French prepaid is expensive because the cheap forfaits need a French bank account. SFR sells a tourist SIM with 60 GB for EUR 34.99; an international eSIM roaming on Orange costs a fraction of that and needs no passport queue.
- The cheap French deals are not available to you - the famous EUR 10 forfaits need a French bank IBAN, so visitors pay three to four times as much on tourist packages.
- Passport registration is mandatory by law for any French prepaid SIM, and staff scan your identity page at the counter.
- SFR's tourist SIM is the best local value: 60 GB of 5G, unlimited European calls and 120 international minutes for 30 days at EUR 34.99.
- For under two weeks, an international eSIM is cheaper and faster - Saily is USD 11.99 for 5 GB over 30 days and activates before you land.
- EU and EEA visitors need nothing at all, and Orange has the strongest national coverage if you do want a local network.
If you are here for under two weeks, buy an international eSIM and skip the counter entirely.
- The cheap French deals are not available to you. The famous EUR 10 forfaits require a French bank IBAN, so visitors are pushed onto tourist prepaid packages at three to four times the price.
- Passport registration is mandatory by law at the point of sale for any French prepaid SIM. Staff scan your identity page.
- An international eSIM from Saily roams on a French host network and activates before you land: USD 3.99 for 1 GB over 7 days, USD 11.99 for 5 GB over 30 days. For a short trip this is both cheaper and faster than queueing for a local chip.
- EU and EEA visitors need nothing at all - roam-like-at-home applies.
The networks
- Orange has the strongest national coverage, urban and rural, and is what most international eSIMs ride on. Its Holiday Prepaid pack with 12 GB to 30 GB and EU roaming is EUR 39.99.
- SFR is close behind in cities and along transport corridors. Its tourist SIM or eSIM gives 60 GB of 5G, unlimited calls within Europe and 120 international minutes for 30 days at EUR 34.99 - the best value of the local tourist offers.
- Bouygues Telecom sells a My European SIM data package at EUR 39.90.
- Free Mobile is the low-cost operator, strong 5G in cities and weaker in the countryside. Its prepaid pass is EUR 19.99 plus a SIM fee, but eSIM support is limited to store kiosks.
Where to buy
- Airport: Relay newsagents and electronics kiosks in the arrivals halls at Paris Charles de Gaulle, Paris Orly and Nice Cote d'Azur. Expect premium pricing and only the higher tourist tiers.
- In town: the flagship stores of Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom and Free Mobile sell at standard rates and will set the phone up for you.
All four networks support native eSIM profiles if you would rather stay local.
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