FairSIM eSIM for France
France is the most visited country in the world, and its capital is a city of timed tickets: the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and Versailles all want a slot booked on your phone. Below ground, the Métro has had full 4G in the tunnels since 2020, so the app that says which exit to take keeps working.
A FairSIM eSIM for France connects to Orange, Bouygues Telecom, SFR or Free Mobile, at the wholesale rate. Because the price is not padded with a roaming margin, an American's ten days in Paris costs a fraction of the $120 a carrier day pass would bill.
Buying a French prepaid SIM means a shop that closes for lunch and on Sundays, a passport check, and a line that is deactivated if the ID is not verified within 30 days. A travel eSIM needs none of it.
- CarriersBouygues, Free Mobile, Orange France
- CompatibilityCheck if eSIM is available on your phone
- No days lostPurchase now, data will start when you arrive
France eSIM plans
Plan starts: On first data use
Coverage in France
- 4G LTE5G
Orange
The largest network, with the best rural coverage and fastest speeds in Opensignal's November 2025 report. The most common travel eSIM partner.
- 4G LTE5G
Bouygues Telecom
Opensignal's 5G coverage winner, and a frequent travel eSIM host.
- 4G LTE5G
SFR
Good urban 4G and 5G; shares rural sites with Bouygues.
- 4G LTE5G
Free Mobile
France's fourth network, with wide 4G and 5G coverage in cities and along the motorways.
4G covering over 99% of the population, 5G in all cities, most towns and along TGV corridors
Typical speed: Around 139 Mbps median download (Ookla, October 2025); Orange 5G averages about 270 Mbps.
Urban coverage is excellent and rural coverage very good on Orange and Bouygues. Small dead zones remain in deep valleys, the Massif Central and parts of the Alps and Pyrenees away from resorts. Corsica is served by the same networks.
How much data do you need in France?
It depends on how you travel. Find your trip below, then pick the plan that matches. You can always top up in the app.
Paris city break
Three to five days of museums, cafés and Métro hopping.
Why data matters: Citymapper or Bonjour RATP, Google Maps, timed museum e-tickets, Uber, Bolt or G7 taxis, Google Translate, restaurant bookings.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
French Riviera and Provence summer
Beaches, hill villages and rosé between Nice, Cannes and Avignon.
Why data matters: Maps for driving, TER train tickets, beach club and restaurant reservations, photo backups and Instagram.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
Alps ski week
Chamonix, Les 3 Vallées, Val d'Isère or Tignes.
Why data matters: Lift-pass apps, piste maps, weather and avalanche bulletins, WhatsApp with the group, video uploads. Resorts have good coverage; the back-country does not.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 15 GB
Multi-country Europe rail trip
Paris as the first or last stop on a TGV or Eurostar loop through Italy, Spain or Switzerland.
Why data matters: SNCF Connect, Trainline, the Eurostar app, hotel bookings and maps in several cities. The Europe regional plan keeps working across borders.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 12 GB
- 30 days
- 25 GB
Business travel
Meetings at La Défense, in Lyon or Toulouse, two to four days at a time.
Why data matters: Email, Teams or Zoom, tethering the laptop between meetings, taxis and expense apps.
- 7 days
- 10 GB
- 14 days
- 20 GB
- 30 days
- Unlimited
Study or Erasmus semester
Months in Paris, Lyon, Montpellier or Grenoble before sorting a local contract.
Why data matters: Bridge data until a French bank account allows a local plan: maps, banking, university portals.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 25 GB
What your home carrier charges in France
Daily roaming passes look small until you multiply them by the length of the trip. FairSIM plans for France start at $5.99 and never bill per day.
| Carrier | Roaming charge | FairSIM |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon TravelPass (US) | $12 per line per day, 5 GB of high-speed data per day then slower speeds | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| AT&T International Day Pass (US) | $12 per day per line, $6 for each additional line, charged only on the days you use it | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| EE (UK) | £2.72 per day, or £16.50 for a 7-day EU pass and £30 for 15 days | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| Vodafone UK | £2.75 per day with a 25 GB fair-use limit, or £16 for 8 days and £21 for 15 days | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| Telstra International Day Pass (Australia) | A$10 per day with 2 GB of data | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| Rogers (Canada) | C$18 per day with Roam Like Home | from $5.99, no daily fee |
Carrier prices as published on their roaming pages at the time of writing. They change often; check your own plan before you fly.
How FairSIM works
Three steps between you and the internet abroad. Nothing to pick up at the airport.
Pick a destination and a plan
Choose the country or region and the data you need. The price you see is the price you pay.
Tap install
On iPhone (iOS 17.4+) the eSIM installs in one tap, no QR code. Do it at home while you still have Wi-Fi.
Land and connect
Turn on data roaming for the FairSIM line when you arrive. Your plan starts when it first connects.
Connectivity tips for France
Install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi and switch data on when you land at CDG. It connects to Orange, Bouygues, SFR or Free Mobile automatically.
The Europe regional plan bought for France keeps working in Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany and the rest of the EU. Switzerland, Monaco and Andorra sit outside EU roaming, so check the plan's country list.
The Paris Métro and RER have had full 4G in the tunnels since 2020, so maps work underground.
TGV INOUI and Eurostar have free onboard Wi-Fi, but it is shared. Your eSIM is faster on most of the line except in tunnels.
Alpine resorts have solid 4G and 5G at lifts and villages. Download offline maps for hikes and off-piste days.
Corsica uses the same French networks. No extra plan needed.
Keep your home SIM active for banking SMS codes and turn off its data roaming to avoid daily passes.
Emergency number 112 works from any phone, with or without a SIM.
Can you rely on free Wi-Fi?
Widespread. Paris runs about 400 free hotspots in parks, libraries and museums, SNCF stations and both Paris airports have free Wi-Fi, and cafés and hotels are reliable. Quality drops outside cities, and speeds are rarely enough for calls.
Local SIM card or eSIM in France?
Prepaid SIMs are sold in Orange, SFR, Bouygues and Free shops and at tabacs. Orange Holiday Europe, the tourist product, runs about €22 for 10 GB over 14 days. French law requires identity verification, and Orange warns the SIM is deactivated if the ID is not verified within 30 days. Shops close on Sundays and often at lunch.
For most visits a travel eSIM is the simpler choice: no queue, no passport at a counter, no physical SIM swap, and the Europe regional plan works across the EU. A local SIM only wins if you need a French phone number.
France eSIM questions
Does eSIM work in France?
Yes. France has full 4G and broad 5G coverage, and eSIM-compatible iPhones (XS and newer) connect to Orange, Bouygues, SFR or Free Mobile automatically with a travel eSIM.
Which network will my FairSIM eSIM use in France?
Plans connect to Orange, Bouygues Telecom, SFR or Free Mobile. Orange and Bouygues Telecom led Opensignal's November 2025 report for coverage and speed. The app shows the network for each plan.
Do I get 5G in France with an eSIM?
Usually, on a 5G phone in cities and along major routes. 4G remains the fallback and is fast enough for maps and video.
Can I use hotspot or tethering?
Yes. Every FairSIM plan supports Personal Hotspot, with no separate cap.
Should I install the eSIM before or after landing?
Install before you leave, over Wi-Fi, and activate data on arrival. Installation needs an internet connection; airport Wi-Fi works if you forgot.
Can I make calls with a France eSIM?
FairSIM is data-only. Calls and texts run over WhatsApp, FaceTime, Telegram or Google Voice. Keep your home SIM for incoming SMS codes.
How much data do I need for 7 days in France?
About 3 to 5 GB for maps, messaging and social apps; 10 GB if you stream video, work, or navigate by car every day.
Is an eSIM better than a French prepaid SIM?
For most trips, yes: no shop queue, no passport registration, no swapping your physical SIM, and the same plan works across the EU. A local SIM only wins if you need a French phone number.
Will my France eSIM work in Italy, Spain or Switzerland?
The Europe regional plan works across the EU and EEA, including Italy and Spain. Switzerland, Monaco and Andorra are outside EU roaming rules, so check that they appear on the plan's country list.
What is an eSIM?
A SIM card built into your phone. Instead of a plastic chip, you download a profile. Every iPhone since the XS has one next to the physical SIM slot, so your home number stays put while FairSIM supplies the data.
Is my phone compatible?
FairSIM works with eSIM-compatible, carrier-unlocked iPhones: the XS, XR and everything newer, on iOS 17.4 or later for the one-tap install with no QR code. iPhones bought in mainland China do not support eSIM at all, even when unlocked. Not sure yours is unlocked? Check Settings, General, About, Carrier Lock, or ask your carrier. The full list is on the How it works page.
When should I install my eSIM?
Before you travel, while you still have Wi-Fi. Installing does not start your plan; the validity typically starts when the eSIM first connects to a network at your destination.
Do FairSIM eSIMs come with a phone number?
No. FairSIM eSIMs are data-only by design, which keeps costs low. For calls and texts, your physical SIM stays active so you keep your existing number, and WhatsApp, FaceTime and iMessage work over data.
