Free eSIM for France 
3 GB of free mobile data across France and 38 other European countries. From CDG to the Riviera, the Loire vineyards to the Mont Blanc cable car — your phone works the moment you taxi to the gate. No SIM swap, no Orange Boutique queue, no card charge.
Free for new users · Credit card for identity verification only — never charged · Valid 3 days
Why an eSIM beats a French prepaid
Buying a physical SIM in France still means showing ID at an Orange or SFR boutique and answering questions in French about your justificatif de domicile. The tourist-focused Orange Holiday plan is €39.99 for 20 GB — fine value if you need it, but overkill for a Paris weekend. Meanwhile, your US carrier bills €12+ per day for roaming, and French café wi-fi often requires a local mobile number for SMS verification. A 99esim installs while you wait for luggage at CDG — no forms, no boutique visit, no Mobile Holiday upsell.
- No French address or ID required — install it on the plane
- Works through strikes and rail-replacement bus detours
- Keeps your home number for bank SMS codes and Apple Pay
- 3 GB is enough for a Paris + Loire Valley long weekend
How French networks treat 99esim
99esim rides on Orange France's wholesale backbone — the largest footprint in the country and the only network with solid signal across rural Brittany, the Massif Central and most of the Pyrenees. 5G is active in 250+ communes. TGV coverage is excellent thanks to the 2020 rollout of trackside relays — expect steady signal at 320 km/h between Paris, Lyon and Marseille, with brief dips in the older tunnels.
Arriving at a French airport
ADP airports (CDG, Orly) and all regional terminals have full 5G at gates and baggage claim. Activate before boarding — Orange latches on the moment your phone leaves airplane mode, so you can book your Uber or RER ticket while walking to the train.
Terminal 2E has the best 5G. RER B train to Gare du Nord (35 min) stays connected except for a 2-minute drop between Parc des Expositions and La Plaine.
Newer Orlyval shuttle to Antony has good coverage. The Tram T7 toward Villejuif also stays online the whole route.
Terminal 2 is newer and has better coverage. Tram Line 2 to Port Lympia keeps signal intact across the 8.5 km route to Nice centre.
Rhônexpress tram to Part-Dieu (30 min) has solid coverage. Terminal 1's 5G is slightly faster than Terminal 2.
Navette bus to Saint-Charles station (25 min) stays online. Perfect for pre-loading Google Maps for the Calanques before you leave the airport.
Tram T2 to Palais de Justice has full coverage. Gateway for Airbus business travel and Occitan countryside road trips.
Where your free eSIM works best
What 3 GB actually gets you in France
French trips mix museum queues, wine region drives and café sit-downs. A realistic breakdown of how 3 GB stretches:
France-specific travel tips
Strike-proof maps
France averages one major rail or transport grève per month. Citymapper and Google Maps reroute through RER, trams and buses in real time — your free eSIM means you don't have to find a café with wi-fi every time the SNCF app updates.
Metro dead zones in Paris
Lines 1, 4 and 14 are fully fitted with distributed antenna systems — signal is constant. Older lines like 7 bis and 3 bis can drop in the tunnels. Download your RATP offline maps before heading into Montmartre.
Autoroute péage tolls
French motorways use Flow-style electronic tolls on some sections (A13, A14). Your phone needs signal for the payment apps like Ulys — coverage is reliable along all major axes.
Corsica is domestic France
Flying to Ajaccio or Bastia? Your eSIM treats Corsica as mainland France — no roaming fees. Orange has decent coverage in the cities but thins on the GR 20 hiking trail.
Chamonix and Alpine tunnels
Mont Blanc and Fréjus tunnels drop signal entirely — they're deep rock with no repeaters. Load offline maps before entering. Chamonix town and the Aiguille du Midi cable car station both have 4G.
Travelers who used 99esim in France
"Hit Paris right during a rail strike. Citymapper kept rerouting me through the few working RER lines — would have been stranded without data."
"Drove the Loire from Tours to Saumur, eSIM held up in every village. Google Lens translated chateau signage in real time."
"Skied Les Trois Vallées — signal worked at the top of the lifts. Only the tunnels through to Val Thorens dropped briefly."
Frequently asked — France edition
Does the free eSIM work on the Paris Metro?
Yes, on modernised lines. Lines 1, 4 and 14 are fitted with distributed antenna systems that keep 4G active in tunnels and stations. Older lines (3 bis, 7 bis, 10) still have signal gaps between stops — typically you reconnect within 2 stations.
Will it work on the TGV?
Yes. SNCF and Orange finished trackside coverage on LGV Est, LGV Atlantique and LGV Sud-Est in 2020. Expect steady 4G at 300+ km/h with brief drops in the older Sologne tunnels. Tunnel gaps last under 90 seconds.
Does it work in Corsica and Monaco?
Corsica yes, as domestic France — Orange covers the major cities. Monaco is a separate sovereign principality with its own Monaco Telecom network — your eSIM may roam onto it but as Monaco isn't in the EU roaming zone, it can incur charges. Check your settings before crossing the border.
Is 5G included in the free 3 GB?
Yes. If your phone supports 5G and you're in a covered commune — all major cities and most of the autoroute network — the free plan uses it automatically. Data counts at the same rate.
Can I tether my laptop?
Yes, tethering works on the free plan. Just be aware video streaming burns the 3 GB quickly — a 1080p Netflix episode can take 1.5 GB in one sitting.
What if I run out mid-trip?
Top up instantly in the 99esim app — French add-ons start at €2.99 for 1 GB. No auto-renewal, no surprise charges, no hidden activation fees.
Free eSIM in other European countries
Your 3 GB works in all 39 countries. Here are a few more popular destinations:
See all 39 countries →
Ready to claim your free 3 GB in France?
Install the 99esim app, create a free account, and your data is live in about 90 seconds.