So, visiting France is your next adventure? That’s great! Surely, you have everything planned out already. Remember to travel with a good data plan, so you don’t have to deal with overcharging roaming. As you may know, these services abroad can be expensive, and traveling to destinations like France is also relatively pricey. Therefore, to avoid excessive charges and bad experiences on your trip, we recommend eSIM for France so that you can always use your cell phone on your trip.
This is a service that, unlike the traditional Pocket WiFi for France, works digitally. It’s easy to get and use, so when you are planning your trip, you won’t have to resort to cumbersome processes or go to the point of sale to buy it. Remember you can also buy from home or when you are already in France, the choice is yours. In this article, we will explain how they work, their benefits, and the providers on the market, as well as a comparison of their plans and prices.
To travel through multiple European countries, we recommend a prepaid eSIM for Europe. This way, changing eSIM when crossing the border between European countries is unnecessary.
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What you should know about the France eSIM card:
The first thing you should know about eSIMs is their minimum requirements because despite being an environmentally friendly alternative, there is still a range of cell phones that are incompatible with this technology. We don’t want you to overspend, so we encourage you to check the list below:
- You must have a cell phone compatible with eSIM: and make sure that the operator or the eSIM card provider supports your cell phone. We know currently that the companies that provide the virtual SIM have preferred the iPhone XR or more recent versions.
- It’s essential to have an email to register and receive your eSIM.
- You must have an internet connection because your eSIM profile will be downloaded from the operator’s servers. You can do this in France or from a WiFi spot.
- Some providers will ask you to install their app to download the eSIM.
If your cell phone is incompatible with virtual cards, we recommend a regular SIM card for France. This is an excellent alternative to always staying connected.
Cellular providers of eSIM cards to travel to France:
When you’re ready and want to buy your eSIM, the next thing to know is the providers that are on the market. In this section, we list the eSIM provider companies for travelers. Keep in mind that the companies mentioned below sell international eSIM cards intended for use on tourism or business trips abroad.
Prices and data plans of eSIM providers for travel to France
Now that you know the providers, you can check the plans, features, advantages, disadvantages, and prices offered by these companies regarding eSIMs destined for France. Remember that price variation may occur due to coverage, plans, or available payment methods, so keep this in mind when planning your trip to France.
Holafly
The first provider we will tell you about is Holafly, an online store of Spanish origin that has been positioning itself very well in the telecommunications market. They currently specialize in selling eSIMs, and best of all, they offer unlimited data for their eSIMs in many destinations, including France.
Purchasing Holafly’s eSIM is simple and will only take a few minutes. You must visit their official website, search for your travel destination, and choose the plan that best suits your trip. In the case of France, you can choose from seven different plans of 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60, or 90 days, all with unlimited data. After choosing your plan, you will need to check out and pay. You can choose from different payment methods such as credit cards, Paypal, or GooglePay. After your purchase, you will receive the eSIM in your email in a few minutes with the instructions to use it.
Pros of Holafly’s eSIM for France:
- Connect to the Internet in France at 3G/4G/LTE speed.
- Enjoy unlimited data.
- Keep your WhatsApp number on your cellphone.
- Enjoy internet coverage from the SFR network, the fastest in the country.
- You’ll have 24/7 customer service from Holafly’s team.
Cons of Holafly’s eSIM for France:
- You won’t be able to make or receive calls.
- No messages included.
- You won’t be able to share data with other devices.
WiFiMap
As a second option, we will talk about WifiMap. Maybe you know it because it is the application that all travelers use to find free wifi during their trips. However, this company also offers eSIMs for different destinations in the world, with some particularity and that is that they do not sell eSIMs for any specific country, but they sell eSIMs for regions, i.e., packages with which you can have mobile data in different countries.
To buy an eSIM that works in France, you must choose the Europe plan, which offers you 1GB for 30 days in 30 European countries. You can also purchase the eSIM World plan for France, but this one is more expensive. To purchase the eSIM, you must download the WifiMap mobile application.
Pros of WiFiMap eSIM:
- High-speed 4G and LTE networks.
- No need for a contract.
- The eSIM will connect to a major local mobile network upon arriving at your destination.
Cons of WiFiMap eSIM:
- They only offer data plans with 1GB.
- Not compatible with many phones.
- eSIM is data only and doesn’t come with a phone number.
TravelSIM
Finally, let’s talk about TravelSIM. This is a company with more than 10 years of experience, headquartered in Estonia. Its main focus is the sale of SIM cards with data, calling, and messaging services. However, it also offers eSIMs for tourists and professional travelers, with coverage in more than 150 countries worldwide, including France.
If you wish to purchase a data plan for France, you will be able to choose between the different packages offered by this store, depending on the zones. This European country is available in zones A, B, Europe, and Europe +. In the case of the plans available in Europe +, you will be able to choose between 2GB, 5GB, and 10GB for 30 days. However, in other zones, you will be able to purchase some plans for 14 days. An important thing to mention is that with TravelSIM, you will have to pay a $6 fee for the eSIM card in addition to the cost of the plan you prefer. You can also add calling minutes and messaging plans to the eSIM.
Pros of TravelSIM eSIM for France:
- You can add credit for calls & texts.
- You have to pay a fee of $6 for the eSIM card.
- Reach over 200 countries around the world.
Cons of TravelSIM eSIM for France:
- It does not offer an exclusive eSIM for France, so the service cost is higher.
- Only offer plans for 30 days and a few for 14 days.
Comparison of eSIM providers for France
| Provider | Data | Days | Price (USD) | Language | Sales channels |
| Holafly | Unlimited data | 5 | $19 | Spanish, English, German, and French | Web |
| Holafly | Unlimited data | 15 | $47 | Spanish, English, German, and French | Web |
| Holafly | Unlimited data | 20 | $54 | Spanish, English, German, and French | Web |
| Holafly | Unlimited data | 30 | $64 | Spanish, English, German, and French | Web |
| WifiMap | 1GB | 30 | $7 | English, Russian | Web, Play Store, App Store |
| TravelSIM | 2GB | 30 | $20 | Spanish | Web |
| TravelSIM | 5GB | 30 | $45 | Spanish | Web |
| TravelSIM | 10GB | 30 | $87 | Spanish | Web |
Features of the eSIM to travel to France
When you have already decided to buy your eSIM, the next step is to get to know its features. For this reason, we provide the following list so that you can inform yourself and get the most out of your virtual card.
- Most eSIM cards don’t offer you analog calls, only data. But with the plans, they offer, you can call through voice apps like Skype or WhatsApp.
- They can be installed only once, so if you are having problems with your eSIM card, don’t delete them from your cell phone. Better yet, contact your eSIM provider.
- Keep in mind that some eSIMs configure the APN automatically.
- You can add multiple data plans on your iPhone, but this depends on the available memory, and besides, it’s only possible to use one at a time.
- You will have Unlimited data with some providers.
- Your phone will convert to a dual-SIM phone, as you will be able to keep your local SIM when you travel to Europe. Remember to set up your phone to avoid surprise invoices.
Mobile Internet coverage map for travel to France
When you buy your eSIM, one of the most important aspects to keep in mind is the coverage offered because a very cheap data plan may not provide enough coverage in the place you are visiting, and surely, you don’t want to end up without internet when you stop by one of the 700 castles in France.
For this reason, it’s important to check the domestic providers’ coverage map in France: Bouygues Telecom, Free Mobile, Orange, and SFR.
Bouygues Telecom 4G and 5G coverage map in France
Free Mobile 4G and 5G coverage map in France
Orange 4G and 5G coverage map in France
SFR 4G and 5G coverage map in France
Local cellular operators offering eSIM in France
People who are soon traveling or live in France and want an eSIM card with data can buy one without any inconvenience. Some operators offer eSIM service, top-up, and maintenance. However, you must bear in mind that if you choose this alternative, you must meet certain requirements and carry follow certain steps that each eSIM carrier has previously stipulated.
That said, the following are the companies that offer people the possibility of buying or changing the physical chip to an eSIM.
eSIM Orange for France.
As it is well known, Orange is one of the most important phone companies in France and Europe. In the case of the French destination, two prepaid packages are available for you to choose from, each for use within 14 days and with options of 8 GB and 20 GB with costs of 20$ and 40$, respectively. The eSIMs offered by Orange include a French number that must be registered on their website if used for more than 30 days.
These eSIM can be purchased through the Orange website. As these plans have the possibility to be associated with a SIM or eSIM, you must select the eSIM option, and you will be enjoying this technology. It is important to mention that once you receive the activation QR in your email, it can only be scanned once, and in case you delete the eSIM from your phone, you will not be able to reinstall it again.
Benefits of Orange eSIM in France.
One of the great advantages is that despite having just 14-day options, orange will allow you to extend the period of use under certain usage policies and by registering the French number that is given to you. Additionally, this eSIM will be valid in 30 other European destinations. Both plans offer unlimited minutes and unlimited messaging across the supported destinations, along with other features such as:
- The SIM automatically connects to the best local network.
- Data tethering is allowed.
- No usage limitation (videos, applications…)
- Usable on any device (phones, tablets, hotspots…)
How to activate an Orange eSIM in France.
First of all, you need to create an account on the Orange website; if you plan to buy the eSIM through it, you will be asked for an email, password, and phone number to confirm the data. In case you make the purchase in a physical store, this step will not be necessary. Once you make the registration, choose the convenience plan, select the eSIM format for the card, and proceed to cancel the service. You will receive an email with an activation QR code, and your phone must have an internet connection at this point in the process.
Activation will be done automatically once the SIM card is under French network coverage. If you encounter any difficulties once you arrive in France, do not delete the eSIM card because you cannot download it twice, and contact Orange Customer Service.
eSIM Bouygues Telecom for France.
Bouygues is a French company with more than 25 years of experience in the telecom market. They offer prepaid eSIM with three possible plans to choose from, these are travel basic, travel basic+, and My European eSIM, all with a duration of 14 days and different data and call packages. The purchase of the plans together with the eSIM can be made through their website with a quick registration before you can checkout. In case you want to purchase it through a physical store, you must request that the plan is for an eSIM instead of a traditional SIM card.
In any of the plans you select, Bouygues eSIMs offer support in almost all European countries, but it is important to mention that the first activation must be done in French territory. It should also be noted that both the travel basic+ and My European eSIM options include unlimited calls and messages to French and European numbers.
Benefits of Bouygues Telecom eSIM in France
One of the most essential values of the Bouygues eSIM for France is that after the first activation in the country, you will be able to enjoy your plan’s benefits in more than 53 destinations across Europe. Additionally, once you purchase the eSIM with one of the mentioned plans, you will have the following at hand:
- Unlimited calls and texts in France and Europe.
- Every eSIM comes with a tourist guide, including national monuments, activities, good deals, and discounts for each region.
- Tourists guide in 10 languages.
- No additional Roaming cost.
How to activate a Bouygues Telecom eSIM in France.
Once you have chosen the plan and are interested in purchasing through the website or in one of the physical stores, you will receive an email with a QR code to scan to perform the activation. This will be done immediately, always remembering that you must be on French territory and have an internet connection to perform this process. After this, the steps vary depending on your phone:
iPhone:
- In “Settings,” select “Cellular Data”.
- Select “Add a cellular package”.
- Scan the QR code and register the eSIM.
Android:
- Go to “Settings” and then select “Connections”.
- Select “SIM card manager”.
- Select “Add a Mobile plan”, then “Add via QR Code”.
- Scan the QR Code and register the eSIM.
FAQ about eSIM France
Great! We hope that this information for your trip to France has been useful to you, but if you want to know more about virtual cards, we have listed some questions that travelers usually have when purchasing an eSIM to travel to France. If you have any additional questions, leave them in the comments!
The local Orange or SFR eSIMs are mainly intended for people living in France. To connect to the Mobile internet in France, you can use the international eSIM from Holafly or WifiMap.
It’s not necessary to present a passport, but some providers do require your address. This applies only to the eSIM for tourists, not to the eSIM offered by Orange or SFR, who will ask for your information.
No, the eSIM for France does not allow you to share data.
After installing the virtual SIM profile, you must choose it as the default means of data, activate data, and roaming and your virtual SIM will work!
Yes, like physical cards, virtual SIMs also have an expiration date.
From the moment you activate your eSIM, by scanning the QR code on your phone.
The eSIM is the evolution of traditional SIM cards. It works due to a chip inserted inside the cell phone, which allows the profile to be stored and configured. To learn more, we encourage you to read: what eSIM is and how it works.
