Traveling to France and need connectivity? Get a local Free Mobile SIM or Free Mobile eSIM for affordable data, calls and SMS. This guide covers everything about Free Mobile France – network, coverage, SIM card cost, activation, plans, and more.
Table of Contents
1. Quick facts about Free Mobile
Free Mobile is the 4th largest mobile network operator in France with around 13.5 million subscribers. It is owned by Iliad group which also owns the internet service provider Free.
Some key facts about Free Mobile France:
- Launched in 2012 as the newest entrant disrupting the French telecom market
- Uses 3G, 4G/LTE and 5G networks
- Has over 97% population coverage in France
- Known for its low-cost plans and clear pricing
- Provides both prepaid and postpaid connections
2. Free Mobile Coverage and Speed in France
When it comes to wireless connectivity, France provides strong free networks that allow for fast mobile access virtually anywhere.
2.1. Free Mobile coverage in France
Free Mobile has made significant improvements to its network coverage in recent years. According to Opensignal latest report, Free Mobile now offers 4G coverage to 99% of the French population.
- Free Mobile wins the 5G Coverage Experience award, scoring highest at 3.7 points out of 10. This indicates that Opensignal users on Free Mobile’s network had 5G coverage in most places compared to the other operators.
- For overall Coverage Experience across all technologies (2G, 3G, 4G, 5G), Free Mobile places fourth with a score of 8.1 points out of 10. However, the leader Orange only scored 0.4 points higher, so coverage levels across the operators are similar.
- Free Mobile also takes home the Availability award, with users connected to its network for an average of 98.5% of the time. This means Free Mobile provided near ubiquitous coverage across urban and rural areas in France. The other operators scored within 0.4% of Free Mobile on this measure.
In summary, while Free Mobile may not be the fastest network, it has the most extensive 5G coverage footprint and provides connections to users for the highest percentage of time according to this report. Coverage levels across the major operators in France are otherwise very similar.
2.2. Free Mobile speed
According to the Opensignal France Mobile Network Experience Report for November 2023:
- Download Speed Experience: Placed last with a score of 41.6 Mbps, around 30% slower than Bouygues/SFR in second place and 60% slower than winner Orange.
- 5G Download Speed: Scored 151.8 Mbps, placing last and over 44% slower than winner Orange’s 336.9 Mbps.
- Upload Speed Experience: Ranked last with 5.6 Mbps, significantly slower than winner Orange’s 8.2 Mbps.
- 5G Upload Speed: Recorded 13.6 Mbps, around 22% slower than winner Orange.
- 5G Coverage Experience: Won this award with a score of 3.7 out of 10, slightly ahead of competitors.
- Video/Gaming Experience: Placed fourth out of four operators, indicating speed impacts the quality of experience.
So in summary, while Free Mobile shows some strength in 5G coverage, the Opensignal report suggests it lags significantly in speed performance compared to rivals, particularly Orange, which is the clear leader for speed metrics in France. Increased speeds will likely be important for Free Mobile to better support data-heavy applications and services.
3. Free Mobile connectivity options for travelers to France
Free Mobile offers a variety of connectivity options for travelers to France, including:
| Option | Description | Pros | Cons |
| Physical SIM | Physical SIM card purchased upon arrival in France | Widely available, flexible top-ups | inconvenient top-up, need to remove your home SIM |
| eSIM | Virtual SIM downloaded and activated on phone | Convenient, no physical card, activate remotely | Not all phones support, may be complex activation |
Both prepaid SIM cards and eSIMs from Free Mobile can be good options for travelers to France, depending on your needs and preferences. If you don’t mind having to purchase and activate the card in France, a prepaid SIM card is a good choice. If you prefer convenience and have an eSIM-enabled phone, an eSIM might be a better option.
4. Best Free Mobile SIM cards for tourists & cost
Free Mobile provides a SIM card plan that is tailored specifically for tourists. A physical Free Mobile SIM Card/eSIM costs 10e, around 10 USD. Please find below the plan details that Free Mobile offers:
| Plan | Price (USD) | Data | Validity | Calling & Texting |
| Free 5G Plan 300GB | ~$21 | 300 GB of mobile internet in 5G/4G 35GB in 4G from 100 destinations | 1 month | Unlimited in France |
Please note that these prices are for new customers and may change without notice.
5. Does Free Mobile France support eSIM?
Yes, Free Mobile provides an eSIM facility with the prepaid plan above. eSIM costs around 10e and allows you to activate mobile service through a QR code – no physical SIM required.
It is perfect for dual SIM devices. Having an eSIM makes getting mobile service simpler when traveling to France frequently.
6. Where To Buy A Free Mobile SIM Card and eSIM?
Tourists can purchase Free Mobile SIM cards and eSIMs from a variety of locations both within France and before arriving to ensure cellular connectivity during their visit.
6.1. Where to buy Free Mobile SIM for France
There are a few places where you can buy a Free Mobile SIM card for France:
- Free Mobile stores: This is the best place to buy a Free Mobile SIM card, as you can get help from a salesperson if you need it. Free Mobile stores are located all over France. You can find a list of Free Mobile stores on the Free Mobile website.
- Online retailers: You can also buy Free Mobile SIM cards from online retailers such as Amazon and eBay. However, it is important to note that prices may vary depending on the retailer.
- Newsstands and convenience stores: Some newsstands and convenience stores in France sell Free Mobile SIM cards. However, this is not the most common place to find Free Mobile SIM cards.
6.2. Where to buy France Free Mobile eSIM
You can only purchase Free Mobile eSIM from Free store or kiosk. It takes around 10-15 minutes to get the eSIM via email after payment.
Alternatively, you can buy their physical SIM card and convert it to eSIM later by contacting customer support.
7. How to activate Free Mobile France SIM/eSIM
Once acquired, Free Mobile prepaid SIM cards and eSIMs are straightforward to activate so visitors can quickly start using mobile data, calls, and texts during their time in France.
7.1 How to use Free Mobile France SIM card
Activating a Free Mobile SIM card France is straightforward:
- Insert the SIM in your unlocked phone
- Power on and connect to the Free Mobile network
- Follow the setup prompts to configure the SIM
- Enter PIN when asked and restart the device
- SIM will auto-configure and activate the prepaid pack
That’s it! No registration is required and your Free Mobile SIM card will be active within minutes. You can recharge more data packs via their app whenever needed.
7.2. How to activate Free Mobile France eSIM
To activate Free Mobile eSIM:
- Make sure your phone supports eSIM activation
- Purchase Free Mobile eSIM and receive a QR code
- On your phone, go to the eSIM installation section in the settings
- Scan the QR code you received
- Follow on-screen prompts to install the eSIM profile
- Restart the device and eSIM will be activated
Same as SIM cards, eSIM also auto-configures with the data plan. No separate registration steps needed.
Please check your detailed instructions below:
8. France Free Mobile Call & SMS rates
Free Mobile prepaid packs only include domestic data – calls and texts are charged separately. Here is a table of Free Mobile call and SMS rates in France (as of August 4, 2023):
- Calls to other Free Mobile numbers are always free, regardless of network.
- Calls to other mobiles are €0.05/min, to landlines €0.12/min.
- SMS to any French number is €0.05 each.
- Calls/SMS within the EU are charged at domestic French rates with no roaming fees.
These per-minute/SMS rates are very affordable. Do note that international calls start at around 0.50 per minute for most countries.
9. Useful USSD codes for Free Mobile France SIM/eSIM
There are a few ways to check your Free Mobile eSIM/SIM balance:
- Dial 555: This is the easiest way to check your Free Mobile balance. Simply dial 555 on your phone and press the call button. You will receive a text message with your balance, data allowance, and phone number.
- Check your Free Mobile account online: Similarly, you can log in with your Free Mobile account and check your balance. Click “My Account” on the Free Mobile website to do this. When you log in, there is a dashboard that provides information concerning your balance.
- Use the Free Mobile app: Free Mobile can also be installed on Android and iPad. The app allows the checking of balance, data allowance, or other information about the account. Visit the Google Play Store or Apple App Store for a free Mobile app download.
In case you are unable to check your Free Mobile balance, you can call the Free Mobile customer service.
Tips: Here are some additional tips for checking your Free Mobile balance:
- Free Mobile allows you to access your balance as many times as possible.
- You can always check your balance regardless of how many times you are doing it.
10. How to top-up Free Mobile France SIM/eSIM
There are a few ways to top-up your Free Mobile eSIM/SIM:
- Online: Visit the Free Mobile’s site and sign in to your account. After logging in, use the “Top-up” button. Choose the amount of credit to add to your account, then insert your credit or debit card information. To complete the top-up press “Pay”.
- Free Mobile app: Please note that when you open the Free Mobile app, it will ask you for your credentials. Tap on the “Top-up” button. Choose the appropriate credit amount, then input your card number in either the Credit or Debit category. Just tap the “pay” button to finish up with a top-up.
- Payment kiosks: Go to a payment kiosk selling Free Mobile top-ups. Enter the amount of credit you choose to buy and then insert your credit/debit card. Dial the free mobile phone number and complete the top-up through the instructions on the screen.
- Free Mobile stores: Go to any Free Mobile store and ask the seller to load money into your account. A salesperson will assist you to top up your account using a credit or debit card.
After topping up your Free Mobile eSIM/SIM, a confirmation message will be sent to your phone. After that, you can make calls, send SMS and even browse.
11. Alternatives to France Free Mobile
Other popular networks and providers you can consider to stay connected in France are:
- Orange: Orange is the biggest GSM network provider in France. It provides many mobile plans such as prepaid, postpaid, and business options. Orange also avails of different mobile devices.
- SFR: The second biggest French mobile network operator is SFR. It provides diverse mobile packages comprising the prepaid plan, postpaid plan, and business plan, among others. Other mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and wears.
- Bouygues Telecom: Bouygues Telecom is the third largest in France mobile operators.) It provides several mobile deals such as prepaid plans, monthly plans, data plans, and SME/business plans among others.
- esimfrance.net – esimfrance.net offers prepaid eSIM plans for France, with durations ranging from 3-30 days. Plans start at 1GB for $3.5 and go up to 50GB, depending on the number of days.
Compare their tourist SIM prices before choosing one. Coverage and speeds may vary by location within France.
Skip roaming fees in France with esimfrance.net eSIM plans starting at just $3.5! No contracts, no proof needed. Choose from flexible data packages for 3 days to 1 month. Purchase online and install your eSIM in minutes. Say goodbye to expensive roaming and get connected seamlessly wherever you go in France.
12. FAQs about Free Mobile in France
Is Free a good network in France?
Yes, Free Mobile won the 5G Coverage Experience award on the Opensignal report in November 2023, providing the best 5G coverage across France.
Is Free Mobile SIM card prepaid unlimited?
No, their prepaid plans come with fixed data that gets consumed during validity period. You’ll need to recharge more packs as required.
Does Free Mobile work outside of France?
Their standard SIMs only work in France. But some plans offer EU roaming data that can be used when traveling around Europe.
How to refill Free Mobile SIM card in France?
You can recharge your Free Mobile SIM via their app, website, vouchers or visit a store. Start from 5 USD.
Does Free Mobile have good coverage in Paris?
Yes, Free Mobile coverage in Paris is excellent due to the high density of towers. You’ll get strong 4G/5G signals around most areas.
13. Final words
So that’s all on Free Mobile cell phone service for tourists visiting France. Their prepaid SIM card and eSIM provide an easy way to get connected at low rates. With its wide domestic coverage, high speeds and value plans, Free Mobile is a top choice for your connectivity needs. Either grab a SIM card online or on arrival and stay online across France with their prepaid packs!
