Best eSIM for France

Published October 20, 202613 min read Fact checked

Smiling traveller checking her phone on a Paris café terrace, with the Eiffel Tower in the background

For your travels to France, the lowest priced eSIM option is Saily’s 1 GB 7-day package for $3.99 USD, and the most flexible packages are Holafly’s unlimited data options that let you choose the exact number of days you want (e.g., $38.00 CAD for 7 days). Airalo also offers both unlimited plans and fixed data packages, billing in Canadian dollars.

France is one of the most visited countries in the world and for good reason. Whether your upcoming trip is built around seeing the iconic sites in Paris, road-tripping around to different wine regions, or enjoying some time at a winter chalet in the Pyrenees, France offers something for everyone.

During your upcoming trip to France, having a reliable eSIM is a great way to stay connected with folks back home and access useful online tools. Having consistent and affordable connectivity makes it easy to share memories, navigate a new city, translate menus, and more.

In this guide, we show you the best eSIMs for France, giving you multiple options for staying connected while you explore this diverse country and possibly beyond.

Paris metro line 6 crossing the Bir-Hakeim viaduct over the Seine, with the Eiffel Tower in the background — With an eSIM, you can check transit routes and maps in real time, even on the Paris metro.

eSIMs: What Are They?

eSIMs are an entirely digital SIM card that provide connectivity using pre-installed software on your compatible device. eSIM technology was introduced and expanded in the mid-to-late 2010s, drastically simplifying and improving international/travel connectivity options.

Prior to this, the only way to connect your device when you travelled was through expensive roaming using your home phone plan or by purchasing a new physical SIM card at your destination. These physical SIM cards are the same as what you usually get from your home service provider, and they need to be manually added/removed in order to connect to networks around the world.

With eSIM technology, you can easily download and install your eSIM before you even head out your front door, having it ready to boot-up as soon as you land at your destination. Plus, nearly every contemporary smart device (e.g., smartphones, smart watches, and tablets) are compatible with eSIMs, making staying connected a task that takes less than 10 minutes.

Why Choose an eSIM?

Choosing an eSIM over roaming or a physical SIM card for your trip to France comes with a number of advantages. Some of the reasons to choose an eSIM include:

Easy to follow steps for purchasing, downloading, and installing on your compatible device(s)
Price-conscious; no need to worry about roaming charges sneaking up on you
Stress-free since you don’t have to worry about keeping track of your original physical SIM card or manually switching anything in and out of your device
Adaptable to all trip lengths and data needs, with top-up plans available with all major vendors
Improve travel safety by giving you access to maps, translation apps, transit systems, rideshares, and more
Keep track of your reservations, bookings, and itinerary easily with reliable connectivity
Connect with family and friends back home and with locals, tour guides, accommodations, and more at your destination

Best eSIMs for France

With a reputable eSIM, you can stay connected across France to share pictures of your adventures, learn about the local history, connect with new friends, translate a restaurant menu, or find the best local patisserie.

When planning your trip to France, we recommend that you purchase your eSIM from one of the following three reputable eSIM vendors: Saily, Airalo, and Holafly. Holafly connects to all four French networks (Orange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free Mobile), and Airalo runs on Orange's 5G network, which helps maintain strong and consistent connectivity in most locations.

While our recommended vendors often overlap in terms of local network connectivity, they do differ in pricing, data quantities, and plan length, so to help you select the best eSIM for France, here are a few things to consider:

Length of your trip: Through our three recommended vendors, you’ll find eSIM data plans for France available for between 1 and 90 days. Generally speaking, the price of these plans goes up the longer your trip, so it's most cost-effective to purchase a plan for close to the exact number of days you’ll be travelling.
Data amount: Before you purchase a plan, consider how much data you expect to use during your trip. Since more data will cost more money, it’s best to choose a plan that’s close to your estimated usage and then just top-up with more data/an additional plan if needed.
Trip itinerary: How many countries do you plan to visit on your trip? Saily, Holafly, and Airalo all offer a variety of country-specific eSIMs for France and European regional plans if your travels will take beyond the French borders. Region-specific eSIMs are a great option since it means you only have to purchase and install a single time rather than for each country.

Saily eSIMs

Our first recommended vendor for your trip to France is Saily, which offers a number of different plan lengths and data amounts.

Saily eSIMs are not only easy to download and install, but they also come from Nord Security, the same company as NordVPN, one of the best VPN services in the world. This means that even if you don’t have a VPN to keep your data safe around the world (though we do recommend you explore these options too), you’ll at least know that your eSIM is backed by a particularly reputable and secure company.

For your sojourn to France, Saily’s eSIM data plans are as follows:

Saily eSIM plans for France: data, validity and price
Data	Period of Validity	Price
1 GB	7 days	$3.99 USD
3 GB	30 days	$8.99 USD
5 GB	30 days	$10.99 USD
10 GB	30 days	$16.99 USD
20 GB	30 days	$22.99 USD
Unlimited data	5–30 days	$17.99–59.99 USD

Why choose Saily?

In addition to choosing Saily for its connection to Nord Security, Saily customers also benefit from the company’s round-the-clock customer service. Should you find yourself in need of help with your eSIM while travelling or with the installation process before you leave, Saily’s team is on stand-by to support any issues that come up.

Additionally, Saily promotes customer loyalty by giving you 3% back in bonus credits for every purchase you make. They also give you $5 USD in credit when a friend that you’ve referred purchases an eSIM. These credits are added to your account balance, and you can then use them to cover the cost of staying connected on your next trip.

Saily also offers a unique feature in that it lets you use a single eSIM for multiple destinations. With most vendors, you need to purchase, download, and install a new eSIM every time you go to a new destination; however, with Saily, you can actually use the original eSIM that you purchased as the conduit for all additional Saily eSIM plans.

By keeping your Saily eSIM loaded on your compatible device, you can then add new plans for new countries and regions without having to re-install.

Compare

Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite +* Card

Scotiabank Scene+

Annual fee: $150
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $350
Welcome offerAfter $2,000 in 3 months: Up to 35,000 points; Ends Nov 1, 2026

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite^+* Card, you’ll earn 25,000 welcome bonus Scene+ points after charging $2,000 in purchases to your account within the first three months.

Plus, every year, earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points when you charge at least $40,000 in purchases to your account. In total, the offer represents up to 35,000 Scene+ points and a value of up to $1,250 in the first year, including rewards, savings on foreign transaction fees and airport lounge access.

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you earn 3 points per $1 spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and participating Co-ops, and 2 points per $1 spent at other grocery stores, restaurants, eligible entertainment and eligible daily transit. You earn 1 point per $1 on all your other everyday purchases.

These points can be redeemed against any travel purchase at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb), or as cash back with Scene+ at the same rate.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card also offers:

No fees for foreign currency transactions
6 complimentary airport VIP lounge passes
Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
Visa Infinite* Concierge Services

Legal

* The potential value of savings and rewards during the first 12 months includes the value of the welcome offer, the potential value of points earned in the first year, the value of savings on foreign currency transaction fees and the cost of airport lounge access as of May 22, 2026:

$250 in travel rewards (25,000 bonus Scene+ points) for new Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite +* Cardholders who charge $2,000 in purchases to their account within the first three (3) months;

$100 in travel rewards (10,000 bonus Scene+ points) for cardholders who charge $40,000 in purchases to their account;

$50 in savings from the annual fee waiver on the first additional card for new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit card account holders;

$132 in savings on foreign currency transaction fees based on the average amount of foreign currency purchases made per active account over the past 24 months (by saving on the 2.5% foreign currency transaction fees typically charged by other credit card issuers);

$364 representing the potential value of points earned in the first year (36,400 Scene+ points) based on the average amount of purchases made per active account over the past 24 months, assuming an average spend of 21% of purchases in categories eligible for accelerated earn rates of 2X and 3X points;

$358 representing the value of complimentary membership in the Visa Airport Companion program which includes 6 airport lounge passes (based on « Preferred » membership valued at approximately $357 CAD/$259 USD). Based on the exchange rate in effect on May 22, 2026.

Maximum potential value after the first year = $1,254 (rounded to $1,250)

The actual value of offers, savings realized and points earned will vary depending on card usage and eligibility for applicable offers. Conditions apply.

1 Offer description and conditions: The 25,000 Scene+ points offer (the « offer ») applies only to new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit card accounts (the « accounts ») opened between August 4, 2026 and November 1, 2026 (regardless of the date you apply for the account) subject to the conditions below. The offer may be modified, cancelled or extended at any time without notice, and it cannot be combined with any other offer.

In addition, as a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Cardholder, you are eligible for an annual bonus of 10,000 Scene+ points if you charge at least $40,000 in eligible everyday purchases to your Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card account over the course of one year. Conditions apply; see below for more details.

Description and conditions of the 25,000 bonus Scene+ points offer: To be eligible for the 25,000 bonus Scene+ points offer (« 25,000 bonus points »), you must charge at least $2,000 in total eligible purchases to your account within the first three months following the account opening date.

Conditions for the annual 10,000 Scene+ points bonus:
As a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit cardholder, you can earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points (the « annual points bonus ») if you charge at least $40,000 in eligible purchases to your account over the course of one year (12-month period). The annual period begins on the account opening date; a new period starts again every twelve months thereafter. If you replace another Scene+-eligible credit card with the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card (i.e., it is not a new card or an additional card), the opening date of your original account will be carried over to your new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card account and your annual period under this offer will begin on the next anniversary date of your original account opening. For example, if you originally opened a Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card account on January 15, 2022 and you switch to the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card on July 15, 2025, your annual period under the 10,000 Scene+ points annual bonus offer will begin on January 15, 2026 (your next anniversary date) and a new period will start again on January 15 each year thereafter. You will earn 2,000 bonus Scene+ points for each additional $10,000 in purchases made during the same year once you have reached the $40,000 annual purchase threshold.

Eligible purchases means purchases, less refunds, returns and any other similar credits, and excludes payments, cash advances (including balance transfers and quasi-cash transactions), interest charges, as well as card fees and other fees.

Fulfillment of the annual points bonus: Bonus points will be credited within approximately eight weeks after you become eligible for a bonus, provided the account is open and in good standing. In the case of a joint account with a primary borrower and a co-borrower, bonus points will be credited as follows: (i) the 25,000 bonus points and the annual points bonus will be credited to the Scene+ account linked to the account of the borrower who made the transaction that reached the eligible purchase threshold ($2,000, or $40,000) within the appropriate timeframe (the first three months, or the first 12 months). If an additional cardholder makes the transaction that reaches the eligible purchase threshold for the 25,000 bonus points, or the annual points bonus, the bonus points will be credited to the Scene+ account linked to the primary borrower’s account. It is possible to transfer points between the Scene+ accounts of a primary borrower, a co-borrower or an additional cardholder by contacting Scene+. An account is in good standing if it is not past due, there is no over-limit, and the cardholder(s) have complied with the terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement that applies to the account. All other program conditions continue to apply during the offer period.

Offer eligibility and exclusions: You cannot take advantage of the offer if you are currently a primary or secondary cardholder of a Scotiabank personal credit card or have been one in the past two years, including if you transfer your balance from an existing Scotiabank personal credit card account, and if you are a Scotiabank employee. Subject to the exclusions mentioned above, small business credit cardholders are eligible for this offer.

Rates and fees: The annual fees are $150 for the primary card, $0 for the first additional card and $50 for each additional card thereafter (including those issued to joint account holders and additional cardholders). The preferred annual interest rates applicable to the account are as follows: 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances (including balance transfers and quasi-cash transactions). The rates, fees, and features and benefits, which are described in the disclosure statement accompanying the application, may be changed.

Savings at Shell

Get up to 7 cents per litre in instant fuel discounts for a limited time and earn up to 3 cents per litre in Scene+ points value with an eligible Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + card linked to a Shell Go+ Account:

Instant 3 cents per Litre Discount on Fuel Purchases (All Grades): Receive an instant 3 cents per litre discount on purchases of fuel (all grades) (“Fuel Purchases (All Grades)”) at participating Shell locations in Canada when you use any eligible Scotiabank debit card or credit card linked to a Shell Go+ Account, up to a maximum of 1,000 litres per month per Scotiabank debit card and per Scotiabank credit card account. This total limit resets at the start of each new month per payment card account. This discount is subject to the Scotiabank Fuel Benefit Terms and Conditions.
Instant 4 cents per Litre Discount on Premium Fuel: Between May 26, 2026 and June 1, 2027 (“Promotional Period”), receive an instant 4 cents per litre discount on purchases of V-Power^® gasoline, or V-Power^® diesel (“Premium Fuel Purchases”) at participating Shell locations in Canada when you use any eligible Scotiabank credit card that earns Scene+ points linked to a Shell Go+ Account, up to a maximum of 1,000 litres per month per credit card account. This total limit resets at the start of each new month per credit card account. This promotional offer, including the Promotional Period, may be changed, extended, or withdrawn at any time without notice. These promotional offer terms are in addition to the Scotiabank Fuel Benefit Terms and Conditions.
Earn up to 3 cents per Litre in Scene+ points Value (Equivalent) on Fuel Purchases: Each time you use your linked Scotiabank credit card that earns Scene+ points on Fuel Purchases (All Grades) at participating Shell locations in Canada, you will earn at least 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent. Plus, as a Scene+ Member you will also automatically earn 1 Scene+ point for each litre in Fuel Purchases (All Grades), and as a Shell Go+ member, automatically earn 1 additional Scene+ point for each litre in Premium Fuel Purchases, made with your linked Scotiabank credit card. This means that for every litre in fuel purchased with your linked credit card, you can earn the equivalent of up to 3 cents of redeemable Scene+ points value based on a redemption value of $10 for every 1,000 Scene+ points redeemed for fuel purchases at participating Shell locations. Actual value may be lower depending on how you choose to redeem your Scene+ points. Earn and redemption limits may apply. See the Scene+ Program Terms and Conditions available at sceneplus.ca/terms-and-conditions for full details including redemption options and additional terms.

Note: Highest value of 10 cents per litre assumes a Premium Fuel Purchase made with a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + Card linked to a Shell Go+ Account. Actual value will vary depending on payment card used and whether or not the card is linked, fuel grade purchased, and how you choose to redeem your Scene+ points.

Annual fee

Primary card$150

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$60,000

Household$100,000

Conversion fees

Earning rate

3xWith the partner brand
2xGroceries
2xRestaurants
2xTransit
2xEntertainment
1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$704

2nd Year Value$397

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Airport lounge access$240

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $2,000,000 / 25 days

Travel medical (55-64)Up to $2,000,000 / 25 days

Travel medical (65+)Up to $2,000,000 / 3 days

Trip CancellationUp to $1,500

Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500

Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000

Lost BaggageUp to $1,000

Flight DelayUp to $500

Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000

Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Airalo eSIMs

Our next recommendation for a reputable eSIM vendor for an adventure in France is Airalo.

Similarly to Saily, Airalo packages are available for different data quantities, trip lengths, and price ranges:

Airalo eSIM plans for France: data, validity and price
Data	Period of Validity	Price
1–3 GB	3 days	$6.00–10.00 CAD
3–10 GB	7 days	$11.00–23.00 CAD
5–20 GB	15 days	$15.00–32.00 CAD
5–50 GB	30 days	$16.00–50.00 CAD
Unlimited data	3–30 days	$16.00–84.00 CAD

Why choose Airalo?

Airalo offers a similar program structure to Saily, and it also provides customers with a similarly valuable rewards system. When you purchase an eSIM with Airalo or you successfully refer a friend, your account will receive a deposit of Airmoney. This Airmoney is redeemable to cover some or all of the purchase price of your next eSIM or data top-up.

Airalo also offers a 24/7 customer service team to make sure your eSIM experience, from purchase to download to install to usage, is easy and positive.

Also, uniquely, Airalo provides eSIM packages for select destinations that include calling and texting capabilities on top of the standard data connectivity. Unfortunately, this option isn’t possible for your trip to France, but it’s worth watching for it if you’re looking for an eSIM in the US or Mexico.

Holafly eSIMs

Our final recommended choice for France-specific eSIMs is Holafly, a vendor that stands out for offering all their eSIM plans with unlimited data and the ability to select the exact number of days you want for your plan. This structure means that you never have to worry about running out of data, and you won’t pay for any days that you’re not using.

Additionally, Holafly has introduced a really helpful and unique feature called “Always On.” With the Always On addition, Holafly eSIM customers get 1 GB of free "backup data" each month once their initial plan ends. The associated data remains accessible once your Holafly eSIM has been activated and as long as you never delete it from your device. The allotment of 1 GB refreshes automatically, so every 30 days, you’ll have a new cache of data to use in destinations around the world, free of charge.

Also, if you’re travelling with others, you can use the data from your Holafly eSIM and share up to 1 GB per day via your device's hotspot.

As we mentioned above, Holafly lets you select unlimited-data plans for France that last between 1 to 90 days, with the price per day lowering the longer the plan. As an example of this pricing structure in action, below are some common trip lengths with their overall costs and the price breakdown per day (all figures in CAD):

3 Days: $17.00 (~$5.67/day)
7 Days: $38.00 (~$5.43/day)
15 Days: $70.00 (~$4.67/day)
30 Days: $103.00 (~$3.43/day)

Additionally, should you ever need support, Holafly offers easy-to-access 24-hour customer support for all your eSIM needs.

Free eSIM Data With Your Visa or Mastercard

Before you buy anything, check your credit card: Visa and Mastercard both offer free eSIM data to Canadian cardholders.

Visa (GigSky): France is part of the Visa Destinations offer, which gives Visa Infinite cardholders 7 days of unlimited data in France and other eligible Visa cardholders 3 days, once per country every 365 days. Visa Infinite cards also come with a 1 GB plan valid for 15 days each year, and the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card adds 10 GB for 15 consecutive days every year. Our guide to the free GigSky eSIM with Visa explains how to claim it.
Mastercard (FlexiRoam): World Mastercard cardholders get 1 GB and World Elite cardholders get 3 x 1 GB, each valid for 5 days after activation, once per calendar year, and France is covered. See our guide to the free FlexiRoam eSIM with Mastercard.

For a short trip, these free plans may be all you need. For a longer stay, they make a good backup while you land and set up a paid plan.

How to Install Your eSIM in 4 Steps

Installing your eSIM only takes a few minutes, right from your phone. Here's how to be connected as soon as you land in Paris:

Check your phone: it must be unlocked and eSIM-compatible. On iPhone, that means an iPhone XS or newer; on Android, check your provider's list of compatible devices.
Install the eSIM before you leave: on a stable Wi-Fi connection, scan the QR code you received at purchase or start the install from the provider's app. On iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM (or Add Cellular Plan); on Android, search "eSIM" in Settings, since the menu varies by manufacturer.
Pick the right line for data: in your cellular settings, select the eSIM for mobile data and turn off roaming on your Canadian line to avoid fees.
Turn on data roaming for the eSIM when you land: once in France, switch off airplane mode. The eSIM connects to the local network within a few minutes.

To learn more about how eSIMs work, read our guide What is an eSIM?

Bottom Line

When travelling, having your device(s) connected to local data networks provides a reliable and affordable way to stay connected with friends and family back home and increase your access to information, apps, and helpful tools at your destination. Plus, thanks to online eSIM vendors like Saily, Airalo and Holafly, it's incredibly easy to find the right plan for your trip length and data needs.

Travelling to other parts of Europe before or after your time in France? Check out our guide to the best eSIMs for Europe to learn more about regional eSIMs and how you can easily connect across dozens of European countries.

Also, don’t forget to create your free Milesopedia account to access member-only offers and stay up-to-date with our newest travel tips.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are eSIMs safe?

Yes. An eSIM bought from an established vendor such as Saily, Airalo or Holafly is as safe as the physical SIM card you use at home, and it connects to the same licensed French networks.

How do I buy and install an eSIM?

Buying and installing an eSIM takes about ten minutes. First, pick your plan on the vendor's site and pay. You'll then receive a QR code or an in-app activation link. Follow the provided instructions, and your eSIM will be ready to activate when you step off the plane in France.

When is the best time to install my eSIM?

The best time to install your eSIM is at home, before you leave, while you are on a stable Wi-Fi connection. The install step needs good internet access, which is exactly what you typically won't have when you land at an airport. Most plans only start counting your days once you activate the line or once it first connects to a French network, so installing early will not eat into your data. It's also worth checking the activation window when you buy: Saily, for example, gives you 180 days to activate before the clock starts on its own.

Can I make calls in France with my eSIM?

No, none of our recommended plans offer calling capabilities. The France eSIMs from Saily, Airalo and Holafly are data-only and do not come with a French phone number. However, you can still call and text over data using WhatsApp, FaceTime, Signal or Messenger, which is what most travellers do. We also recommend that you keep your home SIM active (but with roaming turned off) so you can access it if needed to receive bank verification codes by SMS.

How much does it cost to get an eSIM for France?

It depends on how long you are staying and how much data you need. The cheapest entry point is Saily at $3.99 USD for 1 GB over 7 days. For a week of unlimited data, Holafly charges $38.00 CAD, while Airalo's fixed plans start at $6.00 CAD for 1 GB over 3 days. Comparatively, a month of unlimited data runs $103.00 CAD with Holafly. Prices shown are as of October 2026 and change regularly, so check the vendor's site before you buy.

Will my eSIM for France work in the rest of Europe?

A France-specific eSIM only works in France. Airalo's France plan, for example, covers mainland France and Corsica, but not Monaco or the overseas departments. If your trip crosses borders, we recommend that you look to buy a European regional plan instead. All three vendors sell variations on a Europe regional eSIM plan, and these cover dozens of countries on a single install, so you are not buying and setting up a new eSIM in every city. Our guide to the best eSIMs for Europe breaks down the regional options and what each one costs.

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