Best prepaid SIM cards in France for tourists & expats (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.
French prepaid SIM cards for tourists, expats and students start around €5–€10 for 5–20 GB of data with no contract, plus a local number and EU‑wide roaming at domestic rates. These offers are available from Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom, Free and MVNOs like La Poste Mobile, Lebara or Lycamobile, and sold at airports, shops, tobacconists and online.
Which French SIM card should you pick?
- 🧳 If you're a tourist staying 1-2 weeks: choose an Orange Holiday Europe SIM for easy activation at the airport, solid coverage and EU roaming included.
- 💸 If you need a lot of data on a budget: go for a high‑data prepaid offer from SFR La Carte or Lebara / Lycamobile, which are usually cheaper than tourist packs.
- 🚀 If you prefer an eSIM with instant activation: pick a Bouygues Telecom My European eSIM plan and activate it online with a QR code before or upon arrival.
- 🧑🎓 If you're a student or expat staying a few months: start with a pay-as-you-go SIM (Lebara, Lycamobile, La Poste Mobile), then consider switching to a no‑contract postpaid plan once you have a French bank account.
- 🏠 Staying longer than 3 months? Compare French mobile plan options and unlimited data plans
🇫🇷 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.
🇫🇷 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.
Best prepaid SIM cards in France in february of 2026
There is no single "best SIM card in France" for everyone. Orange Holiday Europe is often the safest choice if you want a tourist SIM card with strong coverage and EU roaming, while SFR, Bouygues Telecom and MVNOs like Lebara, Lycamobile or La Poste Mobile can be cheaper if you mainly need data or call abroad.
Use the Top 5 table and summaries below to choose the best prepaid pay-as-you-go SIM in France for your stay.
*French overseas territories – Updated in february of 2026
Orange Holiday Europe SIM card
The Orange Holiday Europe SIM is one of the most popular tourist SIM cards in France. It includes up to 500 GB of 4G/5G data, unlimited calls and texts within Europe, and international minutes, which makes it ideal if you want reliable coverage across France and the EU. Orange is one of France's largest mobile providers and offers excellent nationwide coverage.
⭐️ Best for : short trips, first‑time visitors, travellers who want easy activation at the airport and the most reliable coverage across France and the EU.
Updated in february of 2026
📦 Moving to France? Consider switching to an Orange postpaid plan for your long-term stay.
SFR prepaid SIM cards
SFR now offers prepaid SIM cards under the "SFR Discover" label, a good option if you are already in France and want a huge data allowance at a low price. Unlike Orange or Bouygues Telecom, SFR does not sell classic “tourist SIM” packs in English aimed specifically at visitors, but you can either order a physical SFR Discover SIM online (delivery in around 2–3 days within France) or buy it in SFR stores, Relay shops or supermarkets.
To get started, you can purchase an SFR Discover prepaid SIM kit with 30‑day validity. The SIM is physical only for now (eSIM is announced as "coming soon", and once your first 30 days are over you can extend your line by adding SFR Discover top‑ups, which also prolong the validity of your number for several months as long as you keep recharging.
⭐️ Best for : people already in France and heavy data users on a budget, travellers who want lots of GB and unlimited calls for one month without a contract.
Updated in february of 2026
💡 Good to know: SFR's former European Travel SIM is no longer available. The Illimité 10 GB prepaid pack is now the best alternative for tourists looking for short-term connectivity in France and across Europe.
📦 Moving to France? Consider switching to an SFR postpaid plan for your long-term stay.
Bouygues Telecom: My European eSIM
Bouygues Telecom offers several short‑term pay-as-you-go eSIM plans for visitors, with data from 15 GB to 120 GB valid across Europe. These virtual prepaid SIM cards can be purchased online and activated instantly with a QR code, which is convenient if you want data in France on an eSIM‑compatible phone without handling a physical SIM.
They can be purchased online or in stores, and activated by scanning a QR code, making it convenient for tourists who want instant connectivity without handling a physical SIM card. These plans are ideal for short stays or temporary relocation but are not intended as long-term subscriptions.
⭐️ Best for : eSIM‑compatible phones, visitors who want instant online activation, travellers moving around several EU countries with one data plan.
Updated in february of 2026
📦 Moving to France? Consider switching to a Bouygues postpaid plan for your long-term stay.
Prepaid SIM cards from MVNOs (La Poste Mobile, Lebara, Lycamobile)
MVNOs like La Poste Mobile, Lebara and Lycamobile offer flexible pay-as-you-go SIM cards that are ideal for short stays in France. These prepaid plans usually include large data allowances and cheap international calls without a long‑term contract, which suits tourists, students and new expats.
If you are staying longer or want to compare with classic mobile contracts, see our guide to mobile plan options in France.
You can purchase these SIM cards online or at various retail outlets, including La Poste, Relay, and Fnac stores. Activation is straightforward, often requiring a simple process via the operator’s website or customer service.
⭐️ Best for : budget‑conscious tourists, students and short‑term expats who mainly need cheap data and international calls without a long‑term contract.
Updated in february of 2026
Does Free have pay-as-you-go SIM card offers?
Yes, Free mobile now offers prepaid mobile plans under the Free Prépayé brand. However, it's important to note that these pay-as-you-go offers are exclusively available to residents of mainland France or individuals with a stable link to mainland France, such as French nationals living abroad or expatriates with a permanent address in France.
To access these plans, one must first purchase a Free SIM card, which is available in Free stores and certain retail outlets. After obtaining the SIM card, users can select from various prepaid packages, including options like the Pass Free S, which offers 10 GB of data and unlimited calls/SMS for €4.99, valid for 30 days.
If you are moving to France and plan to stay several months, it may be more interesting to compare Free postpaid plans instead of relying only on pay-as-you-go SIM cards.
Travelling to Other Parts of Europe?Your French prepaid mobile phone will still work in most European countries, and you should be able to purchase credit with a partner provider to use on your French phone. Alternatively, if you are planning to travel for long periods of time across other countries, you may be better off investing in an international SIM card, as offered by companies such as Flexiroam.
📦 Moving to France? Consider switching to a Free postpaid plan for your long-term stay.
Where to buy a French prepaid SIM card?
Getting a SIM card in France is quick and easy: you’ll just need an unlocked phone, a valid ID (such as your passport), and sometimes a French address for long‑term or postpaid plans. You can buy a pay-as-you-go SIM in mobile shops, electronics stores (like FNAC or Darty), or tabacs (tobacconists). Most French mobile operators now offer both physical SIMs and eSIMs.
You can find prepaid SIM cards almost everywhere:
- Airports: convenient but slightly more expensive (Orange, Bouygues Telecom)
- Mobile operator stores: Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom, Free
- Electronics shops: FNAC, Darty, Boulanger
- Tobacconists and supermarkets: often the cheapest option, but staff may speak limited English
- Online: on provider websites or international resellers (e.g. Amazon, Airalo for eSIMs)
💡 Calling abroad frequently? Read our guides on how to call France from the UK or from the USA, or consider an international SIM card.
How to activate and top up your French pay‑as‑you‑go SIM
Once you insert your SIM, you can start calling and using data immediately after activation (which is often automatic). You’ll then need to add credit (recharge) to keep using your line.
How to recharge your credit:
- Buy top-up vouchers in tobacconists or supermarkets (ask for your provider's credit: "Recharge Orange / SFR / Bouygues…").
- Follow the instructions on the receipt or card: usually you call a short number and enter the code.
- You can also top up online via your provider’s website or app.
To check your remaining credit, call the free number given by your operator or wait for their automatic SMS alert when it runs low. Keep in mind that credit validity varies by provider (often 30 or 31 days).
💡 Tip: If you only need mobile data, you can also get data-only SIMs or eSIMs, perfect for tourists or digital nomads.
NEW IN FRANCE?
We’ve got you covered! Selectra helps you find a plan that fits your needs and get set up fast. It’s free, easy, and our English-speaking advisors are just a call away.
NEW IN FRANCE?
We’ve got you covered! Selectra helps you find a plan that fits your needs and get set up fast. It’s free, easy, and our English-speaking advisors are just a call away.
NEW IN FRANCE?
We’ve got you covered! Selectra helps you find a plan that fits your needs and get set up fast. It’s free, easy, and our English-speaking advisors are just a call away.
NEW IN FRANCE?
We’ve got you covered! Selectra helps you find a plan that fits your needs and get set up fast. It’s free, easy, and our English-speaking advisors are just a call away.
Frequently Asked Questions about prepaid SIM cards in France
Can I buy a pay-as-you-go SIM card in France?
Yes, you can buy a pay-as-you-go / prepaid SIM card in France at airports, mobile operator stores, electronics shops, tobacconists, supermarkets or online, often with 5–20 GB of data included.
What is the best prepaid SIM card in France?
There is no single best prepaid SIM card in France, but Orange Holiday Europe is a safe choice for tourists, while SFR, Bouygues and MVNOs like Lebara or Lycamobile often offer cheaper high‑data prepaid plans.
Where can I buy a prepaid SIM card for France?
You can buy a prepaid SIM card for France at airport kiosks, Orange, SFR, Bouygues or Free shops, FNAC or Darty, tobacconists and supermarkets, or directly on French providers' websites.
Which pay-as-you-go SIM providers operate in France?
The main pay-as-you-go SIM providers in France are Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom and Free, plus MVNOs such as La Poste Mobile, Lebara and Lycamobile that offer flexible pay‑as‑you‑go plans.
Will my French prepaid SIM card work in other European countries?
If your prepaid plan includes EU roaming, you can use your French prepaid SIM card to call, text and use data in other EU and EEA countries at domestic rates for short stays.