Call for free - almost! Free shook up the French telecommunications market with its low-cost, contract-free (sans engagement) mobile offers, and has become one of the main actors in the French mobile phone market in a decade. Free’s internet and TV packages are some of the most competitive in the market. But is Free worth the hype? Find out everything you need to know about Free in our guide.
About Free France mobile: French mobile and internet provider
Free is one of the main mobile and Internet services providers in France, established in 2009 by the telecommunications company Iliad, and led by the French entrepreneur Xavier Niel. This new operator shook up the French mobile phone industry when it entered the market in 2012 with its low-cost offers.
- Free: the Essentials
- First French operator to include calls to overseas territories into its offers
- 20.1 million subscribers: 7.4 million Freebox subscribers (inlcuding 5.5 million fibre optic subscribers) and 15 million Free Mobile subscribers.
- Free Fibre Optic Network: coverage for more than 31 million homes
- Free offers the best Internet speeds on the market, up to 8 Gbit/s downstream with the latest-generation Wifi 7
Free mobile plans in France: sign in for a cheap mobile plan
Are you looking for a great value mobile plan in France ? Free has three mobile offers (at €2, €11.99 and €19.99 per month). Free's business model is based on providing no-frills service at low prices (think Henry Ford and "you can have any colour as long as it's black").
The 250 Go mobile plan is ideal for those who travel regularly, as it includes 35 Go monthly data allowance (from 100 destinations) and unlimited calls/SMS/MMS from Europe, DOM (French oversea territories), Canada Australia, Israël, US, South Africa... for €19.99 only.
What Free lacks in quantity of options it makes up for in quality, with some very attractive offers, as well as special discounts on phone and Internet plans throughout the year.
| Offer | Included services | Price |
|---|---|---|
 Forfait 2€ 50Mo Valid on 24/04/2024 |
|
€2/month
Subscribe online |
Forfait Série Free 140Go Valid on 24/04/2024 |
|
€11.99/mois for 12 months Then €19.99/month Subscribe online |
Forfait Free 250 Go 5G Valid on 24/04/2024 |
|
€19.99/month
Subscribe online |
Free Mobile Network: Coverage in France
For many years, Free's coverage was weaker than other French telecommunications companies. However, Free made significant progress and now benefits from extensive, high-quality mobile coverage.
The operator provides widespread 4G coverage (99% of the population and 98% of the French territory) in 2024. These results are equivalent to SFR, and better than Orange and Bouygues Telecom.
In addition, Free has the largest 5G coverage in France with more than 19 000 5G sites commissioned, accessible in more than 10 000 municipalities and already nearly 95% of the French population covered by 5G. A performance explained by the extensive use of the 700 MHz frequency band.
Compare Internet and Mobile Network Coverage in Your Area! Call our English-speaking customer service line at 09 77 55 72 27 to get help subscribing to internet and mobile phone offers across France.Free SIM Card and Freebox Offers in France
Freebox Offers in France : Choose your broadband plan in France
As of 2024, Free Mobile has 4 main fibre optic offers for Internet, know as its Freebox. The Free internet boxes don't come with a commitment and there is a reduced tariff during the first year, after which the price increases.
All boxes come as a package with Free Internet + fixed telephone line + television (Freebox TV).
The provider stands out from the competition with its Internet speeds, up to 8 Gbit/s downstream. The new Freebox Ultra Wifi 7 based service is the most powerful internet deal available in France. Free is, in fact, the first main provider to launch a Wifi 7 service in Europe, the fastest Wifi to date.
| Offer | Included services | Price |
|---|---|---|
Freebox Révolution Light Fibre Valid on 24/04/2024 |
|
€29.99/month
Subscribe online |
Freebox Pop Fibre Valid on 24/04/2024 |
|
€29.99/month for 12 months Then €39.99/month Subscribe online |
Freebox Ultra Essentiel Valid on 24/04/2024 |
|
€39.99/month for 12 months Then €49.99/month Subscribe online |
Freebox Ultra Valid on 24/04/2024 |
|
€49.99/month for 12 months Then €59.99/month Subscribe online |
As far as tariffs go, prices vary from one box to another and depend on how long you have been subscribed. Prices will typically range from a low €29.99/ month for the Freebox Revolution Light during the first year of subscription, to up to €49.99/ month for the Ultra Freebox after the first year. Look out for Free internet promotions, too.
Free Terms and Conditions You can find in the following links Free's terms and conditions for mobile phone plans and for Internet plans(both in French).
Free Mobile Plans and Internet Reviews
Customer reviews for Free Mobile France - as is the case for all providers - are mixed. Here is a quick summary of what customers say about Free:
- Great value for money: Free offers generous calling time/data allowances for some of the lowest prices available in France (except for the lastest internet offer : the high-priced Freebox Ultra).
- No commitment: all of Free's plans are sans engagement
- Minimal customer service: as a low-cost operator, Free's customer service options are limited. Some customers have found it difficult to access customer service
How to Contact Free mobile in France ?
How to call Free mobile French helpline?
Free customer service can be reached on several numbers.
| Free mobile French helpline | How to contact Free? |
|---|---|
| For existing Free customers | 📞3244 |
| For new Free mobile and internet customers | 📞1044 |
| For international Free customers | 📞+33 1 78 56 95 60 |
Note, the 3244 and 1044 numbers won't work if you are abroad or calling from an international phone number. Just have a quick question? Try Free's online customer assistance, available here (in French).
How to call Free mobile English customer service?
Free does not currently offer English-speaking customer service. While you can contact Free and find help via the Free mobile login on mobile.free.fr, your Free customer space, and the Free customer assistance page, note that most Free customer support information is in French.
Need Telecom Advice in English? Call our English-speaking customer service line on 09 77 55 72 27 to get help subscribing to a phone contract that will suit your needs and budget - it's free!
Contact Free Customer Service
Find all the ways to get in touch with Free in our guide to contacting Free.
Subscribing to a French Internet or Mobile Phone Plan With Free
Find out everthing you need to know about getting the internet and a French mobile plan with our guide to setting up a phone and Internet plan in France.
How to sign up to a Free Mobile phone plan?
You can sign up for a Free phone plan online, the main purchasing channel, or via one of their Free SIM card distribution machines that are available in Maison de la Presse and Mag Presse store locations. You can also sign up for a Free mobile phone plan in one of the Free centers.
- To sign up for a mobile phone plan with Free you will need:
- Your contact information: name, valid email address
- Your address: street address, apartment number, zip code
- Your banking information (RIB): you need to have a French bank account already set up before you sign up for a postpaid mobile phone plan. Some suppliers may also ask for your bank card (carte bancaire) information, which is used for activation fees/deposit.
How to sign up to a Free Mobile Internet plan?
You can sign up for a Free Internet plan (Freebox) online, or by calling 1044. To sign up for an Internet plan with Free, you will need to:
- Test your phone line to determine your broadband/optical fibre eligibility
- Provide full contact details: name, phone number, email address
- Provide your full address: street address, apartment number, zip code
- Provide proof of property (justificatif de domicile), such as an electricity or gas bill, or water bill
- Provide your banking information (RIB): you must have a French bank account in order to sign up for an Internet plan. Free may also ask for a French credit card(carte bancaire) information, for any activation fees/deposit.
How to Cancel a Free Subscription?
Cancel Your Subscription to FreeSelectra's cancellation service makes cancelling your Internet or phone plan easy. Download a free template for a lettre de résiliation (cancellation letter).
Most of Free's internet and mobile phone offers are contract-free (sans engagement), meaning that you can cancel at any time without penalty and with relatively little hassle. To cancel your Free subscription, you must send a recommended letter (lettre recommandée avec avis de réception) to the following address:
Free Résiliation
75371 PARIS Cedex 08
The lettre de résiliation (cancellation letter) that you send to Free must contain:
- Your full name (first name, family name)
- Your account number (identifiant abonné)
- Your account ID (numéro de Ligne de l’abonné)
Free will cancel your plan within 10 days of having received the letter, or in some cases, on the last day of the month. You will know when Free receives your cancellation letter because you will have sent it through registered post (lettre recommandée avec avis de réception).
In most cases, you should be able to cancel your Free mobile phone plan without penalty (Free's mobile phone plans are sans engagement - nonbinding). However, note that conditions are different if a phone is included in your plan. Free "rents" phones based on a 24-month commitment, meaning that you may need to return the phone and all of its parts within 30 days of cancelling your plan if it is before the 24-month mark. Alternatively, you may be charged for the months remaining on your 24-month commitment.
How to Write a Cancellation Letter for Free Mobile?
If you need to cancel your Free mobile phone plan because you are leaving the country, you will need to send a cancellation letter to Free Mobile's cancellation service (service résiliation). You can find out more about how to cancel a mobile phone plan in France in our guide, or you can use this letter template when writing your cancellation letter. Don't forget to send it by registered post!
PDFCancellation letter template
Cancelling a Free Mobile Plan But Keeping Your Phone Number
If you have decided to switch from Free to another provider, chances are you will want to keep the same phone number.
To keep your phone number when changing providers you need to find out your RIO (Relevé d'Identité Opérateur - a unique identifying number that is assigned to your phone number). This is a 12-digit number that you can find by dialling 3179 (to automatically receive your RIO in a text), or in your online client space. You then will need to communicate this number to your new provider - they will take care of the rest (transferring your number, cancelling service with Free)!
How to Cancel an Internet Plan with Free?
Free's Internet plans are sans engagement (non-binding), meaning that you can cancel your plan at any time. However, Free charges a one-time cancellation fee of 49€ for Internet plan cancellations (to cover the costs of closing the line), and you must send back the Internet modem and all of its associated parts to Free in good condition.
You may be able to have the €49 fee reimbursed by your new operator if you have decided to switch internet providers.
Find out more about cancelling an Internet plan in France.