Getting a phone plan in France for students is one of the first practical tasks after landing. You will need a French number to register at your university, set up your bank account, receive verification codes and stay in touch with your family back home. This guide compares the best phone plan options available to international students in France in October 2026, including day-1 options that work without a French bank account.
In short
- Day 1 (no French bank account yet): buy a prepaid SIM at any tabac, Fnac or phone store, or activate a Lycamobile eSIM before you land. No French IBAN required for either.
- Best value once you have a French IBAN: Free Mobile Série Free at €12.99/month (110 GB 5G, unlimited calls, no commitment, price guaranteed until 2027).
- For international calls: Lycamobile 250 GB plan at €8.99/month (calls to 128+ countries included, no French IBAN required).
- Widest coverage: Sosh by Orange (Orange network, widest coverage in France including rural areas).
- All plans listed are sans engagement (no commitment). You can cancel at any time with no penalty.
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Why you need a French phone number
A French mobile number is not optional. Within your first days, you will need it to verify your identity when creating a BoursoBank or Hello Bank account, to receive your university enrolment confirmation by SMS, to set up your CAF application, and to sign up for services like Deliveroo, CityMapper or your student healthcare portal. In addition, most French online forms require a local phone number at signup. Getting a French phone plan for students is therefore one of the first things to sort on arrival, ideally on the same day.
Best phone plan options for students in France (October 2026)
| Free Mobile Série Free | Lycamobile 250 GB | RED by SFR 100 GB | Sosh 50 GB | Prepaid SIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | €12.99 (then €19.99 after 12 months) | €8.99 | ~€11–13 (varies by promo) | ~€10–15 | €5–20 top-up |
| Data (France) | 110 GB 5G | 250 GB 5G | 100 GB 4G/5G | 50 GB 4G/5G | Pay per use or bundle |
| Calls (France) | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Limited (per-minute or bundle) |
| EU roaming data | 30 GB | 14 GB | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| International calls | No (France only) | Yes (128+ countries) | No | No | No |
| French IBAN required | Yes (direct debit) | No | Yes | No (card payment) | No |
| No commitment | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| eSIM available | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Some operators |
| Best for | Primary plan once you have a French IBAN | Day 1 or if you call home often | Reliable SFR network coverage | Best rural coverage (Orange network) | First 1–3 days before opening bank account |
Day 1 in France: start with a prepaid SIM
Most French monthly phone plans require a French bank account (IBAN) for direct debit. Since you may not have one on your first day, a prepaid SIM is the practical starting point. In fact, you can buy one immediately at almost any tabac (tobacco shop), Fnac, Darty or phone store with just your passport, no address and no bank account needed.
Orange, SFR and Bouygues all sell prepaid cards (cartes prépayées) at between €5 and €20 including an initial credit. Alternatively, Lycamobile offers a prepaid eSIM you can activate online before you even land in France, which gives you a working French number from the moment the plane lands. Once you have set up your French bank account (typically within 1 to 3 weeks of arrival), switch to a monthly plan for better value.
Where to buy a prepaid SIM on arrival
Any tabac displaying an Orange, SFR or Bouygues logo sells prepaid SIM cards. Fnac and Darty branches near main train stations (CDG, Gare du Nord, Gare de Lyon) also stock them. You pay cash or by card. A €10 starter pack from Orange or SFR gives you enough credit for a few calls, texts and basic data to get you through the first 48 hours.
Free Mobile: best phone plan in France for students on a budget
Free Mobile is the most recommended best phone plan in France for students. In particular, its Série Free plan at €12.99/month (for the first 12 months, then €19.99/month) includes 110 GB of 5G data, unlimited calls and SMS in France, and 30 GB of EU roaming data. All prices are guaranteed until 2027, which means no mid-year price hikes. As a result, there is no commitment and you can cancel at any time.
The main limitation is that Free Mobile requires a French bank account for direct debit at signup. You cannot use a foreign card or a non-French IBAN. However, once you have set up a BoursoBank or Hello Bank account (which takes 1 to 3 weeks), subscribing takes about 10 minutes online. The SIM card (physical or eSIM) is available for €10 and arrives in 3 to 5 business days if you choose the physical card.
- Série Free (recommended): €12.99/month for 12 months, then €19.99/month. 110 GB 5G, unlimited calls/SMS in France, 30 GB EU roaming.
- Forfait Free 5G+: €19.99/month. 350 GB 5G, unlimited calls to France and many international destinations (USA, Canada, China and others), 35 GB EU roaming.
- Forfait 2€: €2/month. 50 MB data, 2h calls, unlimited SMS. Best as a secondary SIM or to keep a French number active at low cost.
- French IBAN required: Yes, for direct debit. Subscribe once you have BoursoBank or Hello Bank.
- No commitment: Cancel at any time, no penalty.
Lycamobile: best for international calls and day-1 use
Lycamobile operates on the Free Mobile network and specialises in international calling. Its 250 GB 5G plan at €8.99/month includes unlimited calls to more than 128 countries, which makes it the best option for students who regularly call family in Latin America, Africa or Asia. Furthermore, no French bank account is required: you can pay by credit or debit card from any country, and you can activate an eSIM before you even arrive in France.
The trade-off is that coverage on the Free Mobile network can be weaker than Orange or SFR in some areas. Additionally, Lycamobile’s customer service is more limited than the major operators. That said, for most students in major cities (Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Marseille), coverage is reliable.
- Price: €8.99/month for 250 GB 5G
- International calls: included to 128+ countries (check the current list on Lycamobile’s website)
- French IBAN required: No. Pay by card from any country.
- eSIM available: Yes. Activate before landing in France.
- Network: Free Mobile (4G/5G). Good urban coverage; check Lycamobile’s coverage map for your specific city.
RED by SFR: reliable mid-range option
RED by SFR is the low-cost brand of SFR, one of France’s three main networks. Its plans typically offer 100 GB or more of 4G/5G data with unlimited calls and SMS, starting at around €11 to €13/month depending on current promotions. Furthermore, RED regularly runs limited-time offers that significantly reduce the price, so it is worth checking the website in the week before you subscribe.
Like Free Mobile, RED requires a French IBAN for direct debit. The SFR network generally has slightly better indoor and rural coverage than Free in most regions of France. In practice, if you are studying outside a major city, RED by SFR or Sosh by Orange will likely serve you better than Free Mobile.
- Typical price: €11–13/month (varies by promotion)
- Data: 100 GB+ 4G/5G
- French IBAN required: Yes
- Network: SFR (second-best coverage nationally after Orange)
- Promotions: Check red-by-sfr.fr for current offers before subscribing
Sosh by Orange: best network coverage
Sosh is Orange’s low-cost subsidiary and runs on the Orange network, which has the widest coverage in France, including rural areas and underground metro lines in most cities. If you are studying in a smaller city, a rural university campus or anywhere where other networks may be patchy, Sosh is the safest choice. Moreover, plans typically start at around €10 to €15/month for 50 to 100 GB. Unlike most competitors, Sosh sometimes accepts card payment rather than direct debit, which can be useful if you do not yet have a French IBAN.
- Typical price: €10–15/month depending on the offer
- Data: 50–100 GB
- Network: Orange (best overall coverage in France)
- Payment: Card or direct debit. Check current conditions on sosh.fr.
- No commitment: Yes
Which phone plan should students in France choose?
Overall, the best phone plan in France for students depends on two things: whether you have a French bank account yet, and how often you call home.
| Your situation | Best plan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1, no French IBAN yet | Lycamobile eSIM or prepaid SIM at a tabac | No French bank account needed. Active within minutes. |
| You have a French IBAN and call home often | Lycamobile 250 GB (€8.99/month) | Cheapest plan with international calls to 128+ countries. |
| You have a French IBAN and mainly use data | Free Mobile Série Free (€12.99/month) | Best data/price ratio in France. Price guaranteed until 2027. |
| You are studying outside a major city | Sosh by Orange | Orange has the widest rural coverage of any French network. |
| You want the most data possible | Free Mobile 5G+ (€19.99/month) | 350 GB 5G plus international calls included. |
How to subscribe to a phone plan in France: step by step
Although the exact steps vary by operator, subscribing to a phone plan in France follows the same basic process for all of them.
Go to the operator’s website or store. Free Mobile, Lycamobile and RED by SFR are online-only (no physical stores). Sosh has a few stores but the website is easier. For prepaid SIMs on day 1, go to any tabac or Fnac.
Next, choose your plan and SIM format. Select the monthly plan that fits your usage. If your phone supports eSIM (most iPhones since 2018 and many recent Android phones), choose eSIM for instant activation. Otherwise, order a physical SIM card.
Then, enter your details and payment method. You will need your passport or ID, a French address (use your student residence or a friend’s address if yours is not yet confirmed), and your French IBAN for operators that require direct debit. Lycamobile and some prepaid plans accept a foreign debit or credit card.
After that, keep your existing number if needed. If you are switching from a prepaid SIM to a monthly plan and want to keep your French number, ask your new operator to port your number. Provide your RIO code (dial 3179 on your prepaid SIM to get it for free). The operator handles the rest, usually within 24 hours.
Finally, activate your SIM or eSIM. For eSIMs, scan the QR code provided by the operator in your settings. For physical SIMs, insert the card and follow the activation instructions by SMS. Most activations complete within 30 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best phone plan in France for international students?
The best phone plan in France for students depends on your situation. If you call home regularly, Lycamobile’s 250 GB plan at €8.99/month includes calls to 128+ countries and requires no French bank account. If you mainly need data and already have a French IBAN, Free Mobile Série Free at €12.99/month (110 GB 5G, unlimited calls in France, no commitment) offers the best value. For the widest coverage including rural areas, Sosh by Orange is the safest choice.
Can I get a French SIM card without a French bank account?
Yes. Prepaid SIM cards (cartes prépayées) from Orange, SFR and Bouygues require no bank account and are available at any tabac or Fnac for €5 to €20. In addition, Lycamobile’s monthly plans and eSIM work with a foreign debit or credit card. Once you have your French bank account (typically within 1 to 3 weeks of arrival), you can therefore switch to a Free Mobile or RED by SFR monthly plan for better value.
Does Free Mobile work for international students?
Yes, Free Mobile is widely used by international students in France. However, it requires a French bank account (IBAN) for direct debit at signup. As a result, international students typically start with a Lycamobile or prepaid SIM on arrival, then switch to Free Mobile once their BoursoBank or Hello Bank account is active. Switching is straightforward: subscribe online, request a number port with your RIO code from your old SIM, and the transfer completes within 24 hours.
Networks, eSIMs and practical questions
Which French mobile network has the best coverage?
Orange has the widest overall coverage in France, particularly in rural areas and on university campuses outside major cities. SFR comes second, followed by Bouygues and then Free Mobile. For students in Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse or Marseille, all four networks are reliable and coverage differences are minimal. In contrast, if you are studying in a smaller city or a rural area, Sosh (Orange network) or RED by SFR will serve you better than Free Mobile.
Can I use an eSIM in France?
Yes. All four major operators (Orange, SFR, Bouygues, Free) and virtual operators like Lycamobile offer eSIM plans. To use one, your phone must support eSIM (most iPhones from the XS onwards, Samsung Galaxy S20+ onwards, Google Pixel 3 onwards, and many other Android models). Importantly, your phone must also be unlocked from your home country carrier. If you are unsure, check your phone’s settings under SIM or mobile data.
What does “sans engagement” mean?
Sans engagement means without commitment or without contract. In France, most SIM-only monthly phone plans are sans engagement, meaning you can cancel at any time without paying a penalty. In contrast, plans that include a discounted phone (forfait avec téléphone) typically lock you in for 24 months. For international students in France for one or two years, a sans engagement plan is therefore the right choice.
What to do next
- Open a French bank account (required for Free Mobile and RED by SFR): Best bank account for international students in France (2026).
- Apply for housing aid using your new French number: CAF housing aid (APL) for international students in 2026.
- Get your transport pass: Navigo Pass for International Students in Paris 2026.
- Register for health cover: French health insurance for international students (Ameli and Carte Vitale).
Sources
- Free Mobile, Forfaits Free Mobile sans engagement, consulted September 2026
- Lycamobile France, Best Lyca SIM Plans for Students in France (2026), February 2026
- Selectra, Best mobile phone deals in France 2026, updated August 2026
- Resilier.com, Souscrire un forfait mobile Free: 4 offres sans engagement, updated July 2026