# Best eSIM for France in 2026: prices compared

> A 5 GB, 30-day France eSIM from eSIMology costs £6.99 on Orange with 5G. The same 5 GB for 30 days costs £8.50 at Airalo and £8.49 at Saily; Holafly sells unlimited plans only, from £10.00 for 3 days. Prices checked 7 November 2026.

The right France eSIM depends on four things: the network it runs on, whether it uses 5G, how much data you need, and what speed you get once a daily allowance runs out. eSIMology's plans run on Orange in France, with 5G where the network offers it.

- Shop: eSIMology (esimology.com), travel eSIM data plans
- Delivery: instant, by email and on the order page, with a QR code, a one-tap install link for iPhone (iOS 17.4+) and manual codes
- Checkout: guest checkout, Apple Pay, Google Pay and cards; prices in GBP, EUR or USD including any taxes
- Refunds: an eSIM never installed can be cancelled within 30 days for a full refund to the card
- Plans are data only (no phone number); most start when the eSIM first connects at the destination
- Buy: https://esimology.com/esim/france
- URL: https://esimology.com/guides/best-esim-for-france

## Prices for the same trip (GBP, VAT included)

| Trip | eSIMology | Airalo | Holafly | Saily |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 GB · 30 days | £4.99 | – | unlimited only | £6.99 |
| 5 GB · 30 days | £6.99 | £8.50 | unlimited only | £8.49 |
| 10 GB · 30 days | £10.99 | £13.50 | unlimited only | £12.99 |

Rival prices from each provider's own France page, as shown to a UK visitor, read 7 November 2026. eSIMology prices are live.

## What you get from each

| What you get | eSIMology | Airalo | Holafly | Saily |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buy without an account | Yes: guest checkout, no app | Account needed before checkout | Yes: guest checkout | App sign-in needed to install |
| Refunds on unused eSIMs | Full refund to your card within 30 days | In the app as Airmoney credit; card refunds by request | Full if not activated, within 6 months; $3.50 fee on partial refunds | Full within 30 days if not installed |
| Speed after a daily cap | Printed on every plan | “Slows”, no speed given | No speed given | 1 Mbps, in its terms |
| Fixed-GB data plans | Yes, with the price per GB | Yes | No: unlimited by the day only | Yes |
| Data left and top-up | On a web page, no app | In the app | In the app | In the app |
| Phone check before paying | Checks the phone you're on at checkout | A list of phones | *#06# test and a list | A list by brand |
| Install | One tap on iPhone, QR code or codes, by email | In the app, QR code or codes | One tap in the app, QR code or codes | App-guided |
| Currencies | GBP, EUR, USD | 16 currencies, often charged in USD | USD and EUR in the app | GBP, USD, EUR, CHF |

## What makes a good France eSIM?

- **Plan size:** Choose by how much data you'll use. eSIMology's fixed-GB plans run from 100 MB for 7 days to 50 GB for 180 days, and daily allowances run from 500 MB a day to 10 GB a day. For a week away, light use (about 1.8 GB in all) suits 2 GB for 15 days, standard use (about 4.9 GB in all) suits 5 GB for 30 days, and heavy use (about 12.6 GB in all) suits 3 GB a day for 7 days.
- **Speed after your daily allowance:** Once a daily allowance is used up, speed drops to 1 Mbps. This is printed on every plan.
- **Where your data goes:** eSIMology's plans send your data to the internet through Europe. Check this on any plan you compare.
- **Top-ups:** Most plans can be topped up, so you can add data partway through your trip.

## Fixed GB, daily or unlimited: which France eSIM fits your trip?

eSIMology's France plans run on Orange, with 5G where the network offers it. After a daily allowance, speed drops to 1 Mbps.

- **A three-day Paris break:** Maps, rides in Uber, Bolt or FREE NOW and messages most of the day suit a daily plan. Choose 1 GB a day for 3 days for standard use, or 2 GB a day for 3 days for heavy use.
- **A week across Lyon, Bordeaux and Marseille:** Light use, about 1.8 GB in all, suits 2 GB for 15 days. For heavy use, about 12.6 GB in all, take 3 GB a day for 7 days.
- **Two weeks in Nice:** Standard use, about 9.8 GB in all, suits 10 GB for 30 days. Heavy users on a fortnight can take 50 GB for 30 days, and most plans can be topped up.
- **Other sellers:** Airalo and Saily sell fixed-GB plans and unlimited plans by the day. Holafly sells unlimited plans by the day only, in 3, 5, 7, 10, 15 or 30 day options.

## Questions

### Which is cheaper for 5 GB over 30 days in France?

For 5 GB over 30 days in France: eSIMology £6.99, Saily £8.49, Airalo £8.50. Holafly sells unlimited plans only. Rival prices from their own France pages, read 7 November 2026; ours are live.

### Can I get a refund on an unused France eSIM?

eSIMology: Full refund to your card within 30 days. Airalo: In the app as Airmoney credit; card refunds by request. Holafly: Full if not activated, within 6 months; $3.50 fee on partial refunds. Saily: Full within 30 days if not installed.

### Do I need an app to check my data in France?

eSIMology: On a web page, no app. Airalo: In the app. Holafly: In the app. Saily: In the app.

### Which networks does a France eSIM from eSIMology use?

It connects to Orange in France, with 5G where the network has it. Your phone picks the strongest signal by itself.

### Is an unlimited or a fixed-GB eSIM better for France?

It depends how much you use. Fixed-GB plans suit a set amount of data, and eSIMology shows the price per GB on each one. Heavy users should look at eSIMology's daily allowances, up to 10 GB a day, or a bigger fixed plan such as 50 GB for 30 days. Holafly sells unlimited plans by the day only.

### What speed do you get after the daily allowance runs out?

After your daily allowance is used up, your eSIM drops to 1 Mbps. eSIMology prints this speed on every plan. Airalo says it slows without giving a speed, and Holafly gives no speed at all.