Valentine Billod
About Free France: mobile and Freebox
15.7M
Mobile subscribers
39M
Homes covered by fibre
2009
Founded by Iliad
€2/mo
From — mobile plans
Free Mobile France is one of the leading telecommunications providers in France, offering both mobile and broadband services under the Free Mobile and Freebox brands. Founded in 2009 by Iliad, led by French entrepreneur Xavier Niel, Free shook up the French market with its low-cost, no-contract mobile plans when it launched in 2012. Today, Free is recognized for its competitive pricing, innovative services, and commitment to providing high-speed Internet and mobile coverage across the country.
Whether you're an expat moving to France or just looking for a simple, affordable mobile plan, Free combines flexibility with a strong network presence. Free's Freebox packages also provide fast Internet, TV channels, and fixed-line phone service, all in one bundle, making it a convenient choice for residents who want an all-in-one solution. See how Free compares in our guide to mobile plans in France.
- →Free serves over 15.7 million mobile subscribers (Q1 2026) and more than 7 million Freebox customers.
- →Free's fibre network now covers over 39 million homes, making it one of the largest in France.
- →No contracts (sans engagement) for most mobile and Internet plans, giving you the freedom to switch or cancel easily.
Free France plans & offers
Three product lines — explore full details, current pricing, and comparison tools on each dedicated page.
📡 See Freebox fibre offers
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📱 See Free mobile offers
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Free Flex: affordable smartphone option
Free Flex allows expats and newcomers in France to get a recent smartphone without paying the full price upfront. You subscribe to an eligible mobile plan (Série Free or 5G plan) and spread the phone payment over 24 months, with the option to buy it at the end, return it, or extend the lease. The mobile plan remains no-contract, and the monthly cost does not increase thanks to Free Flex.
Choose an eligible Free mobile plan
Select a Série Free or 5G plan to qualify for Free Flex financing.
Select a smartphone
Choose from available models (new or refurbished).
Pay in monthly installments over 24 months
No large upfront cost — the phone fee is spread across 24 months.
At the end of 24 months, decide to buy, return, or extend
Full flexibility — no obligation to keep the device.
Ideal for expats
Free Flex lets you start with a mobile plan and a recent smartphone immediately, without a large upfront payment, while keeping full flexibility with a no-contract plan.
Free network: is Free Mobile good in France?
99%
4G population coverage
95%
5G population coverage
21 390
Live 5G sites
When living in France as an expat, having reliable mobile coverage is key, and Free certainly takes that seriously. According to its latest figures, Free covers 99% of the population in 4G and about 95% in 5G, according to the latest 2026 figures. Free operates over 21,390 live 5G sites (700 MHz / 3.5 GHz bands) — the largest number of deployed 5G sites among French operators.
The launch of 5G Standalone (SA) and Voice over New Radio (VoNR) in September 2024 means Free's network uses a dedicated 5G core, improving latency, speed, and overall performance. Free uses the 700 MHz frequency band extensively, which gives better coverage in rural areas and indoors than the higher 3.5 GHz band.
If you're moving to a rural or less densely populated area in France, Free's strong 700 MHz 5G deployment means you'll likely get coverage where other operators may struggle. For ultra-high speeds, make sure your device supports the 3.5 GHz band and that you're in a zone where that band is active.
| Coverage type | All areas | Priority zones | Mountain areas |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4G Network | |||
| Area coverage | 91,78 % | 89,52 % | 85,30 % |
| Population coverage | 99,57 % | 98,52 % | 98,86 % |
| Population covered | 65 220 966 | — | — |
| 5G Network | |||
| Area coverage | 60,90 % | 48,75 % | 36,42 % |
| Population coverage | 94,29 % | 77,67 % | 84,19 % |
| Population covered | 61 764 184 | — | — |
Source: ARCEP data — T4 2025.
Freebox + Mobile bundles with Free: how it works
Combining a Freebox Internet plan with one or more Free mobile plans offers some of the best value for expats in France who need both home broadband and mobile services. Free's "Free Family" bundle lets you attach mobile lines to your home Internet subscription to benefit from discounts on your mobile plans.
When you sign up for a compatible Freebox offer and link one or more mobile lines under your account, you'll see reduced monthly rates for those mobile subscriptions. The process is straightforward: subscribe to a Freebox plan, add mobile lines, and link them via your subscriber space to activate the bundle discounts.
Before you sign up, check that your Freebox plan qualifies for the mobile bundle discounts, and make sure you link your mobile account correctly (same household address/RIB) to activate the reduced rate. Missing this step or changing the Freebox may end the discount.
How to subscribe to Free
Subscribing to Free is done entirely online — no store visit required. You'll need a valid ID document (passport or national ID), a French address, and a French IBAN for monthly billing. For the €2 mobile plan, a credit card is accepted without a French bank account.
Choose your plan
Compare mobile or Freebox plans at free.fr. For Freebox, enter your address first to check fibre eligibility — plans vary by technology available at your location.
Provide your details
Valid ID (passport or national ID), French address, and French IBAN for direct debit. A temporary address (hotel, Airbnb) works for initial sign-up.
Receive and activate
SIM or eSIM (QR code) for mobile — activate via the Free website or app. Freebox ships to your address with installation instructions; a technician visit may be scheduled if required.
How to cancel a Free subscription
Cancelling your Free mobile plan is easy and quick since most plans are no-contract — stop your subscription at any time, often without fees. If you're switching to another provider and want to port your number, simply dial 3179 to get your RIO code and give it to your new operator — they handle the cancellation. For Freebox subscriptions, even no-contract plans carry a fixed cancellation fee of €59 and require equipment to be returned within 15 days.
Go to your subscriber space or call 3244
Navigate to Mon Abonnement > Résiliation. Alternatively, send a cancellation letter to Free Résiliation, 75371 PARIS Cedex 08.
Receive your cancellation confirmation
Cancellation usually takes effect within 10 days after the request is received.
Return all equipment within 15 days (Freebox only)
Return box, cables, remote, etc. using the return slip from your account. Failure to return on time or damage may result in additional fees.
Important for expats leaving France
Even on no-contract plans, Free charges a fixed €59 cancellation fee for Freebox. Ensure you return all equipment and settle any final bill before departing to avoid lingering charges.
Free France reviews
Customer reviews skew negative across all French operators — mainly dissatisfied users post online. Here's an honest breakdown of Free's strengths and weaknesses based on our editorial assessment and customer feedback:
Customer reviews by platform
| Plateforme | Note | Avis |
|---|---|---|
| / |
Notes collectees sur les principales plateformes d'avis. Mise a jour automatique.
Selectra Score
5 plans analysed
Cheapest plans in France — online-first model
Free built its reputation on disruption: the cheapest mobile plans in France, strict no-contract policies, and generous data allowances. The Freebox range is genuinely competitive, with speeds up to 8 Gbit/s and WiFi 7 on top models. The trade-off is an online-first support model — customer service by phone is limited, and subscribing requires comfort with French digital tools.
What we love
- Cheapest entry-level mobile in France — €2/month for the 2-hour plan.
- No commitment on all plans — cancel any time.
- Most 5G sites in France (21,390) — strongest 5G in rural areas via 700 MHz.
- Free Flex: get a recent smartphone without a large upfront payment.
Keep in mind
- Customer support is primarily online — limited phone access.
- Freebox cancellation fee: €59 even on no-contract plans.
- No Selectra phone sales channel for Free — subscribe online only.
What customers actually say
Free's Trustpilot split is less polarised than most French operators — a meaningful share of genuinely positive reviews sits alongside the complaints:
Trustpilot star split, August 2026
👍 Praised most
👎 Criticised most
“I've been a Free customer for over 15 years and I've never been disappointed by their service, whether it's advice, which is always sound, or support, which is always fast and efficient.”
Gisèle · Aug 2026
“Internet down for 15 days, the same issue also affects my two neighbours, and support just stalls with generic messages instead of investigating.”
Michel · Aug 2026
Read this split with some caution, but less than for other operators. Customers are still more likely to leave a review after a bad experience than a good one — a bias common to every review platform. Free actively solicits reviews from both happy and unhappy customers, which broadens the sample compared with operators that don't, and the result shows: a 25% 5-star share is unusually high for a French telecom operator on Trustpilot. Free has not replied to negative reviews on this profile, which is worth factoring in if a smooth complaint process matters to you.
Star split and quotes read on Free's Trustpilot profile on 18 August 2026, translated from French. Scores in the table above are pulled live and may already differ.
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Frequently asked questions about Free France
Is Free Mobile a good network in France? Read more Close
Does Free offer English-language support? Read more Close
What is the cheapest Free Mobile plan? Read more Close
Can I cancel my Freebox plan at any time? Read more Close
Is Free available for expats without a French bank account? Read more Close
What is Free Flex? Read more Close
What is the Free Max plan? Read more Close
Explore Free France in detail