Metro and train apps, museum time slots, restaurant bookings and maps through Paris and the countryside — France is easier with data. Here's what a France eSIM actually costs from the three biggest travel-eSIM brands, and which one fits your trip.
How much data do you need in France?
Fixed-data plan prices
Holafly only sells unlimited plans here, so fixed data is Saily against Airalo. Validity matters as much as price: a plan that expires after 7 days is only cheap if your trip is 7 days. Highlighted: the cheaper 30-day option.
| Data | Saily | Airalo |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | $3.997 days | $4.003 days |
| 3 GB | $8.9930 days | $7.003 days$7.507 days |
| 5 GB | $10.9930 days | $10.007 days$10.5015 days$11.0030 days |
| 10 GB | $16.9930 days | $16.007 days$16.5015 days$17.0030 days |
| 20 GB | $22.9930 days | $22.5015 days$23.0030 days |
| 50 GB | — | $35.0030 days |
Prices in USD from saily.com and airalo.com, checked 10 October 2026.
What that means: at 30-day validity the two are effectively the same price, with Saily a cent cheaper. Airalo is up to $1 cheaper if your trip fits a 7- or 15-day window, and it's the only one selling 50 GB ($35.00).
Unlimited plan prices
| Days | Saily | Airalo | Holafly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | — | $11.00 | $11.90 |
| 5 | $17.99 | $17.00 | $20.50 |
| 7 | $23.99 | $23.50 | $27.50 |
| 10 | $29.99 | $29.00 | $36.50 |
| 15 | $41.99 | $42.00 | $50.50 |
| 30 | $59.99 | $59.00 | $73.90 |
Prices in USD from each provider's France page, checked 10 October 2026. Highlighted: cheapest for that length. — = not sold at that length.
Airalo was cheapest for 3, 5, 7, 10 and 30 days, by 49 cents to $1; Saily was a cent cheaper for 15 days and also sells 20- and 25-day plans ($48.99 and $54.99). Holafly costs noticeably more in France — about $4 more for a week.
"Unlimited" rarely means unlimited full speed. Saily states 5 GB per day at full speed, then up to 1 Mbps, with no hotspot restrictions. Holafly states a fair-usage policy that can slow speeds for up to a day, and lets you share 1 GB per day as a hotspot. Airalo's page didn't list its unlimited limits, so check the plan details before buying.
Which one to pick
- Most travelers (1–3 weeks): Saily 5 GB or 10 GB — a cent cheaper than Airalo at 30-day validity, and it activates when you land.
- Unlimited data for a week: Airalo ($23.50), 49 cents less than Saily.
- A month of heavy use: Airalo's 50 GB for $35.00.
- France plus other European countries: compare a Europe plan — see the Europe eSIM guide.
Networks and coverage
France's four mobile networks are Orange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free Mobile. Travel eSIMs roam on one or more of them:
- Saily: didn't name its French networks on its plan page; it lists 3G/4G/LTE/5G depending on the local network.
- Airalo: didn't name a French operator on its plan page.
- Holafly: Orange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free Mobile, with 5G where available.
None of the three includes a local phone number — they're data-only. Use WhatsApp, FaceTime or other internet calling.
France tips
- Coverage is strong in cities and along motorways and main rail lines; in mountain areas and some rural regions it can drop. Download offline maps before road trips.
- Save train and museum tickets offline in case you lose signal in a station or the metro.
- Hotel and café WiFi is common but shared — use a VPN on it. See the best VPN for hotel and airport WiFi.
- Coming from another EU country? Your home plan may already include roaming in France — check before you buy an eSIM.
How much data you need
Using the rates from the trip data calculator — three hours a day of maps, messaging and browsing, an hour of social media and an hour of music, with 40% of your time on WiFi:
- 7 days: about 3.6 GB → a 5 GB plan
- 14 days: about 7.2 GB → a 10 GB plan
- 21 days: about 10.9 GB → a 20 GB plan, or 10 GB plus another small plan
Streaming video or tethering a laptop changes the picture fast — use Find your plan above or the full calculator.
Setting up before you fly
- Check your phone is eSIM-compatible and carrier-unlocked. A phone locked to your home carrier won't accept another provider's eSIM.
- Install the eSIM at home over WiFi. Installation needs a connection; activation can wait. Saily plans can be activated any time within 180 days of purchase and switch on automatically when you arrive.
- On landing, set the eSIM as your data line and turn on data roaming for it. That's normal for travel eSIMs and doesn't cost extra.
- Turn off data roaming on your home SIM so it can still receive calls and texts without running up charges.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best eSIM for France?
On 10 October 2026, Saily was a cent cheaper than Airalo on every 30-day plan from 5 to 20 GB (10 GB for $16.99), while Airalo was cheaper for most unlimited lengths ($23.50 for 7 days) and is the only one of the three selling 50 GB ($35.00).
How much is an eSIM for France?
Prices started at $3.99 for 1 GB (Saily, 7 days). A 10 GB plan cost about $17 for 30 days, and unlimited data cost about $24 for a week or $59–60 for 30 days from Saily or Airalo.
Which network do France travel eSIMs use?
Holafly lists Orange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free Mobile. Saily and Airalo don't name their French partners on their plan pages.
Do I need a travel eSIM if I live in the EU?
Often not. Under EU roaming rules, many EU mobile plans can be used across the EU at no extra cost, within your operator's fair-use limits. Check your plan first; a travel eSIM makes sense if your allowance is small or you're coming from outside the EU.
Do France eSIMs include a phone number?
No. These are data-only eSIMs, so use WhatsApp, FaceTime or other internet calling. Keep your home SIM active for texts such as bank codes, with its data roaming turned off.