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In brief
- Main operators: Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom and Free Mobile.
- Low-cost MVNOs offer cheaper plans, some with international allowances.
- Choose prepaid for short stays, a postpaid plan for longer ones.
- To subscribe you need an address, contact details and a French RIB.
The main phone providers in France
You are spoiled for choice when it comes to phone providers in France. Indeed, the market is competitive and occupied by various types of suppliers, making it certain that you'll find the one right for you.
The major French telecom suppliers
The French mobile market is dominated by four operators — the ones that own and run the networks:
Orange
Widest coverage, top-rated network
SFR
Strong in cities, extensive fibre
Bouygues Telecom
Great-value quad-play bundles
Free Mobile
Cheapest of the four
Operators vs low-cost brands & MVNOs
Every other brand you see in stores runs on one of those four networks:
- Low-cost sub-brands — Sosh (Orange), RED by SFR and B&You (Bouygues): the same network, cheaper, online-only support;
- MVNOs — Coriolis, La Poste Mobile, Prixtel, NRJ Mobile, Lebara, Lycamobile…: they rent capacity from the big networks and are often the cheapest;
- Best for expats — Lebara and Lycamobile focus on international calls, handy if you call home a lot.
Staying in France for over 3 months?If so, it's worth signing up for a postpaid mobile phone plan. In the long run, these are cheaper than pay-as-you-go and offer better calling time/data allowances. Call our English-speaking customer service line at +33 9 74 59 56 84 (Monday - Friday, 9:30 am - 7:30 pm), or ask for a free callback to help you find a plan that meets your needs
Free service · no French needed
Free service · no French needed
Choosing a Mobile Phone Plan in France
We give you a few guidelines below to help you figure out what type of plan will work for you.
Prepaid SIM or monthly plan?
The right choice depends mostly on how long you are staying:
| Prepaid SIM | Monthly plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Short stays, small needs | Stays over 3 months |
| Commitment | None | No-commit or 12–24 months |
| Bank account | Not needed (ID only) | French RIB usually required |
| Cost | ~€10 / month | from €2 / month, cheaper long-term |
See our full guide to French SIM cards for prepaid detail. Before picking a prepaid SIM, check:
- 1 The cost of the SIM card: how much does the initial SIM card cost?
- 2 The allowance: how many minutes / SMS / data does the plan?
- 3 The connection fees: am I charged a fixed amount just to connect a call, or am I charged per second?
- 4 Recharge fees: how much do recharges cost?
- 5 Credit validity: how long do I have to use my credit before it expires?
- 6 Voice messaging: can people leave a message on my phone when you are unable to take a call?
Regular phone plans in France
If, on the other hand, you plan on settling in France for over 3 months, and will need to use data frequently, then a regular phone plan will be better suited and will work out cheaper. Both the major providers and MNVOs offer such plans, for prices as low as 2€ per month, and oftentimes featuring unlimited texts in France (SMS & MMS).
Some plans come with extra perks, such as "country passes" which allow you to makes calls from the country to France at no additional charges, reduced rates if you get it with an internet box at the same time, or access to WiFi hotspots.
Just note that, as explained below, some regular phone plans will tie you down to a commitment period which could go up to 2 years.
With or without a contract?
| No commitment (sans engagement) | With contract (avec engagement) | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | Cancel anytime | 12 to 24 months |
| Phone | You must already own one | Subsidised handset possible |
| Perks | Fewer, online support | VOD, music, in-store support |
| Best for | Flexibility, short/uncertain stays | Long stays + a new phone |
Get a French mobile plan in English
An English-speaking Selectra advisor compares French mobile plans (5G, data, international calls) and walks you through subscription — ideal for expats.
How to sign up to a French phone plan
You can sign up for a phone plan with a provider in one of their stores, online, or over the phone. You can also directly get in touch with the English-speaking Selectra advisors, who will be able to get you set up with a plan that'll suit your needs and your budget. Just call +33 9 74 59 56 84, or ask for a free callback.
You will need to have the following information with you when signing up for a mobile phone plan in France:
- Your contact information: full name, email address, a French phone number if possible
- Your full address: street address, apartment number, postcode
- Your banking information (known as RIB in France): you need to have a French bank account already set up before you sign up for a postpaid mobile phone plan. Some suppliers may also ask for your bank card (carte bancaire) information, which is used for activation fees/deposit.
Frequently asked questions
For a monthly (postpaid) plan: a valid ID, a French address and a French bank account (RIB). For a prepaid SIM, an ID is usually enough — no bank account or proof of address needed.
A prepaid SIM suits short stays and small data needs. If you are staying more than about 3 months and use data regularly, a monthly plan is cheaper and offers larger allowances.
Yes for a prepaid SIM (pay upfront, ID only). Most postpaid plans require a French RIB for the monthly direct debit — though a few MVNOs are more flexible.
The low-cost brands Sosh, RED by SFR, B&You and Free Mobile, plus most MVNOs (La Poste Mobile, Lebara, Lycamobile…), offer contract-free plans you can cancel anytime.
Yes — an English-speaking Selectra advisor can compare plans and handle the subscription for you, free of charge. Call +33 9 74 59 56 84.