- Check Home First: Ask your current provider to unlock your phone and check their international roaming rates before arriving.
- Cheap Data: France has some of the cheapest mobile data rates in the world.
- No Contract: Always choose a “Sans Engagement” plan so you can cancel anytime.
- The Big Four: Bouygues, Free, Orange, and SFR are the main operators.
- Roaming: French plans include free roaming within the EU (data caps apply).
In our cost of living breakdown, we noted that mobile plans are surprisingly affordable, often between €9 and €15. However, the sheer number of offers can be confusing. Here is how to pick the right one.
Check with your current operator
Before you cancel your current plan or buy a French SIM card, contact your mobile operator in your home country. This simple step can save you a lot of hassle during your first few days in Paris.
- Unlock your phone: If you bought your phone through a carrier contract, it might be “locked” to their network. You must ask them to unlock it (le désimlocker) before you can insert and use a French SIM card.
- Check international add-ons: Some international operators offer free or affordable international data roaming that might be enough to cover you using Google Maps and WhatsApp from the airport to your new apartment.
The major operators compared
Free Mobile
- The Offer: Known for its €2 plan (2 hours talk, 50MB) and its massive €19.99 plan (250GB+ 5G data).
- Best for: Heavy data users and budget seekers.
- Pros: Incredible value. The €19.99 plan includes 35GB of roaming data in many non-EU countries (USA, Canada, Australia).
- Cons: Coverage in rural areas can sometimes be slightly weaker than Orange.
Orange (and Sosh)
- The Offer: Orange is the historic operator with the best network coverage in France. Sosh is their low-cost, digital-only brand, you can cancel anytime.
- Best for: Students who travel to the countryside or want the most reliable 5G signal.
- Pros: #1 network quality.
- Cons: Slightly more expensive than competitors.
Bouygues Telecom
- The Offer: Bouygues is more recent (end 90’s) with an excellent network coverage in France. B&You Their low-cost brand offers very competitive “Flash Sales”.
- Best for: Good reliable coverage in cities and reasonable prices.
SFR (and RED by SFR)
- The Offer: Similar to Bouygues, with their “RED” brand. They often allow you to customize your plan (add more data for travel, etc.).
- Pros: aggressive pricing and frequent promotions.
Prepaid vs. Contract
- Avoid Prepaid: Prepaid SIMs (Cartes prépayées) bought at tobacco shops are expensive per minute/GB.
- Choose “Forfait Sans Engagement”: This is a monthly subscription you can cancel at any time. You will need a French bank account (RIB) to sign up.
How to Subscribe
- Online: The easiest way. They ship the SIM to your French address or any Consigne Pickup.
- In-Store: Free has “Borne Free” (kiosks) where you can get a SIM card in 3 minutes with just a credit card. Orange, SFR, and Bouygues have stores everywhere.
- eSIM: Most operators now offer eSIMs, allowing you to get connected instantly without waiting for mail.
How to read a phone number
Example with 06 12 34 56 78 :
Do not say each digit individually. Instead, say:
“Zéro six, douze, trente-quatre, cinquante-six, soixante-dix-huit”.
“Zero six, twelve, thirty-four, fifty-six, seventy-eight”.
FAQ: Phone Numbers in France
- France’s country code is +33.
- Mobile numbers have 10 digits domestically and usually start with 06 or 07.
- When you save your number in international format, drop the leading 0: for example, 06 12 34 56 78 becomes +33 6 12 34 56 78.
These prefixes correspond to regional geographic landline codes across France:
- 01 : Île-de-France (Paris & surrounding area)
- 02 : Northwest
- 03 : Northeast
- 04 : Southeast
- 05 : Southwest
You can register your phone number on Bloctel. It is the official and free French government service that allows consumers to block unsolicited telemarketing calls.
Conclusion
For most FTC Paris students, you have the choice! The most important: choose a “Sans Engagement” plan, to stop your subscription when you want. Don’t forget to unlock your phone before arriving in France!
Sources & further reading:
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