Discover eSIM France, your ideal internet connection for travelling.
Are you planning a trip to France? Great! It’s a country full of culture, history and breathtaking landscapes. But to make the most of your trip, you need to be connected to the internet with the best eSIM for France.
Forget about expensive roaming charges or searching for a local SIM card. With an eSIM, you can have high-speed mobile internet in France from the moment you arrive.
Contents / Contenidos
What is an eSIM?
eSIM stands for “embedded SIM“. It is a chip that is already integrated in your mobile phone, so you don’t need a physical SIM card. You can buy an eSIM online in advance and activate it by scanning a QR code.
For more information about eSIMs, check out our article: What is an eSIM: everything you need to know?
Note: Most eSIM Companies only allow you to install an eSIM once. If you delete it, you can’t get it back.
The best Prepaid eSIM France
Here are some of the best options for eSIM France:
| Rank | Brand | Data Quantity | Duration | Price | Price/GB | Main Feature | Additional Features |
| 1 🏆 | 🏆 Orange eSIM Holidays | 30GB | 15 days | €25 | €0.83 | Best Price/GB | 100 Minutes of International Voice CallsSMS for Additional Credit |
| 2 | Bouygues Telecom | 30GB | 30 days | €39.90 | €1.33 | Local Support | Unlimited SMS and Calls in the EU€25 of credit for overseas callsMultiple Downloads |
| 3 | eSIM MEO | 5GB 15GB | 15 days | €15 €25 | €3 €1.66 | Best Price and price/GB without Identity Check | Multiple Downloads (Up to 10) |
| 4 | Ubigi | 5GB 20GB | 30 days | €7 €16 | €1.4 €1.25 | Cheap 3GB plan | None |
| 5 | Airalo | 1GB 3GB 5GB 10GB | 7 days 30 days 30 days 30 days | €4.20($4.50) €9.34($10) €13.08($14) €21.49($23) | 4.20($4.50) €3.19 ($3.33) €2.6($2.8) €2.1($2.3) | Variety of Cheap plans | None |
*Data collected in 2024
- Orange eSIM Holidays – The best
Unbeatable Price/GB
Orange eSIM Holidays comes in first place for one reason: Price per Gigabyte (Price/GB). It offers 30GB of data at 4G/LTE speed for 25€, making it have a stunning price/GB of €0.83/GB.
The reason why Orange eSIM Holidays has such great value for money is because Orange is a local carrier in Europe distributing their own eSIMs.
Top-up made easy
While this data plan may only last for 15 days, the Price/GB makes topping up the data plan a very viable option. In fact, if you buy an Orange eSIM Holidays Plan and top it up, you will get double the amount of data than the amount that you would get at a similar price from other brands.
Calls and SMS
Furthermore, it comes with 100 minutes of international voice calls and SMS for additional credit. It comes with a Spanish phone number, due to this being a plan from Orange Spain.
Orange eSIM Holidays provides data to 29 Countries in Europe (all of the countries in the European Union, Norway and Liechtenstein). Moreover, this being Orange Spain, Orange eSIM Holidays offers unlimited data in Spain, with the first 60GB at 4G/LTE speed and the rest at 2mbps.
Smooth identity check
Although these eSIMs need an identity check due to Spanish Law, it is done quickly and intuitively, making it a non-issue.
Compatible devices
Some eSIM compatible mobile devices might not be compatible with Orange eSIM Holidays, so check the table below to see if your mobile device is compatible.
- Bouygues Telecom – Local eSIM with long duration
Double the Price, offers less data
Bouygues Telecom offers 30GB of 4G/LTE data for €39.90 to be used over 30 days. This means that it has a price/GB of approximately €1.33. This is a great price per GB, yet it is nearly double the price of an Orange eSIM Holidays plan, and offers less data.
Local activation only
This eSIM might be better for those who want exclusively local support for their eSIM, although Orange is also an eSIM France provider. Although they cover all of Europe, you can only activate this plan in France, which means that if you are purchasing an eSIM for a longer European trip, you would have to start in France.
Long Duration
This data plan lasts 30 days, which means you won’t have to top up your eSIM if you’re staying in France for a month. However, you get more than double the data for only 10 euros more with Orange eSIM Holidays.
- eSIM MEO – Plan with Competitive Price/GB
Same Price/GB as Local French Plans
eSIM MEO has the best data plan for those who take shorter trips and don’t want to go through the ID check. They offer 2 plans, both 15 days long: One provides 5 GB of 4G/LTE data for 15 euros and the other 15 GB for 30 euros. The latter plan has the same price/GB as Bouygues (2 euros/GB), while the former costs 3 euros per Gigabyte consumed.
European Carrier
MEO is another carrier in Europe, specifically in Portugal, which allows them to have such great value for money on their 15GB plan.
Multiple Downloads
Like Bouygues, MEO offers multiple downloads. Even if it’s a data-only plan, you can still use apps like Whatsapp to communicate with your loved ones with the eSIM France.
- Ubigi – Cheap plans, Expensive Price/GB
Small plans
Ubigi offers 2 data-only plans for eSIM France, both with a duration of 30 days. One offers 3 GB of 4G/LTE data for 8 euros, the other offers 10 GB for 19 euros, which means that the former has a Price/GB of 2,67 euros/GB and the latter has a Price/GB of 1,90 euros.
Non-European Provider
Ubigi is not a European operator, it is a global provider, which means that they do not provide local support, and they do not support phone calls.
In addition, Ubigi requires its customers to download its application on their mobile devices to activate the eSIM France.
- Airalo – Cheap plans with High Price/GB
Large Variety of Cheap Plans
Airalo offers 4 plans for eSIM France, whose size and duration can be seen in the table above. Although the prices themselves may be low, the Price/GB is higher than the other brands mentioned.
Foreign provider cannot compete with the locals
This is due to the fact that they offer smaller plans that are much cheaper in price. Like Ubigi, Airalo is a global eSIM provider, not a local operator, which means you don’t get local support with their plans. These plans are data only. Similarly, Airalo requires its customers to download its application to set up their eSIM France.
Mobile devices compatible with eSIM France:
Most operators provide lists of eSIM compatible devices on their websites. You can also check our article: eSIM compatible phones. Check our list.
Look for your device in the compatibility list. If you can’t find it, it may not yet be compatible with eSIM France.
If your phone is new or you are unsure of its compatibility, please contact your operator’s or phone manufacturer’s customer service for confirmation.
Activating eSIM France
How to Activate your eSIM France on Apple devices:
1. Open the Settings app.
2. Connect to a stable Wi-Fi Network.
3. Tap Mobile Data.
4. Tap Add Data Plan.
5. Scan the QR Code sent to your email address.
6. Tap Add Data Plan.
7. Enter the PIN found in that email when prompted.
How to Activate your eSIM France on Samsung devices:
1. Open the Settings app.
2. Connect to a stable Wi-Fi Network.
3. Select Connections.
4. Select SIM Card Manager.
5. Select Add Mobile Plan.
6. Select Add using QR Code.
7. Scan the QR Code sent to your email address.
8. Enter the PIN found in the same email when prompted.
Enjoy France!
Get the eSIM France with the best price
Frequently Asked Questions about eSIM France:
Does eSIM work in France?
Absolutely! eSIM France has been available since 2019, and is only getting more and more widely supported.
Which operator offers eSIM for France?
Most major operators offer eSIM for France. However, the best eSIM Provider for France is Orange eSIM Holidays, given the unmatched price/GB and the inclusion of calls.
Where can I buy an eSIM card for France?
You can buy an eSIM card for France here. All you need to do is follow the steps shown.
Which provider has eSIM for France?
There are many providers who have eSIM for France, but Orange eSIM Holidays is the provider with the best value for money when it comes to prepaid eSIMs for travellers going to France.
Is it possible to have 2 SIM Cards with the same number?
No. Each SIM card or eSIM has to have a unique number of its own. However, if your phone has dual SIM, you will be able to use your eSIM for data and your regular SIM card for calls so that you can keep your regular phone number to call your loved ones.
What iPhone for eSIM?
As shown in the table above, every model that was released since the iPhone XS includes eSIM, from the base models to the top of the line flagships. In fact, you can store multiple eSIMs, but you can only use one at a time.