Best international SIM card & eSIM for travel in 2026
Get the right French SIM, hassle-free
Our English-speaking advisors will help you choose the ideal plan for your stay. Fast, easy, 100% free of charge, and in plain English.
Get the right French SIM, hassle-free
Our English-speaking advisors will help you choose the ideal plan for your stay. Fast, easy, 100% free of charge, and in plain English.
An international SIM card or eSIM lets you use mobile data, calls and texts abroad at local‑style rates instead of paying expensive roaming fees. It connects your phone to partner networks in each country you visit, so you stay online for maps, messaging and work without swapping SIMs at every border. This guide compares the best international SIM cards and eSIMs for France, Europe and worldwide travel, and helps you choose the right option for your next trip in just a few minutes.
What is an International SIM Card for travel?
An international SIM card for travel is a mobile plan that lets your phone use local networks abroad for calls, texts and data at pre‑set rates instead of expensive roaming fees. When you insert it (or activate an international eSIM), it connects to partner networks in each country you visit so you can land, switch off airplane mode and go online straight away.
There are two main types:
- classic physical international SIM cards you insert into your phone
- digital eSIMs for travel you activate by scanning a QR code.
Both give you internet abroad, but eSIMs are particularly convenient if you don't want to swap plastic cards or if your phone has no SIM tray, and many offers work across multiple countries with a single plan, which is ideal for multi‑country trips and frequent travellers.
💡 Good to know: most international SIM cards are prepaid, so you control your budget upfront and avoid the mystery bill that often follows traditional roaming.
Not sure about your mobile plan?
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Not sure about your mobile plan?
Our advisors explain your options and help you avoid costly mistakes. One call, clear answers (free of charge).
Best international eSIM options for tourists in France
Travel eSIMs are now the easiest way to get online abroad: you buy a plan, scan a QR code and your phone connects to local networks as soon as you land, with no plastic SIM and no store visit. They are ideal for multi‑country trips, frequent flyers and expats who want flexible data in dozens of destinations without changing number or plan every time they cross a border.
The table below highlights the best international eSIM providers in France, including coverage, data options and key features to help you pick the right partner in just a few seconds.
| Provider | Data | Duration | Price | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holafly | Unlimited ♾️ | 7 days | €26.90 | |
| Saily | 10 GB | 30 days | €19.99 | |
| Airalo | 10 GB | 30 days | €14.50 | |
| GoMoWorld | 55 GB | 30 days | €19.99 | |
| Ubigi | 10 GB | 30 days | €9 USD | |
| Roamless | 10 GB | 30 days | €15.95 USD |
Updated in january of 2026 - Free listing, random order - Prices may include temporary promotions
Best SIM and mobile plans for expats & long stays (3+ months)
For expats and anyone staying in France longer than three months, a proper French mobile plan almost always beats tourist SIMs in both price and comfort. You get a local number for banks and admin, huge data allowances in France, plus EU roaming included for your weekends away. Most plans are no-contract, which means you can cancel your subscription or switch providers anytime.
Recommended setup for expats and long‑term visitors:
 Série Free 110Go 5G No contract |
Unlimited
Unlimited |
110
GB
5G |
See offer
Partner offer
|
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| See details Hide details | ||||
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30 Go in Europe/DOM
|
8,99€/month for 12 months then 19,99€/month
SIM card: 10€ |
|||
 Forfait Lebara 250 Go 5G No contract |
Unlimited
Unlimited |
250
GB
5G |
See offer
Partner offer
|
|
| See details Hide details | ||||
|
8 Go in Europe/DOM
|
8,99€/month without duration commitment.
SIM card: 0€ |
|||
 Forfait Sosh 100Go No contract |
Unlimited
Unlimited |
100
GB
4G |
See offer
Partner offer
|
|
| See details Hide details | ||||
|
40 Go in Europe/DOM
|
9,99€/month without duration commitment.
SIM card: 10€ |
|||
|
Forfait Lebara 350 Go 5G No contract |
Unlimited
Unlimited |
350
GB
5G |
See offer
Partner offer
|
|
| See details Hide details | ||||
|
10,5 Go in Europe/DOM
|
11,99€/month without duration commitment.
SIM card: 0€ |
|||
 Forfait B&You 120 Go 5G No contract |
Unlimited
Unlimited |
120
GB
5G |
See offer
Partner offer
|
|
| See details Hide details | ||||
|
25 Go in Europe/DOM
|
11,99€/month without duration commitment.
SIM card: 10€ |
|||
 Forfait RED 250Go 5G No contract |
Unlimited
Unlimited |
250
GB
5G |
||
| See details Hide details | ||||
|
38 Go in Europe/DOM
|
12,99€/month without duration commitment.
SIM card: 10€ |
|||
| Perplexity Pro offert 12 mois | ||||
|
Forfait B&You 200 Go 5G No contract |
Unlimited
Unlimited |
200
GB
5G |
See offer
Partner offer
|
|
| See details Hide details | ||||
|
30 Go in Europe/DOM
|
13,99€/month without duration commitment.
SIM card: 10€ |
|||
|
Forfait Voyage 200Go 5G No contract |
Unlimited
Unlimited |
200
GB
5G |
See offer
Partner offer
|
|
| See details Hide details | ||||
|
40 Go in Europe/DOM
40 Go depuis 130 pays |
15,99€/month without duration commitment.
SIM card: 10€ |
International SIM card vs local SIM vs roaming: which is best for travel?
When you travel, you basically have three ways to get online: an international SIM card or eSIM, a local SIM at your destination, or roaming with your usual mobile plan. All three will usually give you data, calls and texts abroad, but they differ massively in price, effort and how much control you keep over your usage.
- International SIM cards and eSIMs are usually the best balance for expats and frequent travellers: one plan, many countries, and clear prepaid data bundles.
- Local SIM cards tend to be the absolute cheapest option per GB if you stay in one country for a while
- Roaming is the most convenient for very short trips but often the most expensive if you use a lot of data.
The table below sums up the pros and cons of each option so you can quickly spot which one fits your trip and your budget.
| Options | Best for | Pros & cons |
|---|---|---|
| International SIM / eSIM | Multi-country trips, short stays |
|
| Local SIM card | Long stays in a single country (including France) |
|
| Roaming with home operator | Very short trips |
|
How to choose the best international SIM card or eSIM for travel
Key criteria to compare international SIMs for travel
Choosing the best international SIM card or eSIM for travel starts with one simple question: how, where and for how long will you use your phone abroad? Before you click "buy", take a minute to compare a few essentials that will make or break your experience on the road.
Key things to check:
- Coverage: which countries and regions are included, and on which networks in practice
- Data allowance: how many GB you get, and whether top-ups are easy and fairly priced
- Speed: 4G/5G support and whether hotspot/tethering is allowed
- Validity: how long the plan lasts once activated and whether unused data expires quickly
- Compatibility: eSIM support on your phone and the need for an unlocked device for physical SIMs
💡 Expert tip
Estimate your typical daily data usage (maps, messages, social media, maybe a bit of streaming) and multiply by the number of travel days: this helps you pick a plan that's big enough without overpaying for data you'll never use.
👌 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.
International SIM card with unlimited data: what it really means
"Unlimited data" on an international SIM card or eSIM almost never means truly infinite high-speed internet, and this is where many travellers get disappointed. Most providers apply a Fair Usage Policy (FUP), which gives you a certain amount of fast data per day or per trip, then slows you down once you cross that invisible line.
In practice, an international SIM card with unlimited data this can look like:
- A daily cap of high-speed data, then reduced speeds for the rest of the day
- Throttling after heavy activities such as HD streaming or long hotspot sessions
- "Unlimited" that is comfortable for maps, messaging and emails, but painful for video or large downloads.
💡 Good to know
International SIM card with unlimited data plans are perfect if you hate counting gigabytes, but if you work remotely or stream a lot, a large high-speed data bundle (for example 20-50 GB) can actually feel more reliable than an "unlimited" offer with aggressive speed drops.
How to set up an international eSIM or SIM card step by step
For eSIM (step-by-step list)
Setting up an international eSIM is usually a five‑minute job you can do from your sofa before you even pack. All you need is an eSIM‑compatible phone, Wi‑Fi and the QR code or activation details from your provider.
- Check that your phone supports eSIM and is not locked to another operator
- Buy your eSIM plan and keep the QR code or installation link handy on a second device
- On your phone, go to Settings > Mobile/Cellular > Add eSIM, then scan the QR code or enter the details manually
- Name the new plan (for example "Travel data") and set it as your mobile data line
- When you land, turn off airplane mode, enable data roaming for the eSIM and wait a few seconds for the network to connect.
💡 Good to know
Keep your home SIM active for calls/SMS if needed and use the eSIM for data only: this way you stay reachable without touching your main number.
For physical SIM / pay-as-you-go
If you prefer a classic prepaid international SIM card or local pay‑as‑you‑go SIM, setup is still quick as long as your phone is unlocked. Most cards come with a short leaflet or SMS instructions, but the process is broadly the same everywhere.
- Make sure your phone is unlocked by your current carrier before you travel.
- Switch off your phone, remove your usual SIM and insert the new international or local SIM card.
- Turn the phone back on; in many cases, it will auto‑connect to a partner network within a minute or two.
- Follow any activation SMS or USSD code (sometimes you must select a bundle or confirm your language).
- If data doesn't work, add or update the APN settings provided by the operator in the SIM packaging or website.
💡 Expert tip
Take a photo of your home SIM card tray before removing it and keep the card in a labelled envelope. Losing your original SIM at the bottom of a backpack is more common than you think.
Need a plan that works beyond France?
Speak with an expert to find French mobile offers with generous EU roaming and international options that fit your expat lifestyle.
Need a plan that works beyond France?
Speak with an expert to find French mobile offers with generous EU roaming and international options that fit your expat lifestyle.