If you are planning atrip to France, you are probably looking for the best option to have internet during your holiday. This way you can find the best restaurants to eat at, find your way around the city or share your photos of the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame. By now you probably already know that travel eSIMs are the best option for connecting to the internet in France immediately without paying huge bills like roaming, or putting your data at risk on public wifi networks. But which brand offers the best eSIM cards
In this article we tell you how to find the best eSIM for France depending on the type of trip you are going to make. There are a wide variety of brands on the market with different features such as speed, data limit, technical support, price or duration of the plans, so we have compared the main brands such as Holafly, Airalo or Simoptions, among others, and we tell you their advantages and disadvantages to help you make a decision. We already tell you that the eSIM cards without data limit like the ones from Holafly are a safe bet with which there will be no extra charges, and you will also have 24h support.
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eSIM comparison for a trip to France
When comparing different brands of eSIM we must take into account all the features that will determine if the card fits the needs of our trip. That’s why we have prepared this table with all the essential information about each brand to help you choose. We’ll go into more detail on all the important points below, so you won’t miss out on any of the information.
| Brand | Plan duration | Data sharing | Unlimited data | App | GB per plan | Support | Price | Trustpilot | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holafly | 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60, 90 days | No | + | + | Unlimited | In English, direct chat and WhatsApp | €19-99 | 4.6 | 4.4 |
| Airalo | 7, 15 y 30 days | Yes | – | + | 1GB, 2GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB and 20GB | English, via bot | $4.5- 36 | 3.9 | 3.8 |
| Truphone | 1 y 30 days | Only some devices | – | + | 500MB, 1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB and 20GB | In English by chat | $5-35 | 3.1 | 3.8 |
| Ubigi | 30 days | Yes | – | + | 3GB, 10GB and 50GB | In English by mail and App | € 8-49 | 1.9 | 4.1 |
| Maya Mobile | 30 days | Yes | – | + | 1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10 GB | In English by email | €5-46 | 4.4 | 3.2 |
1. Holafly, eSIM with unlimited data and 24h support for France
| Advantages | They offer data packages by continent and for countries. Holafly’s eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install with QR code or manually. They have eSIM cards for 160 destinations. 24/7 technical support in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Japanese. Very flexible pricing. You can pay in euros, dollars and Mexican pesos. They have an App where you can check your usage and the number of days left on your contract. |
| Disadvantages | Their eSIM cards do not include calls or sms. One of the most expensive options on the market, but it’s worth it because they offer more gigabytes than the rest. The Holafly eSIM card for Australia does not allow data sharing. You can’t do the installation through their App. The eSIM for Australia does not have unlimited data. |
Holafly is a Spanish company with offices all over the world and more than 100 employees, offering eSIM cards with unlimited data for France and many more countries. At Passporter we think it is one of the most trusted brands on the market as it offers a 24-hour customer service in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Japanese that responds in less than a minute via chat or WhatsApp, and is currently the best rated company on Trustpilot with a score of 4.6. With Holafly we always travel with peace of mind.
On their website, you can find 8 unlimited data plans with varying durations between 5 and 90 days. The price ranges from €19 to €99. The brand also offers customer plans eSIM for 32 countries in Europe, so you can move from one country to another without having to install a new eSIM.
| Data plan | Euro | Dollars | Mexican Pesos |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days – unlimited data | €19 | $19 | $399 |
| 7 days – unlimited data | €27 | $27 | $517 |
| 10 days – unlimited data | €34 | $34 | $699 |
| 15 days – unlimited data | €47 | $47 | $899 |
| 20 days – unlimited data | €57 | $54 | $1199 |
| 30 days – unlimited data | €69 | $64 | $1399 |
| 60 days – unlimited data | €87 | $84 | $1699 |
| 90 days – unlimited data | €99 | $99 | $1999 |
Holafly eSIM cards can be easily installed by scanning the QR code that will be sent to your email once you have completed the purchase. The installation can also be done manually without the need for a computer, simply by writing a code in the settings of your mobile that you can consult in the mail or in your App, which is very convenient to control the duration of the data plan.
After testing Holafly’s eSIM cards, we can say that they are one of the most expensive options on the market, but that they pay off in the end as you will never have to recharge again because you will never run out of data. Here is this ranking where we evaluate from 1 to 5 all the features of the Holafly eSIM cards for France based on our experience.
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.8 | 0 | 4.5 | 4.4 |
In this post, you can read about our experience with Holafly eSIM cards and some users’ opinions: Our opinion of Holafly eSIM.
2. Airalo and its cheap data plans
| Advantages | They offer regional, country or global data packages. Airalo’s eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install. They are the cheapest brand on the market. A wide variety of eSIM cards with different duration, price and gigabytes. They have eSIM cards for 190 countries. Their eSIM card allows you to share data with other devices. Top up the eSIM. They have an App and you can buy and install the eSIM from it. |
| Disadvantages | The gigabytes are limited to 20GB or less and they do not have cards with unlimited data. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes. ESIM cards do not include calls and sms. The duration of data plans is limited to 7, 15 and 30 days. Their services and technical support is exclusively in English and takes a long time to respond. |
The company, founded in Singapore in 2019 by Turkish entrepreneurs Abraham Burak and Ahmet Bahadir Özdemir, was one of the first to offer these services, and has a wide coverage of countries where they offer eSIM cards.
Although Airalo is one of the cheapest brands on the market, it can be expensive in the long run, as its data plans have very limited gigabytes that can run out at any time, and its technical support takes a long time to respond.
Airalo’s eSIM card data plans for France have a duration of 7, 15 and 30 days, and prices range from $4.5 to $36. The brand has an App through which you can buy and install the eSIM, and later top it up when you run out of data.
| Data plan | Price in Dollars |
|---|---|
| 1 GB – 7 days | $4.5 |
| 2 GB – 15 days | $7.5 |
| 3 GB – 30 days | $10 |
| 5 GB – 30 days | $14 |
| 10 GB – 30 days | $23 |
| 20 GB – 30 days | $36 |
On Airalo’s website, you can choose from 6 data plans ranging from 1GB to 30GB. We compared customer reviews and feedback on Trustpilot and found that Airalo has one of the lowest ratings at 3.7. Here you have the ranking of each aspect of Airalo and in this post you can also read about our opinion of the brand: Our opinion of Airalo: is it worth it?
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 3 | 4.5 | 4 | 4 | 4.5 | 3 | 3.8 |
3. Ubigi and its eSIM cards for smart cars
| Advantages | They offer regional, country or global data packages. The Ubigi eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install via the web or app. The Ubigi eSIM is free to install from the App. A wide variety of eSIM cards with different duration, price and gigabytes. They have eSIM cards for 190 destinations. 24h real time technical support. They offer eSIM cards for smart cars. Their eSIM cards allow data sharing. The eSIM can be recharged from the App. |
| Disadvantages | The gigabytes are limited to 3GB or less and they do not have unlimited data plans. Short duration plans have very limited gigabytes. Their eSIMs do not include calls or SMS. The duration of the plans is limited to 30 days. Their support service is exclusively in English. |
Ubigi is a provider of eSIM cards a little different than the rest of the data plan companies for travelling abroad. While with other brands you have to choose and buy the plan and then proceed to install the eSIM, with Ubigi it’s the other way around. First you can install the eSIM for free and then add credit depending on how many gigabytes you are going to use. You can pay in dollars, euros, pounds and yen.
On their website and App you can see 5 data plans of 3GB, 5GB, 10GB, 24GB and 50GB. As you can see, the data is really limited and will most likely run out, and you will have to recharge the eSIM again.
They also offer global data plans, for the whole of Europe, which in addition to France include 28 other countries.
| Data plan | Dollars | Euros | Pounds | Yen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 GB – 30 days | $8 | €8 | £7 | ¥1200 |
| 10 GB – 30 days | $15 | €15 | £12 | ¥2200 |
| 12 months – 24 GB | $38 | €38 | £29 | ¥9700 |
| 50 GB – 30 days | $49 | €49 | £49 | ¥6900 |
| limited – 5 GB/ month | $9 | €9 | £8 | ¥1300 |
Luckily, their App works very well and as well as buying the eSIM from there, you can install it and top it up if necessary. Also, Ubigi eSIMs allow data sharing with other devices
A curious thing about Ubigi’s eSIM cards is that they also work in cars with internet. Some models from Jaguar, Fiat, Land Rover, Alfa Romeo or Jeep already feature this technology.
In this table, you can see how we rate each feature of Ubigi’s eSIM cards. And if you want to know our opinion on Ubigi eSIMs, check out this post: Our Ubigi opinion: is it worth it?
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 4 | 4 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.1 |
4. Maya Mobile, data packages for one month
| Advantages | They offer data packages by continent and for countries. Maya Mobile’s eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install with QR code or manually. They have eSIM cards for 194 destinations. Data plans limited to 1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB that can run out quickly. Flexible pricing. They have plans with unlimited data. To recharge you can set up auto-recharge after 30 days. They allow data sharing with other devices. |
| Disadvantages | Their eSIM cards do not include calls or sms. No App. The unlimited data plan is limited to 5Mbps Technical support only in English via a bot. Only 30-day data plans. |
This company makes eSIM cards available for 30 days in France. In this case, the price of data packages varies according to gigabytes. In total they have 4 packages of 1, 3, 5 and 10 gigabytes, and another with unlimited gigabytes. The unlimited data plan is relative as the maximum browsing speed is 5Mbps and after 30GB of the plan has been used, it drops to 1Mbps.The price ranges from 5€ to 46€.
Like Holafly, Maya Mobile is characterized by the speed and simplicity of its sign-up process and installation, which is also done via a QR code that arrives in the mail. In addition, they have a 100% refund policy of the purchase in the event that the data does not work, which is not usually the case as they have a minimum of two data providers in each country where they offer their services.
Maya Mobile also offers a Europe-wide plan that includes 30 countries and has unlimited data (with maximum speed of 5Mbps dropping to 1Mbps).
| Data plan | Price in Euros |
|---|---|
| 1 GB – 30 days | 5€ |
| 3 GB – 30 days | 6€ |
| 5 GB – 30 days | 10€ |
| 10 GB – 30 days | 18€ |
| unlimited – 30 days | 46€ |
The drawback with Maya Mobile is that their plans are very inflexible and only last for 30 days. On Trustpilot, you can see that the brand has an average score of 4.4, but there are hardly any reviews. Here’s a table showing how they rate each of their eSIM card features.
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 3 | 3.2 |
5. Truphone and its App
| Advantages | They offer regional, country or global data packages. Truphone eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install in your App. They have eSIM cards for 188 countries. Support both in the app and on the web 24/7. Very affordable prices. You can top up data from the App. Only some devices can share data. No need to scan QR code. Data plans for Apple Watch. Offer 100 MB free 1 day trial. |
| Disadvantages | Gigabytes are limited to 100GB, no unlimited data cards. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes (1GB) You cannot make purchases on the web, only from the App. The duration of data plans is limited to 1 or 30 days. Services and technical support are exclusively in English. |
Truphone is a UK company that offers eSIM cards to connect to the internet in over 160 countries. It was an industry pioneer and thefirst global operator to launch eSIM for iPad, Apple Watch and Google Pixel devices. It has also been a technology partner of Apple since 2016, which gives it a great competitive advantage and makes it easier to install eSIMs on its devices.
For France, the brand offers 6 plans with durations of 1 or 30 days, and a data limit ranging from 100MB to 20GB. The 100MB plan has a duration of one day and is free, so that you can try out their product. The problem with this brand is that their data plans have very few gigabytes (maximum 20GB) and this means you can run out of internet in the middle of your journey.
| Data plan | Euros | Dollars | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day – 100 MB | €0 | $0 | £0 |
| 1 day – 1 GB | €5 | $5 | £5 |
| 3 GB – 30 days | €9 | $9 | £9 |
| 5 GB – 30 days | €14 | $14 | £13 |
| 10 GB – 30 days | €18 | $18 | £17 |
| 20 GB – 30 days | €35 | $35 | £32 |
While you can check the website for data plans and all the details about their eSIMs, to buy the eSIM card you will need to download the mobile app. Once downloaded you will need to create an account by entering your details directly or via Google or Facebook. You can then choose the country and data plan you need for your trip and pay securely. A great advantage of the App is that it detects if your mobile is compatible with eSIM before allowing you to make the purchase.
The installation and activation processes are done through the App, so you will not need to scan any QR code. Please note, however, that you will need internet to perform the operation.
If you go to Trustpilot, you will see that Truphone has over 100 reviews and a rating of 1.9, one of the lowest among eSIM card providers. We have also rated the Truphone eSIM card based on our experience, and these are our findings.
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data Sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 | 3.5 | 4 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3.8 |
If you want to know more about our experience with Truphone eSIM cards and what other users have to say about them, check out this post: Our thoughts on the Truphone eSIM.
Conclusion on which is the best eSIM for France
There are many important factors to take into account when comparing eSIM cards, so we have prepared this section where we tell you based on our experience which eSIM card is best for a trip to France.
When we travel, we don’t want to run out of data in the middle of our holiday, so eSIM cards with unlimited data are the best option. In this case, the only brands that offer unlimited eSIM data are Holafly and Ubigi, but as we have already seen, Ubigi’s unlimited data is not real.
With some companies such as Ubigi or Truphone you can top up the eSIM already installed via their website or App, but the best thing is not having to pay again if you run out of data
We know it can be tricky to calculate the gigabytes you’ll need during your trip, so we’ve put together this table to help you estimate if you end up choosing an eSIM card with a data cap, which we don’t recommend.
| Platform | Gigabyte consumption per hour |
| 0.12 GB – 0.18 GB | |
| 0.12 GB – 0.18 GB | |
| 0.06 GB | |
| Tiktok | 0.18 GB – 0.8 GB |
| Netflix | 0.3 GB – 7 GB |
| Youtube | 0.14 GB – 1.7 GB |
| Amazon Prime | 0.8 GB – 6 GB |
The installation process for eSIM cards is always simple and quick, but it is true that there are some companies that make it even easier. The first thing to do is to check if your mobile is compatible with the brand’s eSIM. This information can be checked on the website of each provider. In the case of Truphone, the App itself will tell you if your mobile is compatible when you download it.
The purchase of the eSIM for France can be done via the web in the case of some brands such as Holafly, or via the app such as Truphone or Ubigi. Both methods are simple and quick.
The only brand that allows installation through the App is Truphone, and in the case of Holafly, from the App you can get the code to install the eSIM manually without using a computer. You can also do the installation by scanning a QR code that you will receive by email as soon as you have completed the purchase with Holafly or Maya Mobile.
On the other hand, it is very important to consider the technical service to help you in the installation process and solve any doubt or problem. Most brands such as Maya Mobile or Truphone have a chatbot that takes a long time to respond and only does so in English. In the case of SimOptions, technical support will depend on the brand of eSIM card you have chosen. In this regard Holafly’s technical support is the best as they respond in less than 1 minute in English, Spanish, German, French, Italian and Japanese via the web chat or via WhatsApp, where a conversation is automatically opened after purchase.
One of the most important aspects is price. The cheapest brands are Maya Mobile and Airalo, however, their data plans are very limited, and you’re likely to run out and pay again with the top-up. That’s why it is sometimes advisable to pay a little more and get an eSIM card with unlimited data like Holafly’s for peace of mind and no need to recharge again.
All in all, Holafly eSIM cards are the best choice for travelling to France for their unlimited data and multilingual technical support that responds in less than a minute. With Holafly you will never run out of data on your trip.
Other options for getting internet in France
Although eSIM cards are the best option for internet in France because of all the advantages and conveniences they offer, there are also other alternatives, as we will tell you below. For the time being, here is a table with all the reasons why we prefer to use eSIM cards when travelling rather than other options.
| Convenience | Immediate delivery and activation upon purchase. Pre-purchase prior to travel. Easy installation; unlike SIM cards, you don’t have to remove the original card. You’ll be connected as soon as you land, no need to find a shop first. You’ll find tailor-made plans to suit the duration and needs of your trip. No dependency on batteries, as with Pocket wifi. You won’t have to carry an extra device during your trip, like the Pocket Wifi. |
| Tranquility | 24h technical support in English, unlike with a SIM or Pocket Wifi. You won’t have to worry about forgetting or losing any device other than your mobile. |
| Security | Without using public wifi networks vulnerable to hacking. Avoid entering personal data in endless forms to get Wifi. No need to open or manipulate your mobile as with eSIM cards. |
1. SIM cards
SIM cards are one of the most widespread options today, but that doesn’t mean they are the best option, as shown below they have a number of drawbacks.
| Advantages | There is a variety of brands and data plans to choose from. Installation is quick. They can be purchased online or in physical shops. You can make calls and send messages with a local number. |
| Disadvantages | You have to exchange it for your regular SIM card, which can be lost or damaged. You have to travel to buy it or wait for the card to arrive at home. When your travel SIM contract runs out, you have to replace it with another one. You will not be able to keep your regular phone number. You have to open and handle the mobile phone during the installation process. |
In France there are many brands offering SIM cards, such as O2, Orange or Bouygues Telecom. Some brands such as Orange offer various plans of 8GB, 10GB or 20GB with varying durations. The price depends on the gigabytes contracted and the duration of the contract, but you will not pay more than €50 for a month.
The advantage of SIMs is that they also include calls and SMS, but as you know, the installation process requires you to remove your regular SIM and risk losing it. In addition, SIM cards have limited data, and can run out before their time is up.
SIM cards can be purchased online before you start your trip, at the airport or in official shops in the shopping areas of your destination country.
2. Rent a Pocket WiFi
Another alternative for connecting to the internet in France is to rent a Pocket WiFi, i.e. a portable router with which you can access the internet wherever you go.
| Advantages | It can be used by several devices at the same time. You can choose the gigabyte package that suits you best. No need to install anything on our mobiles. |
| Disadvantages | It is one of the most expensive options. There are few brands to choose from. Long-term contracts are the norm. In addition to the data plan, you have to pay rent, insurance and shipping costs. The battery lasts at most 6 hours. If you use it with other people you have to be in the same room. You have to carry it with you wherever you go and you run the risk of losing it. |
Some brands that rent these routers in France are Wifivox or My Webspot. On the My Webspot website you will see that the price is around 10€ per day, that you can share the connection with 5 devices and that the battery lasts 8 hours. The problem with this brand is that data is limited to 3GB per day. The good thing is that it is delivered to your home, your hotel or wherever you choose.
This option is interesting when we only need internet in a very specific space, for long periods of time or when we are travelling with more people, as everyone can benefit from the connection and share the costs.
3. Search for free WiFi networks in France
As you can imagine, this is the cheapest option. However, as you may already know, it is also the most frustrating option in most cases. Slow connection, time limit, or endless forms that promise WIFI after giving all your details.
| Advantages | It’s free. No need to install anything on our mobiles. |
| Disadvantages | It is difficult to find free wifi networks. Public wifi networks are often slow or have connection problems. You often have to fill in forms and give your personal details. Some free wifi networks are time-limited. You should always connect close to the router. They are vulnerable to hacking. |
This is an option that should be used with caution for security reasons. Public WiFi hotspots are very vulnerable to hacking or cyber-attacks, through which your private data can be accessed. It is therefore recommended that you spend as little time as possible connected, use it for specific queries and do not expose personal data.
Here are some places where you can find WiFi on your trip in France if you need it: airports, museums, the metro, parks, cafés, restaurants and hotels. There are also APPs that tell you where to find WiFi hotspots, as well as Facebook, which also offers this service.
4. Activate roaming for France
One of the options that is increasingly losing popularity due to its high costs is roaming, also known as data roaming. It is the simplest option as you can receive calls and connect to the internet without having to install anything or change your phone number, however, the bills are very high.
Before travelling, it is recommended that you ask your carrier about the cost of roaming so that you can compare with other services such as eSIM cards.
If you decide to use another option, remember to turn off data roaming on your mobile phones or change the main line if you use an eSIM.
| Advantages | No installation on our mobile. No extra services to sign up for. You can receive calls, send messages and connect to the internet immediately. |
| Disadvantages | It is the most expensive option. Sometimes it is activated without us realising. Not all telephone companies offer this service. |
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Frequently asked questions about having internet in France
eSIM cards allow you to have internet on your mobile phone when you travel abroad without having to remove your usual SIM card, as is the case with SIM cards. This is possible thanks to a chip that is built into the latest generation of mobile phones.
The purchase of the eSIM data plan can be done through the website or the App of some brands. Choose your destination, the duration and the gigabytes of the data plan and pay securely.
The installation and activation of the eSIM is a really easy procedure that will only take a few minutes.
Once you have verified that your mobile phone is compatible with the product and chosen the data plan that best suits your needs, go to the mobile data settings on your smartphone and select “add data plan”. The camera will then open so you can scan the QR code that you will have received in the mail after the purchase. The installation and activation of your card will then begin.
This process must be carried out with an internet connection, which is why it is recommended that you do it before setting off on your trip or as soon as you arrive at the hotel.
Most models of popular brands such as Apple, Samsung, Motorola, Huawei or Google are compatible as long as they are recent models. Several iPads are also compatible. However, it is best to consult the website of each provider, where they will indicate all the compatible models.
SIM cards can be purchased in physical shops or online, with delivery times ranging from 48 to 72 hours. There are also companies that offer same day express delivery.
It is best to activate it just before your trip as you will need an internet connection.
Unlimited data plans do not normally allow data sharing, but plans with a specific number of GBs included do.
Holafly is a Spanish company launched in 2018 that you can trust, it has been tested by more than 400,000 customers, travel blogs and Youtubers. Holafly has been marketing eSIMs since 2019.
Holafly has over 10,000 positive experiences published on Trustpilot, with a rating of “Excellent” and an average score of 4.6.
SIM Options has both positive and negative reviews, and a lower average Trustpilot rating than Holafly at 3.8. SIM Options is a Hong Kong based company.
Maya is owned by a US company, Maya Virtual Inc. Maya’s reviews on Trustpilot are good, with an average rating of 4.5.
Airalo reviews on Trustpilot are good, with an average score of 3.9.
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