Orange is currently the only Internet service provider that allows you to use your foreign number (European numbers only) during the subscription process.
Internet in France: Find and Sign Up for the Best Internet Plan
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So you've just arrived (or are moving to) France. Are you looking for an Internet plan? There's a wide choice of internet deals in France and prices range from 19,99€/month to 59,90€/month. All deals offer an internet plan with a fixed telephone line. However, do you need help choosing between offers with or without contract ? Do you prefer a deal with or without television? Should you choose fibre over ADSL? Or would you like to bundle an internet plan with a mobile deal? Follow our guide to find the package that suits your needs and your budget.
Like most countries throughout Europe, Internet usage in France is high. Many shops/cafes/fast-food chains offer free wifi, though you'll find fewer options in smaller towns. Tourist offices throughout many cities in France sometimes offer free wifi access, as do most hotels/B&Bs/hostels. Internet cafes are quite common as well.
Your best option for getting connected to Internet depends on whether you are visiting France or staying in the country for an extended period of time. If you are coming to France to study or work, you may find you have Internet access at your office or school library, but it's likely that you'll also need Internet access at home. Here are our suggestions for getting Internet access in France depending on your situation:
Length of Stay
Type of Offer
Long stay
Fibre optics plan (Box Fibre)
ADSL plan (Box ADSL) only if you are not eligible for fibre optics
Router4G/5G (Box 4G/5G) only if you are not eligible for fibre optics/ADSL
Satellite (Satellite) only if you are not eligible for fibre optics/ADSL
Short stay
Free Wifi (Wifi Gratuit)
Tethering (Partage de connexion)
Moving to France: Internet Access for a Long Stay
What is the best internet provider in France?
If you have a home in France and are responsible for utilities, you will likely want to set up the Internet (along with other utilities such as electricity or natural gas). You have a varied choice of Internet providers throughout most of France, with four main actors dominating the market (Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom, and Free). They offer a range of offers to suit every need and every budget. Some of these providers also operate low-cost brands as well. Find below our comparison of the different broadband operators.
There are two main options for the type of Internet access for your home:
Optical Fibre: with connection speeds between 1 Gbit/s and 8 Gbit/s, the optical fibre is useful for big households and households with HD or 4K television. However, it is not available everywhere in France, so you will need to verify with your chosen Internet provider whether this is an option.
ADSL (if you are not eligibile to the fibre optic) : with a connection speed of up to 20 Mbit/s , ADSL is sufficient for one person with standard quality television.
Internet access at home will be unlimited with both these options.
The optical fibre is considerably faster than ADSL and France is gradually closing down the ADSL network. That's why fibre optics is the first option to consider.
Broadband is still not an option in some rural parts of France. If your home is in a zone blanche (an area not covered by a telecommunications provider), you will want to look into satellite technology for your telephone and Internet access.
What are the best student internet deals?
There are several low-cost Internet deals for students available in France. For less than €20/month, students in France can get an unlimited broadband connection without contract. However, for a stay of more than a year, the Redbox by SFR at €19.99 is the cheapest offer because it's not subject to price increases over time. Most operators also offer box + mobile bundles, which can be customised. Finally, it's also possible to sign up for an Internet plan and a mobile plan with two different operators. Here are the best internet plans currently available:
Prices for fibre subscriptions in France range from 19,99€/month to 59,90€/month, depending on the performance of the equipment and the options available. Most providers offer internet deals around €30/month with free calls to landlines (in France and international destinations) unlimited internet access and TV service included.
The cheapest offer is sold by Sosh : the Boîte Sosh from 24.99€ and the most expensive one (and the most powerful on the market) is sold by Free: the Freebox Ultra, at 59.99€. However, prices change frequently.
Is it cheaper to subscribe to a bundle deal with internet+TV, landline and mobile?
In addition to offering Internet service, all providers also offer bundle packages that can include additional services such as fixed-line telephone, television, or mobile phone plans. Bundle deals are the ideal way to equip a household and save money.
How to Sign Up for an Internet Plan in France?
🏠 Need Internet for Your Home in France? Selectra is a comparator that helps you to find the best Internet offer for you. Our service is 100% free. Call our English-speaking customer support at: +33 9 77 55 72 27 Free Callback
🏠 Need Internet for Your Home in France?Selectra is a comparator that helps you to find the best Internet offer for you. Our service is 100% free. The callcenter is currently closed. Call us Mon-Fri. 8 am-9 pm, Sat.9:30 am-6:30 pm and Sun. 9 am-5 pm. Free Callback
Depending on what type of zone your home is located in, you may or may not have a choice of Internet provider. However, the information required for signing up for an Internet plan in France is the same, regardless of the provider:
Your contact information: name, email address, (French) telephone number
Your full address: don't forget the apartment number and floor (e.g. third floor, the door on the left). The name of the previous occupant may also help the supplier identify your home (for ADSL)
Your banking information (RIB): you need to have a French bank account already set up before you sign up for an Internet plan. Some suppliers may also ask for your bank card (carte bancaire) information, which is used for activation fees/deposit.
Visiting France: Internet Access for a Short Stay
If you are staying in France for a short time period (i.e. less than three months), you can probably get by without buying an Internet plan for your stay. Depending on where you are in France, some of the following options for Internet may be available to you:
Free Wifi Hotspots
Internet access at your hotel/B&B/hostel
Where to find free wifi in France: try larger shops/cafes/fast-food chains, shopping malls, tourist offices, or public libraries. Some public parks in bigger French cities (Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux) offer free wifi. Free wifi is also available at the Charles de Gaulle and Orly Airports in Paris
Internet cafes
Ranking of French cities with the highest number of free wifi hotspots
City
Number of Free Wi-Fi terminals
Number of inhabitants
Tours
250
294 000
Nice
166
952 000
Toulouse
94
1 019 000
Grenoble
54
157 000
Marseille
45
1 618 000
Poitiers
41
90 000
La Rochelle
24
77 000
Clermont-Ferrand
14
147 000
Nantes
8
671 000
Antibes
6
74 000
Tethering
Tourists can use their cellphone's data plan and share their mobile internet data with another device like a personal hotspot. This is a safer choice than using a public hotspot. Please note that the amount of mobile Internet data included in a mobile plan is generally lower for foreign destinations. It is important to check the quantity available for France in your contract.
There are two ways of sharing a connection:
Data through your current phone provider (keeping in mind that this may be expensive, depending on your current plan)
Choosing an Internet Plan: Important Questions to Ask
Internet offers in France are quite competitive, so it's well worth taking a bit of time to compare suppliers and plans. Asking yourself some of the following questions will help you find the internet plan that best meets your needs.
Need a Phone Plan as Well? Most Internet service providers offer package deals, combining internet + fixed-line phone (Dual Play Offer) or internet + fixed-line phone+ television (Triple Play Offer) or internet + fixed-line phone+ television + mobile plan (Quadruple Play Offer).
Is the offer available for me? Before signing up for an Internet plan, you will need to determine whether optical fibre is available where you live. Other Internet technologies, such as ADSL or satellite, are only available if you are not eligible for fibre optics. To check fibre optic availability in your area, you can visit the operator's website or this can be done over the phone while signing up for an Internet plan with the free help of a Selectra adviser.
How much does the plan cost per month?
For how long am I committed to this plan? Don't forget to check whether there are any early cancellation fees if you change your mind or would like to switch suppliers.
What kind of additional services are included? Does the Internet plan include access to free wifi hotspots? If TV is included in the package, which TV channels? If a mobile phone plan is included, does it include free calls in France and abroad?
Are there any additional fees to be aware of? For example, is there a deposit to pay, or an early cancellation fee?
Cancelling an internet contract in France
If you need to terminate your broadband plan with a French operator, you will have to send your request 10 days before you want your contract to come to an end. If you are moving to another city or country, or if you have a "sans engagement" contrat, then it will be free.
If you want to switch to a new provider, there might be cancellation fees, but some providers offer to pay for them.