Which carriers matter, what buying a SIM involves, and when an eSIM is the smarter move.
Reliable mobile internet at better prices than most travel eSIMs, with polished iOS and Android apps and support for making and receiving phone calls.
One of the biggest travel eSIM brands, with a very large destination catalog.
Known for unlimited-data plans in many destinations, at a higher price per gigabyte.
Do not assume an Orange or SFR store will sell you a tourist SIM; go to Bouygues, a Relay kiosk or a tabac instead. SFR is being broken up, with customers due to be switched to Orange, Bouygues and Free during 2027, so SFR products have a short shelf life. On the plus side, Orange Holiday Europe includes EU-wide data, making it a solid single purchase for a multi-country European trip.
Best overall network quality and nationwide coverage, and the only carrier with a purpose-built tourist product, the Holiday Europe pack.
Coverage on par with Orange, but the company is being broken up and its customers migrated to rivals, so treat anything SFR as short-lived.
The one operator whose own stores will reliably sell you a tourist prepaid SIM.
Cheap, but sold through in-store self-service machines with a French-only interface.
ID is legally required to activate a French prepaid line, so have your passport with you. In practice the pre-packaged tourist SIMs like Orange Holiday Europe are sold as retail products with little to no paperwork, so the friction depends on what and where you buy.
Airport purchases usually cost more than in the city, and the experience is poor: resellers rather than operator shops, queues and limited service. Better to buy in town or order ahead.
Guac eSIM covers France with data plans starting from $1.50 per GB and instant activation, so your phone is online the moment you land. Airalo and Holafly are popular alternatives.
SIM cards and eSIM in France