Best SIM Plans in France 2026: From €2 to €40 Compared

TL;DR: Top 3 Picks for France

Compare All 22 French Plans on SimFinder →

Below, we break down the entire market using real plan data.

Table of Contents

• The French Mobile Landscape
• Carrier Structure: Who Owns What
• Price Breakdown: All 22 Plans Compared
• Best Value Plans by Use Case
• 5G and eSIM Availability
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Key Takeaways

France has one of the most competitive mobile markets in Europe. Four network operators — Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom, and Free Mobile — compete aggressively, and three of them also operate budget sub-brands that undercut their own premium offerings.

SimFinder’s database tracks 7 carriers and 22 plans in France. Prices range from just €2/month to €39.99/month, with 95% eSIM support and 73% offering 5G. Almost every plan includes unlimited voice calls.

This guide breaks down the entire French SIM market using actual plan data, network quality scores, and pricing analysis.

The French Mobile Landscape: 4 MNOs, 3 Sub-brands

France’s mobile market is structured around four physical networks. Three of the four MNOs operate no-contract sub-brands that run on the same infrastructure at lower prices.

Quality data: OpenSignal 2025, measured November 2025

Orange leads in overall quality with 90/100, the fastest download speeds (165.2 Mbps), and the best coverage (95/100). It is the network of choice for anyone who needs reliable connectivity across metropolitan and rural France alike.

SFR and Bouygues Telecom are close competitors. SFR edges ahead in coverage (90 vs 89) while Bouygues has a slightly higher overall score (83 vs 82). In practice, the difference between these two is marginal for most users.

Free Mobile is the disruptor. With the lowest quality score (72/100) and the weakest coverage (84/100), it trades network quality for aggressive pricing. Its unlimited 5G plan at €9.99/month is unmatched anywhere else in Europe.

Carrier Structure: Who Owns What

Understanding the MNO/sub-brand relationship is the key to getting the best value in France.

MNOs vs Sub-brands

The three sub-brands — Sosh, RED by SFR, and B&You — use the exact same network infrastructure as their parent MNOs. The coverage and speeds are identical. What differs is:

• No contract — Sub-brand plans are all no-commitment (sans engagement)
• Lower price — Typically 30-60% cheaper than the parent MNO for equivalent data
• Self-service — Support is primarily online, no in-store assistance
• No bundled phone — SIM-only plans; buy your phone separately

For example, B&You offers 100GB 5G for €9.99/month on the Bouygues network. The equivalent Bouygues Telecom plan with 100GB 5G costs €24.99/month with a 24-month contract — that’s 2.5x the price for the same network.

Free Mobile: The Odd One Out

Free Mobile does not operate a sub-brand because it already is the low-cost option. It launched in 2012 with the explicit goal of disrupting French mobile pricing, and it succeeded. Its €2/month and €9.99/month plans reset price expectations across the entire market.

Price Breakdown: All 22 Plans Compared

Sub-brand Plans (No Contract)

Free Mobile Plans (No Contract)

MNO Plans

The pricing pattern is clear: sub-brands and Free Mobile deliver dramatically more data per euro than their MNO counterparts. RED by SFR’s 110GB 5G at €8.99 costs less than half of SFR’s own 60GB plan at €15.99.

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Best Value Plans by Use Case

Ultra-Budget (Under €7/month)

Free Mobile €2 Forfait — The cheapest mobile plan in France, and arguably in all of Western Europe. For €2/month you get 2GB of data and unlimited calls with no contract. The catch: no eSIM, no 5G, and no tethering. This plan is for anyone who primarily uses WiFi and needs a basic phone line.

RED by SFR €5.99 20Go — For just €4 more per month, you get 10x the data (20GB), eSIM support, and the SFR network (82/100 quality). If you use your phone for more than basic messaging, this is the minimum plan worth considering.

Best Balance of Price and Features

RED by SFR €8.99 110Go 5G — The standout value in the entire French market. 110GB of 5G data on SFR’s network for under €9/month, with no contract and eSIM support. For the vast majority of users, this is more data than they will ever consume.

B&You €9.99 100Go 5G — Nearly identical value on the Bouygues network (83/100 overall, slightly higher than SFR’s 82/100). At €9.99 for 100GB 5G, it is just €1 more than RED for 10GB less data, but on a marginally higher-rated network.

Heavy Data and Streaming

Free Mobile €9.99 Unlimited 5G — Unlimited 5G data for €9.99/month with no contract is a proposition that exists almost nowhere else. The trade-off is Free’s lower network quality (72/100) and weaker rural coverage (84/100). In cities, Free’s 5G performance is adequate for streaming. Outside urban areas, you may notice the gap.

B&You €13.99 200Go 5G — If you want a large data allowance on a higher-quality network, 200GB on Bouygues for €13.99 is the best option. No contract, eSIM included.

Premium / Best Network Quality

Orange Illimite 5G €34.99 — For users who want the absolute best network quality in France (90/100 overall, 165.2 Mbps download, 95/100 coverage), Orange’s unlimited 5G plan is the premium choice. It requires a 24-month commitment and costs more than 3x Free’s unlimited plan, but the network experience is measurably superior.

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5G and eSIM Availability

5G

16 of 22 plans (73%) include 5G. France’s 5G rollout is well advanced, with all four MNOs operating 5G networks. The plans without 5G are budget tiers:

For most users, 5G is effectively included at no extra cost. RED by SFR’s 110GB 5G plan costs just €3 more than its own 20GB 4G plan.

eSIM

21 of 22 plans (95%) support eSIM. The sole exception is the Free Mobile €2 plan. This near-universal eSIM support means travellers can activate a French SIM before arriving in the country, as long as their phone supports eSIM.

For short-term visitors who need data-only connectivity, travel eSIM providers like Airalo, Holafly, and Saily also cover France. However, French domestic plans are so competitively priced that a local SIM — especially a no-contract sub-brand plan — often costs less than a travel eSIM while providing more data and a French phone number.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest SIM plan in France?

Free Mobile’s Forfait 2€ at €2/month is the cheapest. It includes 2GB of data, unlimited calls, and no contract — but it lacks eSIM support. The next cheapest options with eSIM are RED by SFR 20Go at €5.99 and SFR 1Go at €5.99.

Can I get a French SIM without a long-term contract?

Yes. 18 of the 22 plans tracked by SimFinder are contract-free (sans engagement). Only the premium MNO plans from Bouygues Telecom and the unlimited plans from Orange and SFR require 24-month commitments.

Which French carrier has the best network coverage?

Orange leads with a coverage score of 95/100 and an overall quality score of 90/100 (OpenSignal 2025). SFR (90/100 coverage) and Bouygues Telecom (89/100) follow closely. Free Mobile has the weakest coverage at 84/100.

Is 5G widely available in France?

Yes. 16 of the 22 plans (73%) include 5G access. All four MNOs offer 5G, and even budget sub-brands like RED by SFR and B&You include 5G on their larger plans. The 6 plans without 5G are mostly low-data tiers under 60GB.

Do French SIM plans support eSIM?

Almost all of them — 21 out of 22 plans (95%) support eSIM. The only exception is the Free Mobile €2 plan. If your phone supports eSIM, you can activate most French plans remotely before arriving.

What’s the best SIM plan for a tourist visiting France?

For short visits, Free Mobile’s Série Free 110Go 5G at €9.99/month is hard to beat — no contract, eSIM, 5G, 110GB of data. RED by SFR 110Go 5G at €8.99 is even cheaper. Both are no-commitment and can be cancelled immediately after your trip.

How does Free Mobile offer unlimited 5G data for €9.99?

Free Mobile entered the French market in 2012 with a disruptive pricing strategy and lower infrastructure costs. Its Forfait Free 5G Illimite at €9.99/month includes truly unlimited 5G data with no contract. The trade-off is lower network quality (72/100 overall vs Orange’s 90/100).

Key Takeaways

The French SIM market in 2026:

• 7 carriers, 22 plans — prices range from €2/month (Free 2€) to €39.99/month (SFR Unlimited 5G+)
• Four MNO networks: Orange (90/100), Bouygues (83/100), SFR (82/100), Free (72/100)
• Sub-brands save 30-60%: B&You 100GB 5G costs €9.99 vs Bouygues Telecom’s own 100GB 5G at €24.99
• Free Mobile is unmatched on price: unlimited 5G for €9.99/month exists nowhere else in Europe
• 5G is standard (73% of plans), and eSIM is near-universal (95%)
• 18 of 22 plans are contract-free — only 4 premium plans require a 24-month commitment
• For most users: RED by SFR 110Go 5G at €8.99/month offers the best balance of data, price, and network quality

France’s mobile market rewards those who choose sub-brands over MNOs. The networks are identical, the prices are not.

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Plan data is current as of March 2026. Prices and inclusions may change. Check carrier websites for the latest information.

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