How much data do you need for your french mobile phone plan?
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When living or travelling in France, knowing how much mobile data you need is essential. On average, French users consume 17 GB per month on 4G (ARCEP, Q4 2024). Light users get by with 1-2 GB, while heavy streaming and navigation can easily exceed 10 GB. Understanding your usage helps you choose the right plan, avoid extra charges, and stay connected wherever you go.
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🇫🇷 Just moved to France?
Let’s get your internet sorted: our English-speaking advisors can help you find and set up the right internet or mobile plan, 100% free of charge.
What is mobile data in France?
Mobile data in France is the internet you use on your phone when you are away from WiFi. It is measured in megabytes and gigabytes, and every action on your phone uses a small share of it.
Most travellers find that everyday tasks use much less data than expected. Checking maps, browsing, sending messages, streaming a few songs, everything adds up but usually stays reasonable.
According to ARCEP, the French telecom regulator, the average 4G mobile data consumption per subscriber was 17 GB per month in the last quarter of 2024. This gives a good benchmark if you want to compare your own usage or plan your data allowance while staying connected in France.
To give you a quick idea:
- Maps and messaging use very little
- Social apps and web browsing sit in the middle
- Video streaming drains your data fastest
💡 Good to know
French operators show data in Mo and Go. Mo means MB and Go means GB, so you might need a second to adjust when comparing plans.
How much mobile data do I need in France?
How much mobile data you need in France depends entirely on how you use your phone. If you mostly check maps, messages and a bit of social media, a small to medium data allowance is usually enough. But if you stream HD video, scroll TikTok for long sessions or use your phone for work, your needs jump quickly.
To make things easier, you can use the data calculator below. Enter how much time you spend on streaming, browsing or social apps each week and you will get a realistic estimate of the number of gigas you actually need. It is a simple way to avoid choosing a plan that is too small or too large.
Mobile data for visitors in France
If you're just visiting: mobile data for travellers in France
If you're travelling in France or the EU with a SIM from your home country, you might wonder how much data you really need. Typically, a modest data allowance (a few GB per week) is enough for navigation, messaging and staying in touch. Perfect for a holiday or short stay.
Just for fun, try our data-calculator tool: plug in how many hours per week you stream video, use maps, browse social media or check email. The tool then gives you a realistic GB estimate, no guesswork needed. That way you avoid choosing a plan that's too small (and risk running out) or paying for far more data than you'll actually use.
Your shortcut to French telecom plans
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👌 Your shortcut to French Internet & mobile plans.
Skip the French forms and hold music: our advisors can handle the setup for you in a few minutes. Call our English-speaking team today!
Roaming vs Local use: what to know if you travel across Europe
When roaming inside the EU, thanks to the "roam like at home" policy, you can usually use your data plan the same as at home, no extra roaming fees for data, calls or texts.
However, there are a few catches. If your operator considers that you're using your line more abroad than at home over several months (or using more data abroad than domestically), they can apply small surcharges, or limit roaming data under a "fair use" policy.
💬 Expert tip
- If you plan to stay long-term abroad or travel frequently between EU countries, double-check your plan's roaming / fair-use conditions before relying only on "roam like at home".
- For a short holiday or short visit, EU roaming rules will usually cover you just like being at home: simple and hassle-free.
Roaming and using your phone in France
Roaming in France works smoothly for most travellers, but you still need to switch data roaming ON for your phone to connect when you are outside your home network. Whether you come from the EU, the UK or further abroad, your data usage will follow the rules of your operator, not the French network. That means your plan may include free roaming, a fair-use cap or pay-as-you-go rates depending on where you're from.
If your mobile data is not working in France, a quick check often fixes everything. Here's a simple checklist to make sure you're connected:
- Data roaming activated
- Correct APN settings (your provider’s official ones)
- Active mobile plan with remaining data
- Adequate network coverage where you are
💡 Good to know
Some non-EU operators block data roaming by default after a certain spending limit. Log into your account or app to make sure no spending cap is stopping your connection.
👌 Talk to someone who gets it.
We’ve been there too: French contracts can be tricky. Our English-speaking team helps you compare or switch plans easily.
👌 Talk to someone who gets it.
We’ve been there too: French contracts can be tricky. Our English-speaking team helps you compare or switch plans easily.
Mobile plans, eSIM and data only options in France
Local mobile plans for expats
If you plan to stay in France for several months or more, a local mobile plan is usually the simplest option. These plans provide a regular monthly allowance of data, calls, and texts, often with additional benefits depending on your provider. For expats, choosing a contract-free SIM-only plan can be convenient, as it allows flexibility while avoiding long commitments.
Local plans often come with generous data packages, and operators may include fair-use policies for EU roaming. This ensures that you can travel around Europe without worrying about extra charges.
Discover a selection of French 5G plans below that are also compatible with eSIM:
| Offer | Included services | Price |
|---|---|---|
 Forfait SFR 2h 1Go 5G |
1 GB in France
1 Go from EU/DOM 2h unlimited calls/SMS/MMS eSIM available |
5,99€/month
+33 9 77 55 72 27 Subscribe online Selectra service |
 Forfait Lebara 120 Go 5G |
120 GB in France
7 Go from EU/DOM Unlimited calls/SMS/MMS eSIM available |
6,99€/month
Subscribe online Partner offer |
 Forfait Lyca 100 Go 5G |
100 GB in France
9 Go from EU/DOM Unlimited calls/SMS/MMS eSIM available |
6,99€/month
Subscribe online Partner offer |
 Oxygène 130 Go 5G |
130 GB in France
25 Go from EU/DOM Unlimited calls/SMS/MMS eSIM available |
7,99€/month
Subscribe online Partner offer |
Forfait Lyca M 200 Go 5G |
200 GB in France
11 Go from EU/DOM Unlimited calls/SMS/MMS eSIM available |
7,99€/month
Subscribe online Partner offer |
 Forfait B&You 90 Go 5G |
90 GB in France
20 Go from EU/DOM Unlimited calls/SMS/MMS eSIM available |
7,99€/month
Subscribe online Partner offer |
 Forfait RED 100Go 5G |
100 GB in France
30 Go from EU/DOM Unlimited calls/SMS/MMS eSIM available |
7,99€/month
+33 9 77 55 72 27 Subscribe online Selectra service |
Forfait Lebara 250 Go 5G |
250 GB in France
7 Go from EU/DOM Unlimited calls/SMS/MMS eSIM available |
8,99€/month
Subscribe online Partner offer |
 Forfait 100 Go 5G |
100 GB in France
10 Go from EU/DOM Unlimited calls/SMS/MMS eSIM available |
8,99€/month
Subscribe online Partner offer |
 Série Free 120Go 5G |
120 GB in France
25 Go from EU/DOM Unlimited calls/SMS/MMS eSIM available |
From 8,99€/month
Subscribe online Partner offer |
Non-exhaustive selection of telecom offers, sorted by price.
💡 Good to know
Signing up with a local operator often requires a French address and sometimes a bank account. Prepaid options are available but usually cost slightly more per GB.
Data only eSIM for tourists
Tourists or short-term visitors can take advantage of international eSIM data-only plans. These digital SIMs let you activate data on your phone without visiting a store or swapping a physical SIM. eSIMs are ideal for short trips: simply buy online, scan the QR code, and your data is ready to go.
Most eSIM data-only plans offer flexible data amounts, and some provide unlimited data under fair-use limits, perfect if you plan to stream, navigate, or work while travelling. They also avoid the hassle of contracts or long-term commitments, making them a stress-free solution for international visitors.
| Provider | Data | Duration | Price | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holafly | Illimitée ♾️ | 7 days | €25.56 EUR | |
| GoMoWorld | 15 Go | 30 days | €10,99 EUR | |
| Ubigi | 10 Go | 30 days | €9 EUR | |
| Saily | 10 Go | 30 days | $19.99 USD | |
| Airalo | 10 Go | 30 days | €14.50 EUR | |
| Roamless | 10 Go | 30 days | $15.95 USD |
Equivalent offers used for comparison purposes - Information updated in december of 2025
💡 Good to know
Not all phones support eSIMs, so double-check compatibility before purchasing. Also, some operators cap video streaming speeds even on "unlimited" plans, so read the fine print for fair-use limits.
NEED A FRENCH PHONE PLAN?
Call an English-speaking Selectra advisor at +33 9 77 55 72 27 (Mon. to Fri. from 8 am to 9 pm and 9:30 am to 6:30 pm on Sat. and on Sun. 9 am to 5 pm) to help you sign up for a mobile phone plan.
NEED A FRENCH PHONE PLAN?
Call an English-speaking Selectra advisor at +33 9 77 55 72 27 (Mon. to Friday, from 8 am to 9 pm and 9:30 am to 6:30 pm on Saturdays and on Sundays 9 am to 5 pm) to help you sign up for a mobile phone plan.
NEED A FRENCH PHONE PLAN?
Call an English-speaking Selectra advisor at +33 9 77 55 72 27 . Our call-center is currently closed. Ask for a free callback to help you sign up for a mobile phone plan.
NEED A FRENCH PHONE PLAN?
Call an English-speaking Selectra advisor at +33 9 77 55 72 27 . Our call-center is currently closed. Ask for a free callback to help you sign up for a mobile phone plan.