moment your phone leaves airplane mode. Setup runs under 30 seconds.
Common France eSIM questions
Direct answers grounded in real plan data and carrier coverage.
France trip sizing at three published benchmarks
A 7-day trip to France needs 4 GB at the light benchmark of 0.5 GB a day and 11 GB at the moderate benchmark of 1.5 GB a day. The catalogue prices the 5 GB plan at $9.49 and the 20 GB plan at $20.99 for France. Heavy use at 3 GB a day comes to 21 GB, past the 20 GB tier that is the largest sold for France. Those three benchmarks are the same figures the quiz and the data calculator on this site read.
The tier that fits 7 days in France
A moderate traveler spending 7 days in France needs 11 GB at 1.5 GB a day. The catalogue prices the 20 GB plan at $20.99 for France, which is $1.05 per GB and $3.00 a day across the trip. That leaves 9 GB of headroom against the 11 GB estimate. The published operator list for France names Orange and nothing else.
Fixed against unlimited in France
The catalogue prices a 7-day unlimited bundle for France at $22.48, which is $3.21 a day. The fixed 20 GB tier costs $20.99 and covers the 11 GB a 7-day trip needs at the moderate benchmark. The fixed tier is the cheaper of the two here by $1.49. Unlimited bundles carry a fair-use policy rather than an open tap.
Published entry rates across the five providers
HelloRoam publishes a $3.50/GB fixed entry rate and takes checkout in 31 currencies, against 1 currency apiece at Airalo, Holafly, Nomad and Saily. Published fixed floors across the scored 5 read $3.00/GB at Nomad, $3.50/GB at HelloRoam, $3.99/GB at Saily, $4.50/GB at Airalo, with Holafly selling by the day at $2.99/day. The cheapest France plan in that catalogue is 1 GB at $3.99, a destination price rather than a published floor. Support runs in 63 languages there, against 12 at Airalo, 10 at Holafly, 2 at Nomad and 1 at Saily.
A travel eSIM beside a France local SIM
The catalogue prices a 1 GB eSIM for France at $3.99, installed before departure over home WiFi. The country record puts an airport SIM at $15-35 for 20-50GB / 30 days, with a counter wait of 10-15 min. France publishes no SIM registration requirement in the country record. HelloRoam refunds an unactivated eSIM for 180 days, against 30 days at Saily and Nomad and 14 at Airalo.
Setting up a France eSIM in four steps
Buy the tier that matches the trip: the France ladder starts at $3.99 for 1 GB. Install the profile over home WiFi under Settings, Cellular, Add eSIM on iPhone, or Settings, Network, SIMs, Add eSIM on Android. Turn on data roaming for the travel line and leave the home line's data off. On arrival the profile attaches to Orange.
Plan match by traveler profile
Each profile maps to a specific plan size and provider for France.
Backpacker
Over 7 days in France, a backpacker runs through 4 GB on maps and messaging. The 5 GB plan is priced at $9.49 here, $1.90 per GB, on a local network. Of the five we score, HelloRoam publishes the plan shape that fits, at an entry rate of $3.50/GB.
Backpackers staying 7 days in France need 4GB for navigation and hostels. The 5GB plan at $9.49 matches.
Business traveler
A business traveler in France needs 21 GB for video calls and uploads over 7 days. The 20 GB plan covers that at $20.99, or $1.05 per GB, on a local network. Holafly fits the shape of this trip, and publishes 10 support languages.
Business travelers on video calls burn 21GB over 7 days. Unlimited data at $3.49/day on a local network removes the cap.
Family group
A family traveler heading to France should budget 14 GB for social media and navigation across 7 days. That lands on the 20 GB plan, $20.99 on a local network. HelloRoam sells the shape this trip needs; Nomad publishes the lower fixed floor.
Families run 1.5 GB per person per day on social media and navigation. Over 7 days that totals 32GB. The 20GB at $20.99 fits per-device.
Digital nomad
Over 7 days in France, a digital nomad runs through 18 GB on remote work and streaming. The 20 GB plan is priced at $20.99 here, $1.05 per GB, on a local network. HelloRoam fits the shape of this trip, and publishes 63 support languages.
A nomad spending 7 days in France burns 21GB. The 20GB at $20.99 on a local network covers co-working sessions.
Your questions, answered
How many gigabytes per day should I budget in France?
Budget 0.5 GB a day for maps and messaging, 1.5 GB a day for social media and browsing, and 3 GB a day if you stream. Over a 7-day France trip those rates come to 4 GB, 11 GB and 21 GB. Most visitors land on the middle rate, so the 20 GB plan at $20.99 covers the moderate figure on a local network. Past 3 GB a day the fixed tiers run out here, and unlimited days at $3.49 take over. Pick the daily rate that matches your habits at home, because a trip rarely changes them.
Which plan shape fits my France trip, fixed tiers or unlimited days?
France sells both shapes, so pick the shape before the size. Fixed tiers start at the 1 GB plan for $3.99 and suit maps, messaging and browsing. Unlimited days start at $3.49 and suit streaming, video calls and hotspot use, where a fixed tier empties before the trip ends. The shortest unlimited commitment sold here is 1 day at $3.35. Shapes differ across the five providers we score. Holafly publishes the unlimited-daily shape as standard, not per destination. HelloRoam and Airalo publish unlimited days in some destinations and not others. Nomad and Saily sell gigabytes by the bundle, with no daily plan at all. Holafly publishes no fixed per-GB tier at all, which is the trade for the unlimited shape.
Which eSIM plan fits a light or heavy data user in France?
Three personas for France eSIM sizing. The minimalist traveler (WhatsApp, offline maps, brief Google searches) needs 4 GB over 7 days. Buy the 5 GB plan at $9.49. The connected explorer (social media, navigation, daily browsing) needs the 20 GB plan at $20.99. The road warrior (video calls, streaming, cloud sync) needs 21 GB, and the 20 GB plan at $20.99 ($1.05/GB) is the largest tier sold here, so a heavy pace needs a second purchase or an unlimited plan.
What should I check on my phone before I buy a France plan?
iPhone owners are covered from the XS onward. Samsung owners are covered from the Galaxy S20 onward. Pixel owners are covered from the Pixel 3 onward. Every one of those handsets still has to be carrier-unlocked, and every one should be checked with *#06# for an EID line first. Once the eSIM profile is installed, France's 5G network connects with no physical SIM in the phone. The spelling varies from site to site, e-SIM and e SIM included. The technology does not.
What starts the clock on a France plan, the purchase or the landing?
Landing starts the clock, so time the purchase to the flight. Buy 1 to 3 days before you fly and install the QR code over home WiFi, which does not trigger the countdown. The first network connection in France does. The 1 GB plan at $3.99 suits a short stay. The 20 GB plan at $20.99 suits a longer one. Installing early is the part that matters: airport WiFi is the worst place to discover a QR code will not scan.
Is one France plan enough if my route crosses into another EU country?
If France is your only European stop, one country plan is enough and costs less at $1.90/GB. If your route adds a second country, it is not enough: the plan ends at the frontier. A regional bundle covers the whole route instead. Airalo sells continent-wide bundles on one eSIM, and nobody else here does. No bundle from HelloRoam and Nomad, by their own published word. Holafly and Saily do not publish either way. EU free-roaming rights do not extend to prepaid travel eSIMs bought from an overseas provider, so the border is a hard stop rather than a slowdown.
Which activities use the most mobile data in France?
Three bands cover every France itinerary. Light, 0.5 GB a day: maps, messaging, boarding passes. Moderate, 1.5 GB a day: the same plus social feeds and browsing. Heavy, 3 GB a day: streaming, video calls and a laptop hotspot. Pick the band your phone habits already sit in at home. The 5 GB plan at $9.49 is priced at $1.90/GB on a local network.
How do I match a France plan tier to the number of nights I am staying?
If you use 1.5 GB a day in France, match nights to tier directly: 1 to 2 nights takes the 3 GB plan at $5.99 ($2.00/GB); 3 nights takes the 5 GB plan at $9.49 ($1.90/GB); 4 to 6 nights takes the 10 GB plan at $13.99 ($1.40/GB); 7 to 13 nights takes the 20 GB plan at $20.99 ($1.05/GB). If you stream video, add 20% before choosing. The 20 GB plan holds the lowest per-GB rate here at $1.05/GB. If your nights land on the boundary between two tiers, take the larger one, since the price gap between neighbouring tiers is smaller than the cost of running dry.
Which provider backs up a mis-sized France plan?
Two things back up a wrong choice, and both are published. The first is the refund window on an unactivated eSIM: HelloRoam and Holafly publish 180 days, Nomad and Saily 30 days and Airalo 14 days. The second is who answers when something needs fixing: HelloRoam publishes support in 63 languages, Airalo 12, Holafly 10, Nomad 2 and Saily 1, and HelloRoam takes live chat, WhatsApp and email, around the clock. Neither helps once the plan is running in France, so the useful move is to size correctly and buy close to departure. Sizing up first is still cheaper than any refund: the 20 GB plan holds the lowest rate here at $1.05/GB.
Nearby destinations
Four questions size a France plan
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